As someone who had a kid that was directly in the black belt group discussed below I can very…read moreconfidently say that that review couldn't be more off. I have been at this studio 4-5 times a week with both of my kids since 2021. It has been a place where my kids went during a horrible chapter of their life and found a sense of strength, community, support and so much more. Mr. B is fair. Period. You earn your advancement at this studio. You have good days and you have bad days and he makes you earn everything. Watching my kids and how they've grown and matured here is so special and so much of that is because of Mr. B and how much he cares. He does not need to do this - but every single day he shows up for all the kids that come here. It's no coincidence he has a perfect yelp score outside of one person. Imagine leaving the studio, going to another so your kid could get fast tracked to a black belt and then well over a year later still coming back to yelp to try and damage a business and reputation of a person. This place is better without people like that. Good riddance. Could not recommend this place more. Send your kids here and reap all the benefits of something very special.

The rating for this review is based on service received from here between May 2023 to April 2025…read more We were here since 2016 but I am talking about a huge change of quality of service here. If you are anybody "like me", they are suggesting you to look else where. Unlike the cowards who can't even show their face when writing critical reviews to my previous true review, you can check my name and general information on this review platform and figure out if you are like me. We left this place because there was no advanced karate content, favoritism and exclusionary remarks. Thanks for validating my points. I have no intention for any parent who read this to find out and go to where my karate kids went. They don't even have to do the same style of karate or do karate at all. And their current school doesn't need any promotion. But I am writing this to tell you, a real reader, this place has been a nightmare for my family since May 2023. If I were a new parent looking for karate for my kids as an extracurricular activity, I would have turned away based on the reviews alone: focus is not karate and too much "cheese". On May 4th, 2023, one of my child, who was a "fast track"( based on the short intervals between the last few rank upgrades) junior black belt took a regular class here and ended up with two broken bones. The drill that lead to the injury was reckless and there was no safety measures whatsoever. Besides the many things that were going for my child from school we also had invested thousands in a big karate tournament that was coming up too. My child went through extreme pains, a long time for physical recovery and an even longer time for mental recovery after consistently being reminded that was just an " accident" by the management here. Can something that is easily avoided be called an accident? I don't think so. My child forgave the main instructor who was not the acting instructor that caused the injury and was nice to my kids at the time. But he was the management who didn't have safety measures in place. The drill was never done again. I guess that's an improvement. My child is a true karate practitioner who only wanted to learn more karate after recovery. But nothing much was taught for the next three years towards the next belt level. My other child who is three years younger was up to testing for the junior black belt but was told she would test with two other kids who were a whole belt level lower( clear show of favoritism), surprisingly in a few months' time. That never happened because as my last bit of trust for this place was running thin the main instructor decided to completely shift his focus to anything that's related to himself. People change, we accept that, and we can just wish them good luck and leave. Cancellations are supposed to be easy, but the management decided to set up a meeting with me and my youngest in attendance just to show me how upset and frustrated they were and perhaps to humiliate me if possible. This place is nowhere close to perfect. Reviews are biased. Some reviewers post their reviews on their social media to ask for "likes". Most people I know don't write reviews. Take note if you are looking for a good karate school that's not just for dress up or ego boost, look into all instructors' credentials, intermediate to advanced class quality, and how the management handles critical feedback. If yelp moderator is looking: stick to the true spirit of reviews. This is round two of me writing a true review to this place. Round one I ignited the mob mentality here and most reviews are deleted including mine but I see that I am still attacked here, so I guess I have to give them the target for their hate and ignorance. Have a great day!

Very good school, experienced instructors and comfortable atmosphere. The new location is larger…read moreand more convenient.

I remember when I lived in Woodland Hills I felt like this was one of my homes my family especially…read moremaster Luke Crosby and master Estrada they were like family. I had privet lessens with Estrada for Muay Thai he pushed me but it was the most fun I ever had. When I had to leave to move to Georgia it was very sad because they were like family to me I don't know how the business is doing but I hope it is doing well and I wish everyone who works there to be safe. From James W. Roe

My son and daughter have been taking classes at Hojati Karate Academy for a year now, and I am so…read moregrateful we finally found the perfect martial arts school for our family. The dojo is bright, clean, and welcoming, and the quality of instruction is truly outstanding. Sensei Bruce combines the discipline and rigor we were looking for with a genuine care for each student's growth. He wants the best for our kids, and it shows in every class. My children love his teaching, and we've seen wonderful progress in both their confidence and skills. I wholeheartedly and warmly recommend Sensei Bruce and Hojati Karate Academy to any family looking for an excellent karate program.

I've had the pleasure of being Bruce's student almost thirty years ago. Due to an injury, I stopped…read moretraining back then and finally got the will to start again. I found Bruce and started back and couldn't be happier. He is knowledgeable, patient, experienced and truly connects with each students individual needs and capabilities. I'm so happy I found him again and look forward to class each time!

Green lights, gold medals, and lots of fun!…read more I have two kids whose only real sport is karate--the karate purists--not that they haven't tried anything else but they simply prefer karate. Karate fits their aptitudes and attitudes. They came to Johnny Gyro Karate at advanced levels. My teen son had a first degree junior black belt for almost three years and my pre-teen daughter was a fresh red-black belt. They both wanted more in their karate journeys--more karate techniques, more karate culture and more of the karate nuance in between. By community reputation and publicly available online information, Johnny Gyro Karate is the only active Tang Soo Do school in Conejo Valley area that has genuinely structured advanced curriculum with current students progressing through black belt degree advancements. After keeping my kids here for over a year, I can verify that this studio consistently delivers top caliber teaching which yield high quality karate students, adults and children alike, at all levels. Who are the instructors? Mr. Johnny Gyro( TSD rank 9th degree) and his beloved wife Mrs. Noel Gyro( TSD rank 7th). Check out their unparalleled credentials on their website. People say the Gyros are "super nice", and we completely agree. They treat everybody with the same love and respect and give every student the same attention in class. What stands out even more is their humility -- despite their decades of experience and accomplishments, they do not seek to make themselves the center of attention. They are two lifelong black belt martial artists who live and breathe karate since they found it. They chose to make an honest living through operating a karate studio. They have always prioritized karate teaching over profit. Maximizing each student's martial arts potential is their goal. The Gyros's range, depth, and wisdom carry their students a long way. Mr. Gyro comes from a time when sparring without gear was a norm and when tournaments focused more on quality martial arts VS. performance&affiliation. Each trophy displayed in the studio tells a great story. My kids are incredibly honored and proud to learn martial arts from such a legend. Mrs. Gyro teaches some classes and takes care of the management. I remember reaching out to JGK on a Saturday afternoon and not expecting reply until Monday or Tuesday. But Mrs. Gyro replied me within two hours with every single question answered in details, and she even answered my doubts that I couldn't put in words. That's just the level of communication she has. I also love how she keeps everything in perfect order! So, how is the karate? In addition to teaching TSD traditional forms and etiquette diligently, Mr. Gyro incorporates several styles of martial arts into his curriculum and created many one-steps, three-steps, kicking defenses and self defense techniques. These are proven to be practical, effective and visually delightful. Mr. Gyro guides students to understand martial arts and not just practice it. The students here are dedicated , enthusiastic and make rank advancement at their own pace. Belt progression is never the end goal, but it is definitely a good measurement for growth. My daughter earned her first degree black belt in half a year, and my son earned his second degree black belt in a little over a year. It is important to mention JGK's black belt tests are highly rigorous. It takes exceptional skills, consistent dedicated training, and lots of courage to pass. My kids take about 4-6 classes each in a week and practice on their own at home. That beautiful certificate is hard earned! Same thing with karate tournaments. Mr. Gyro has advised his students " you are in competition with yourself all the time." My kids work hard to make improvements and have both got to the golds in multiple tournaments after being guided by Mr. Gyro. Johnny Gyro Karate is welcoming, safe, productive, positive and overall immensely rewarding. We recommend this karate studio to all who want to start or continue with their karate training.

​I've been a loyal member of Johnny Gyro Karate since 2009. I first started as a proud parent…read morewatching my son earn his Black Belt through hard work and discipline. I was so impressed that I eventually signed up myself, and I haven't looked back since! ​What makes this studio unique: ​Direct Instruction: Every class is taught by Hanshi John Gyro and Master Noel Gyro. They don't just run the business; they are on the mat connecting with every student, from Pee-Wees to seniors, regardless of skill level or limitations. ​World-Class Pedigree: Hanshi John is a 9th Degree Black Belt and IFKA Hall of Famer with over 44 years of experience. His background in Tang Soo Do, Boxing, and Hapkido ensures you get a truly well-rounded education in self-defense and situational awareness. ​Community: I've seen youth students build lifelong friendships here, with many returning to train even after college. It's a culture of respect, confidence, and excellence. ​If you want to get in great shape, learn to protect your family, and train under a legend of the martial arts world, there is no other place in the Conejo Valley I'd recommend.

I've trained with Master Z for a decade and learned a lot. He's patient with both the kids as well…read moreas those of us a bit older. It's a great work out if you are looking for something different. The hour will fly by and you'll learn how to defend yourself! Couldn't ask for better. The facility is clean and spacious.

Zach is the best martial arts/boxing instructor in the Valley. He's trained me for over a decade…read more He's as good with kids as he is with a 50 year old. Professional and always prompt, I highly recommend him.

I'm sure there are more places like this. However after 2 years of searching this is where my kids…read morewill stay. Here my son is starting to understand that everythign worth having in live comes with hearth, dedication and hard work. This is the place where personal care and attention come before business. I'd recommend this place to anybody but keep in mind - it takes a few (tough) months before your kid likes it.

Both my kids have been going for about a year to EMAs Karate Dojo. This place is no joke. True…read morediscipline, consistency and character building. It's a great work out too even for my little one who just turned 6. We used to go to a different local Karate center and after we switched kids showed improvement soon after. Sensei Sholin leads his classes by example!

The name and location may have changed, but the training is still the same. Formally under the…read morename Rifkin Professional Karate Center and the tutelage of Master Rifkin (who moved to restart another studio), the dojo now trains under the new name Anderson Professional Karate Center led by Sensei Anderson. The curriculum is the same and belt testing is overseen by Master Rifkin and Sensei Anderson. Having moved from the former location, the new studio is brand new and overlooks the beautiful hillside with its second story view. Sensei Anderson hasn't skipped a beat in taking over the dojo. There's an intensity and passion in Mr. Anderson that drives us to do better for ourselves. Mr. Anderson has a keen eye for detail and corrections. If there's a strike/block that's just not working out, he knows exactly how to correct it and breaking it down for you to follow. Sounds simple, but it's a skill not many instructors have. There's a focus on details in class. An important philosophy is, power from technique. With the proper technique, a 120lbs woman can easily drop a 200lbs man with a single blow. Our curriculum, developed by Master Rifkin, is based on the strikes and blocks from traditional Karate, TKD, and kickboxing; our self-defense from Aikido and Jiu Jitsu. Throw in a few push-ups and sit-ups and you have well rounded martial artists with the tools capable of defense. This is not a "fight" school. Yes, we spar. We dont fight. We are disciplined martial artists with skills to fight. Some of our techniques, derived from centuries of knowledge passed down. It's a big distinction in the mentally of our students. We come in ready to learn, not ready to fight. Come by, check out the studio at the new location, talk to Sensei Anderson and see if this studios right for you.

Anderson Professional Karate incorporates different styles in martial arts which is what I really…read morelike. My 2 boys are learning so much from Self defense class to kickboxing and tae kwon do. Their teaching is no joke and you earn the belt with hard work and dedication. Sensei Anderson and the rest of the instructors are very approachable and understanding and they are especially great working with the kids. We are very lucky to be a part of this family And my boys love training here!

If you want a personal experience this is your dojo. Intimate setting with small classes, offered…read moreto toddlers, children, and adults. We brought our son here and not only did he get lessons in self defense, but also in respect, tradition and even nutrition! Very impressed by Sensei David's patience (especially with children) and his ability to calm them and keep them focused. I would definitely recommend Fox of Peace if you want that more personalized experience and not the typical self defense classes built for huge groups which make it very difficult to give individual training and attention.

Sensei David is the best! He really cares about his students and treats them like family. He makes…read moreyou feel confident in your own skin knowing you can help yourself in time of need. He teaches the history behind what you learn. It teaches discipline, focus, confidence, meditation and self awareness. Also, he is all about family by having dojo movie night for the students and promoting parties. The students really all come together and work together as a family. This place is just the best!