My son has been a student at OCMA for the past 10 years, and during this time we have seen the studio evolve under different leadership from the previous management to when Master Kim took over a few years ago. Unfortunately, the quality and culture of the studio have declined significantly since Mr. Kim assumed responsibility from his father. Mr. Kim lacks experience in managing a studio and consistently demonstrates a transactional, money driven approach. His communication with customers is unprofessional. My son is a second degree black belt and was working toward his third degree black belt, a two year commitment. At 18 months into the program, he suffered a broken toe during routine sparring in class. When I called the studio to inform them of the injury and our need to discontinue training, I expected empathy or at least acknowledgment of the situation. Instead, Mr. Kim's immediate response was that we would still be charged for the upcoming month. There was no concern for my son's injury, no expression of support, and not even a suggestion that he return once healed, despite he had only six months left to complete his third degree. After a decade of loyalty and commitment to the studio, it was deeply disappointing to encounter such an insensitive and dismissive response. It became unmistakably clear that the priority was not the student's long term dedication or progress, but simply securing the next month's payment. We never imagined our relationship with the studio would end this way after ten years of trust, consistency, and support only to find ourselves arguing over a single month's charge. Yet Mr. Kim left us no choice. His rigid, money first approach made it painfully evident that the relationship meant far less to him than it ever did to us. read more

I signed up for groupon trial class for my 8 y/o child in this martial arts studio, hoping it would be a positive and enriching experience. Unfortunately, I was sorely disappointed. It quickly became evident that the owners and instructors prioritize profit over the well-being and development of the kids. The Asian manager at the time, knowing that I will not continue with class refuse to give my son a little sticker at the end of his trial test, saying that he did not qualified, when all 10 other kids got a stick for their belt. It was clear that the instructors were more concerned about filling their classes and collecting fees than actually teaching the kids valuable skills or fostering a love for martial arts. He was cold blooded and didn't give in after my wife complained about it, people like that should NOT be around kids! It felt less like a nurturing environment for kids and more like a money-making machine. I expected a supportive community where children could learn and grow, but instead, I found an atmosphere driven by profits. If you care about your child's development and well-being, I would recommend looking elsewhere for a martial arts studio. read more

Taekwondo is the art of self defense that originated in Korea. It is recognized as one of the oldest forms of martial arts in the world, reaching back over 2,000 years. The name was selected for its appropriate description of the art: Tae (foot), Kwon (hand), Do (art). We got the recommendation of an OT to help with our sons balance, gross motor skills and social skills and we got a group of angels training and mentoring under the same roof- these teachers (Masters) are unbelievable. From Mr. Kim the Master to the teachers like Mr. JC, Mr. Aguilar and Mr. Tarantino. With such amazing patience and sensitivity they will bend down on their knees to get to the child's eyes- so they can communicate.... Such respect and humility and my kids are like sponge- get all this greatness in and imitating to hopefully become as incredible as their masters. So yes I recommend it. read more

ATA Irvine - Martial Arts Near Me - Irvine, California

Hate this place, took my son and daughter and was the worst training they ever got! A employee Jose I believe was his name was terrible my kids told me they felt he would make fun of them for there size and my daughter's skills, it really upset me my kids would tell me this because the love Martial Arts and now are scared because of him. Just in all a bad experience for my little ones do don't recommend this place and Jose needs to be taught a lesson to not mess with people and their feelings, people like him make everything worse, I'm sure he'll get what's coming to him because bad human beings get their Karma really do hate people like him. read more

My son has been taking classes at ATA for close to five months now and we've really enjoyed bringing him here for his twice weekly lessons. They have had a transition recently so Master Do is no longer the primary instructor, as he has moved to the Mission Viejo location. In his place is the owner, Master Kim who is equally as good, just a different style. It will be interesting to see how my son progresses in the upcoming months because at 4 years old, it's difficult to tell if he is enjoying it or is just going through the motions because he "has to". For what it's worth, I do enjoy that he is learning discipline and building self-confidence and team work skills. And he already has an orange belt, which has definitely increased his motivation to keep going to get to the next level! The plaza it's located in can get a bit crowded at times but that's an Irvine shopping plaza for ya! read more

Master Do has a great relationship with all the kids at ATA. He motivates them to not only be the best at taekwondo, but to be good people. My kids get a great workout and have fun at the same time. I can't say enough good things about this business and I highly recommend it for all kids. read more

I canceled my subscription and gave them two weeks notice, they still charged me next month!! Awful!!

We've been with ATA Irvine for about 10 years. Both of my daughters received their black belts with Mr. Do and Ms. Nicole. The training is closed to tradition and the dojo (classroom/training room) is clean, clear, and well lit. Having Ms. Nicole as a role model, my daughters learn to be strong, independent, and confident. Mr. Do is great with kids. Although in the beginning classes, there're too many distractions and kids; but as my daughters got passed the beginning belts and advance to their second year, the benefits and focus really shown. I guess patience, perseverance, plus working hard are valuable lessons for the kids beside the sense of discipline. read more

This place is shady. They suck you in with a Groupon for supposedly 10 weeks of classes including uniform and test for first belt. Soon after signing up you have a sit down with Mr. Do where he will go over the details and pricing. You then learn his agreement is infact multiple weeks less than Groupon states. After attending classes a few weeks you are pressured to sign up for a paying contract. If you don't all of a sudden they forget your child's name, leave them out of activities, even deny a 4 year old the candy reward given at the end of a session. Low-down, shameful behavior by the owner and his staff, completely uncalled for. And angering as a parent to have to watch your child go through. More than a few young tears were shed after class. This behavior is especially troubling since they mentor such young children. If you don't want to provide agreed to services, just say so. But be a man and take it up with us parents instead of punishing innocent children. At the end Mr. Do would give us the run around regarding any question about testing and belt. Testing never happened. Calls were not returned, texts were ignored. And our child's heart broken. They never came through on what was promised. Keep in mind, classes here are expensive, even for young children. And know that ATA is a dumbed-down version of Taekwondo, scoffed at by other instructors. Plus they employ young students to do much of the teaching. They look barely out of high school, and my guess is pay them less. Go elsewhere if you want to learn true Taekwondo. And if you want respect. read more

***This a review for the capoeira program and facilities. CAPOEIRA: I've been taking capoeira classes for almost a year now through Capoeira Batuque Irvine (look it up for more info!). The capoeira classes are located in a different studio on Mondays while we utilize this ATA Martial Art's studio on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It's been such a great learning experience physically and mentally. Our instructor, Corpo Fechado (Zach) simultaneously walks us through and pushes our limits every class. We still have our music portion at the beginning of class as it is an essential factor in capoeira. Furthermore, it is inspiring to see other students improve through time we train together. The number of students training have risen tremendously! I remember there was about 10-14 students per class but now it goes up to 20 students per class on a certain days. You know it's a good 2-hour workout when your t-shirt is drenched and when you think your crying, it's actually the dripping sweat from your forehead to your eyes. FACILITIES: Clean and spacious. The huge space is beneficial for our capoeira warm-ups, drills, and roda, especially more new students training. I love the padded floors! The bathroom is consistently clean, too. Come join the fun! read more

Hi our son is been going to ATA Irvine for almost 3 years now ! He started with basic White belt and now he is in Black Belt Club!! Thanks to Mr.Do just a wonderful person and also Ms. Nicole and Mr.Doug the other two instructors ! This place is the # 1 place I think in Orange County for martial arts!!! Our son has improved in many areas and I can't explain how grateful we are to this place and the instructors:) My husband and I including our son love ATA Irvine!!! So yes we highly recommend this place !! read more

We been at ATA only a few months now, and love it already for the discipline, self confidence, and physical endurance we've seen it give our son so far. I am really impressed by the great instructors and family atmosphere here including Mr. Do, who not only teach martial arts but important self defense skills our kids need to keep them safe in many scenarios. I am so glad our friends recommended them to us! read more

My 8-year-old has been coming here since he was 4. We have witnessed throughout these years that not only he has learned self defense skills, he has also learned other "soft skills" such as leadership, respect, hard work, resilient (sticking with something until he gets the results) and kindness. Additionally, it has given him a lot of confidence, and he has made freindship with other Taekwondo kiddos. I highly recommend this place. It is worth the time and money investment. We will be sending his baby sister here also when she is older. read more

Master Do is great! My 3 kids are doing the program right now! Its really good not only for exercise but for self esteem, self defense and obedience. They do a wonderful job teaching kids respect and self control! read more

My daughter practiced Taekwondo for five years at ATA Irvine, and I can't begin to tell you what an awesome experience it was for her and for me as a parent. Master Do and Ms. Nicole are simply the best at what they do. read more

Best Martial arts studio ive ever seen and ive seen a lot .. teach your children to protect themselves and what respect t looks like .. God Bless Mr JP Do read more

As a holder of 2 black belts and probably 20 martial arts instructors, I have to say that Master Do and his staff are the best instructors for my children that I have ever seen. They are patient, make the classes fun, and the kids end up learning quite a bit. Often there is a trade-off in the "fun" vs. "training", but this place has been able to merge the 2 of those quite well. read more

My son who is almost 6 years old has been attending ATA Irvine for almost a year now and he loves it! Watching the kids enjoy themselves while learning how to defend themselves, learning Respect, Developing good Character, Values and Self Confidence is very rewarding to me as a parent. My son looks forward to his classes and always loves showing off his form (kicks) out in public haha...(he's a little show off) . The Instructors are so awesome! they make the class fun for the kids and show personal attention to EVERY student in the class. They always acknowledge the parents and are always open to talking to the parents if needed. Its like one big family at ATA Irvine. You just feel welcomed the minute you walk into the facility. I can't say enough about this place. My son loves it, I love it and highly recommend you check it out for yourself! =) read more

ATA request parents to buy ATA branded gear for 400 USD [ the fair market price is around 100USD] . I just find out ATA is NOT certified by World Taekwondo Federation . Now I understand why all the kids pass the belt test every time . Anyway, our kid left ATA and go to another school which was certified by World Taekwondo Federation with more professional training and less fees. read more

Mr. Do and Ms. Nicole are excellent with kids. Besides teaching my son self-defense, they also teach respect, values and self-confidence. My son is always excited and looking forward to attend his classes. ATA Irvine is HIGHLY recommended. read more

The facility has a bad odor. Maybe the mats need to be changed? I have found other studios in Irvine that have way better conditions than this place. However, I gave it three stars because Instructor Nicole is great. read more

We continue to be a blessed and grateful family after 6 years attending ATA Irvine with Mr. Do and Ms. Nicole. My 2 boys, now ages 9 and 12, started as white belts and continue to work enthusiastically for their third degree black belts. Through the dedication and commitment of their instructors, my boys have learned the values of hard work, discipline, and respect, in the nurturing environment of this amazing studio! We could not be happier about the positive benefits ATA Irvine has had on our kids, physically, emotionally, behaviorally, and academically. From crazy toddlers to evolving leaders, we thank Mr. Do and Ms. Nicole for fostering this amazing transformation in our boys! Besides their studio classes, we have also enjoyed the summer camps, school and community demonstrations, hikes, and parents' nights out that ATA Irvine offers. These events have enriched the kids experiences with our ATA Irvine family and allowed a safe and fun environment for them to learn, play, and grow! We give the highest recommendation to ATA Irvine with our sincerest gratitude and appreciation! read more

My son has been attending ATA Irvine for more than 2yrs now. The original thought was for us to get him involved in something, but Mr. Do has gone beyond that & has extremely been very motivating & setting the mind of a black belt attitude for our son. He is definitely in a right facility. The instructors are very devoted & caring! I love all of them at ATA Irvine & am so glad we did this for our son! read more

I love this studio! The best part about it is Ms. Nicole, she's a great instructor, I would recommend her classes to anyone!

Ata Irvine is one of the best martial art facilities in Orange County. The facility is always clean and odor less. The instructors are top notch they take the time to treat each student with great care. Mr Do and Miss Nicole are very passionate people about what they do and they make you feel like you are a part of big family. Keep up the great work guys thank you for all you do. read more

We absolutely love ATA Irvine! My son has been attending for almost 2 years and has enjoyed every step of his progression to a black belt. Mr. Do runs a very professional program and is an excellent role model for the kids. read more

My 7 yr old twins have been taking Tae Kwon Do for about a year now. ATA always amazes me how great they are with my kids, mixing instruction and fun. Mr. Do and instructors are amazing, accommodating, patient, lots of individual attention if necessary etc.. The instructors really care about the kids making progress and I have seen my kids self confidence improve. I did my research before choosing a school for my kids and ATA is no doubt the best in my book. read more

Our son has been coming to ATA Irvine for over a year now and he loves it! Mr. Do and the instructors, especially Ms. Nicole and Mr. Doug, are great with the kids. They are very good at mixing discipline and still having fun, and they are very patient with the kids. As a mom, I love to see this interaction with my kids. read more

Our son has been attending ATA Irvine for two years and he has a great time there. The classes are fun and the instructors are all great with kids. Our son loves participating in competitions and is getting better all the time at improving his form and other techniques taught in class. He's looking forward to becoming a black belt and hopefully joining the leadership group. read more

My 9 year old twins have been attending ATA Irvine for over three years and are currently preping to test for their black belts. What has impressed us about this studio is how much Mr. Do, Ms. Nicole, Mr. Doug, and other instructos truly care for each child. They teach to the child's strengths and help them develop in the areas needing work. My son has been so inspired that when you ask him what he wants to do when he grows up he will tell you that he wants to own a studio and teach taekwondo. I would definetly recommend this studio. read more

My son started at ATA when he was a very shy 4 year old. He has grown so much and his confidence has soared. He has been with ATA and Mr. Do and Miss Nicole for 2.5 years now. They show such compassion and care. I always tell friends that everyone should have a Mr. Do. My son will stop his behavior dead in his tracks if I threaten to bring up his behavior with Mr. Do. The kids not only love the instructors but have great respect for them...not because it is demanded, but because it is earned. I would recommend ATA Irvine to all my friends. Your kiddo will amaze you...mine does! read more

I have a 3 year old and he is learning and progressing steadily. The instructors are patient and skilled with the young ones. They have a nice balance of discipline and excitement, which is perfect for this age group. I love that I can remind my son of the expectations ATA has at the school and also at home and he gets it!!! He already has a great deal of respect for the instructors, which is earned I believe and they have earned it! Awesome studio, good for self esteem, confidence building! read more