Okito America (Newberry Rd)

Our daughter transferred to Okito After School from another program, and the improvement has been remarkable. She enjoys her counselors, has fun, and gets real support with staying organized and disciplined. As parents, it’s reassuring to see her happy, confident, and safe every day. We also appreciate how fair and family‑oriented Okito is. Many school‑off days are replaced with camp at no extra cost, or a reasonable fee, unlike other programs that charge full tuition plus high additional camp fees. It genuinely feels like Okito puts service first rather than trying to squeeze every dollar out of families. When behavior issues come up, the staff communicates respectfully and works with you instead of judging you or your child. They’re responsive, professional, and truly helpful. We’re grateful to have found Okito: our daughter is thriving, and we feel fully supported.

Okito America, the premier martial arts school in Alachua County, plays a crucial role in fostering positive qualities (courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, and indomitable spirit) in my child at a young age. My daughter started attending Okito Archer when she was just 6 years old and continued through until she obtained her second-degree black belt at the Newberry school. This school was her safe, fun, and educational place. She loved being around all her instructors and friends. As a member of the Demo Team for most of her Taekwondo journey, she attended and enjoyed almost all of the activities in the community. Mr. Joseph, the primary instructor, is an excellent leader and mentor to all his students at the Newberry school. He treats each student with compassion, yet emphasizes the importance of developing discipline and accountability in them. We love how, aside from the regular classroom sessions, the school also offers potlucks, group film showings, games, and other community engagements that each student would have an opportunity to participate in. From time to time, the kids also enjoy pizza hours. Students also look forward to tournaments and camps where they can learn valuable skills and knowledge that they can apply in the field and in their day-to-day life. Overall, this is a worthwhile investment of time, money, and effort! Thank you, Okito!

Joseph is seriously a gem. Our daughter has been training here for a while now and the progress we've seen is amazing. He's super patient with the kids and always keeps things positive even when they're struggling with a new move. What I really appreciate is that he treats the kids with respect but still gives them that firm guidance they need. He doesn't baby them, but he's also not harsh - just strikes that perfect balance. Our daughter actually looks forward to class, which is very rare for her.

My son has been going to Okito after school for a few years now. The staff is exceptional 👌 Mr. Joseph is very patient, educative and nice with the kids .

We have been attending Okito for a year and a half. From the start, they treat you like family and value you as an individual and family. They have created an environment where community abounds. We practice as a family with our children. They support you as parents, students, and give mentorship in the sport. They provide so many wonderful opportunities where we have sweet memories and growth together. I cannot thank them enough for their focused and concerted effort in making special moments, our family growth and strength, and valuing us as individuals.

Our children attended Okito for after-school care during the 2024–2025 school year, and we had a great experience. They were picked up each day from school and brought safely to the location off of Newberry, where they participated in activities like taekwondo, Spanish lessons, and games. The staff is wonderful, caring, attentive, and committed to the children’s safety and well-being. One suggestion would be to dedicate more time to the Spanish lessons, but we really appreciate that it's included in the program at all. Overall, we are very happy with the care and enrichment our children received at Okito America Newberry Road.

Our son attended a couple weeks of summer camp this summer (July 2025). He had an amazing time! Communication is most important to me and they left nothing short in that department! Mr. Joseph was so kind and welcoming! He made me confident in leaving my child in his care along with all the staff! Can’t wait to come back!