About Machida Karate Gorham

Our Story

Welcome to Machida Karate Gorham (MKG), a Maine-based dojo built on real skills, real self defense, and a whole lot of heart. We're proud to be an association school of the Machida Karate family, teaching the next evolution of traditional Shotokan karate right here in your neighborhood.

When the brothers stepped into the world of MMA (mixed martial arts), they found that classic point-style karate didn't hold up in full-contact competition, so they brought back what had been stripped out of the sport version over the years: grappling, throws, elbows, knees, and hooks. What they built is a complete self defense system that keeps karate's traditional foundation while making it genuinely work in the real world.

At its core, Machida Karate is still karate. You'll learn striking, stances, forms, and discipline; the same roots that have shaped karate for generations. But you'll also learn how to close distance, defend a takedown, and handle a real confrontation. As the Machida family says, "It's tradition, refined for today."

Just as important as the techniques is what karate is meant to do for the person practicing it. Machida Karate leans on Bushido principles like resilience, discipline, and respect, and treats training as a tool for building character, not just building skill. Self-defense, fitness, and confidence are all real benefits, but they're side effects of simply becoming a better version of yourself.

Learn more about the Machida family

What is Machida Karate?

Machida Karate was built by Chinzo and Lyoto Machida, sons of Master Yoshizo Machida, an 8th-degree black belt in traditional Shotokan Karate.

From left to right: Master Yoshizo Machida; your Sensei, Connor McBrady; and Chinzo Machida

Meet Sensei Connor McBrady

I'm a born-and-bred Mainer, grew up in South Portland, spent some time as a sternman on a lobster boat, and yes, I'm the 6'3", loud, bearded guy you'll see running class. My whole martial arts origin story started with the television series Dragon Ball and a big imagination. My older brothers and I often ran around the house blasting kamehamehas at each other.

A friend gave me a free trial Shotokan karate class for my 11th birthday, and I begged my mom to sign me up. Once I started, I never really stopped. Along the way, I picked up wrestling, kickboxing, and a blue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, but karate always felt like home to me.

I knew by about age 14 that I wanted to run my own school someday, since teaching turned out to be the only thing I liked more than training. After years of teaching around New England, I found Machida Karate, the next evolution of Shotokan built by Chinzo and Lyoto Machida, and finally felt like I'd found the complete system I'd been trying to build myself. I trained and certified with the Machida family directly in California.

I opened Machida Karate Gorham because it's close to home (my mom grew up here) and because this town deserved a real martial arts community. At the end of the day, this isn't just a business to me, it's my life's work. Whether you're four years old or ninety, I want this dojo to be a place where you feel a little stronger, a little more capable, and a little more at home each time you walk through the door.

If you have any questions or just want to chat before your first class, reach out any time. I'd love to hear from you.