This woman run class was 1000/10!!!! The self defense class was one of the most empowering class I…read morehave ever taken, the teacher was so knowledgeable and such a great advocate for safety! I encourage anyone to sign up, it will be the best thing you could do for yourself!

Yury and Veronica have created a friendly, supportive community with a strong emphasis on practical…read moreself-defense. Classes are well structured, challenging, and fun without being overwhelming. Private coaching sessions with Alec have been extremely productive and worth the time. I highly recommend Impact Krav Maga for its solid training and a great atmosphere.

I was honestly really nervous walking into my first class I didn't know what to expect and felt a…read morelittle intimidated. But the moment I stepped in, everyone was extremely welcoming, respectful, and supportive. It completely put me at ease right away. I've always been into the gym and running, but I have to say... I truly fell in love with jiu-jitsu here. As a beginner, I really appreciate how my training partners and coaches take the time to guide me, explain things clearly, and make sure I understand always in a way that feels encouraging and uplifting. You can tell there's a strong sense of community and care in this gym, and it makes such a difference. If you're thinking about joining and you're new, I highly recommend North Park Jiu Jitsu. It's truly the place to be

I dropped in at North Park Jiujitsu while visiting San Diego for a trip. I'm a current purple belt…read moreand have to say, this is a premier gym with a great space, great technique, and great players. Its a super friendly, chill training environment, where everyone is there to learn. Coach Mike was very welcoming when I arrived for no-gi and gi classes. There are classes where you drill specific moves, then have a chance to apply them in a safe, live setting. Then there are classes that take a more eco approach, with situation specifics, tasks, live problem solving with questions from practitioners and direct, tailored feedback from the coach. If you're new and looking to get into the art, a hobbyist looking for a more chill vibe, or a competitor wanting to test yourself and get out on the comp mats later, this is the place for you.

I've been coming here since 2013 when Shinobi was first created -- the only reason I'm not here now…read moreis I'm in a different city. This school has changed my life in more ways than I can count. Here, I've developed lasting friendships with my classmates and teachers, I have learned about what it means to be a capable and responsible adult, and I have been taught how to act with calmness and confidence should the worst occur. A great school for all ages and skill levels!

Shinobi has great instructors and senseis. They welcome parents to participate by watching their…read morechild's class, and personally guide each student through the exercises associated with the specific form of martial arts that are being taught (Go ju bijitsu). I've attended the Sunday morning, adult kick-box-fit class that is taught by Sensei Jen. It was a great workout! She really stresses the importance of body mechanics and proper form to avoid injury. And, the price is right ($10 for an hour long class).

San Diego Aikikai has been the institution to represent traditional Japanese style teaching of…read moreAikido in San Diego. Aikido is a martial art and as such has a martial approach in it's philosophy, but one of the tenets is to seek ways to avoid conflict. This dojo and the instructors associated with it represent that philosophy as passed down from our principal instructors.

I trained at two of the previous locations and found the environment conducive to learning. The…read moredojo is very traditional, which is one of its best features. The form of aikido taught and practiced here is traditional as well, which to me means "small circles" and economy of motion - capturing the essence of the art. The idea that the dojo "promotes violence outside the dojo" is completely contrary to what I have observed about the philosophical approach taken by the dojo. I have studied Daito-Ryu ju jutsu and Iaido, which are much more combat-related, as well as modern combat arts. The aikido taught at SD Aikikai is not combat-oriented, although it can be used defensively. I never felt pressured to go to the dojo to train. Any pressure to train is self-imposed. The reviewer who complained about the dojo needs to examine their own motivations and sense of self. Blaming others for one's own psychological shortcomings is neither constructive nor helpful. As for the complaint that the dojo will "accept anyone who gives them money," I am not clear on why an aikido dojo would want to exclude anyone unless they have bad motivations for training. The point of aikido is to involve people - this is not a military arts school that operates in an exclusionary way. There are no contracts or special obligations imposed. I have to wonder at the motivation of the reviewer who attacked the Aikikai with untrue, unwarranted, and illogical complaints. Do they run a competing dojo? Have they ever trained at the SD Aikikai? Do they understand anything about the martial arts - and aikido in particular?

Highly unprofessional especially when we signed up our son and they decided to use him as a…read morepunching bag in the ring. Should've posted this many years ago. He was very excited to learn and train but instead he never had a chance due to this horrible experience and we canceled the membership.

I tried this place for a few weeks but decided to cancel. Beware that they force you to come in…read moreperson to sign something to cancel and charge you an extra month upon cancellation. They could very easily do a digital docusign form and let you cancel before your 30 days are up without consequence. Really not cool business practices.

Authentic Chen style taijiquan training offered here. Bill and Allison are wonderful people.read more

A wealth of knowledge is within these doors. The…read moreproprietors, Bill and Allison Helm, teach Chen Tai Ji straight from the Chen Village, perform Chinese Massage, teach Qi Gong, host classes for Aikidou and Hung Gar Kung Fu, and they host great teachers from around the globe. I only have positive experiences here.

True Traditional Muay Thai Experience compared to your commercial fighter gym…read more Man, this Muay Thai school is totally epic. Kru brings serious energy and explains everything down so even a new student can feel like a champ. Every session's a mix of pushing hard and having fun

King Tiger Muay Thai is a fantastic gym with great coaches. From the first day you can plainly see…read morethat they care about each and every student and their progress, here you will receive authentic training that isn't filled with any of the fluff or nonsense that many martial arts teach these days. I would recommend this place to anybody regardless of whether you have dreams of becoming a professional fighter or just want to have a good time and a great workout

This is an outstanding Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) studio for both adults and kids -- perfect for…read morelearning the most effective self-defense while building ultimate confidence and getting in great shape! After years in retirement, the man, the myth, the legend Odie is back on the mats. He's one of the most knowledgeable instructors you'll ever meet, with proven techniques that work in real life. Whether you want to train casually or are serious about becoming the best, this is the place to be. Odie tailors his teaching to your style, showing you moves that truly work for you -- not just running through a generic list of techniques. The drills will get you in shape fast, and the skills you gain will give you confidence that lasts a lifetime. Highly recommended!

Odie is one of the ultimate OG's of San Diego. The strength and skill that you get training with…read morehim will last a lifetime. There are many Academies nowadays, train with the ultimate OG of San Diego!

I joined North Park Fitness about a year ago after having a very bad experience at a different gym…read morein a different part of town. I took myself on a little gym tour, trying to find a good replacement and though all the options were so much better than my former gym, North Park Fitness really stood out to me! The person working there when I came in for a little tour was very kind, I never felt pressured to join, he answered all my questions, and then has continued to recognize me ever since. It just felt very personable! He also took the time to make sure the gym would meet my needs and even offered to ask him any time if I ever needed help using a machine I was unfamiliar with. I love how clean everything is, and I notice how on top of it they are at fixing anything broken. In the year I've gone here, my favorite machine has had a rip in the seat twice and both times it was fixed within a few days of me noticing it. I appreciate that they fix things even when it doesn't affect the mechanics of the machine! They also have a huge variety of equipment, more options than when I was at my former gym that was much bigger. The only complaints I have, in my opinion, are not easy to change with a small, local gym in North Park. North Park Fitness can't change the parking options, that's a North Park problem. It is a bit pricey, but again, that's a North Park problem. I also researched and found a couple other small gyms near the area that were much more expensive, so I appreciate not having to pay hundreds of dollars each month at North Park Fitness!

My boyfriend has been a member here for years. I usually drop in when I'm visiting him in SD. The…read moregym is fine: it's clean and has all the basics. The split between the upstairs and downstairs areas can be inconvenient depending on the workout but it's mostly fine. I've been dropping in here for almost a year, and the front desk staff has always been friendly and helpful with me. My interaction with the owner today, however, left me feeling really put off. First, he gave me a hard time about the drop-in rate and was telling me about some personal trainers trying to sneak clients (I wasn't sure if he was suggesting I was trying to do that but it made me feel uncomfortable). Later, he asked me to not drop my bb on the lifting platform while deadlifting because it's too loud (I've always done that, that's what the lifting platform is for...). I couldn't help but to feel like I was being patronized because I am a woman. I've trained at many gyms over the years. This was the first time I've felt treated with so little regard as a client. I've liked this gym before but I won't be coming back again.