Signed up my shy & somewhat timid 4 year old son at AKS in Morro Bay. I must say, one of the best…read morechoices I could have made for my lil guy. It has helped with his shyness, given him confidence and even a sense of pride in accomplishing his first Orange belt. Sensei Brian is great with the kids. With varying age levels to accommodate even the youngest potential Karate Kid, he gives each class it's own fun spin & the fundamentals of what Karate requires. How he manages to get a group of 3 & 4 year old kiddos to stand at attention & do some moves that EVEN I WOULD STRUGGLE WITH, lets me know that he is a professional at what he does and has a great passion for it. I would highly recommend this school for youngsters, & the young at heart, alike.

Great fun and great people. I originally came to the adults class to get some good cardio and cross…read moretraining.. I ended up finding a new and amazing sport in martial arts. I love it. Everyone is welcoming, patient and fun. I really recommend this for anyone looking for a new challenge and a great time.

I've been training with Kiryu Aikido since 2006, first in Colorado and now in California…read more My choice to train here for more than a decade underscores the reasons why: the caliber of the teaching by Chief Instructor and founder Andrew Blevins is outstanding. He's not only a talented martial artist, but he's a great teacher. (Not all artists or athletes can teach what they are doing.) The safe and supportive environment allows students to progress and set high expectations, with safety as the foundation of every class. The philosophy of the dojo is to honor every student's path and encourage every student to do his or her best and keep improving. I was a beginner when I started with the dojo, and through hard work and dedication mixed with the priceless guidance of Blevins Sensei and senior students, I now also teach as well as train regularly. I think many dojos can be good places to start the practice of Aikido, but how far can a student progress? At Kiryu Aikido, the structured, cohesive teaching program will help you get as far as you want to go. Practicing with Kiryu has changed my life, and my only regret is not starting earlier in my life.

Kiryu Aikido is, in my experience, the best place to learn and train in Aikido, in Colorado. I…read moreformerly trained at two different dojos and visited another in the Denver area, and with all things considered, Kiryu Aikido was the best experience I found. These are the reasons why: The Sensei, Les Steveson Sensei, and the brothers and sisters in this Dojo are very nice people who are committed to the Art. Sensei Les is an excellent Teacher. He really cares about the learning process of his students. The classes are well designed and organized. There is an underlying rationale in the sequence of movements in each and every class. I never saw such well-planned classes in any other Dojo in Colorado. Sensei Les teaches every student equally; there is no special treatment being delivered to one or two, as sometimes happens in other dojos. Sensei Les is impartial and teaches all aspects of the Art. Sensei Les is also a very nice and respectful person and an active member of the Community. He has integrity in what he does. Sensei Les gives positive feedback and he also corrects the students, when needed. He is respectful and does not make inappropriate jokes about people. Sensei Les is also joyful while teaching the techniques. The movements are taught at a very good pace, with repetitions of the demonstrations. We are able to understand the application of the movements in a martial street context also, for instance, due to Sensei Les's skills. Sensei Les has a very good methodology to teach us step-by-step, so we know exactly what we need to do and practice. Therefore, we don't spend a lot of time practicing something wrong and later discover our errors. Sensei Les is open for questions and he is approachable. He is not only nice on the mat, but he is also nice off of the mat. The Training is martial and very fun at the same time! We are encouraged to give our best! We also have a lot of support! The Practice involves not only the techniques per se, but also includes a lot of the "Uke" portion of Aikido. For example, we spend a good amount of time learning many falls. This is also something that other dojos in Colorado do not emphasize. Falling is a big part of Aikido. Not only that, if we do not practice enough, we can end up hurting ourselves. In Kiryu Aikido, we learn how to fall safely in a supportive environment. We have dedicated a lot of time to studying the Weapons. I have learned more about them in two months of practice with Kiryo Aikido than two years of practice in other places. Weapons were not what attracted me to Aikido, but at Kiryo Aikido, I learned how to appreciate them and developed a "new taste" and respect for them. Sensei Les dedicates a very good amount of time in training to going through what we need to learn to advance and thereby helping us to embody the movements required for our tests. We know what is expected. Everything is clear and there are no confusions. Classes are very organized, and they help us to succeed! There is an environment of honesty, respect, transparency and commitment in Kiryo Aikido. I personally love training in Aikido at this Dojo. I have many years of experience in Aikido. I started training in Brazil around 1999. I trained there for three and a half years approximately. Then my career as a neuroscientist brought me to the USA, where I first landed in beautiful Hawaii, where I trained for approximately 6 more months. After that, I stopped training Aikido for almost 10 years, while working as a researcher in different places in the USA. I came back to Aikido in 2015 training in Colorado. Because I have trained in so many different places, I acquired experience with different styles and teachers. When I came to Kiryu Aikido, Sensei Les received me in a way that no other place did. My diverse background was received with an open mind, respect and appreciation of the Aikido that has evolved with my body of experience. Sensei Les accepted the style that I was presenting to him. He was able to teach me from where I was at, enforcing the fundamentals I had, correcting the aspects that needed correction and at the same time, allowing me to just be myself in this process. In other words, he teaches me the techniques I need to master, while I am also free to express them with my "own style and flavor". All of this happens in a harmonious, joyful, martial, sincere, supportive and peaceful environment. I hope you may be as lucky as I am to train at Kiryu Aikido Dojo!

Carter Sensei is a very patient instructor who is very knowledgeable, passionate, and active about…read morekendo. The class is held every Tuesday in SLO and every Friday, I believe, in Lompac. We practice from learning fundamentals and tradition to conditioning. Since the dojo has a good amount of attendees, we have a lot of time with our instructor and are given almost one to one lessons. Not only that, but Carter Sensei charges at a very affordable price and assists in provide newer attendees with some of his own equipment to see if kendo is for them. In terms of the practice, I feel the worth of practice in terms of strengthening and refining my form every time I come out for kendo. There's always something to look forward to because there is something to always learn and improve in kendo at this dojo!

I've been learning kendo from Carter Sensei for just over a year and it's been a great experience…read more The class is a good mixture of humor, discipline and fun. Students range from little kids to retired locals. Carter Sensei simultaneously teaches beginners and the experienced with the same dedication. The class typically has 3-4 students on Tuesdays (which is great because it's like getting private lessons). Occasionally there's training with Cal Poly students and students from the Lompoc location. I feel fortunate to have an instructor of his caliber in the central coast.

When my sons turned 11, they began taking martial arts lessons from Koei-Kan Karate-Do. We…read moreappreciate Sensei's adapting during COVID with lessons over Zoom and lessons outdoor in the park. Nowadays, Sensei keeps the bay door open when lessons are at the dojo. Check it out for yourself!

These guys are awesome. A excellent group of true martial artists that practice a traditional and…read moreeffective style. In the world of Martial arts, it is difficult to get much better than that. They are kind and welcoming to any student, whether you have a martial arts background or not. Further, there are multiple black belt instructors to learn from, each with years of experience.

There was me, that is Lou, and an extra 30lbs of fat living on me. I join Pit.Fit to shed the…read moreweight because running, bicycling, and all the other "cardio" stuff isn't any fun! I decided on their jiu-jitsu (I always spell that wrong!) program because I looked up what would burn the most calories in the shortest amount of time, and it was very close to the top. Little did I know, the workout would fly by, unlike running where I would check my watch every 5 mins to see if I was done! My first class was with coach Fraser, and I learned very quickly that he was very good. Not only a great technician, but also a great instructor. After a few months, I dropped the 30lbs (they literally melted off) and developed a solid background in self defense (something you wont get by bicycling!). A great place to get in shape, learn self defense, meet awesome people, and have fun!

I've been working out in various forms for more than 20 years - traditional gyms, at home,…read morecrossfit, etc. The Pit cardio kickboxing classes are by far my favorite and I go every chance I get. You get an unbelievably good workout, have fun, and get to learn/practice technique at the same time. The classes never get stale as each workout is different. The instructors are very knowledgable and supportive. I highly recommend taking a free class!

Mary Tesoro is a one-of-a-kind gifted instructor, compassionate, generous and deeply caring about…read moreher students. She manages to teach the art of Aikido to and entire class while keeping in mind the individual needs of each student. Always smiling, happy and welcoming, Mary has earned four black belts and lives and breathes the principles of AIkido. It is an honor training with this Sensei and master. More parents should introduce their children to AIkido and the inner strength and peace it brings with the training. Mary teaches kids, teens and seniors. She's one of the best teachers in the system and is responsible for training other teachers who have gone out to spread the practice to other dojos worldwide. It's never too late to learn Aikido and the benefits it provides to mind, body and soul.

If you have the opportunity to visit this dojo. Do it. If you have been studying martial arts all…read moreyour life then you owe it to yourself to see Kiyama Shihan's waza in person. If you are someone looking to begin on the road to training in martial arts, this is a great dojo to visit.

I've been traveling from Los Angeles to train with these guys since 1996. Really a great and rare…read moreopportunity to train under highly qualified senior instructors in this historical art. They've actually been around since 1974, but have only recently began to become visible publicly. If you're interested in classical Japanese jujutsu / aikijujutsu from an orthodox branch of Daito-ryu on the west coast, this is they way to go IMHO.

Kiryu Aikido has an indoor dojo in San Luis Obispo, but its outdoor school brings a wonderful…read morenatural dimension to Aikido training with real-world results. The word Sunahama means "sandy beach" in Japanese, and practicing in the sand on top of a dune overlooking the ocean is spectacular. The Sunahama practice builds balance, timing, flow, and continual connection with an ever-changing environment (hmm -- a lot like life!). I've personally found my balance and ability to adapt to what is present Now has improved immensely. Plus, practicing on Sunday morning on Pismo Beach, when it's cool and the crowds haven't arrived yet, is a great way to start the day and kick-off a positive week ahead. Come try it out and feel what it might have been like to train as a Samurai. No experience is necessary; just willingness to try.