Earlier this week, a friend joined me at Studio86 as her first jiu jitsu class. We drilled some…read morehalf guard and back-take techniques. She was super impressed with the class. We appreciate Coach Yukito's great support to help with new comers and friends to be introduced to this amazing martial art.

I took three No Gi classes after coming in with previous athletic experience, but limited martial…read morearts experience (some kickboxing and krav maga). I found the classes challenging to navigate as someone newer to martial arts, and I personally did not feel that I received the level of attention and care I was looking for as a new student. Based on what I experienced during those classes, I felt more time, instruction and feedback was directed toward more experienced members of the studio. At other studios, I personally felt more immediately noticed, supported and positively reinforced in my progress and attendance. I gave the studio a few tries before forming an opinion and ultimately decided that Studio 86 was not a good fit for me. Note The business owner has referenced legal matters in their responses. I disagree with their characterization of those events, and it does not accurately reflect my experience or the documentation I have. These interactions occurred with him only (no students or instructors) after I declined to change or remove my review, which was not a 5-star review.

If I could give 10 stars to CMA, I would…read more I initially joined this gym in the early times of the COVID pandemic (remember when we thought this would be over in two weeks?) because it was the only place I could find that was hosting outdoor classes and making a conscientious effort to safely support their members during that stressful time. Dave and Joe are exceptional coaches and are truly passionate about Muay Thai. Prior to finding CMA, I trained at large and well known gyms (e.g., AKA, El Niño) and these places do not come close to the high level of instruction I've received at CMA. The classes at CMA are a perfect balance of technical instruction and fitness - with an emphasis on improving your individual skill set and providing tailored feedback to help you achieve your goals. Dave and Joe have worked hard to provide a welcoming environment to all - no bro-culture here! Whether you're a beginner wanting to learn something new while also getting a work-out or a competitive martial artist, this is the place to be. 10/5, would recommend.

I trained at CMA for almost three years. I had no prior Muay Thai experience and felt welcome from…read moremy first day. There's a variety of instructors and classes that are all great. Private lessons offerings are available as well if you really want to ramp up, I learned a ton and the sport is something I'd recommend to anybody if you're on the fence about picking up a new hobby. Only leaving because of a move, but I'll still drop in if I'm ever back in the City. I highly recommended

Martial Art school my grandkids are enrolled in!…read more Offers kids as well as adults a structured practical self-defense in a positive environment!!! They offer a free 2-week trial!! Membership available as well as classes and programs !!!

We've been coming to North Bay Jujitsu for almost a year now, and we couldn't be happier with our…read moreexperience. Our son has been training with Coach Paolo since the beginning, and we truly appreciate his coaching style. He is firm yet kind, patient yet structured. I find it to be a perfect balance between discipline and fun, while creating a positive environment where kids can thrive and grow in both skill and confidence. More recently, Coach Sonia began assisting with our son's Monday class, and she has been a fantastic addition.

Hanshi Sharifi is a gem in the Shotokan world. He trained under Hidetaka Nishiyama, a student of…read moreShotokan founder Gichin Funakoshi. His unique blend of Iranian heritage, karate, Qi Gong, and Sufism, means every training offers new insights to young, old, and in-between! I offer my humble perspective from a karate journey that began as a green belt in Wado Ryu under Hidetaka Abe sensei. I received my Shodan from sensei Frank Hashimoto of the JKA in 1984, and after a 20 + year break, I found Hanshi Sharifi in 2007. Starting over as a white belt was hard for me, but in retrospect, was a wise decision on Hanshi's part. I have my Yondan now, and continue to train with Hanshi Sharifi. I am not exaggerating when I say I learn something new every time I have the privilege of stepping into his dojo. Please visit us at The Church on the Corner in Albany to experience Shotokan karate in its traditional form!

I've been studying with Sensei Sharifi since 1989, and he still teaches every class himself. This…read moreis not squishy Berkeley martial arts-- we work hard!-- but I really appreciate Sensei's empahsis on karate as a means-to-an-end where the end is spiritual development. As if becoming a better karate practicioner is simply a good way to become a better human being. But thankfully he doesn't say things like this in class-- while he's hassling you about your sloppy technique, it's clear his underlying goal is self-improvement, not just knowing where to put your fist or foot. Sensei Sharifi clearly loves his students and loves what he does. He's especially good with kids... as close to Mr Miyagi as you're going to find. :-) Not a lot of sparring until you get to higher belts, but if you like working on mental and physical focus through practice (and more practice, and more practice) this is a good place.

Amazing facility, always clean, and outstanding coaches. I started my jiu jitsu journey here, and…read morefell in love with the gentle art thanks to everyone at the gym. If you're new to the sport or even have years of experience, I highly recommend this place!

Such a wonderful place for my kiddo. He is now 4 and asks about going all the time!…read more Owners are friendly and a great location.

I just love this club. While open to any style of Karate, the core discipline is Wado style…read moreKarate-do. Sensei Abe, a 7th Dan black belt, founded the UC Karate club more than 30 years ago, and has been teaching ever since. There are several other teaching blackbelts, too, providing varied instruction. Classes balance basic training, kata and kumite, with an emphasize on good form and efficient movement. The club is open to everybody, and part of UC Berkeleys Martial Arts program. If you're at all interested in learning this fascinating martial art, you can check it out for free for two weeks before having to join.

The Cal Berkeley Karate Club is great! The club is open to anyone, has a great sense of community…read moreand a long tradition. We train all ranks together which gives you a good idea of how skills will progress over time. If you have an interest in martial arts, this is a great place to start (or, like me, continue training). The hardest part is showing up... so check the http://karate.berkeley.edu website for the room number in hearst gym and schedule.

I really enjoy the authentic traditional training. The instructors are volunteers sharing the…read moreknowledge they learned from those who did the same. Part of Shotokan Karate of America. I strongly recommend going and trying them out. All levels welcome, even if you haven't tried martial arts before.

Immediately felt like family when I joined this dojo. I practiced a different form of karate for…read moreyears but took a break for a decade, and this was the first place I returned to and I'm glad I did. The workouts are great, and it being an older dojo, you can tell that there are years of wisdom to learn from. Also, the small class size lends itself well to a personal and thorough teaching style. I would strongly recommend this dojo to anyone who is interested in karate.

i've been training here almost 3x a week for about 2 months. This is my 3rd jiu jitsu school due to…read morehaving to move around, but fortunately, I'm finally settled and Carley Gracie's academy has also turned out to be my favorite in a rather short time. The academy is located on the 2nd floor of a Tae Kwon Do gym so it may be hard to find at first. There's a dozen friendly students and a lively instructor in Carley. Carley Gracie is a master red belt and his teachings are as technical as they are fun. He's got a very unique approach to teaching Jiu Jitsu through his extensive decades of experience and i'm totally diggin the fact that he wears white Hanes socks on the mats, lol. Class is only MWF, 630-8pm. Membership is either by the month or a 3-month deal, no initiation fees or contracts or any other gimmicks. You simply pay through a Square credit card reader (which I love, as most gyms make you go through a lot of bs to sign up or cancel) and you can just stop paying when you need to pause or resume payments at any time. This is a great place to learn or improve your jiu jitsu game, no matter what belt level you're at

Carley Gracie is a king among men. The guy is such a sweetheart that it makes you forget all about…read morethe fact that you're learning how to kick people's asses. I've been to a few jiu-jitsu academies and this one was by far the best. My experience with the other academies were mainly getting my ass kicked. The students there seemed to be more interested in building up their own egos by destroying the new students rather than fostering an atmosphere of teamwork and collective improvement. It all comes back to the instructor. The instructor sets the tone for the academy and, in Carley's case, the tone is one of respect and altruism -- you help the new guys out and don't push anyone past their limit. The Carley Gracie academy is great for beginners but also offers plenty of challenge for advanced students. I've seen some of the most talented jiu-jitsu guys here and they always do well at tournaments. Another thing worth noting is that Carley Gracie is one of the highest ranked BJJ practitioners on the planet -- an 9th degree black belt AKA red belt. According to his bio, he has a lifetime undefeated record even counting private family matches against other Gracies. I believe it too. It just goes to show you that some of the baddest dudes on the planet can also be some of the nicest.