This truly is an amazing place. I love training here. The instructors are incredible and always…read moreencouraging. Highly recommend.

My son has been taking karate classes at San Elijo Martial Arts since he was 4 1/2. He is now TEN!…read moreWe both love the studio and he loves his instructors. He has learned so much in all those years. The discipline and instruction are simply the best. My son had a hard time staying focused and staying put but now is doing much better. The studio also offers sparring and weapons once you join the black belt club! Kyosanim Salgado and Sensei Emerys are very patient with all the kids. They make you feel like family! You won't regret it for your kiddos!

So it's a nice enough facility, and the owner is legit and also very nice. That being said, they…read moreare geared to the small kids, like 5-7 at most. My daughter first discovered karate and this school at someone's birthday party, and wanted to join. She was almost 9 at the time. We gave it a year but here's our takeaways: 1) classes aren't enough about promotions. Advancing colored belts and stripes require certain skills and to perform those skills in front of the master. But little to no time in a given class is spent on those skills. They play. They have fun. They run around. Maybe 5 minutes per 40 Minute session is spent on promotable skills. And if your child dare take a test and fail, no help is given to improve, and retesting is like pulling teeth. (Note as we were leaving they changed testing to only once a month on a day we couldn't attend, so was our final straw for leaving the school). 2) membership is flexible, you pay one fee per month and go whenever you want. Which is kind of nice, but it makes class sizes fluctuate wildly from as few as 5 participants to as many as 40. And larger classes rarely have more than one instructor. Leading to organized chaos and back to point 1, No skills being taught or learned. 3) we joined because our daughter was being bullied at high tech (whole other story there, don't go!) and wanted to feel like she could defend herself, mostly against boys who were physically abusive. Maybe it comes later but self defense and acts which build confidence, in my opinion, weren't touched in an entire year of classes. Luckily we moved her to a new SMUSD school which actually had anti-bullying policies, and the problem went away. 4) on the bullying, it happens here too. Little cliques of 5, 6 or 7 year olds who have their purple belts, feel emboldened to pick on, trick, etc white belts. Those with stripes belittle those without, and the cycle continues for every step up. Would expect more from a karate studio. Probably related to a lack of supervision as noted in #2. 5) business is run like it's 1980. No online portal, no way to pay bills easily or setup recurring payments. Invoices are an envelope with an amount, receipts when given are handwritten and vague, cards are charged 3% convenience fee (even debit). School tries to host events, but unless you get the right flyer the right day you have no idea. No online presence, no socials, etc. Conclusion, if you have a 4-5 year old boy, and you want to go 5 times a week for cheap, and don't need a business with an online presence, this might be a good fit for you. Not really a good fit for anyone else if you ask me.

I wholeheartedly recommend Orion martial arts. Master Laura runs a tight ship with her classes but…read moreis very flexible with respect to scheduling for the parents. Our boys started in the special needs class and then moved into the mainstream classes after a few years. Our daughter joined as well and even achieved her black belt. It was an amazing experience for all 3 of them. They learned discipline and hard work but never felt intimidated in the classes. The instructors are all professional and helpful. I can honestly say that it was a healthy and productive environment for all of the students.

We love this place. My husband and sons train here. Franco…read moreSensei is an incredible teacher. World renowned. Master in weapons. Asked to teach throughout the world. If you want to learn traditional Okinawan Goju karate, this is the place. His team of team are fantastic. You will not only learn how to defend yourself, but also learn the culture in which it embodies.

After years of searching for the right place to train, I knew moments after walking through the…read moredoors at Bushikan I had found what I was looking for. As the old saying goes, when the student is ready, the teacher will appear! There is a sense of history and tradition at Bushikan that I have found is often absent elsewhere. Here students are taught the correct Japanese terminology, and history of Okinawan karate, which not only helps them to better understand the cultural origins of Goju Ryu, but helps create a sense of deep respect for themselves and others. As I complete my second year of training at Bushikan, what stands out to me is the sense of family fostered by Franco Sensei and Chrisan Sensei. We train hard. Kihon (basics), Kata (imaginary fight), Kumite (sparring), and Hojo Undo (supplementary exercises) set a strong foundation for the students here. The expectations are high, but not without understanding and a strong focus on teachable moments. One does not simply learn to fight at Bushikan, one learns to keep fighting and to conquer the things that keep them from doing their best while helping others do the same. Students are given the opportunity once a year to travel to Okinawa and train where Karate was born, gathering understanding of the unique culture that it sprang from. Likewise, students and teachers from all over the world travel to Bushikan dojo several times a year to gain deeper understanding of Goju Ryu Karate and Matayoshi Kobudo. I can't speak for everyone. One gets out of Karate what they put into it of course. However, this dojo has been a powerful force of positive change in my life and I am thankful to have found it. As a teacher for twenty years I can honestly say that the younger students are some of the most astute and respectful I have ever known. Some of them have been students at Bushikan since they were as young as three years old and are now in their teens and twenties as responsible leaders. The adults are some of the most helpful and giving people I have ever met. If you are looking for a traditional karate dojo, Bushikan is a place for both the young and young at heart. There is a lot more to know, but it is best experienced and not read on a website. I highly recommend you come and see for yourself. You won't regret it.

The mats are CLEAN! GREAT community !…read moreSAFE environment ! ACCESSIBLE times ! And just an overall joy to be welcomed into this dojo. I 100% recommend for everyone to join SDBJJ

I love being apart of the SDBJJ family…read more They offer more than Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. They give Judo, boxing, Muay Thai, self-defense classes and now Filipino Martial Arts- like the ONLY FMA club in North County San Diego! I hope everyone who comes here finds the same happiness that I have training here.

My daughter joined North County Self Defense almost 2 years ago…read more This has been such an amazing journey watching her learn and make new friends. I am very Grateful for all the instructors for having such patience with my daughter. Especially when she has her meltdowns. They way they are able to help calm her and get her to rejoin class. I am so excited for everything she will continue to learn. A direct thank you to Sensei Robert Ellis for supporting my daughters needs and help with her growth.

Our granddaughter Nichole started with North County Self Defense two years ago…read more Nichole was introduced to the dojo by a current and Long time Student Elaina, whose mother Sarah is also one of the teachers. From the very start we Could tell this place was different from any other karate studio. Nichole was welcomed, made to feel like part of a family not just taking a class . Sensei Moss and all of the teachers are AMAZING! They really care about the student and help in every way ! If anyone is looking to have their child attend Karate or even themselves we highly encourage you to go by the dojo and take a class. You won't be disappointed!

I went there before it's really fun and on Fridays they normally have little party witch are funread more

Thank you Jr. for your dedication to your practice!…read more Thank you Master Siefu and Sempai Jen and all the staff at West Coast Martial Arts for your dedication to students and building him up to be a stronger individual! WCMA is a strong community of compassionate instructors and students!!! We are proud of Jr. for Never Giving Up!!!!

Master Arango is truly phenomenal! My son, who is autistic, is very particular about how he…read morecommunicates and how others speak to him--but Master Arango connected with him effortlessly. It was amazing to see how naturally she understood and supported him. What we appreciate most is her ability to turn everyday moments into meaningful life lessons for the kids. Her passion genuinely shines through in everything she does. We feel incredibly grateful and fortunate to have her in our lives. The entire CKA team is wonderful!

This place is great, my son trained here for over 2 years. The instructors, Master Arrango and her…read moreassistant instructor Mr. (Bowman?) are incredible with kids. They are patient and understanding and great at boosting the kids' self confidence while instilling self discipline, focus, and respect. Overall fantastic studio and hope one day my son will take interest in it again!

A friendly and inviting environment for my children. All the kids who train here seem to really…read moreenjoy the instruction. They are confident, strong, and talented, regardless of their skill level. It's a warm and nurturing environment for kids and adults alike. I recently started taking Krav Maga classes and am really impressed with how talented and engaging the instructors are. They take the time to work with everyone individually and make it a lot of fun. In a short period of time, I am prepared for whatever the world may throw at me.

Great place for #karate and #Krav Maga. I just warned myself some medals at the 2023 AAU tournament…read moreat #UCSD. That was exciting and fun. Training here is fun, I feel like I am always advancing and there is always new technics to learn.

This martial arts school is about as good as American colleges of karate. You'd be better off…read moretraining in pillow fighting. Sorry but they suck ....period

This was one of the best self defense classes I have ever taken! The class was 3 hours long. Ms…read more Sandy's teaches effective, practical moves that are easy to remember. Our class was just the first of 4 sessions and well worth it. The most effective part of the class is at the end, when she has black belts play the attackers. This gave the class the ability to try their moves in a more real setting. It made you realize that you CAN react if you ever were attacked. Look forward to the next class!