Shido Kan Karate of Mahwah, which is currently located in the lower section of a shopping center at the corner of Macarthur Boulevard and Ridge Road, will be taking over the retail space vacated by Prime Time Learning Centers, which closed its Mahwah location this June.

Sensei Mitch Cooperman, who owns Shido Kan, said his deal to move to the open storefront at the top of the Ramapo Centre shopping complex is almost complete. The move, which he said could happen as early as December of this year, will nearly double the amount of studio space he has.

“We are going from 2,100 square feet to 4,000,” Cooperman said. “We loved being where we were in Mahwah, but were outgrowing our facility. When I found out that the Prime Time space was becoming available, it was the perfect fit for us.”

Shido Kan will be taking over 4,000 square feet of about 10,000 that were occupied by the daycare center, Cooperman said. “Nothing is in place for the remaining 6,000 yet, but we are hoping to get another daycare center in there.”

As for the storefront currently occupied by Shido Kan, Cooperman said a yogurt shop will likely take its place. “That deal is not for sure yet, but a yogurt shop is working on taking over this space,” he said.

Moving to the upper section of the shopping center will allow Cooperman's studio to expand, he said.

Shido Kan’s move will not only allow for more Karate students and classes – Cooperman said he hopes to grow from about 210 students to 300 – but will also allow for a full-time separate yoga studio to be added to the business. Certified yoga instructor Lorin Oneal, who currently teaches weekend yoga classes at Shido Kan, will run that arm of the expanded operation.

“They really are a natural fit together,” the 10-year veteran yoga instructor said of combining a yoga studio with a Karate studio. “Yoga and Karate emphasize a lot of the same things, like posture, concentration, and the mind-body connection.”

Cooperman said moving into the expanded space will “not change what we do, but will allow us to offer additional things.” Yoga classes for parents during their kids’ karate classes, yoga classes for professionals in the area looking to de-stress on their lunch hours, adult and family yoga and karate classes and self-defense classes are all in the works once the move is complete.

“My goal is to reach as many kids and families as I can,” Cooperman said. “This sport prepares kids in so many ways, and I really believe that the move will open the spectrum of what we can do even more.”

Oneal, who said she first became interested in combining yoga and karate when her kids started taking classes at Shido Kan five years ago, said a few yoga classes a month will be required of karate students after the move. “The kids need to relax, and this will be a great compliment to their karate instruction.”

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