The older horrible reviews for this studio simply don't apply anymore since the new instructor,…read moreRobert McMaster, took over the studio in recent months. He is superb! My kids switched to this studio recently after we discovered there was a new outstanding instructor here. He is wonderful with the kids, managing to be firm and encouraging in a respectful and courteous manner. I wanted my kids to have an instructor who was not only a great teacher, but would also be a good role model in his behavior, since karate can be an endeavor involving many years to reach a black belt. I think this requirement is well met by Sensei Robert. Specifics that I like are that he incorporates strength training and overall fitness into the lessons so the kids are sweating and working towards attaining the strength and stamina that will be necessary to make their karate punches, kicks, and blocks more effective. I feel better, too, that they're getting some exercise when they go to their class. He works well with the kids, and his classes are smooth, high energy, positive, and well organized, with kids of varying temperaments all handled well. He gets through a lot of material in each class. This looks like some great preparation on his part. The sparring is well-supervised, not just a free-for-all brawl. Sensei Robert helps the kids think through their sparring, giving them strategies and tactics to make them more effective, and watches carefully to make sure they're safe. Each student can learn something from the advice he gives to the others who are sparring, instead of just sitting waiting idly. In the private and group lessons, he manages to take the complicated sequence of moves in the forms the kids do, and show them clearly how each applies to a defense situation. He matches the kids up so they can practice with someone their own size to see how the moves are supposed to land on another person's body. This is so well done, it makes a lot more sense to me as an observer, and no doubt my kids have a better idea why they're doing the moves as well. My kids love that he also lets them practice what a full-strength punch is like (on him, not other kids) so they have an idea of the level of force that should be behind these moves if they ever need to use them. The individual advice and critiques that he gave the kids in preparation for the tournament were also impressive, although my kids didn't compete this time. He helps them gain confidence, approach a scary situation in a manageable way, and provides very specific pointers that were wonderful. Previously, I was only guessing as to what differentiated the pile of kids at the tournament competing in one category, who all looked pretty similar to me. Now it's clearer what matters in polishing up their forms. He also does this in a way that is not demoralizing, but keeps the kids engaged and wanting to try their best. He's offered some fun things to the classes (movie and pizza night, plain clothes class day) that perked up my kids' enthusiasm when they were growing weary from their previous studio. He manages to incorporate some real-world self defense scenarios into the classes, too. The USSD website that allows you to view the forms (as videos from different vantage points) is helpful. He is also clear on what is needed for each belt level, and tests frequently enough so kids who miss a test don't have to wait forever for the next chance. Rates are lower than some of the other USSD studios (I didn't know there was any flexibility in this, but apparently there is). Although Sensei Robert is fairly young and doesn't have a super high level blackbelt, his teaching skills and people skills are superlative, and I think this is an outstanding studio to be a part of. Beautiful location in downtown Los Altos is an unnecessary but welcome added plus. Karate studio is top notch.

Very unprofessional. We stopped taking classes with Sensei Robert on July of 2025 because it was…read morenot a good fit (we gave it a solid 2 years but it just did not work). Six months later he continues to charge us the monthly fee on our credit card even after reminding him multiple times that we are not enrolled anymore. Be careful!

My daughter goes here for 2 years and absolutely loving it! Occasionally having private lessons as…read morewell to strengthen technique and they have the best instructors!

My 5-year old son has been curious to practice Karate and this school has been amazing. John Sensei…read moreis an experienced teacher who has a knack working with kids. My son naturally felt the inclination to attend class 2x a week consistantly which I thought was interesting for a younger fellow. I see the kids learning and enjoying themselves for many years and beyond here.

I've been training with Professor Alberto for almost 2.5 years now. Joining Daruma Dojo changed my…read morelife. I was previously focused on only powerlifting, and although I thought I was strong, I was massively out of shape. I was looking for a place nearby, and have always wanted to train Jiu Jitsu after watching the UFC. Professor Alberto and all the coaches are professional and instructive. At the same time, Alberto knows how to motivate each student to achieve their goals. He doesn't have a cookie cutter approach, and knows how to squeeze the juice out of each person. Whether your goal is to get in shape, be more proficient at grappling, compete, or just have a community, it's highly likely Daruma would be a good fit. If you're in the Sunnyvale area, highly recommend you check Daruma out.

Daruma Dojo is hands-down an exceptional Jiu Jitsu gym, and enrolling our children in their Youth…read moreJiu Jitsu program has been one of the best decisions we've made. What truly sets this gym apart is Professor Alberto. Having an active black belt coaching young kids is impressive on its own, but his genuine passion for teaching youth is unmatched. He knows every single child by name from day one and has a unique ability to break down complex, technical movements into creative, engaging, and fun concepts that kids easily grasp and remember. He strikes the perfect balance between structure, skill-building, and fun, keeping the kids motivated and excited to step onto the mats every session. They always have another 3-5 other blue/brown/black belt coaches helping out to keep the coach to student ratio very small. The facility itself is top-tier--always spotless, well-maintained, and meticulously cared for, which brings complete peace of mind to parents. Beyond the high level of instruction and clean environment, the sense of community at Daruma Dojo is remarkable. They go above and beyond to make families feel welcome with hosted summer BBQs, pool parties, and events that bring everyone together. If you're looking for a jiu jitsu gym that builds confidence, technique, and real community, Daruma Dojo is the gold standard. Highly recommended!

I've only been training here for a short time, but I've had an amazing experience so far. Coach…read moreMauricio is incredibly knowledgeable and takes the time to provide detailed instruction and personalized feedback that helps you improve every session. The other coaches are just as welcoming and supportive, creating an environment where everyone feels encouraged to learn and grow. The workouts are challenging, but it's perfect to keep you pushing. On top of that, the music selection is always great and keeps the energy high throughout class. Whether you're brand new to boxing or have experience, this gym is a great place to train and be part of a supportive community. There's also a parking garage around the corner that is 2-3 minute walk super easy and convenient!

Nice clean gym, adequate equipments for any boxing, mma training. I trained with Coach Mauricio and…read morehe's knowledgeable, humble, and personable guys. He has been correcting my bad habits, improve and fine tuning my techniques. The biggest obstacle for beginner is afraid of getting hurt and the coach helps me with my defense and how to return and counter an offense. Great experience and would recommend you give it a try. MMA is pretty fun with the right people.

We've had a fantastic experience at Tamayo's Judo. The Sensei is an excellent instructor, and he's…read morecreated a wonderful community of supportive parents. He's very good with the little ones and has many different levels of classes in addition to adult classes, including "Parent and Me" classes as well as classes for 4-6-year-olds to get them ready for transitioning to the more advanced classes. My son has learned a lot about Judo techniques, but also self-control, motivation, collaboration, teamwork, goal setting, and pushing himself outside of his comfort level. The Sensei is an amazing mentor and has tremendous patience and kindness for the littles. Highly recommended.

Great location in the heart of the bay area. The mats are super unique and have some sort of…read moresprings under them. It makes the throws much more comfortable. Coach Raul is a very experienced Judoka with a background in other grappling arts. I've learned so much from him and am excited to continue my Judo journey with him.

I enrolled my two children at Allstar last summer after visiting a couple other kung fu schools in…read morethe area. My daughter never really took to it, but my son absolutely loves his lessons. What I like best about this school is that it isn't as "militant" as some of the other studios. We had our kids take a trial class at another studio, and the instructors were hollering at them and slapping their hands when they didn't position themselves properly - all during the first 5 minutes of kung fu instruction of their lives . Now, I know that this could be considered normal kung fu teaching, and I will admit that my children were not bothered and the slaps didn't appear painful. But still, I wanted a more friendly atmosphere in which my children would learn. Allstar Kung Fu turned out to be just the place. The instructors were gentle but firm during the trial lesson. My son has now been taking lessons for about 9 months, and the instructors' demeanor and attitude continue to be positive. For younger students, such as my son, they take them time to walk them through new techniques. They give praise when appropriate, which helps encourage students to work harder. With the older students, who should be more focused and disciplined, they are definitely more strict and less tolerant of disruptive behavior, but they still make it a fun experience. Another thing that is nice about this school is that there is a lot of flexibility in the lesson times, at least for those in the early stages (yellow belt and below). Basically, you sign up for a certain number of lessons per week - for example, one lesson per week - and you can show up whenever there is an class that is appropriate to your child's (or your own) level. That is, you don't have to choose Saturday at 10:00 as your fixed lesson time - you can show up on Saturday morning on one week and Sunday afternoon the next. If you go out of town for a week, you can make up the missed class by simply going twice in a single week. At higher skill levels, there is less flexibility, probably because there are fewer students that persevere to these higher levels of achievement. The school is conveniently located in Sunnyvale, across the parking lot from a decent Asian grocery store (King's Seafood; see my review for that place) and across the street from Sprouts Farmers Market. So while your child is taking his or her lesson, you can get a bit of grocery shopping done.

My daughter joined the Kung Fu practice at the studio and really enjoys it. Since there are many…read moreboy and girl students & the masters are friendly, the studio provides a fun yet disciplined training environment. The Master runs the studios like a big family and everybody is very friendly and encouraging. Since the Sunnyvale location opened this year, she has been a regular there 2 times per week.

We have visited this Dojo two times a year for 5 years. Cal Kitura is the head instructor and is…read moreamazing. Usually there are 6 to 8 instructors and 30 plus students. Last time we visited, Han Sensei (Olympic silver) from Korea had a special class. The kids love it here. They have a rich history going back over 60 years. Palo Alto Judo also hosts one of the most prestigious Judo competition each year. It attracts the judo players that intend on advancing their Olympic careers as well as beginners. Judo here is great for beginners as well as intermediates and advanced. The class is separated into belt/abilities so no need to fear being over whelm

My son and I joined 6 months ago and we love practicing judo at this dojo. The instructors are…read morevery patient with kids (and adults). There are usually at least 10 kids, which allows them to practice with students the same age and ability. The club is a non-profit organization that started in 1952. After 70 years, they must be doing something right!

My girls have been going to Sunnyvale jiujitsu for about a year and have had a great experience…read more They're learning new skills in a fun and supportive environment. The coaches are great and the girls were even able to compete in a tournament less than a year in. The training has helped them develop strength, skills, and confidence. Jian and his team are great (amazing that his wife, Bri, knew my name basically from the very beginning as well) and run a great place for kids (and people of all ages) to learn jiujitsu.

I've been training for over a decade, on both coasts, and across multiple schools. I've trained at…read morecollege clubs, hobbyist gyms, and schools with world class competitors/instructors. When COVID hit and I had 2 kids, I took a hiatus from BJJ for a few years. When I returned to the sport, I knew I was going to be picky about where I chose my next gym to be. Joining Sunnyvale Jiu Jitsu was a no brainer for me. The vibes: immaculate. It's no surprise that with little to no marketing or online presence to date, they've been able to build up a solid base of students (both new as well as transfers from other schools) simply through word of mouth. It is a family friendly environment, with high skill and low ego. The quality of instruction: top notch. A lot of gyms you go to teach haphazardly at best. Jian probably spends more time thinking about the best way to structure his classes than he does on anything else. He's familiar with everyone's individual style and is always looking to help optimize their specific game. The training: tough. There are enough high level people here that I can go through an entire 2 hour open mat only rolling with brown and black belts if I wanted to.