This place is just amazing! The curriculum, the instructors, the way the classes are structured and…read morethe flexibility they provide in terms of class schedule - amazing! Our daughter tried somewhere else first and hated it. We thought she would never go back to MA until she experience Innovative Martial Arts through a friend's B-Day party. She asked us to sign her up right away which shocked us give her previous experience in another SVL place. She is now green belt and still lovin' it! Bottom line: this is THE place for martial arts in Scotts Valley/Santa Cruz. Nobody gets remotely close to it! This is IT!

I love the way they teach. patient, encouraging with emphasis on the concept at first, then into…read morethe details later. I've never seen martial arts taught so well to kids. they keep it fun and a majority stay with it as. they advance. growing up in martial arts and having taught, I've never seen such success. I highly recommend Innovative Martial Arts to anyone looking for an effective mix of Martial Arts whether gung ho or intimidated. Great Sensies keep it a balance of intense learning and fun.

My daughter has been attending classes for over a year and she loves it! Master Will is amazing and…read morereally good with all the kids. Highly recommended!

Dragon martial arts is the best place ever I have been training for over a year Master Will is very…read morekind and patient with the kids (And me too) I love this place so much I really like how he teaches forms step by step I'm a blue belt he is very clear I learned a new part of my form it is very hard but I think I can do it with his help. This is a 5 star for sure

Sensei Preston offers an authentic expression of Okinawan karate, having studied under Grand Master…read moreShoshin Nagamine himself. As a student, I not only learned the physical, but much more importantly, the cultural and mental aspects of karate. Classes are intense, focused, and after a year or two, I was in such good shape, I could run for an hour and not even be winded. I was a student for several years before I got sidetracked by work obligations... I miss it very much, and intend to return to classes the first chance I get. If you want an authentic, and complete, karate experience, not just stripped down physical martial arts training, then there's no better place to get it than the Santa Cruz Matsubayashi Karate Dojo. Sensei also offers classes for children. My kids were students for a while (they also got side tracked) and enjoyed it very much. I'm hoping to return them to classes soon.

I did a thorough search for a good taichi school when moving to Santa Cruz, 2 years ago. I am so…read morehappy to have found Linda Gerson. She is a serious practitioner, continuously studying taichi. She is a kind, dedicated and supportive teacher, whether one is a beginner or advanced.

As a yong man I praticed martial arts. Now in my seventies I have found Tai Chi extremely…read morebeneficial as I age with its gentle flow and rhythm. Linda's inclusion of warm up stretching and Qigong sets round out a solid practice. Linda's ability to be funny and instructive during practice helps insure students learn the key basics as well as advanced movements. Her classes have made my life better and highly recommend you check them out on your road to health and longitivity.

Best decision I've made in a long time. What a workout. So much more enjoyable than the normal…read moregym lifting and on the treadmill. I have now completed three classes. I was hooked after one.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Brian was so kind and informed and patient with my husband! He's out of shape and…read morehas never done boxing before. He's really excited to improve his energy and health with such a fun workout. Brian was super accommodating to our busy schedules as well. Great and affordable 1:1 workout, but they offer classes as well!!

I've trained at Angel's Taekwondo Academy for years. Angel is an extremely professional and…read moreexperienced instructor who genuinely cares about his students. He's patient and encouraging, and he always takes the time to explain the techniques in a way that I can understand. I've learned so much in my time at Angel's Taekwondo Academy. I'm not only stronger and more confident, but I've also learned valuable life lessons about discipline, respect, and teamwork. I highly recommend his studio to anyone who is interested in learning Taekwondo.

I been taken my kids here for like 2-3 year and angel is good at wat he does ! Kids are already in…read morered belt n bringing medals every tournament they go to

I trained a martial arts program called Limalama at Synergy Dance Fitness in Aptos starting early…read more2018 until the class shut down in November 2025. While I can say the program started out well the first couple years but after instructors and ownership eventually changed just about everything went downhill from there on. Here's the problems I faced that destroyed the quality of the program: Class went from training 3 times a week to 2 times a week but still charged $100 per month Scheduled class time would randomly change At one point they tried to charge students for belt tests even though we were previously told that would never happen Belts were rewarded as a way to keep students hush and cover the low quality of the program No organization for class structure or training material The program never had sufficient equipment Half of class material was training that could be done at home without help I was charged as a student for several classes that I taught when the instructor was absent. When I asked they basically said the class doesn't bring in enough money and tried to deny that I taught enough classes. Instructor was constantly absent Instructor would arrive late and leave class early Instructor would occasionally cancel class and claim there would be a makeup class but would never follow through Instructor had very little motivation and no concern for teaching material Instructor did not have enough training experience to lead a program Instructor would reject any idea to help make the program better Instructor would complain about formality of students while not respecting formality himself

I've been taking the contemporary dance class with Cambell at this studio for about half a year…read morenow. The atmosphere is so fun and creatively charged -- it's the kind of space where you immediately feel free to express yourself and explore movement without judgment. I didn't have any dancing experience prior to this class and Cambell has been such an amazingly supportive and inspiring instructor! She choreographes beautiful moves which are both elegant and intentional. Some of them challenging but that's also what I like about this class -- I get to learn and push my dancing boundaries. She's very supportive and takes time to explain and answer all our questions. We always start with a thoughtful warm-up and stretching session to prep our bodies and prevent injuries, which I really appreciate. It sets a grounded, focused tone for the rest of the class. The group vibe is super positive too -- everyone is supportive and uplifting, and there's a real sense of community.

Thank you Sensei Sithan Pat, for your remarkable healing ability and returning to me a quality of…read morelife I thought was no long possible. Because of your patience, knowledge and ability, I now have hope, that I can manage my back pain without medication and get back on the path of being physically fit.

Outstanding instruction. Sensai Pat is as genuine as a Sensai should be - a true spiritual…read moremind-body-arts healer who teaches you to move with intention and flow with your breathing in self defense. Learning from a Master does not get better than this. Great for adults and kids. My son and I both participate and it is exhilarating. A very traditional Do-Jo in a small group environment that feels more in tune with your body and awareness of self.