Great school. The instructors are very patient and knowledgeable. They helped my daughter with…read moreconfidence and discipline. She now does well in school and knows how to stop the bullies at school with the mind , not the the hands. Elina and Sifu Meng are great teachers

My son has been here for a year but almost no progress. The school closes for about 2 months (…read moreaccumulative) in the past year.

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.

This place is the real deal. I consider myself lucky to have found them and for them to allow me to…read moretrain here as opposed to the opposite. Everyone here is super friendly, encouraging and engaging. My GF and I are both white belts (I've done a karate / MMA style for a year or so 35 years ago and Shaolin Kung Fu for a couple years 20 years ago) and this is my GF's first time trying Martial Arts. Most of the students are higher level, but we find this to be a plus as we are always learning. We have a new student joining us (we are about 2 months into it) Monday and are also excited for them to join us. This is a small "family" dojo. You will not regret the measly 130.00 for their 8 lesson introduction series (seems they may have a family discount for groups, please check with them). Although they allow sweats for the introduction series, personally I prefer training in a Gi and you can get great introduction ones on Amazon for 80 bucks or from the Sensei for about 70 at the school. Please, don't come here and dilute my training time :D

Love this school. The high ranks keep every lesson fun and safe. There is always something new…read moreand practical. This school practices traditional Danzan Ryu jujitsu, the stuff Samuari used for hundreds of years. It has taken me years to find a school as fun as this after studying under Prof Castoldi and Prof Cahill. Good for all ages and abilities. My family started lessons!

The two shifus put up with a lot especially from the younger kids but they're patient and…read morestructured. Also handsome according to my mother in law. Decent price and if you can make earlier weekday or late weekend classes it's not too crowded. Sometimes in the summer it's like 4 kids in a class. They basically do like 15 mins of conditioning/warm up and then the rest of class practicing motions. My younger one hates repeating the motions and just wants to punch things but he does a pretty good job.

Amazing shifus that teach exceptionally, very clean place and pretty big. The uniforms and shoes…read morefit very well with many sizes and the payment plan is really nice.

Okaigan Dojo in Cupertino is an exceptional place for kids to learn Karate. Sensei Mary Crawford is…read moreremarkable and is known for building a strong teacher-student bond, providing the exact structured guidance my daughter needs to thrive both on and off the mat. We especially appreciate the focus on all-around learning. Beyond standard classes, the Dojo offers exposure through specialized seminars and service hour opportunities that build character. For those looking to progress further, the competitive opportunities are excellent and well-supported. I have seen incredible growth in my daughter's confidence and discipline since she has been training here. If you want a Dojo that elevates the craft of karate with character-building and leadership, I highly recommend Okaigan and Sensei Mary.

Okaigan Karate has been one of the best things we could have done for our daughter…read more Before we began there, our daughter, still 4 at the time, would struggle to be in activities on her own without one of us there by her side at all times. When we began Okaigan, we were hesitant about the policy where no parents are allowed inside the dojo during class times but the instructors explained to us very clearly that doing so would not only be a distraction to our daughter and other students but would also prevent her from developing confidence and independence. They were very helpful and clear in explaining what happens in class, what we could expect as far as the challenge for our daughter in being on her own, and ways they work with the kids to help comfort them. Within a few classes, our daughter was not only comfortable in her karate classes but to our surprise, in ALL of her other activities. We no longer had to sit by her side and watched over the next few months as her confidence and independence grew. It's been a year now and she loves her karate classes. She works hard for every belt and they're not definitely not bought or given to them. It's clear they have to be earned. She loves the instructors there, we're amazed by how much she has developed over this time, and it tells us a lot that out of all of her activities, karate is the only one that she has wanted to keep pursuing consistently.

Great Martial Arts Academy! I joined about one and a half years ago, and I'm learning fast. Highly…read morerecommend for people wanting to learn Taekwondo.

My son has been learning here since a very long time. Master Hong & Instructor Chloe are amazing…read more Master Hong is always kind to all the kids and parents. He has a lot of patience and respects everyone. He also teaches kids how to become a good citizen and a better human being.

Dream Kick Taekwondo is a great place for kids. My child has…read moreimproved a lot in confidence and physical strength. The instructors are very kind, professional, and truly care about each student. I'm very happy with the training and would highly recommend this place.

As a former member of the competition team at DreamKick Taekwondo, I strongly advise against…read morebringing your child here. The training environment is not just strict--it's toxic. The female master, in particular, is incredibly biased, favoring Korean students and those who naturally excel at Taekwondo while mistreating those who struggle. If your child isn't immediately talented or doesn't fit into her standards, they will be bullied, belittled, and disrespected. She will pick on the students and call them out in front of the whole class. She is very unprofessional and petty, seeking revenge on students if they don't live up to her expectations. If your child is not in the competition team/doesn't show enough "potential", they will get little to no attention in class compared to the others. Beyond the blatant favoritism, the physical demands here are excessive and dangerous. Many team members develop hip, hamstring, and knee pain due to the extreme overtraining and lack of proper care for injuries, yet they still pressure you to train, ignoring the pain and the risk of long-term damage. The female master forces kids into oversplits by stepping on them with her slippers, continuing even when they yell in pain or start crying. Instead of focusing on proper technique, injury prevention, and recovery, they push students past their limits with no concern for their well-being. Additionally, the environment is filled with toxic comparison. The female master frequently compares the "bad" kids to the "good" kids, making struggling students feel ashamed instead of encouraging them to improve. Many team members leave because of this mistreatment, yet the masters don't just let them go--they gossip, mock, and insult those who leave, proving how little they actually care about their students beyond their performance. If you want your child to develop a love and passion for Taekwondo in a safe and supportive environment, look elsewhere. Please do not send your children to Dreamkick.

Everything about this studio is managed badly. We have the studio on Thursday nights, and there is…read morealmost always no one around to let us in. We always have to get in through another studio at the back and open this studio from inside. When I checked to see if anyone from the management is around, there is no one available, nor is there a phone number that works. They are awful. The studio itself is nice, but they have a very flimsy separator between the 2 studios. If there is music playing in the adjacent studio, we have to shout to get our voice across. For the amount they charge for the studio, I wish they were better at managing stuff like this. It is not acceptable that you are not reachable to paying customers who need your assistance!

Master Shudong Li is a wonderful teacher. Not only is he accomplished, but he is truly dedicated to…read moresharing taichi and wushu with adults and children alike. Considering how busy his teaching schedule is, and how many years he's been teaching despite his relatively young age, it is a marvel how he is fully "present" in each class and makes every minute worthwhile for the students. You never get the sense that he is jaded or stale. Mater Li is inspiring, explains and demonstrates clearly, has a great sense of humor, nudges the students toward constant improvement, but never humiliates anyone or puts anyone on the spot. He is, of course, most comfortable with Chinese, but always follows up with enough English to get his points across. I have checked out or experienced other taichi and wushu classes, for myself and my child. Some teachers are arrogant and intolerant; others mistake abuse for setting high standards; still others are given to hype or overemphasize competitiveness. They don't bring out the best in the students. In terms of the positive energy generated, and the teacher's own sense of ethics, I would say Master Li's school is absolutely the best in this area.

Sunnyvale MAA is so much more than a martial arts after-school activity for our family. It has…read morebecome a true community that we are incredibly grateful to be a part of. From the very first visit, something felt different here. Nearly three years ago, I had explored another martial arts studio in Sunnyvale, and the experience felt impersonal and it just didn't feel like a place where my kids would truly belong. I didn't experience any of that at Sunnyvale MAA -- not on day one, and not now. What sets this place apart is the people. The instructors and the entire team here genuinely care -- not just about teaching technique, but about every single child as an individual. I have two kids enrolled, and I'm consistently amazed that all of the instructors know little details about both of my children, even the ones who haven't directly taught them. That level of attentiveness and personal connection is rare, and it speaks volumes about the culture and team have built here. My oldest started hesitantly, he told me he only wanted to make it to his second belt. That was his ceiling. Fast forward almost two years, and he is now setting his sights on black belt. That transformation didn't happen by accident. It happened because the instructors strike such a thoughtful balance of discipline, encouragement, and genuine support. They push the kids to grow while making sure they feel safe, seen, and celebrated along the way. Watching his confidence soar has been one of the most rewarding things I've witnessed as a parent. And the impact is contagious. My youngest spent nearly a year watching her brother thrive on that mat, and she couldn't wait any longer, she recently joined the Little Dragons program and absolutely loves it. Seeing both my kids light up when they walk through those doors, excited to see their friends and their KJNs, says everything. The community here is welcoming, inclusive, and warm in a way that is hard to put into words but impossible to miss. If you are on the fence about enrolling your child, come watch a class. You'll feel it immediately, and so will they.

My daughter started at SVMAA when she was 5, in the Little Dragons class. We initially enrolled her…read moreto help build her body confidence, and now, four years later at age 9, she's gained so much more: confidence in herself, perseverance, and discipline. She's now part of the performance team, where her teachers continue to push her growth not just in martial arts skills, but in teamwork, mental resilience, and leadership. The care that the owner and instructors put into their school is clear in everything they do. The teaching is structured and challenging, with high expectations, yet always warm, kind, and adaptable to each child's needs. The curriculum and expectations are clearly communicated, and the class schedule is very flexible, with multiple sessions offered for each level throughout each day to ensure that each family can choose the schedule that works best for them. I'm so grateful for SVMAA. It's an incredible community that has brought out the best in my daughter.