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MANSFIELD — Robert Burton said he sometimes waits three weeks for karate belt orders.
The owner of Mansfield Shotokan Karate on Mulberry Street, Burton recently opened a small pro karate shop that includes belts, uniforms, padded weapons, staffs and some apparel.
“I got started with it because someone in Ashland reached out to me and asked if I had supplies,” he said. “I thought it would be a good idea to get a stock here and give people a local option instead of ordering online. We can order what customers need as well.”
Burton said he has been able to supply other martial arts schools across Ashland, Mansfield, Galion and Shelby. He has also had some customers visit from Fredericktown and Delaware.
“Usually, when you shop local, you can get it a little cheaper because you’re not paying for shipping and handling,” Burton said.
Burton teaches between two and three karate classes at the 174 South Mulberry Street studio each week. The building is open from 7-8 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays and 5-8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. The pro shop is staffed before classes start.
“My base is shotokan, that’s the one I have the most rank in,” Burton said. “But we combine the teachings a little bit because I’ve also done Aikido, Taekwondo, Ju-jitsu, and a little bit of Kung Fu.
“There’s not a lot of people that can pass the art along.”
Burton started karate when he was 8 years old under the instruction of Tim Hicks, who owned Mansfield Shotokan Karate before he and a friend took it over.
“Mansfield Shotokan has been around for well over 70 years,” Burton said. “I actually got Tim to talk shop with the kids a few weeks ago. He kept me out of trouble when I was young so it was great to keep the tradition alive.”
Mansfield Shotokan Karate is a founding member of the Central Ohio Independent League for Martial Arts (COIL) which hosts martial arts tournaments across the state of Ohio.
The school has been at its Mulberry Street location for about three years and was located on Ashland Road before then. The prop shop is equipped for bulk sales or individual sales of merchandise.
Any Mansfield Shotokan customer’s first karate class is free, and packages start at $80. Burton also said the studio offers trades or payment plans for families who can’t afford the set prices.
“We’re just having fun and trying to give back to our community,” he said.
Mansfield Shotokan Karate is on Facebook and can be reached via phone at 419-610-3714 or email at mskdojoandsales@gmail.com. It is located at 174 S. Mulberry Street in the same building as Mansfield Rubber Stamp Inc.
