Discover the Confidence and Strength Within You
Train with purpose. Grow with discipline. Become your best self with McKinstry Family Karate.
About McKinstry Family Karate
McKinstry Family Karate was founded to offer something increasingly rare:
authentic martial arts training, rooted in tradition, taught with integrity, and lived as a community.
We are not a franchise.
We are not a belt factory.
We are not interested in shortcuts.
We are interested in doing things properly - and doing them well.
We are a family-run Tang Soo Do school, proudly serving our local community and helping children, teenagers, adults, and families grow stronger — physically, mentally, and morally.
Our Philosophy
Our Philosophy: The True Heart Way
Our school follows Jin Sim Do Kwan (진심도관) — The School of the True Heart Way.
This philosophy guides everything we do.
It means:
training with honesty, not ego
holding high standards, even when it’s uncomfortable
building confidence through competence, not praise alone
valuing character as much as technique
We believe martial arts should develop the whole person — not just how they move, but how they live.
Authenticity Over Appearance
Martial arts has changed over the years.
Not all of those changes have been for the better.
At McKinstry Family Karate, we focus on:
functional technique, not performative movement
realistic self-protection, not false confidence
progress earned through effort, not time served
Every student progresses because they are ready, not because the calendar says so.
That approach isn’t always the easiest — but it is the most honest.
Our Community
We are proud of the culture inside our dojang.
You’ll find:
children learning discipline, respect, and self-belief
adults rediscovering confidence, fitness, and purpose
families training side-by-side
students supporting each other’s progress
We don’t measure success by numbers alone — we measure it by who our students become.
Many of our most important moments don’t happen on the mats, but in the confidence students carry into school, work, and everyday life.
Our Instructor
McKinstry Family Karate is led by Sa Bom Nim Iain McKinstry, a senior Tang Soo Do instructor with over two decades of training and teaching experience.
Iain is known for:
clear technical standards
deep respect for martial tradition
a modern, student-focused approach
uncompromising integrity
He believes that a martial arts school should be led — not marketed.
What Makes Us Different
We don’t promise quick results.
We don’t chase trends.
We don’t lower standards to grow faster.
Instead, we:
teach Tang Soo Do as a living art, not a museum piece
adapt responsibly while respecting tradition
put students before systems
build something meant to last
That’s why our students stay.
That’s why our community grows the right way.
An Invitation
If you are looking for:
meaningful training
real progression
a positive, grounded community
and a place where effort matters
Then you may have found your home.
You are welcome to come and see for yourself.
Authenticity doesn’t shout. It endures.
Find Us
