My daughter has been going here for a while now, it's a really great place. The sensei's really…read morecare about helping the kids grow in more than just karate (but also karate). Gaining confidence, discipline, friendships, body awareness, mental and physical strength... it's been amazing to watch the journey. A major benefit of this dojo is that there are several different sensei's all with their own unique styles so in the end you're left with a wonderful balance. I've also taken the Women's self defense course here and highly recommend. It helped me learn some really great quick and easy techniques on how to fight back if the worst happens.

Casey is great! He's kind and patient, and I highly recommend Gilbert Defense Arts for your child…read morethat wants to learn Karate.

This is an excellent martial arts academy that I would highly recommend. My son just turned four…read moreand we enrolled him, and he has been learning quickly. He has gained more focus, attention, and is following along quite well. The instructors are top notch and they take the time to make sure each student understands the moves and routines. My son is excited to go to every class and is really enjoying it. Great for discipline, focus, and character building, not just for self defense!

We tried three other dojos with our five year old before settling on APSK. Even with kids as young…read moreas my daughter APSK teaches actual martial arts skills not just playing around. The classes always go for a full hour with no time wasted getting organized beforehand etc. The student/teacher ratio is appropriate and even with a big class they have enough instructors around so that my kid won't spend most of the class waiting for her turn. APSK is setup so that multiple skill levels can come to class on the same days at the same time. If you have siblings both enrolled they can take class together rather than having to wait through each other's class. APSK teaches the full package. They work life lessons into the program and try to demonstrate proper discipline, responsibility and respect along with defense techniques. My daughter isn't a discipline problem but I still really appreciate the extra help and lessons that have been part of her training. ASPK isn't just a karate class for my daughter. It's a community of role models and friends that she loves hanging out with. They have holiday and birthday parties, they offer after school and summer programs, they interact with parents, and they are the best options if your looking to get your kids (or yourself) into martial arts.

Great place, newly remodeled. The teachers are very knowledgeable and great with kids…read more My daughter goes here and loves it. They teach about stranger danger, defense moves and respect. I would recommend this dojo to any parent out there.

I stopped here to check on pricing, progresses, and their belt program…read more We currently take my girlfriend's son to a different place and based on what I see sometimes with belt promotion, I sometimes wonder about the validity of their program. I want our guy to advance and promote through the belts but I also want him to be legit. Unfortunately they were closed and I wasn't sure of the setup as I checked it through the front doors but o will call them during the week to get the info I need.

If you're new come here. If you're experienced come here. I've been training going on 2 years and…read moremy 1 month being here, my jiu jitsu game has leveled up tremendously. I feel like I've never been pushed harder to be better than when I visit this Carlson school. And the mindset that the Coaches teach along the way gives you the mentality to not just be a better Jiu Jitsu practitioner, but a better husband, father, and person. Thank you to Coach Alex and his crew

At 63 years old (just hit 64- at the time of this review) and powering through the ups and downs of…read moreCerebral Ataxia- shrinkage of the brain stem, causing balance issues- I have learned to persevere through virtually any challenge that comes my way. (Carlson Gracie) Jiu Jitsu has been my strength and inspiration for many years now. It's what keeps me happy, reasonably healthy, humble and grounded.

I come in for open mat on Sundays. Prof Jimi's was very welcoming and the people that train on…read moreSunday am are very friendly. I really enjoy the rolls, but unfortunately I'm moving out of area and will miss the people here a lot. I highly recommend to train here!

We love Gracie Jiu Jitsu Mesa! My daughter has been taking classes for almost a year and has grown…read moreso much in her skills, but more importantly in her self-discipline and her confidence. She loves being part of this community and her teachers have been so supportive and encouraging of her development.

We love, love, LOVE Arizona Goju Karate school!…read more We attend the Tiny Tigers class every week, and we see a difference in our son. Sensei Steve teaches the children respect, manners, coordination, strength building, endurance, discipline, vocabulary, history, and they are having fun all the while! My son can't wait to go back to class. My five year old says to say "Sensei Steve is the best of the best!" We highly recommend his classes to every age and ability. I have also taken adult self-defense classes from the sensei before. He instructs equally well to adults and children alike. Every class is uplifting, inspiring, and challenging. Sensei Steve is no doubt a very gifted instructor, born to share this art with the world. Thank you, Sensei Steve, for sharing with us your passion.

From the owner: Teaching Martial Arts to Men, Women, and Children of all ages…read more Specializing in American Goju Karate we teach: - Balance - Respect - Coordination - Self Control - Self Defense - Self Confidence - Physical Fitness

BEST Karate Instructors in Arizona!…read more My wife and I signed our 3 kids (ages 4, 5, 8) up for Karate lessons about over 1 year ago at Victory Martial Arts in Mesa AZ. What Impressed Me The Most: From the very first interaction with Mr. Pederson (Karate Instructor), I was impressed. He was energetic, excited, knowledgeable, friendly, and overall a great teacher/mentor and role model for our boys. He also really understood his curriculum and taught it well. Structure: We want our kids to have an amazing time, be happy and excited to come to class but we also want them to learn valuable life lessons. They teach Karate but also the basics of building a strong character. Respect, teamwork, hard work, stewardship, confidence, and they teach the class in a way where the kids also have a wonderful and fun time. If you are looking for a "Boarding School" type Karate class (super strict), this is not the place for you. This place is great for kids having fun, learning a lot, enjoying building their self confidence, building relationships, learning karate, growing their inner-character, learning to be disciplined, working hard, and making friends. Price: You pay for what you get at this place. Are they a little on the "pricier" side, maybe... It depends on how you look at it. Before coming to Victory Martial Arts, our boys were taking Karate lessons at another place in Val Vista Lakes where they did not receive as much direction, guidance, encouragement, and the curriculum was not as solid. The other place was cheaper though.... It was nothing compared to Victory Martial Arts. It is well worth the price!!! Atmosphere: Fun. Great music. Energetic. Inviting. Class Size: It depends on what days/times you sign up for. We come on Mon, Wed, and Fridays. During these days, the max class sizes we have seen is around 10-30 which is perfect. There are usually 2 instructors (which we love) because as one instructor is teaching the class, the 2nd instructor is giving individualized attention to those who need help (great value added in this approach).

Tried a class for my 5 year old and they wanted a one year commitment they also make you buy gear…read morethat he probably would never use. Very overcrowded classes and not very clean. It's very gimmicky. My husband is a martial artist and said they are pushing belts for the money. Would not recommend. We did end up finding a really good martial arts studio.

We have been coming the East Valley Martial Arts since August 2016 with our three year old. The…read moreLittle Dragon class taught by Jenifer- Renshi is awesome. Our little one now four has learned to follow directions, can count to 20 in Japanese, he can recite and understand the Dojo Kun. Renshi has helped and guided him by building up his confidence, rewarding a good job, and be patient in her explanation of new techniques. She teaches her class with a "you can do it attitude". She makes learning fun for the kids while still teaching the basics of karate.

I have been training at E.V.M.A Kenshin Kan now for over a year. The instructors are some of the…read morebest I could ever ask to teach me this traditional Ryu Kyu Okinawan style Karate. I have been and am still learning "real life" self defense. No flashy , spinny, dancing stuff, just the true art of Ryu Kyu Karate. Very family friendly environment. My son has ADHA and has with the help of the instructors and other Karateka has become and is continuing to be more respectful and his self control continues to improve every day.

We normally go to the location in Tempe. I think the mat…read moresize is larger in Tempe and I like the seating arrangement better but this location is pretty cool. I like the decor here and the people are super cool. I believe it's the nature of the sport. Respect and discipline. The location is far from us but I don't mind when they are doing the soaring events.

We had a great experience with the instructors and classes. My kids enjoyed attending, and the…read morecoaching was positive, engaging, and well-run. We genuinely appreciated the quality of the instruction. Unfortunately, our experience with the business side has been extremely disappointing. We put our membership on pause, but our contract automatically renewed during that pause period. We were never clearly informed that being on pause would not stop or delay the auto-renewal, and that lack of transparency has resulted in us being locked into another term we never intended to start. A contract renewal is a significant commitment, and something this important should be communicated clearly and prominently--not buried in the fine print or omitted during the pause process. While we have nothing but good things to say about the instructors and classes, the company's contract and renewal practices left us feeling misled and frustrated. I hope the business improves its communication around pauses and auto-renewals so other families don't have the same experience.