Instructor is incredibly knowledgeable and a talented teacher. Such a pleasure to train with!read more

My daughter and I have taken eight Krav Maga classes with Gene. We…read more must really like it - for we both keep coming back!

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.

Here you'll find competition training and a family atmosphere combined. Who could ask for a better…read moreoutcome? My kids and husband have been training here for six years. We love it. The coaches are invested in each individual person's well-being. This is competition type training, though. Not a daycare. Not a place to get New belt every month and go home with a trophy. It's for serious kids and adults only. When you join this team, you also join the family.

Gracie Barra Jiu-Jitsu Ocotillo is truly something special…read more From the moment we walked in, we could tell this wasn't just another martial arts gym it was a family. The coaches genuinely care about every student who walks through the door, and you can feel that every single class. Coach Lucas, in particular, goes above and beyond. He doesn't just teach Jiu-Jitsu; he builds confidence, discipline, and respect in his students. He takes the time to connect with the kids on a personal level, and it's clear he's passionate about helping them grow both on and off the mat. Our daughter absolutely loves going, she looks forward to every class and is always excited to show us what she's learned. The positive, encouraging environment has helped her blossom. We're already planning for our youngest to join soon too! If you're looking for a place that combines world-class Jiu-Jitsu instruction with a truly caring, family-friendly atmosphere, Gracie Barra Ocotillo is the place. Couldn't recommend it more highly!

I decided in the new year to sign up for a trial class and check out BJJ. I've always wanted to…read morelearn but thought I was too old, and haven't literally never played any sports, ever, I assumed I wouldn't have any skills to compete and learn. But what the heck, let's give it a try. What I found was a really cool group of welcoming individuals that were helpful, gave tips, included me, and helped me along. Day one I was able to spar with blue belts & much more experienced men at BJJ, but it wasn't as intimidating as I imagined. No one was trying it hurt anyone, no obvious egos at play, just guys trying to get better and help others get better at the art. My take on BJJ: it's a self defense martial art, yes, but in practice it felt much much much more like a dance than a fight. It felt much more like a chess match vs at battle. You do not have to be the strongest person to compete and win at BJJ, but you have to be the smartest. You do have to have superior knowledge. Once you start to learn the way the body works, tricks to maximize your position and take away someone else's power or advantage, it's really a cool thing. Literally, a 125lb female can easily beat a 225lb male in this sport, if she has the knowledge. It's not all power or size, while that helps, it can be stripped from an opponent when you have superior training and knowledge of the sport. That was the coolest part for me to see. A huge confidence builder knowing you have the ability to defend yourself or others, if necessary, against odds you may have once thought not possible. Anyway, I enjoyed my training there and would recommend it to virtually anyone that has been considering learning BJJ. It's a good place with good people teaching a great skill. Just do it.

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.

My son has been attending M3 Karate for six years. After trying many sports that he didn't enjoy,…read morehe finally discovered his passion for martial arts. He had been struggling socially and emotionally at school, but M3 became a place where he could gain confidence. Master Mendoza and his team provide an incredibly positive environment. They don't just teach martial arts--they also instill discipline, resilience, and respect. I have watched my son grow into a more mature and happy young man during his time here. On top of that, the parents are extremely supportive of all the kids, always cheering them on when they improve or move to the next level. We are truly grateful to M3 for providing such a loving and encouraging learning community for our children. Master Mendoza is an excellent mentor who genuinely cares about each student and builds meaningful connections with them. I highly recommend M3 Karate to anyone looking for a supportive and impactful martial arts program.

Life lessons taught while learning a variety of martial arts. Master Mendoza loves his students…read morewhile striving for excellence and holds them to a high standard. Highly recommend for self discipline, excellent training, and self confidence.

Professor Wyatt and Coach Tyler are the real deal. They want to make everyone better and create an…read moreenvironment where everyone can grow. The community they are building is second to none and has been the best surprise for me. The techniques and training will give you confidence in everyday life. BJJ has given me humility and more mental toughness. Plus it will get you in great shape!

The head instructor was arrogant and rude when I asked him if there were any local places that sold…read moreyouth Gi's. I know there aren't many Jiu Jitsu or MMA places to choose from in the area but my boys will not be attending a gym like this.

We have been with Elite Taekwondo for about 7 years now. Our experience with this place has been…read morereally wonderful. As many other reviewers have said, at first, we were a little hesitant to sign up for a rather long contract with little children, but because of the commitment we had made, it was motivation for us as well to push ourselves when we had our ups and downs. For the first contract period, our two kids joined the training because we brought them and they were ok with it. The next contract up until they earned their black belt, they chose to join because they wanted to complete the first part of the journey they had started. For their second degree black belt, they wanted to learn more so they both asked to join. Throughout the years, they have had moments when they didn't want to go here and there. But eventually, they learned the valuable lesson of commitment. We read the contract and knew what we were signing up for. I don't agree with some of the statements that there is no way of getting a refund. If it is not simply a change of mind, for situations like moving away (there was a distance stated in our contract,) you can get your money back. It is a contract. I believe Grandmaster Kim has the full right to make decisions on how to run his business just like we have our right to choose to be customers or not. It is not a charity but a business. I don't doubt Grandmaster Kim knows he is taking a risk of losing potential customers by insisting on a long term commitment. If you are only in business for money, It may be easier to earn more when you take many more short term trainees. I particularly love the fact that the contract is set based on how many classes you get to take and you get to keep them until you reach the goal you have set. As we went through our lives, especially with young children, we had to slow down sometimes and the arrangements he had made allowed us to do so without getting stressed out. And more importantly, my kids got to experience the joy of completing a goal they have set without giving up. There are always pros and cons in everything and since there are plenty of people focusing on the cons, I wanted to address some pros we appreciate. We respect and appreciate Grandmaster Kim's dedication to a life of Taekwondo. He is a 7th degree black belt and it takes longer and longer to move up to the next degree as you go. Not only that, in Korean culture Taekwondo requires you to be diligent in other areas of your life as well to move on. It teaches confidence, persistence, resilience, and hard work. That is part of the nature of this martial art. If someone is not happy with these particular traits, they clearly don't understand and I agree that they should not have signed up. It is not for them. He has achieved something and he is still going, and I want my kids to learn from and be exposed to those character traits. Our kids have had lots of positive influence from him and have grown noticeably since they first joined. My kids are not naturally gifted when it comes to physical activities. They had some struggles here and there, but every experience has been valuable to them. Taekwondo alone is not going to shape their character, and I agree it is more up to us as their parents. However, I am confident that it definitely has brought many positive effects in my kids lives.

Get ready, this will be a long one…read more.. My 8 year old son has been taking TKD classes here with the owner/main instructor Grandmaster Kim for a lil over a year and he loves it. He also has 3-4 instructors with him to assist in the class. From what I have seen, they are encouraging, supportive and patient. Yes the instructors all still wear their masks but I don't see anything wrong with that. Unless you are an anti masker, then you are prob cringing. Lols There are two rows of chairs inside for parents/guardians to stay and watch the kids. I like how they mop the floor mat after every class. Kids are taught the correct TKD techniques while getting physical activity in like jumping jacks, push-ups, running, stretching, etc. Yes it can be a lil fast paced so if your child is one who needs slow step by step instruction, then this might not be the class for them. As well as if your kid doesn't like being active they probably won't like TKD either. The kids are also taught to be respectful for example, addressing the instructors with yes sir and yes mam which I think is great. The kids are given a workbook for reference with all the steps in it. If your child needs extra help, I've seen the instructors guide them to the side for a lil one on one as needed. I've never seen them be hard on the kids. They also make it fun with board breaking days and relays. *Things to think about* I agree, the contract to sign up is long- about a yearish from start until the green belt. Once you finish that, then you may choose to stop or sign up for another contract for the black belt path. If your child decides say half way through they don't want to do it anymore then unfortunately you are SOL. You don't get a refund! TKD is an investment and I guess in a way teaching your child not to give up. The "two week free trial" is technically only three classes. So I can see it being tough for some kids to decide if they like it or not. But my kids' swim, dance and gymnastics classes only offered one free trial class so... Lessons are not the cheapest and there are extra fees like each time you graduate to another belt and any equipment like gloves and sparring accessories. Grandmaster Kim does offer payment plans. He will give you all the paperwork and fees to look over before you decide to sign up. I know some people wrote they was pressured into signing up their child but I never felt pressured at all by Grandmaster Kim. I was able to bring the info back to discuss with my husband. He did ask me to write a review on Google once but not for a discount or anything in return. I've had businesses ask me to write a review also so it's not weird to me.

Everyone wants to be a badass at some point, don't they? I had been wanting to get back into…read moremartial arts for some time. Since AZ Combat Sports offers new students a free first class, I joined Ms. Official Badass Grace O. in an evening hour-long Muay Thai session of punching, pivoting and sweating. After filling out the necessary paperwork (A form basically saying don't sue them If you get hurt practicing, etc.), I was given a tour, and introduced to many cool and experienced students in BJJ (Brazilian Jiu-jitsu), MMA, and Muay Thai. The class started with some cardio (Jump rope), then moved on to stretching and some muscle strength exercises. Since everyone else was not a newbie, the assistant instructor then gave me an individualized intro class where I learned the basics of punching while the others practiced kicks and punches with a partner. Since I used to take kenpo, a lot of the muscle memory I've retained doesn't fit into the style of Muay Thai fighting, at least where striking and hand movements are concerned. The instructor was patient though as he guided me through the different moves. I have to say I was a little disappointed I didn't get to kick anything today but I understand that you gotta start with the basics if you want to build a solid foundation of skills. Compared to a krav maga class I took a few years ago, I liked the atmosphere here better, and I appreciated the personal instruction. While the krav maga class has you jump right into action, practicing attack scenarios, the Muay Thai class focused more on form so that the punches and kicks you deliver have the most bang for your buck. I'm still debating whether to get back into a more traditional martial arts or more of a combat sport like Muay Thai, but if I do decide to go into Muay Thai this is the place to be!

Arizona Combat Sports is AMAZING! The staff is so incredibly kind and talented! All the coaches…read moretake the time and effort to help improve your skills and will answer any of your questions! I was so lucky to find this place and I just want to say that if you're interested in martial arts, specifically Jiu Jitsu or Muay Thai, LOOK NO FURTHER! This is the spot! Thank you for everything AZ Combat.

We signed up for a month-to-month membership for my 5-year-old daughter. Unfortunately, all…read morechildren are placed in the same class regardless of age or size, which made the classes developmentally inappropriate. After about three weeks, my daughter quickly became bored and lost interest. Class times are also very limited--only 5:00 PM on weekdays and 9:00 AM on Saturdays. Most importantly, be aware of the hidden costs: there are upfront fees, and even if you cancel, you'll still be charged for 60 days. Be sure to read the fine print before signing.

We were told that we were on a month to month plan but when my 5 year old daughter decided that she…read morewanted to try another activity. We were informed that we had to pay for 2 additional months before we could cancel our "month to month" membership. Beware of this company.

our 7yr old son has been going here for about 7 months & he loves it! i'm satisfied with the level…read moreof instruction, the schedule is pretty accommodating to working parents, and the price point is pretty good considering he can go up to four days per week. there are students of all belt ranks/ages so it's a very diverse school! they also have in-house tournaments that are a lot of fun!

This place is great! They are so good with young kids. They do an excellent job providing structure…read morewith a fun plan each class