Ralph Gracie Berkeley changed my life. Eduardo Fraga has an incredible depth of knowledge and has…read morealways pushed me to continue training even through some dark times in my life. This place has become family and I'm so grateful that I walked through those doors.

I had an absolute pleasure studying judo here with Sensei Barry and Sensei Newton. They are very…read morenice and knowledgeable.

Sensei is amazing! She is really kind to the kids and my son can't wait to go to her weekly…read moreclasses!!! She is patient and always teaches the kids about being thankful. Amazing experience here.

After witnessing how incredibly supportive aikido was for my mental health, I visited dojos all…read moreover the East Bay to find one that felt like home. I've been at Aikido of Berkeley for three years now, finding just what I needed. Kayla Feder Sensei is a master teacher - inviting me to practice with precision while being warm and humble. A rare combination in martial arts! Also unique about this dojo is how much the students show up for one another outside of aikido - celebrating, collaborating creatively, helping each other move, even watching my cat! I feel very, very grateful to have this spiritual community.

I've been training here for about 16 years. Great place to learn traditional karate in a safe and…read moreaccepting environment.

From moment we found Todd and Jill practicing at Ohlone, we were greeted with encouragement. My…read moreson has developed discipline, respect, confidence, and body awareness at the dojo. The focus on physical fitness and mental well-being is evident in every class. The sense of community among students makes it feel like a second family.

I have been going there for a couple months. It's not just about beating somebody or getting beat…read moreup, you really learn something and also work out your body. Get into to it, Steady for a while then you are not going to let it go.

My 10-year-old son recently had an interest sparked in kung fu by watching a TV show. I really did…read morenot think he would gravitate toward it, but I ran across Ryan and Wu Wei Tao Kung Fu and we have not looked back. Ryan is a phenomenal teacher. He is gentle in temperament yet clear and firm in his instructions, and he's very good at pushing my son, but not pushing him so hard that he becomes frustrated. My son has found his classes with Ryan to be a joy, and he always says what a great teacher he thinks Ryan is. I can tell that Ryan enjoys the teaching experience as well. He has always given my son 110% and I can't recommend him more highly as a teacher. I also think his reasonably priced one-on-one classes are perfect for students like my son who might be more intimidated in a traditional martial arts setting with a lot of other students.

Great place to begin your journey into Krav Maga! Gaby is an amazing instructor and works well with…read moreall skill levels along with his instructors. It is very welcoming and filled excellent members! You will love the good vibe and life skills training!!

I had a wonderful time meeting a wide array of age groups and fighters across multiple levels from…read morebeginner to expert. Gabi the owner is a supportive and insure conscious instructor with a wealth of knowledge and the skills to demonstrate them in clear and concise ways. Love all other instructors as well. Very welcoming place with the intention to team building end empowering the individual.

I cant say enough about the quality and dedication of the teachers at Berkeley West Wind…read more Adults, children and families learn together in the same beautiful room, each with their individual instructor. The positive atmosphere is palpable.!

I began taking lessons with my two children 15 years ago this month, and am looking forward to…read moretesting for my 5th degree Black Belt this year. The instructors are truly dedicated to the students as well as the arts, and you won't find a more positive, supportive and knowledgeable group of people. Testing for my black belt has been one of my greatest achievements, and to continue through the degree program honing and mastering my skills has been the best...and keep in mind that I have had the same teacher for my entire journey. Not only do I know that I can and will take on anyone who threatens me or my loved ones, I have developed self confidence, awareness, strength and grace that benefits every aspect of my life. I can not recommend West Wind enough!

My son has been training here since last summer and it's made a difference in his training habits…read moreand time management. Master Cheetah, Ms. Cheetah and all of the instructors are great and I see my son growing and excelling here. The students and family, are all treated, literally like family. I'm so happy that I've found a place for my son to train, enjoy, learn and grow with kids his age. I highly recommend Master Cheetah and his staff at Chaiyo Muaythai.

Fantastic gym that works for both serious and casual people. Important for me, I found the gym to…read morebe a very friendly and welcoming environment - the owner, the coaches, and the other gym members. I came to the gym casually but have had so much fun in the classes that I can't help but get more into it. The gym is traditional and full of expertise so there is a lot of room for growth. Whether you are an absolute beginner just looking to get in shape, or a serious fighter looking to learn the best Muay Thai you can...this is the gym you should try.

I will start off by saying this is the most practical application of self-defense I have seen…read more Anyone can learn this discipline. It's pure self-defense and the training is based on balance and using your natural physiological and psychological response to fear and stress. Through training, students learn to use these responses in a powerful and explosive way. While it can appear rough, and frankly, it is in many ways, the staff and students alike are mindful and caring in the way they implement the tools they're teaching/learning. I sought out a practical school for my son to learn to defend himself and this is a perfect fit for him. Knowing that my son is entering his teenage years with the correct mindset about the reality of violence is priceless. The school is kid-friendly, but it's best if your child is able to focus for over an hour for it to really be a benefit for all. I'm a big fan of International Academy of Wing Chun!

My friend persuaded me to try it out, so I emailed them and they were really nice about letting us…read moredrop by and take a free class. It's very meditative, and they really care about being in the proper form and stance. Everyone there is really dedicated to the martial art, and believe in its benefits. Personally it wasn't my thing so I didn't go back (I was expecting more cardio/activity, and there IS a lot of standing around learning the form and all that). That being said, if you DO like it I think it's a small, intimate atmosphere that will provide lots of one-on-one help. If you're considering it, I would drop by and give it a try.

After researching and visiting some aikido schools in the area and I decided to attend this school…read more The place has a great learning environment. It's subtle but I feel an inner zeal to learn from instructors who have dedicated their lives to the beautiful art of aikido. Most impressive thing is that Nick sensei sub-communicate a balance between softness(suppleness and yielding) and alertness while teaching aikido techniques, which is pretty rare to find. Instructors share all their wisdom and years of experience with aikido for you without holding anything back and you can use it anyway you want in different aspects of life. Students train with other students from different age groups and gender which is deeply interconnected with the balance between suppleness and alertness. It's cause while training with different people during the classes, one naturally finds a balance between the two. Since aikido is considered as the most spiritual martial art and this is reflected while training here like learning without words, conscious breaths, introducing gap between thinking while bowing etc. Although they seem to be way too traditional sometimes with some of the things they sub-communicate to the students, still it's a good school. Along with that it's Pretty spacious. Also you can find many hot girls in nearby dance studios.

I decided to check out Aikido for the first time about six months ago, and the welcome, warmth, and…read morekindness I encountered at Shusekai kept me coming back. From day one I felt allowed -- even encouraged -- to have no clue at all what I was doing. As such, my practice has deepened and improved in a most organic, delightful, and surprising way. The basics classes I attend emphasize practice, not mastery, so I feel utterly free to take risks and try things countless different ways under the guidance of the extraordinary Nick Walker Sensei. Nick and the other teachers are wonderfully gifted in both the art itself and how they teach it: from a place of deep skill infused with great lightness and humor. It's rare that most people on the mat aren't at least grinning (and more often laughing -- the smiles you see in the photos weren't just for the camera!). Also, as students advance, they naturally morph into trusted teachers and guides for the newer students. The coolest thing about Aikido is how it translates off the mat: there are inherent lessons about grounding, assertiveness, commitment, what is and isn't worth our energy ... and lots more. It's also a subtly killer workout and a fantastic integration of mind and body. Most exciting for me is the weekly women's class recently begun by Azzia Zur, the spectacular dojo manager and teacher, whose infectious energy makes it impossible not to love learning this stuff. Practicing with all women has a very different and special quality -- if you're a woman looking to start a practice, this class is the perfect gateway.

We moved our kids out of gymnastics and into Jiu Jitzu at SBG NorCal, and we're so glad we did. The…read morekids - with two very different personalities - are both loving it. The adult professional instructors are really engaged and invested in the growth of the kids. The focus on discipline is fantastic; the motivation to add bars to their belt (or eventually the next belt) really gets them going. And they're clearly just having more fun than gymnastics. We were just at an event there, and noticed afterwards how happy all the kids seemed (not just ours). There's a real positive energy. I don't know anything about Jiu Jitzu, but I know this place is a great for the kids to get exercise and personal growth, and maybe even community.

The junior staff here are basically toddlers in adult bodies with rash guards and zero ability to…read morehandle criticism. A certain snooty, frumpy permanently frustrated couple that's been around forever along with a few of their little sidekicks love acting like discount movie bullies as long as nobody calls them out. Sprinkle in some casual racism from some of the students and passive-aggressive nonsense, and you've got the full experience. This gym never felt genuinely welcoming and the behavior from staff and students cult like behavior only confirmed that over time. And the funniest part? Watching negative reviews mysteriously disappear under waves of suspiciously glowing reviews from profiles that look fresher than a brand new white belt. At the end of the day, they care way more about protecting their image than actually being decent people. Don't let the 5 star reviews from themselves fool ya.