The coaches here are all fantastic. I have two daughters in separate aged classes and they have…read morelearned so much, not only in jiu jitsu but in becoming better people. Coach Marco is a wizard at getting the kids to pay attention and grasp what is being taught. The kindness, safety, and combined knowledge is ever present here and I am so grateful we all train at this gym. My wife and I also train and continue to get better with every class. As someone that spends A LOT of time here, believe me when I say this is the gym you are looking for. It is more than just a place to learn, it can be a great community as well. Hearing some of the talks to the kids before class starts is inspiring. Coach Marco is like a violent Mr. Rogers in a Gi.

If you have children and haven't been to SBG SoCal, check it out!…read more We have toured all the major jiujitsu studios in Pasadena and none can match it in cleanliness, teacher:student ratios and quality of instructions. Coach Marco and his team really know how to teach and empower kids. Not only do the kids learn jiujitsu and other martial arts, they also learn life lessons. Marco has been a life coach for my son. Teaching him about humanity, friendships, bullying and respect. And it's super clean which I appreciate. If you are searching for a jiujitsu experience with both quality instructions and amazing instructors that care for your children, then check it out. I've learned how to properly execute gentle, yet firm, parenting, just by watching Marco in action. I also want to add that Marco and his team are heroes. During the Eaton Fire, they were helping displaced kids, housing them at the gym, and subsidizing dozens of kids' jiujitsu membership because of their loss. Kindness at its finest. A++++++

Ive been a member of Pasadena Shotokan Karate Club since 2019. It's been an amazing experience so…read morefar and the benefits of our practice are countless if you stick with it.

My son started practicing at the PJCI ten years ago.  I was bringing him to practice twice a week…read morewhen I decided to join myself.  There is a wide range of age and ability to suit everyone's needs.  There are currently five parent/child groups at the dojo.

This is trully spiritual and authentic karate dojo! Fantastic coaches, family environment, great…read moresports

We love it here! It's clean and Grandmaster Soke is so patient to newbies (like us). We get a good…read morework out in and I get to have this experience with my mini me. If you're thinking about joining, don't hesitate! Join with your mini me

Completed karate exams today…read more The dedication of the staff is demonstrated when three sensei and two sempai (all black belts) show up for one white belt testing! Most dojo (schools) would not even bother. This dojo is dedicated to the proper training of every student, no matter the rank. Quality vs. Quantity!

This is a great place to study traditional Shotokan Karate. The senseis are knowledgable and very…read morepatient. Probably the most reasonable rates in the San Gabriel Valley. Most of the senior practitioners have been attending for many years. I would highly recommend this dojo for kids as well as adults.

Come join us for holistic growth and character development through authentic traditional Karate…read moretraining, and become part of a genuine, caring and supportive community.

I joined JKA Los Angeles in the summer of 2023 after more than 40 years away from karate training…read more With Sensei Harada's guidance, instruction, and dedicated training, I was finally able to achieve my black belt! One of the things I especially appreciate about JKA Los Angeles is the diversity of its students--from young children to adults, and from complete beginners to highly experienced practitioners. Everyone is welcomed and encouraged to improve at their own pace. JKA is one of the world's largest Japanese karate organizations, and I'm very proud to be part of it. I highly recommend JKA Los Angeles to anyone interested in learning traditional Japanese karate, improving their skills, challenging themselves, and developing discipline in a supportive and welcoming environment.

Kim's Hapkido is an awesome place! My son started at the South Pasadena location when he was 5. But…read moreafter only 3 months, the Covid pandemic shut down everything. Afterwards, at age 8, he had his second start and has been learning Hapkido for nearly 4 years now. He enjoys it a lot. This school is a wonderful place to learn self-defense, develop self-confidence and how to stand up to bullies, practice discipline and respect, and forge friendships. Master Kim and every single instructor are great with the kids (and adult students, too!). Hapkido as a martial art combines kicking, striking, throws, grappling and joint locks into a very effective self-defense system. While these techniques might seem scary and, as a parent, one might be concerned about injuries during practice, there is no reason to worry at Kim's Hapkido. The entire team of instructors is patient and skilled, and safe instructions have priority. In all the years watching my son practice, I've never witnessed an accident or unsafe instructions, including during the sparring sessions. Kim's Hapkido employs a neat belt system, with about 13 different belt colors and stripes from white to black belt. While these many steps are more than what you typically have in other martial arts, they provide an effective motivational tool to keep attending practice. Achieving the next level belt color is based on performance and an official exam (with board breaking!), and each kid is immensely proud when they are awarded the new belt. No belt is given merely based on the time spent in the dojang, but rather is awarded based on the merits of having learned the respective set of techniques. By now, my son has climbed up the belt ranking by 10 steps, and each successful passing of a belt exam represents a wonderful highlight that nurtures his self-confidence and personal growth. The adult classes at the South Pasadena location usually are 8-15 in size, whereas the kids' classes are larger, depending of the day of the week. However, in all classes there are always multiple black belt instructors available; therefore the teacher-to-student ratio is excellent; during the detailed technique portion of the class, safe and personalized instructions are assured. My son attends practice 2-3 times per week (depending on his soccer practice), plus 1 sparring session in addition. The sparring sessions are restricted to intermediate + advanced students and require the wearing of well-padded sparring gear (hitting the head is prohibited!). The gender distribution is about 50:50, and it is great to see how girls hold their own during sparring; a valuable lesson to learn for the boys! Another clever concept is Master Kim's Star Program, where kids can earn small, star-shaped merit badges for their uniform, based on achievements outside of Hapkido (such as in school or church or another sport). Some of the kids wear over a dozen of them as a proud display of their varied accomplishments during their young lives! This is one more example of how thoughtful this place is with regard to instilling a sense of achievement in its students. Despite its location in the heart of South Pasadena with its high rental costs, Kim's Hapkido has managed to keep its membership fees fair and affordable, which I appreciate. The studio is nicely spacious and there is a designated seating area for the parents in case they want to stay during class and observe (or read a book). Parking is easy and free; there is street parking along Fair Oaks Ave, dedicated parking behind the studio, and a large lot behind the Canoe House across the street.

I should update. I have now just achieved my "3rd dan" or third degree black belt - the 25th from…read morethe South Pasadena studio. Kim's hapkido has been like a family to me for 15 years. I am proud of my belt at almost 57 years of age, and I know I couldn't have done it without the consistent instruction, the help of friends and testing partners, and my family. My son made his black belt too, but high school football and now university have put a pause on his advancement...for now. Perhaps he will come back to it someday. Whenever he does make it back on to the mat for a rare visit during vacation, everyone greets him warmly because he grew up with them. Even though I am busy with my career and trying to rebuild my house after losing it in the Altadena fire, I plan to make time to begin teaching the colored belts that I used to be too. I know I'll have the continued support of the belts even higher than me.

This place. Oh, this place. It houses something special. If nothing else is helpful about this…read morereview, know that I LOVE accompanying my kids to class every time - not one of those activities that have a parent feeling like "oh, man- we gotta go to _____ againnnn". I plan on joining up once I get the thumbs-up from my doc (my body is a bit broken at the moment). My two kids (ages 11 and 6) have been attending classes for two and a half months now, attending an average of 3-4 times per week. The adjectives I would use to describe this dojo are profuse and positive... welcoming, sincere, encouraging, challenging, supportive, community-building, kind, conscientious, warm, and empowering. Each sensei brings their heart and flavor to the class. Here are some of my favorite aspects of how the dojo is run: Students learn how to operate in community with others through teamwork and mutual teaching/learning. Families are encouraged to participate Students learn that there is something to learn from every person, and something we can teach every person Yes, it's super self defense- AND can be profound metaphor for almost anything positively-connoted that you can think of. I've witnessed these kids (and other students here) develop physically, emotionally, and mentally - and it's only been two and a half months.

We couldn't be more grateful for this place -- and for Mark Arnott, who has built something truly…read morespecial here in Eagle Rock. My son is AuDHD and has historically struggled to push through hard things. In just four months, the transformation has been remarkable. He's learning to understand his body, building real resilience, and beginning to grasp what it means to both give and earn respect. That growth doesn't happen by accident. Mark runs his dojo with warmth, kindness, and genuinely high expectations. Simple things -- like his habit of telling students to say hello to someone they don't know -- go a long way toward building a real sense of community. And it shows: the parent couches are always full, and it's become one of our favorite places to connect with other families. My son is progressing beautifully in his skills, but honestly, what he's gaining beyond the mat matters just as much. We're so glad we found this place.

I took 4 years of martial arts when I was a teenager and my son (age 12 and also with 4 years…read moreexperience) is a brown belt in karate. When we started looking in this area for what will become his new dojo, we were open to starting over in a new style, so we read all the reviews and websites for all the local instructors and then visited the advanced classes of the 9 within our acceptable travel distance. Both of us being experienced and knowing the path to black belt can take many years, we committed to really finding the right instructor for him by training with the 4 of those 9 that we liked best. Champions Karate and Master Greg Muttart was the second of the four we've tested and he and his training truly lived up to his school's name. From the first time we met Greg, my son and I were both struck by what a nice guy he was and knew we'd be back to try his training. When we returned, we took 18 classes with Master Greg, attending 2 classes each training week. As an experienced martial artist and parent, I evaluate the trainings we attend with a critical eye for the style itself and the quality of the instruction and how the instructor is with their students. Greg and Champions Karate excel in both. Greg has trained in many styles but the foundational style he teaches is Hapkido. After two months of watching my son's classes, I consider this style far superior to any others he or I have trained in and/or seen. Greg's teaching of Hapkido is practical, built on foundations that are easy to understand and immediately applicable, clearly explained, and constantly approached from the perspective of how to use the techniques to defend yourself. Classes feel like Greg consistently has a clear plan in place before class starts. They are always well structured and include stretching and a warm-up exercise series, review of foundational skills, and various drills on how to apply those skills in real life. Hapkido also has no katas/forms, so all the training is on technique. Even with 4 years of experience and just watching, I learned so many things I wish I'd been taught all those years ago during my own training. Greg clearly lives and breathes martial arts, frequently referencing the styles of various pro fighters, recent educational videos he's seen, and decades of his own sparring experience. He works wonderfully with both kids and adults, makes the classes really fun and interesting to both take and watch, and he's got a great team of black belts supporting him. If I were looking to get back into training, Greg would be the instructor I'd choose and I definitely recommend checking out his classes if effective and fun self-defense conditioning is what you are looking for.

Our chlidlren Lucas and Elle have been taking karate lessons at Champions Karate Monorovia for over…read morea year now. The karate lessons are great, but they learn so much more, and the positive impact it has made in both their lives. Needless to say there has been a huge void for our kids not being able to attend their classes for the past 3 months. But, that all changed this week with their reopening. They have gone above and beyond to set up all of the safety protocols to provide a safe enviroment for everyone. Our children just finished their first week back at class and are looking forward to next week. Thank you!!

Kenpo 5.0 academy provides a comprehensive training program for all students. Sensei Berj is highly…read morequalified and passionate about martial arts. He ensures a supportive and motivating environment where students learn techniques and discipline. This dojo fosters a sense of community, encouraging teamwork among students. Overall, this dojo is an excellent choice for anyone looking to learn martial arts in a positive, structured and family-oriented environment. Highly recommended for both beginners or others looking to expand their martial arts. My kids have learned so much and we are so grateful to have found a second family. Thank you for the great times and memories.

This is my utmost honest review of a place. My kids joined this dojo, were students for under a…read moreyear. I had them join to build their confidence, gain physical ability, and learn self discipline. That is exactly what we got. I am appreciative to Sensei Berj. We came in very honest with what my intention was for my kids. It wasn't abt competing, belt color (although it does help with the kids when the earn the next belt). I wanted my kids to enjoy this experience. We previously went to another TKD dojo. They didn't even take the time to learn my kid's name. Too many kids, not enough instructors. Here at Kenpo was a different, delightful experience. The group was small, Berj takes the time to get to his students and their abilities. He truly wants to see each child succeed. That is rare in today's world. Most places are abt payment. This place is abt seeing the student thrive. The only reason we stopped was because of schedule conflict with other activities, and we weren't really into competing (which I'm pretty sure would've been fine to continue without competing but we just decided to stop instead). Again, I'm appreciate to Sensei Berj. Thanks for building their confidence and overall well-being. Keep up the good work .