For nearly five decades, Sensei Dan McCaslin has been teaching martial arts to students of all ages—some just four years old and others well into their seventies. At the Richmond School of Karate, he has built a community where confidence grows and discipline is learned through a mix of fun and structure.
Classes are tailored for different age groups: “Little Tigers” for ages 4-6, kids 7-12, teen-specific sessions, and adult classes that welcome beginners of any age.
“It helps them get better hand-eye coordination, better balance and ability to concentrate,” Sensei Dan explained. “Practicing martial arts helps in pretty much every aspect of life.”
Around 60 students train under Sensei Dan’s guidance. He first opened the school in 1989, after moving from Tennessee. Practicing since 1976 and teaching since the early 1980s, over the years, he’s seen a little bit of everything.
“We have fun, but they know they have to listen and pay attention,” he said.
Recently, the school got an upgrade: better lighting, thanks to the Mountain Association’s energy experts.
Many of the 16 overhead fixtures in the school were still using fluorescent tubes with aging ballasts. Some were dim, others flickered, and all were inefficient. Our energy team came in, evaluated and then completed the upgrade, retrofitting every fixture in the suite. For 15 of the fixtures, we “delamped” them, which means we reduced them from four fluorescent tubes to just two bright, efficient LED tubes. In total, 31 LED tubes were installed.
Now, the brighter, cleaner light that makes the training floor feel sharper and more inviting – plus it brings an estimated $440 in electricity savings each year.
“The team was quick, professional, cleaned up after themselves, and had respect for the space,” said Dan.
Now, whether it’s a “Little Tiger” practicing their first kicks or a seasoned student, the School is ready for many more years of teaching the art that Dan loves.
Students can join any time. Learn more about the school here: https://www.richmondschoolkarate.com/
Dan also operates and practices at Sunrise Chiropractic: https://www.sunrisechiropracticcenter.org/dr-mccaslin
