Important note: This review pertains specifically to the Systems Training Center Summer Camp, not…read morethe dojo's regular martial arts instruction. My son attended the summer camp/day program only and was not enrolled as a regular martial arts student.
I enrolled my son hoping for a fun, safe, and well-supervised summer experience. Unfortunately, that was not our experience, and I would not enroll him again.
The camp often felt disorganized and seemed to operate without much advance planning. Activities appeared to change from day to day, and there was little evidence of a structured program.
The first warning sign came during my son's first week. After only a few days, he came home, burst into tears, sobbed in my arms for more than ten minutes, and begged me not to make him return. He described the environment as "overwhelming" and "overstimulating" because of the constant screaming, yelling, and disruptive behavior from some campers. Those concerns continued throughout the summer.
To be clear, I understand children sometimes struggle with emotional regulation and behavior. My concern is not that children are expected to be perfect. My concern is that I expect adults supervising a children's camp to appropriately manage disruptive or aggressive behavior, protect all campers, and provide an environment where children feel safe. Based on both what I observed and what my son consistently reported, I did not feel that happened.
For example, my son reported that one camper became upset during a game, ran at him while screaming, and grabbed at his clothing. He also reported this was not an isolated incident but part of a pattern of repeated screaming, tantrums, and disruptive behavior from this camper and another camper that made him increasingly uncomfortable attending camp.
My biggest concerns, however, involved supervision and safety outside the dojo.
My son reported that counselors took campers on neighborhood "ninja walks" and encouraged them to practice parkour on nearby structures, including climbing a structural wall at a neighboring apartment complex using decorative rocks as footholds. He also reported a counselor challenged the children about who was "brave enough" to jump from what he estimated was a very high wall into an enclosed area below. My son declined to participate because he felt uncomfortable and became so distressed that he cried.
What surprised me most was that I was never informed campers would routinely leave the dojo for these neighborhood activities. Nothing in the written materials or waiver explained that campers would be practicing parkour throughout the surrounding neighborhood. The paperwork states parents would receive advance notice of field trips. In my opinion, taking campers outside the dojo and throughout the neighborhood constitutes an off-site activity that parents should be informed about beforehand.
When I later spoke with the camp director, she confirmed that these neighborhood "ninja walks" are a regular part of camp and stated they have permission from neighboring property owners to use parking lots, areas between buildings, and other structures. That was the first time I had heard that explanation. She also said part of the camp's philosophy is "stretching the kids to their limits." While I support helping children build confidence and resilience, I believe those challenges should occur in a carefully supervised environment with clear communication to parents.
I also had concerns about security. During the entire camp session, I was never asked to show identification when picking up my son. On multiple occasions, counselors were on their phones when I entered the dojo and did not even look up to acknowledge who had come through the door.
The surrounding neighborhood also concerned me. During drop-off and pick-up, I observed several individuals who appeared homeless and/or intoxicated. One individual in particular was dirty, disheveled, and wearing torn, soiled clothing. I watched him stand outside the dojo for several minutes with his face pressed against the glass doors and his hands cupped around his eyes so he could look inside and watch the children. Learning that campers were routinely taken on walks through this same neighborhood only increased my concern.
When I discussed these issues with the director, I did not feel my concerns about supervision, behavior management, communication with parents, or safety were meaningfully addressed.
Every family has different expectations, and some children may have a wonderful experience here. This review simply reflects ours. I was looking for a camp with consistent supervision, proactive communication, thoughtful behavior management, and strong safety practices. Based on what I personally observed and what my son consistently reported, I do not feel this summer camp met those expectations, and I would not enroll him again.
