Kita Kaze Karate Kai Wins Gwinnett Daily Post 2025 Reader’s Choice Award

Kita Kaze Karate Kai offers Traditional Okinawan and Japanese Warrior Arts for Adults and Children

Each year, the Gwinnett Daily Post hosts its highly respected Reader’s Choice Awards, inviting local residents to nominate and vote for their favorite businesses, attractions, and community institutions throughout the Atlanta area . Nominations for the 2025 awards concluded at the end of 2025, and the top nominees in each category advanced to the voting phase, with Winners being officially in the new year on February, 16, 2026.

For more than a decade, the Gwinnett Daily Post has sponsored the Reader’s Choice Awards, with nominees and winners chosen entirely by local readers. According to research there was over 100,000 votes with 90% coming within the last 30 days of the campaign.

Kita Kaze Dojo members, together with Renshi Sensei Steve Carbonneau, proudly displayed the 2025 Best Dojo in Gwinnett County Award, recognizing the dojo’s outstanding commitment to excellence in martial arts instruction and community leadership

A Proud Moment for Kita Kaze Karate Kai

After humbly accepting responsibility of Kita Kaze Karate Kai from from his sensei Kyoshi Mike Hoffman, Renshi Sensei Steve Carbonneau got busy with recruitment, students, and campaigning to prove that Kita Kaze, teaching KoToSu-Ha Shito-Ryu is still the Top Traditional Okinawan and Japanese Dojo in the area.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Gwinnett Daily Post and to every supporter who voted for Kita Kaze Karate Kai as the Best Martial Arts Training Facility in the Atlanta Area. Your votes paid off with accolades to the students, the instructors, and the art.

Okinawan and Japanese Arts Lineage

Kita Kaze Karate Kai is a sanctioned dojo under the International Karate Kobudo Union (IKKU), an organization established in 1986 and dedicated to preserving and advancing the highest standards of traditional martial arts. The IKKU is proud and honored to witness the lasting and positive impact that Kyoshi Mike Hoffman (retired), Renshi Sensei Carbonneau, and Kita Kaze Karate Kai continue to have on the Sugar Hill community.

This recognition speaks not only to the strength of the dojo, but also to the superior level of instruction, discipline, and character development that both IKKU and Kita Kaze Karate Kai strive to provide to every student. Kita Kaze Karate Kai is led by Renshi Sensei Steve, who brings over 10+ years of experience in Traditional Warrior Arts.

Under his leadership, students receive instruction in:

• Kotosu-Ha Shito-Ryu Karate
• Katsu-Ryu Kempo
• Koga-Ryu Kobudo
• Iaido

Renshi Sensei understands that children are the lifeblood of the martial arts tradition. He dedicates countless hours of personal time to helping shape young practitioners into disciplined, respectful, and capable karateka. Through consistent training and traditional values, students are taught the importance of discipline, respect, honor, and perseverance, qualities essential to becoming strong role models within their families, neighborhoods, and communities.

Congratulations to Renshi Sensei Steve Carbonneau and all of his students on this remarkable accomplishment. This award is a reflection of unwavering dedication, authentic traditional training, and a dojo culture built on integrity and excellence.

OSU!

Additional Kita Kaze Karate Kai Information

For information about class times at Kita Kaze Karate Kai, please visit Kita-Kaze-Karate-Kai.

For information about the Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation Department, please visit CityOfSugarHill.com.

Additional IKKU Information

To learn more about joining the IKKU – International Karate Kobudo Union, please visit our IKKU Registration Page. We welcome new members into our organization and host 6 to 10 scheduled events each year. This provides each participant with direct access to Soke Joseph Ruiz, Founder of the IKKU and Hanshi Ron Downton, as well as other high-ranking instructors within the organization.

For a full listing of upcoming training opportunities, please visit our Events Page, where we feature upcoming clinics, camps, and additional opportunities for engagement with the IKKU community.