I hate how the people are so mean and rude and also why to they just have to have bad service like…read morewhy?!!!!??

Elite Taekwondo Center is one of the Bay Area's foremost taekwondo studios, headed by one of the…read morecountry's most distinguished instructors, Grandmaster Kwangil Bae. If you're looking for quality instruction, ETC is a no-brainer. Grandmaster Bae is a world-class instructor, athlete, and international referee. He was recently appointed Head Coach of the AAU National Poomsae Team and is always up-to-date on the latest rules/regulations due to his connections at Kukkiwon (World Taekwondo Headquarters in Seoul). As such, you should expect only the highest level of instruction, as well as incredible opportunities for growth that can't be found at other Bay Area martial arts studios. Joining ETC (or GM Bae's other studio in Palo Alto) is akin to attending a top university like Harvard: you get as much out of it as the effort you put in, but your ceiling becomes much higher due to the availability of resources. For reference: I began training with GM Bae in Palo Alto as a blue belt, having transferred from another studio. Under his guidance, I reached the rank of 3rd-dan black belt, won medals at NorCal State Championships and the US Open, became a nationally-certified referee, and attended seminars led by world champions. GM Bae has an innate talent for teaching, and he has both an incredibly nuanced sense of the rhythm and aesthetics of poomsae (forms) and an intelligent understanding of sparring tactics. He designs exercises and describes physical motions in a way that is informative and easily accessible, and he truly embodies the spirit of taekwondo as not only a sport, but also a lifestyle. Elite Taekwondo Center offers classes for all ages and types of students, from beginners to nationally-ranked competitors. In terms of teaching style, GM Bae instills a strong sense of discipline and respect within his students, yet always makes sure to treat us with genuine warmth and care. There is a palpable sense of community and respect within the studio that has been crucial to my personal growth, and as an assistant instructor, it has been a pleasure to see even the youngest students mature into sharp, talented individuals. I really can't stress enough how valuable of an opportunity it has been to train with Master Bae - he is truly a one-of-a-kind instructor.

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.

Alberto came highly recommended by our judo coach and he didn't disappoint. We took our 6 years old…read moreto his jujitsu class and she loved it. She was shy at first but Alberto and the coaches knew how to make her feel comfortable. We were able to watch the whole class and it was so fun to be there. All the kids were laughing and having fun while learning jujitsu. The dojo was very clean and had a great vibe. After class we bought my daughter a Gi and we will be back next week for more!

ABOUT ME: I decided to take the class in order to prepare for a film role since the character is…read moreskilled in northern shaolin style kung fu and she is disciplined and powerful. I wanted to understand and get inside her mind (and also not have to rely on the stuntwomen all the time just in case they need shots of my face). However, I ended up deciding that this experience was not only good for her characterization but for my own personal self-improvement as well. As someone who has only begun strength and stunt training for the past month and a half, I very much enjoy how much this class has pushed me to expand upon my body's capabilities. ABOUT MASTER / SHIFU ZHAO: Watching Master Zhao instruct and demonstrate via YouTube or in person is very inspiring. He is clearly very good at his craft and very good at teaching it. He has the discipline that is expected of a martial arts instructor while also balancing it delicately with patience and encouragement towards students of all levels. He does not say much and gets right to the point during lessons but his mentality seems to echo these words, "I will teach anyone who is willing to learn." His passion for teaching the art shows when he acknowledges hard effort before pushing for perfection. I look forward to catching up to the class' cardio stamina and learning more from him. ABOUT THE CLASS: Speaking of cardio, it can be rigorous for those who don't already visit the gym regularly. I attend the MIXED-LEVEL adult classes on Saturdays and occasionally Wednesdays and I find the format of the class to work well for all tiers of belts/experience. There are movements and workouts the group does together and then there's enough individual attention to cater to different students, whether you're a blue belt or have no belt. Expect to get a good cardio workout, challenge, and expect to practice outside of class if you want to do well. Your body is capable of learning anything over time so it comes down to discipline, really. The instructor and his assistants lay out everything transparent for you so no excuses! Despite my rough on the edges mentality, I find it to be extremely fun and it is an encouraging environment to be in. All of my peers are helpful and friendly. Sylvia at the front desk is also very helpful and kind. I highly recommend this place for all ages.

Great place for learning kung fu, shifu pays individual attention and interest in every child. My…read moredaughter has learned so much from them. She came after a long break but shifu made sure she catches up and participates in elite competitions. I'm very happy with her progress. Very sincere people.

Be careful with Master Hung. After about 10 months, we…read moredecided to discontinue the lessons as I felt my child was not learning much. The day I requested to discontinue, that *same day* they charged me for the next full month, knowing fully well that we won't taking lessons. This was 5 days *before* the regular day they normally charge for the next month. When I requested a refund, I was told that it would be more convenient to sign up for summer camps. And if I chose to not go for summer camps, I could get a refund. We didn't end up signing up for summer camps and so I requested a refund after school started. The emails went unanswered. 3 reminders later, when I managed to get in touch with Master Hung, I am shown the rule-book and that it's too late to request refund for May.

After 4 years of gymnastics, my daughter (now 11), has been taking tae kwon do for over 3 years at…read moreTiger Martial Arts. My son (5 years old) started lessons July 2010. Each lesson begins with warm up stretching exercises and regular exercises like jumping jacks, push ups,and sit ups. Master Hung takes time to make sure they are doing these correct too. They do drills helpful for tae kwon do, like scissor kicking and knee hops. Then, they work on their different techniques for kicking and striking. My son likes the sparring the best. He uses the big blue shields that the studio provides. My daughter has her own bag of sparring gear, helmut, chest, arm, leg, and mouth guards. There is controlled sparring and sparring exercises, example, two lines of kids facing each other, 3 front kicks forward and 3 front kicks back. Contact is ok because of the shields and protective gear. This is also carefully controlled by Master Hung. Kids are not trying to hurt each other. Master will also teach kids to use double techniques and to stack their opponents. Kids also learn kata's for each of their belts. Kids get more belts than adults. They will go thru a white belt with a yellow stripe, orange stripe, and a black stripe. Then a yellow belt with different stripes. After passing a test, kids break a board with the technique for that belt and go thru the ceremony for the new belt. My kids enjoy taking classes once a week. Two classes would give them more practice and advanced them faster, but my son enjoys taking gymnastic classes (Goldstar Gymnastics) every week too and my daughter likes to take a different class, like ice skating or swimming. There is a fee for the uniform, each belt test, and later on, sparring gear. But the fees and equipment are comparable to other classes like gymnastics (leotard), swimming (swim suit), soccer (cleats), and ice skating. I like that this class is educational for my kids, teaches them courtesy, respect, and exercises them.

Pure Taekwondo has changed our son's self confidence in the best way possible. He started out as a…read moreshy kid who questioned his own ability, but at the same time was super self critical of himself. As he continued his journey, that same energy evolved to him wanting to consistently improve and advance. He would watch the more advanced belts in awe and would get excited knowing he could be at that level one day. The format and schedule of practice times are super flexible. We gave him the autonomy to choose when he would go to practice which promoted self motivation. He would come home practicing his forms and kicks and we could see the joy this sport gave him. In addition, he's become stronger physically. Little guy has a mini six pack and his push up form is pretty legit. Grandmaster Carlos does an incredible job managing and teaching kids from all levels. He understands every child has their own physical limits, but still sees the potential in each individual and pushes them to try to achieve it. His classes are very well run and consistently sets an atmosphere of discipline, respect, and focus. Last night our child broke his first board and advanced to yellow belt. We told him how proud of him we were, and for the first time ever, His response was "I'm proud of myself too". Core memory locked. Program is worth every penny (which honestly is very affordable)

My son has been coaching here for just over a year, and he loves it. He has developed a great…read morepassion for the sport, which speaks highly to the overall efficacy of Master Carlo as a coach. I would highly recommend this to any parent of 5-10 year old - who are looking to inculcate discipline, drive and passion in their younglings.

My five-year-old son started with Modern Training Academy mid 2024. We were introduced to the gym…read moreby family friends Darren and Grace. They have three boys that are simply amazing in the art form. We started to attend and immediately recognized the skill level of the coaches, MASTER Evon, Coach Scott, and Coach Mike. They have taught my kid the discipline of the art, the respectfulness that comes with their style of training and the patience and perseverance used to teach and groom to all those that attend! Myself and my wife feel especially blessed to have their coaches in our lives and have groomed my son to be excited, involved and experienced, especially in the art of taekwondo along with the other classes they offer that include jiu-jitsu and wrestling. If you are looking for a gym, whether you are a younger child, teenager or an adult, I highly recommend this gym. The coaches are very keen on teaching the students the art and appear to have a very experienced successful background from a high-level and have been coaching for many moons. If you are not a student and are interested in any of these art forms please check this gym out. It will help your kid to grow, get skilled in the art of self-defense and become more disciplined along with really having a great time. Never a dull moment at the gym! I really wanna commend MASTER Evon and Coach Scott along with Coach Mike for their dedication to the students as they never miss any time when it comes to practice and motivate the kids to be great and want to do well. Many thanks to Modern Training Academy...you gotta check it out.

All 3 of my boys train here tkd/BJJ/wrestling. I do the adult BJJ class. I appreciate the casual…read morevibe and the exceptional instruction. It's clear coach Bill and their team genuinely enjoy coaching. They're real students of the game studying tactics and strategy practiced by the best. I am grateful my family and I found this place. My kids have gained so much from being here. If you're considering joining foor either your or your children my wife and I give modern training academy the highest of recommendations.

This place is amazing! The instructors are really helpful, friendly, and knowledgeable. They walked…read moreme through the katas, sparring, and proper form/technique. Sensei Davis was kind enough to offer me two free classes. You can really tell he knows what he's doing. It's a really encouraging and welcoming community, and I'd highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn karate

My kids have been part of this dojo for nearly a decade. My son has greatly benefited from learning…read morekarate, gaining discipline, and improving his fitness, which has also helped him excel in his studies and boosted his self-confidence. When my daughter was preparing to head out of state for college, she took self-defense lessons at Kyoshin-Ryu Karate Dojo under the guidance of Sensei Alden Mather. These lessons were invaluable in boosting her self-confidence and enhancing her awareness. The classes were tailored to her schedule, teaching her not only practical self-defense techniques but also fostering a deeper sense of self-assurance. The lessons at Kyoshin-Ryu are always structured yet personalized, catering to both beginners and those looking to refine their skills. Each session is filled with enthusiasm and a genuine commitment to teaching martial arts as a means of self-improvement. I highly recommend the dojo whether you're interested in getting fit, learning martial arts, or improving your self-awareness and self-defense techniques. Beyond physical techniques, Kyoshin-Ryu instructors emphasize the importance of mental resilience and situational awareness, skills that are crucial both on and off the mat. I believe, these lessons not only better prepared my kids but also instilled a sense of discipline and focus that they carry with them today. I highly recommend Kyoshin-Ryu Karate Dojo and Sensei Alden Mather to anyone seeking to learn self-defense in a supportive and empowering environment. Whether you're a beginner or looking to advance your skills, this dojo offers a welcoming community and expert instruction that will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact.

Small class sizes ensure my son learns the correct form for every move. The instructors are kind…read moreand patient yet firm, and they teach the kids to have respect for themselves as well as others. My son gets a good workout each class, and he is learning important skills. Such a great place.

We absolutely love this program! We joined in 2023 and my two boys (ages 9 and 11) are thrilled to…read morego to classes four days a week. Master Carlos is magic with children and is not only an excellent Tae Kwon Do teacher, but also acts as a mentor to the kids. He works wonders with kids of all ages and abilities; I have seen more than one child come in with no natural ability and become self-confident, morivated and skilled. I cannot recommend it more.