Traditional Japanese karate training for self-development, self-defense, and physical fitness.
Catonsville Seido Karate provides training for adults, teens, and children age 8 and up. Classes are taught by Jun Shihan Tom Swiss, a sixth-degree black belt with over thirty-five years experience in karate. We are an authorized branch of the WSKO under the leadership of founder Kaicho Tadashi Nakamura.
04/30/2026
Community Self-Defense
A basic class for Adults and Teens
Friday May 15, 6:30-8:30pm
This is a "pay what you will" class. Suggested donation: $25.
This class is appropriate for adults and teens ages 15 and up. Mature content will be discussed. We will be practicing physical skills, please come prepared to move.
04/13/2026
Extremely proud of our newly promoted Maryland senior instructors! Congratulations to Shuseki Shihan Kate Stewart, Sei Shihan Sandra Sattin, Sei Shihan Karen Bader Fisher, Sensei Shelby Pitt, and Catonsville's own Sensei Allison Scheuermann Joyce ,who completed an intense overnight promotion exam with World Seido Karate founder and chair Kaicho Tadashi Nakamura and vice-chair Nidaime A. Nakamura. Osu!
03/25/2026
From Sunday's breaking class. Any healthy adult can break a single 10" 1x12 board when it's supported on the ends. (I got Ash to break a 6" board with about two minutes of coaching.) Dropping a board and breaking it in midair is more challenging.
03/21/2026
A lovely day to cut boards for tomorrow's Breaking Clinic. (Using the saw I inherited from my late brother, and with help from my awesome girlfriend, all in service of helping my students build confidence and skill. Some emotional content here.)
03/19/2026
Our best wishes to martial arts legend Chuck Norris.
Chuck Norris Hospitalized After Medical Emergency In Hawaii Chuck Norris has been hospitalized in Hawaii ... TMZ has learned.
Senpai Allison, if you're looking for new drills for peewee class....
03/15/2026
Nice chilly and breezy day for Winter Training.
03/11/2026
March 22, 2-4 pm. Breaking clinic - tameshiwari, " testing of technique" via breaking boards with strikes, is a excellent drill. Open to all Seido Karate students; if you're a student of another martial art who'd like to drop in, send us a note.
03/08/2026
Learn the fundamentals of breaking through practice exercises (including the famous candle punching drill) and instruction with Jun Shihan Tom Swiss and other senior Seido black belts.
Open to current Seido Karate students age 8 and above from 2:00-5:00 p.m. (Special program for younger students at 1:30pm.) If you're a student of another martial art who'd be interesting in joining us, drop a line!
Please register by Wednesday, March 18, so we have a head count and can get materials. Osu!
03/06/2026
Punching people is not a thing to do lightly. A few weeks ago, just a few miles from our dojo a Baltimore County police officer threw two punches and killed a suspect. A classic case -- punch knocks the man down, he hits his head and that's what's fatal. (On top of a BAC that was approaching alcohol poisoning.)
This is why: 1. learning to fall safely is a key skill; 2. we wear headgear in sparring, it's more about protecting your head from the floor than from your opponent; 3. de-escalation is better than throwing hands.
Body-camera footage shows deadly encounter between police officer and Samuel Brown The Maryland Attorney General’s Office released police body-camera footage showing Samuel “Big Sam” Brown Jr. swatting away a Baltimore County Police officer’s arm twice before the officer punches Brown twice in the face.