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    Gilbert Defense Arts

    5.0 (15 reviews)
    Closed • 12:00 pm - 8:30 PM

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    Photo of Hollie R.
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    9 months ago

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    2 years ago

    Casey is great! He's kind and patient, and I highly recommend Gilbert Defense Arts for your child that wants to learn Karate.

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    5 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    15 years ago

    Passed my yellow belt test in a little over a month thanks to the instruction of Casey and Jacob at the Gilbert studio!

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    6 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    Review Highlights - Gilbert Defense Arts

    “The sensei's really care about helping the kids grow in more than just karate (but also karate).”

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

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    Elite Tae Kwon Do

    Elite Tae Kwon Do

    3.4(11 reviews)
    6.1 mi

    Get ready, this will be a long one…read more.. My 8 year old son has been taking TKD classes here with the owner/main instructor Grandmaster Kim for a lil over a year and he loves it. He also has 3-4 instructors with him to assist in the class. From what I have seen, they are encouraging, supportive and patient. Yes the instructors all still wear their masks but I don't see anything wrong with that. Unless you are an anti masker, then you are prob cringing. Lols There are two rows of chairs inside for parents/guardians to stay and watch the kids. I like how they mop the floor mat after every class. Kids are taught the correct TKD techniques while getting physical activity in like jumping jacks, push-ups, running, stretching, etc. Yes it can be a lil fast paced so if your child is one who needs slow step by step instruction, then this might not be the class for them. As well as if your kid doesn't like being active they probably won't like TKD either. The kids are also taught to be respectful for example, addressing the instructors with yes sir and yes mam which I think is great. The kids are given a workbook for reference with all the steps in it. If your child needs extra help, I've seen the instructors guide them to the side for a lil one on one as needed. I've never seen them be hard on the kids. They also make it fun with board breaking days and relays. *Things to think about* I agree, the contract to sign up is long- about a yearish from start until the green belt. Once you finish that, then you may choose to stop or sign up for another contract for the black belt path. If your child decides say half way through they don't want to do it anymore then unfortunately you are SOL. You don't get a refund! TKD is an investment and I guess in a way teaching your child not to give up. The "two week free trial" is technically only three classes. So I can see it being tough for some kids to decide if they like it or not. But my kids' swim, dance and gymnastics classes only offered one free trial class so... Lessons are not the cheapest and there are extra fees like each time you graduate to another belt and any equipment like gloves and sparring accessories. Grandmaster Kim does offer payment plans. He will give you all the paperwork and fees to look over before you decide to sign up. I know some people wrote they was pressured into signing up their child but I never felt pressured at all by Grandmaster Kim. I was able to bring the info back to discuss with my husband. He did ask me to write a review on Google once but not for a discount or anything in return. I've had businesses ask me to write a review also so it's not weird to me.

    The 2 year contract to start is too long. GM Kim says he offers a 2 week trial but it's really 2…read moreprivate lessons which were actually good but his actual classes are a lot different. I will admit that it was my own fault for allowing him to pressure me into signing a contract after the 2nd private lesson. I should have told him no, not until she takes your classes for 2 weeks. If you are thinking of joining his school watch his classes, and make sure that your child gets the 2 week trial during his class. I really wish that we would have. Also try and negotiate at 1 year contract and if he doesn't go for it, there are plenty of schools that do offer 1 year. We always felt that his classes were unorganized. Kids walking in 10-20 minutes late. Kids talking during class. We also didn't like that all his instructors were still masked which made it difficult to understand them. The instructors say "yes sir" after everything they say which made absolutely no sense when talking to a female. My daughter loved Tae Kwon Do until going to this school. She was at a school for 2 years in Chicago, and always looked forward to going. She never warmed up to anyone at this school. There was never enough focus on the Tae Kwon Do form during class. He would go over all 20+ steps in 1 class. Then he would tell the kids to learn the form on their own out of a handbook from pictures. You need to request videos to be sent and the videos are recorded terribly. We stuck with this school for 1 year and then decided to not continue. We are now at a different school which is much better. My daughter is in love with Tae Kwon Do again. A couple of things I did like about GM Kim's school was their sparring days and board breaking days.

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    Gilbert Defense Arts - martialarts - Updated September 2026

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