I took 4 years of martial arts when I was a teenager and my son (age 14 and now with 7 years…read moreexperience) is a black 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/school for him by training with the 4 of those 9 that we liked best. SK Taekwondo was the fourth of the four we've tried and where we've ended up staying. Due to Covid, we waited over a year to try this place because they weren't allowing parents to watch while Covid was in full swing. We've been here for over 10 months now and it was definitely worth the wait. After a couple months of my son training here, my wife even signed up! SK Taekwondo is 5 stars all the way and I have so many good things to say about it. When we first started reviewing martial arts schools in the area, our intuition said SK would be the place we'd end up at because the classes looked like they were super fun and the training facility was huge and beautiful. It had great parking and a large area with seating for parents to watch. The little kids' classes were especially fun to watch with a dedication to both fun and discipline that was clear in both the joy of the students while training and the speed and enthusiasm they all demonstrated with lining up, doing drills and exercises, enthusiastically answering "yes sir!" as they did, etc. The school also has systems in place to support their younger students in getting good grades and being responsible and respectful at home. For the adult classes, which start at age 13, the same level of discipline and fun are encouraged. Every class consists of a warmup and stretching followed by technique training. Almost all exercises are partner exercises, so my son got to know other students quickly and there is a real sense of community. The instructors are all very knowledgeable and absolutely wonderful people, kind and supporting, friendly and welcoming to both students and parents like me who are just watching, and clearly dedicated to the sport. Instructors rotate and the classes are quite different each time, which our whole family enjoys. In the 10+ months we've been training, I can say that not a single class has been the same as any other. The foundational skills are included in everything and forms are usually 5-10 minutes at the end. The rest is really varied but always interesting and a great workout. Equipment like kicking pads, agility ladders, cones, etc. are used frequently and this makes the classes even more fun and diverse. They play music during the warmups and drills and that adds to the fun and energy of the environment too. Fridays are dedicated to sparring, testing is every couple months, and they have a "Black Belt Club" option where you can pay up front for unlimited classes until you get your black belt. This is the best price and what my son and wife both ended up doing. Estimated time to achieve black belt is 2.5 to 3 years if you are dedicated and attend class at least a couple times a week. This place is absolutely amazing and I could not recommend it higher. If you are looking for you or your child, come in and watch or try the actual class you/they will be in. Take advantage of whatever intro offer SK is offering at the time and experience it for yourself. If you do, I'm confident you'll be as happy and impressed as we have been!

Use to be a good place but now is a Babysitting place after being sold to different owner…read more Lack of staff, poor communications, low quality of teaching any instruction. If you are looking for more serious training technique for your kids go somewhere else.

My child comes here. She likes it. Other coaches could not interest her... Coach Li is very nice…read more Good with kids.

I am the parent of a kiddo that goes to this class. The location is very clean and well set up they…read morehave lots of equipment and mats for jumping and acrobatics. The instructor (coach Aaron) is a very kind and humble man. He knows his stuff, and he knows how to teach it. What I like about him is that he observes his students really well and he is serious about what he is doing while being compassionate and accommodating to kids whom need to understand the value of discipline and humility in all walks of life, not just sports. He does all this at a very affordable price. They also have shoes and events and prizes and rewards. I think positive reinforcement goes a long way in youngsters and he does a great job at that too. Overall, great trustable guy who is quite proficient at what he does. No regrets taking my son to this place.

Totally traditional and legitimate Japanese Shotokan Karate is taught here. If you are looking for…read moreauthentic Shotakan taught by qualified instructors, then this is the place for you! The dojo is spacious enough to hold 50-70 students easily. Everyone is helpful, respectful, courteous, non combative and absolutely devoid of ego, an oddity these days in the world of martial arts. I would highly recommend this place, especially since they offer free trials!

From the owner: Welcome to JKA Los Angeles Karate Club. We are only one…read moreofficial JKA shotokan certified dojo in Southern California. We have Free Trial Class every Wednesday at 5:30pm in Temple City and Mon. and Friday in Whittier dojo. Please join us. We also have Zoom online class on Saturday beside in-person class on Monday and Friday. We have dojo in Whittier (7205 Greenleaf Av #A2, Whittier, CA 90602) as well. Please contact us for more information.

I've been doing personal training with Master Manuel for quite some time, and I'm excited to…read morecontinue to hone my skills at his new location!!!

I've been a student of Master Manuel since 2021 (before this location). He focuses on balance,…read moreprecision and proper forms/stances. His lesson style is fluid and he keep things lively, as opposed to just teaching the basics day after day. He has an in depth knowledge of Doce Pares escrima. He can teach you the moves, teach you counters to those the moves, and then, go further and teach counters to the counters. Even when you think he's exhausted his knowledge base, he's able to show you something more.

Super excited that they moved to this location! It is located in the OO KOOK K BBQ plaza with lots…read moreof parking. I am attending Sifu Benson Lee's intro class and it has been great. I love how I can learn Kung Fu as well as get a good workout in. Extremely beginner friendly, and he is very patient with his students. Highly recommend if you are looking to learn self defense, kung fu, or tai chi. Give it a try!

Sifu Lee is great at what he does. He has devoted a lot of…read moretime in learning his craft!

This review is long overdue! My entire family trains at this gym. BJJ has truly transformed us for…read morethe better. My kids have gained so many valuable life skills both on and off the mat -- confidence, strength, resilience, and discipline. This gym has become like a second home for us. We absolutely love all the coaches here; it's evident how much they care about the growth and development of each student. They maintain a great balance of structure and fun -- firm enough to keep the kids focused, yet encouraging and engaging so they continue to enjoy the sport. This gym is perfect for the whole family -- kids and adults alike. If you're a woman who's ever felt intimidated or never imagined yourself doing martial arts, this is the place for you. The coaches and community make it so comfortable and welcoming that I was able to ease into BJJ with confidence.

Our son began training here in 2021, during the pandemic, and I was deeply impressed by the…read moreprecautions and safety measures implemented to protect both the children and adults. This academy is, without a doubt, one of the most beginner-friendly places to learn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, whether for kids or adults. The coaches are not only highly skilled professionals but also teach with genuine passion and dedication. They truly care about the growth of students, both on and off the mat. The environment is welcoming and family -oriented, fostering a strong sense of community and team spirit. Additionally, the ample parking and comfortable seating for waiting parents are much appreciated. As parents, we wholeheartedly endorse this academy and are grateful to be part of its community.

If you are looking for a "gym" to just go through the motions, this isn't it. I train at STCC to…read moregrow mentally, spiritually, and physically, and the traditional approach here is exactly what is required for that level of development. The curriculum is demanding and forces you to overcome personal hurdles. There is no hand-holding; it's about respect for the lineage and the work. My primary ROI hasn't just been physical--it's the hours I've put in to build true, unshakable consistency. The community of peers is excellent--everyone is here for the right reasons. If you want authentic Shaolin Kung Fu and are willing to put in the work, this is the place.

The instructors here are very good. The main instructors are authentic Warrior Monks from Shaolin…read moreTemple in Henan, China. The environment here is great. Most importantly my son loves it here.

I've been coming to strikers since February 2025 and it has been an incredible experience! Coach…read moreJoe is truly one of the most excellent teachers I've ever met. The space he cultivates here isn't your run of the mill martial arts gym. It's an encouraging, collaborative, and welcoming learning environment where Coach takes time to focus on and refine technical skill, depth of knowledge, and rhythm. I recall in particular how Coach Joe took the time to fix my middle kick in a way that really clicked. He takes special care and attention to help you learn not only the proper form of a move but also the why behind it. Once you have it, it's impossible to forget. If he takes the time to help you correct something, just know that he believes in your capacity for growth and improvement. He is a wellspring of expertise. This learning environment is also reinforced by the athletes and experienced students who I've had the pleasure of training with. Through drills and sparring, everyone works to support each other and reinforce our learning. What you get here is not just an education; it's also a didactic community. I can't recommend this gym enough.

We took our very gentle and sweet six year old here one summer after a bullying incident where we…read morerealized she needed some skills and confidence to defend against a brat at school. Duveen was a phenomenal teacher and we saw great progress in just one summer. She is skilled at teaching, has patience and keeps the classes engaging and varied enough to maintain the students' attention. Although our child was not in love with the sport as she is with other activities, we felt it was a very valuable experience and a summer well-spent.

I've learned a lot from Franco Lung Wing Chun and really enjoy each class. Sifu Lung and the other…read moreinstructors are very knowledgeable and supportive, and they're great at explaining both practical technique and the deeper ideas behind Wing Chun. The classes are very hands on, and you learn the techniques by practicing them right away. The other students are very skilled and happy to train with you at your level. Whether you're just curious about what you saw in the Bruce Lee and Ip Man movies or have a black belt in martial arts already, this is a great place.

We love Franco Lung Wing Chun martial arts school. Both of my kids age 7 and 10 have been going for…read moreover a year now. They enjoy classes very much and have learned a lot. We are grateful we have found this place. Very nice, caring and supportive staff. Highly recommending to anyone. Thank you, Sifu Franco !

Honestly, I have always wanted to get my kids enrolled in some type of martial arts because I am a…read morestrong believer that it helps with self confidence and for safety reasons. My 6 year old has been getting picked on from other kids in school and thats when I knew that I had to really start enrolling my kids asap. My hubby suggested hapkido and after some research we were so happy to find out that Kim's Hapkido just opened a location in Arcadia. We took our 4 & 6 year old to a free class trial and then enrolled them. They've been going for almost 2 months now and I must say the instructors are super patient and makes it super fun for the kids. My 4 year old doesn't really listen but they truly have been super understanding. My 6 year old loves it and actually looks forward to going to class. Prices are very reasonable and if you enroll more than one person then the price is cheaper. I'm super glad that we enrolled our kids at Kim's Hapkido and would highly suggest it for any adults or kids who is interested in learning martial arts. 2 Thumbs up from this parent! Tips: *Shared parking lot with other businesses or street parking. *Sundays are for private lessons by appointments. *Offers a free trial class. *If you have questions you can call. *Payments are monthly and automatic. *Have multiple locations. *Have IG.

Hapkido has been a guiding principle in our children's lives. Both my son and daughter go here…read more There are many types of martial arts with their own inherent benefits, but from my martial arts backgrounds, I chose this style for my children which is more of a blend of the styles I studied. My son's journey started 14 years ago in San Dimas where he studied under Grand Master Petermann, then Master Petermann, at 4 years old. We only went two times a week, but I liked their style and adherence to the traditional ways of Hapkido. When the San Dimas studio closed, they moved temporarily to the Masonic Temple in San Dimas. We later moved to the Pasadena studio (this is when my daughter started), then South Pasadena waiting for Arcadia to open. My son got his black belt under the training of both Mr. Tomas and Master Kim. His early training was from Grandmaster Peterman and Mr. and Mrs. Clark. My daughter is training for her black belt--some 10 years later, under the tutelage of Mr. Tomas, Ms. Kelly, and Mr. Salazar. WHAT A JOURNEY!!! We followed Mr. Tomas because he cares about his students--they are NOT dollar signs as some studios see them. He wants them to succeed but does NOT baby them. He teaches real world experiences that one would face with which Hapkido can help--it is not just fighting. These are life-building transferable skills you can use anywhere--plus defend yourself. I am a veteran high school teacher, and I can almost always tell a student who has been or is in martial arts. Confidence. Respectful, Perseverance. Control. Calm. Independent. Humble--they will get these here. Do not hesitate to go to this studio. Have you child watch or even join a practice. It will be one of the best decisions you will make in your children's life, in my opinion. They might even see my son there, Mr. Smead. Thank you to all that have helped my son reach his goals, and now my daughter to follow.