bakersfieldbudo.com

Bakersfield Budo's Karate-Do program is led by Charlie Tootle, Sensei, an OGRKK-certified Godan (5th dan), and its Aikido program is overseen by Jason Parsons, a USAF-certified Yondan (4th dan) and Shidoin. The dojo's Okinawan Goju-Ryu group is a member (Shibu) dojo of the OGRKK, and every Budo tradition taught at the dojo operates under the rules and regulations of its parent organization.

Karate-Do: Instructor and Affiliation

The OGRKK connection matters if you care about lineage and standards: Tootle's teaching credential is issued within the same organization that the Bakersfield dojo belongs to, so rank and curriculum are tied to a recognized parent body rather than being self-awarded.

Karate-Do itself is described as a synthesis of the native Okinawan fighting style Te and Shaolin boxing from China, systematized in mainland Japan in the early 20th century. Goju-Ryu in particular emphasizes balancing internal and external force—combining physical training with breath technique to generate and release energy for control and power.

Aikido: Instructor and Affiliation

The Shidoin title is a teaching designation within the USAF (United States Aikido Federation) certification structure, which signals that Parsons is credentialed not just as a ranked practitioner but as an authorized instructor. Aikido is described as a modern martial art created by Morihei Ueshiba (O-sensei) in the early 20th century, blending traditional samurai jujutsu with Shinto and Buddhist philosophical influences into a system emphasizing harmony and non-destruction—redirecting an attack's speed and energy through body throws, joint locks, fitness, mental focus, and development of ki.

What This Means for Choosing a Program

• If certification and organizational lineage are your priority, both programs offer it: Karate-Do through OGRKK and Aikido through USAF. Ask each instructor directly how rank promotions and curriculum are governed by the parent organization.
• If you want to cross-train or compare styles, note that the two programs run on different schedules (Karate-Do on Monday/Wednesday evenings; Aikido on Tuesday/Thursday evenings), so you can observe both without conflicts.
• If you are evaluating a dojo for a child, Karate-Do has a dedicated kids class for ages 6–14, with 5-year-olds considered case-by-case for maturity. Aikido class times listed are a single adult evening slot.

The dojo also lists Iaido among its offerings, and states that all Budo traditions represented there are subject to their parent organizations' rules—so if Iaido matters to you, ask specifically which organization oversees that program and who instructs it, since the site's instructor details cover Karate-Do and Aikido.

Verifying Before You Commit

The site invites prospective students to call (661) 398-2100 to set up a free two-week trial. Use that call to confirm instructor credentials directly and to ask which organization governs each program you're considering. First-time visitors are also asked to arrive early so instructors can cover dojo and class basics, wear comfortable clothing for unrestricted movement, remove jewelry, and go barefoot or in socks on the dojo floor—no shoes, no food.

Bakersfield Budo teaches three Japanese martial arts — Karate-Do, Aikido, and Iaido — and the main differences are in what each art trains, how it is taught, and who leads it. Karate-Do is an empty-handed striking art focused on fitness and coordination; Aikido redirects an attacker's energy through throws and joint locks; Iaido is listed on the site but not described in detail. The dojo offers a free two-week trial (call 661-398-2100 to set it up), which is the practical way to compare the three before committing.

Side-by-side comparison

Karate-Do: fitness, coordination, and breath power

Karate-Do at this dojo is Okinawan Goju-Ryu, taught under the OGRKK organization. The art itself is a synthesis of native Okinawan fighting, Chinese Shaolin boxing, and early 20th-century Japanese systematization. In practice, that means empty-handed training aimed at fitness and coordination, with Goju-Ryu's particular emphasis on balancing internal and external force — using breath technique alongside physical training to generate and release energy.

The schedule is split by age: kids aged 6–14 train 5:30–6:30 pm on Mondays and Wednesdays, and adults train 6:30–7:45 pm on the same evenings. Five-year-olds are considered case by case based on maturity level. If you want a striking art with a structured kids' track and a clear fitness component, this is the program to look at first.

Aikido: harmony, redirection, and ki

Aikido is the newer of the two described arts, created by Morihei Ueshiba in the early 20th century. It blends traditional samurai jujutsu with philosophical influences from Shinto and Buddhism into a system that emphasizes harmony and non-destruction. Rather than meeting force with force, training centers on joining the speed and energy of an attack and redirecting it — expressed through body throws and joint-locking techniques, alongside physical fitness, mental focus, controlled relaxation, and development of ki.

Classes run 7:30–8:45 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so the two arts don't compete for the same evenings. If the idea of blending with and redirecting an attack appeals more than striking, or if the philosophical side of budo matters to you, Aikido is the closer fit.

Iaido: listed, but ask before assuming

The site's heading names Iaido as one of the three arts offered, but the page evidence provides no description, instructor, organization, or class time for it. Don't assume it mirrors either of the other programs — the practical step is to call the dojo at 661-398-2100 and ask specifically about Iaido scheduling and format, ideally before or during your trial period.

What applies to every class

A few rules apply across all three arts, and they matter for your first visit:

• Arrive early. Instructors use the extra time to go over dojo and class basics with new students. As the site puts it, in Japan being merely on time is actually late.
• Dress for movement. Comfortable clothing allowing unrestrained mobility and physical exertion is required.
• No jewelry during class, because of injury risk to yourself and others.
• No footwear on the dojo floor — shoe racks are provided. Socks are permissible if you can't go barefoot.
• No food on the dojo floor.
• Each Budo tradition at the dojo is subject to the rules and regulations of its parent organization, so expect organization-specific policies on top of dojo rules.

How to choose

Use the class times as a first filter: Karate-Do runs Monday and Wednesday evenings (with a separate kids' slot), Aikido runs Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Then match the training style to your goal — striking, fitness, and breath-driven power for Karate-Do; throws, joint locks, and redirection for Aikido. Since Iaido details aren't published, treat it as an open question for the phone call. The free two-week trial lets you test the fit directly rather than deciding from descriptions alone.

Bakersfield Budo is a Japanese martial arts dojo in Bakersfield that offers instruction in three disciplines: Karate-Do (空手道), Aikido (合気道), and Iaido (居合道). It describes itself as teaching budo—the "Martial Way"—and invites prospective students to call (661) 398-2100 to set up a free two-week trial. Each tradition at the dojo operates under the rules and regulations of its parent organization, so what you practice and how you progress depends on which class you join.

The three arts at a glance

Karate-Do

The dojo teaches Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate-Do, described as a synthesis of the native Okinawan fighting style Te, Shaolin boxing from China, and systematization in early 20th-century mainland Japan. The Okinawan Goju-Ryu Bujutsu Kan of Bakersfield is a shibu (member) dojo of the OGRKK, founded by John S. O'Hara, Kyudan, Hanshi, and Steve Wilson, Nannadan, Shihan. Children's classes accept ages 6–14, with 5-year-olds considered case by case based on maturity.

Aikido

Aikido is presented as a modern martial art created by Morihei Ueshiba (O-sensei) in the early 20th century, combining traditional samurai jujutsu with philosophical influences from Shinto and Buddhism to emphasize harmony and non-destruction. Instruction is overseen by Jason Parsons, a USAF Certified Yondan and Shidoin.

Iaido

Iaido appears in the dojo's list of offered instruction, but the available site material does not give its curriculum, instructor, or class schedule. If Iaido is your reason for contacting the dojo, ask about it directly when you call.

What to expect as a new student

The dojo's Prospective Student Guide sets out a few practical expectations:

• Arrive early. Instructors use the extra time to go over dojo and class basics with you. The guide notes that in Japan, being on time is effectively late, and being early is barely on time.
• Dress for movement. Wear comfortable clothing that allows unrestrained mobility and physical exertion.
• Leave jewelry off. It is not permitted during class because of injury risk to yourself and others.
• No footwear on the dojo floor. Shoe racks are provided; socks are permissible if you cannot go barefoot.
• No food on the dojo floor.

How to decide whether to try it

The free two-week trial is the clearest way to test fit, since the three arts differ substantially in character: Karate-Do is a striking-focused empty-hand practice with separate kids and adult sessions, Aikido centers on throws and joint locks with evening classes twice a week, and Iaido's details are not published in the material reviewed here. Call (661) 398-2100 to arrange the trial and to confirm the current Iaido schedule and any equipment expectations before your first class.

Bakersfield Budo offers Karate-Do for kids ages 6–14 on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5:30–6:30 pm, adult Karate-Do on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:30–7:45 pm, and Aikido on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:30–8:45 pm. Five-year-olds are considered for the kids Karate-Do class on a case-by-case basis depending on maturity level. You can call (661) 398-2100 to set up a free two-week trial before committing to a schedule.

Class Schedule at a Glance

The dojo also lists Iaido among its programs, but the page evidence provided does not include Iaido class times. Call the dojo to confirm Iaido scheduling if that is your interest.

What the Age Split Means for Families

The kids and adult Karate-Do classes run back-to-back on the same evenings, so a parent training in the adult class could enroll a child in the 5:30 session and stay for the 6:30 adult session. The 5-year-old exception is decided by the instructor based on maturity, so families with younger children should raise it when calling about the trial.

Before Your First Class

The dojo's prospective student guide gives a few practical expectations:

• Arrive early. Instructors use the extra time to walk new students through dojo and class basics. The guide notes that in Japan, being on time is effectively late.
• Wear comfortable clothing that allows unrestricted movement and physical exertion. No uniform is required for a first visit based on the page.
• Leave jewelry off — it is not permitted during class because of injury risk to yourself and others.
• No footwear on the dojo floor. Shoe racks are provided; socks are acceptable if you cannot go barefoot.
• No food on the dojo floor.

Confirming Your Spot

The free two-week trial is arranged by phone at (661) 398-2100. When you call, confirm the class you want, your age eligibility, and whether any equipment or clothing changes are needed after the trial period. The dojo also maintains a Facebook page under Bakersfield Budo for updates.

Bakersfield Budo asks prospective students to arrive early, wear comfortable clothing you can move in, remove all jewelry and shoes before stepping onto the dojo floor, and leave food off the mats. The dojo offers a free two-week trial — call (661) 398-2100 to set it up. These rules apply across all three arts taught there: Karate-Do, Aikido, and Iaido.

Before You Arrive

The dojo's Prospective Student Guide is short and practical. Plan around these points:

• Come early. Instructors use the extra time before class to walk new students through dojo and class basics. The guide puts it bluntly: in Japan, being on time means you're late, and being early means you're barely on time.
• Dress for movement. Wear comfortable clothing that allows unrestrained mobility and physical exertion. No special uniform is mentioned as a requirement for a first visit.
• Leave the jewelry at home. Jewelry is not permitted during class because of the injury risk to yourself and others.
• Plan your footwear. No footwear of any kind is allowed on the dojo floor. Shoe racks are provided. If you can't go barefoot, socks are permissible.
• No food on the dojo floor.

Choosing Which Class to Visit

Each art has its own schedule and instructor, so your arrival time depends on which class you're trying. The site lists these times:

Five-year-olds are considered case by case for Karate-Do based on maturity level. The page evidence covers Karate-Do and Aikido times but does not list an Iaido class schedule, so call ahead if Iaido is your interest.

A Quick Sense of the Three Arts

• Karate-Do blends the Okinawan fighting style Te with Shaolin boxing from China, systematized in mainland Japan in the early 20th century. It centers on empty-handed practice that builds fitness and coordination. The Goju-ryu style taught here emphasizes balancing internal and external force through physical training and breath technique. Instruction is led by Charlie Tootle, Sensei, OGRKK Certified Godan, and the dojo is a member dojo of the OGRKK.
• Aikido was created by Morihei Ueshiba in the early 20th century, combining traditional samurai jujutsu with Shinto and Buddhist influences into a system emphasizing harmony and non-destruction. Training redirects an attack's speed and energy and covers body throws, joint locks, fitness, mental focus, controlled relaxation, and development of ki. Instruction is overseen by Jason Parsons, USAF Certified Yondan and Shidoin.
• Iaido is listed among the dojo's offerings, though the provided page material gives no further detail on its curriculum or schedule.

One Rule That Applies to Everything

Every Budo tradition at the dojo is subject to the rules and regulations of its parent organization. That means etiquette and requirements can vary by art, so treat the points above as the shared baseline and let your instructor fill in the rest when you arrive early.

The simplest path: call (661) 398-2100, book the free two-week trial, show up early in loose comfortable clothing with no jewelry, and carry your shoes to the rack.