Best of Boston

McKinney is based at the Colonial Hilton Racquet and Fitness Center, and Red Soxer Dwight Evans swears by him. “You learn philosophy as you go,” explains McKinney. “I tell my classes, ‘I can’t give you a formula for success, but I can give you one for failure: try to please everybody.’ That’s what Dwight used to do.” McKinney’s karate style is torayama, which incorporates aspects of yoga, judo, aikido, kendo and other regimens. “I can’t imagine anyone going through life not being exposed to a karate class,” McKinney says. “It’s like going through life never having been in a church.”