Wednesday was my daughter's LAST class w Sifu Jessie since she graduated to orange belt today! We are all gonna miss Sifu Jessie terribly as our instructor--esp because he always kept the adults equally entertained w constant jokes and our-time pop culture references. AND because he was consistently instilling manners and respect every day, every class, with every student. HIGHLY recommend joining the Pallen's Community! read more

Pallen's Martial Arts - Sifu Jessie with two of his yellow belt graduates - Martial Arts Near Me - San Leandro, California

Overall very amazing program ! My son has been coming for a month so far and loves it. His overall behavior and confidence has improved. In addition to being a better student. Thank you to Sifu Jordan and grand master Jordan ! We appreciate all that they do for my son and this program. read more

Pallen's Martial Arts - Martial Arts Near Me - San Leandro, California

Pallen Martial Arts is truly something special, and Sifu Jesse is at the heart of it. He has a genuine gift for making every student feel seen, valued, and supported. I've enrolled my daughter in other activities before, and when she struggled, the instructors often just glazed over it. But at Pallen's, it's different. They notice. They take the time. They work through challenges with the kids, side by side, with patience and encouragement. The atmosphere is warm, uplifting, and empowering--perfect for kids to grow not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. I'm so grateful we found this place and look forward to a long relationship with this amazing community. read more

Pallen's Martial Arts has such a warm, family-friendly atmosphere that makes kids feel comfortable right away. The instructors are patient, kind, and full of positive energy and they made my son feel welcome and excited to learn from the moment he walked in. He really enjoyed his first day here, and I loved seeing how much emphasis they place on respect, discipline, and fun all at the same time. It's a wonderful place for children to build confidence, stay active, and be part of a supportive community. read more

Love this place for my kids! We started going when kids were 4-5 years old, all of the staff were supper nice and welcoming and the classes are amazing teaching kids how to perform karate at such a young age but also teaching respect discipline and responsibility. We moved away for a little while but came right back! It's like we never left kids age now 8-9, everyone remembers them and welcomed us back with open arms. They are learning so much and are excited to go to karate class every time. Definitely recommend checking this place out! They have adult classes too read more

I can't say enough good things about Pallen's, the family that runs it, the instructors, the community, and the impact the program has had on my kids. The price was definitely intimidating to us! But it has been worth prioritizing as Pallens is an activity that helps my girls learn so many imprortant things as they grow up-- integrity, dignity, dedication, and being a part of the collective. Five stars for Pallens! read more

Cool service. But you need to be careful before you sign a contract! Don't pay 200 for the trial.

This review is for their summer camp program. My kids were looking forward to learning a new sport (martial arts) and I was looking forward to getting them out of the house and staying active. Unfortunately, the program lacked in a few areas from my expectations: 1. Screen time: when we arrived for drop off there was a TV on. I learned that they used TV for "transition time" and it was generally on during pickup and dropoff and for younger kids, they would watch a movie mid-afternoon. They watched SpongeBob SquarePants, Paw Patrol etc. this may not be a big deal for some but we were hoping for a screen free camp and this was not the case. 2. Martial Arts: kids only got about an hour of martial arts instruction for the day. This was a disappointment because they actually enjoyed this part the most and the martial arts instructors were great! I just wish I had more of it. 3. Unstructured Play: the kids had access to a bunch of indoor (legos, dodge ball) and outdoor (basketball, nerf gun) activities but from what I heard back from my kids it was pretty unstructured. So they would be sent outside to play basketball without much direction. We've done our fair share of sports camps and expect them to be a bit more structured and directed by an adult otherwise kids can easily get board. Overall, I think this summer camp would have been fine for a half day but there just didn't seem to be enough to fill a full day to keep my boys interested, especially with the price. I pulled them out after 3 days and they were just as bored at home. read more

My child has gone here for years. Even though they are awesome at Martial Arts, the place where they excel for my family is with Ms. Jenny and the marvelous unshakable and clearly confidence building after school program. It's a small but unique set of spaces with various zones for kids to do all sorts of activities. It's been absolutely marvelous and I have complete confidence in the team there to hold clear strong boundaries while creating a super fun environment. read more

I cannot say enough great things about Pallens! I tell everyone it's the best money we spend on our son. My (almost) 7yo is in the after school program, does Karate, and attends the camp programs. In the past year, he has grown so much and a big reason is what he gets from Pallens. They hold him accountable to being his best self, they meet him where he is developmentally, and they provide a community for him to thrive in. All of the staff are amazing with kids, they treat them all as individuals, engage with them meaningfully, and teach them/show them what it means to be a responsible person. My son has aspirations of growing into a junior instructor and getting his black belt by the time he's 10. They are endlessly encouraging of him meeting these goals! Shout out to Ms. Jenni who keeps the programs running and loves the kids like she loves her own. read more

This review is long over due.. My son started with Pallens Oct 2017. We needed him to have more confidence in himself and respecting not only himself but others. This is what is taught at Pallens- not only this but a whole lot more. You become family and the instructors really honestly care for you and your children. Pallen's Martial Art is a pillar here in our community and one of the best places to attend for kids/adults. So much so, that I've joined myself. Here is my testimony: Since joining in June I have lost 30 lbs at my age. I have gained strength in my knees, joints, and hands. The classes also help me with my severe anxiety issues as the lesson plans include intense workouts. They are not so intense that you can't do this. The instructors will work with your level of comfort another reason why I love these guys so much. If your looking for martial arts for yourself or your anyone please stop by Pallens and tell them I sent you.. I promise you won't be disappointed. read more

Pallen's Martial Arts - Advanced to next belt level - Martial Arts Near Me - San Leandro, California

The Pallen's team have become our family. By far the BEST gym, athletic program and community members in martial arts in the area. They care deeply about our kids, family and our growth as humans. They have engaged my son more than the PE teachers did through Covid-19. They have offered free online classes to the whole community to support the school shut downs, keeping our kids active, and reminding them of character traits like patience, persistence, respect and responsibility. The Online classes are as rigorous as their in-person classes. The authentic connection to individual students and their families is done with love and support, despite the digital pivot, our son and my husband didn't miss a step in their journey nor their physical activity. read more

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I recommend Pallen Martial Arts make your kids feel welcome. They help kids build their confidence, learn how to be a leader and follow instructions while learning to defend for themselves. My son loves it here and I can see how much Pallen impacted my son journey in building confidence and being a leader. read more

Pallen's Martial Arts - Belt Testing Day - Martial Arts Near Me - San Leandro, California

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We love the instructors and their methods of disciplining the kids. I just wish they would tell the disruptive parents to STFU once in a while. read more

Absolutely love this place. Hands down I'm so glad we left our last karate place and joined Pallen's. They are genuine, amazing with the kids, make it fun memorable, parents are always smiling. Always are doing fun events for the kids, trunk or treat, Easter egg hunt, date night, kids can go hang out, spring camp, summer camp. Everything. My only feedback would be the need more locations. It's definitely busy. read more

These guys are the absolute best! They pivoted faster than any business in the Covid time and continued my daughters training over Zoom without a glitch. Pallens is a family run business and it's very easy to feel the family closeness vibe. Every single one of the staff, including the grand master, shakes hands with the other hand on top with solid eye contact and a warm greeting. My daughter has been training with them for 5 years now and will test for black belt soon. When we tell her its time to go to karate, she always says 'yes' without hesitation. Pallens is the best!!!! read more

From day one we loved this place, we came to the dojo and were received with open arms and with positive attitude. My daughter loves the classes abd with covid they have been having such good communication to teach the kids. Overall super happy about the service here read more

Pallen's Martial Arts - Martial Arts Near Me - San Leandro, California

Pallens and their entire staff are nothing short of Amazing!! My son has been attending Karate classes there since long before the Covid Crisis. From day one they were very inclusive, they pay special attention to every student, teach valuable lessons and call out behaviors that need attention. I love the structure and high expectations they have for all their students. Since Covid they have gone above and beyond to keep kids engaged remotely. It's truly amazing how much work they've put into their virtual programing to include all classes, fitness programs and even extra kid and family activities. They've really done an amazing job with their virtual platform. They are friendly, accommodating, organized and has made a huge impact with my son. I highly recommend Pallens to any family. read more

Pallen's Martial Arts - Virtual Belt Testing - Martial Arts Near Me - San Leandro, California

Signing up our son with Pallen has been one of the best decisions we have made. It keeps him focused and active. More importantly, it has given him more self confidence in himself as well as self discipline. The staff is amazing and he is surrounded by people who will be great mentors for him as he continues his journey with Pallen. During this pandemic the online zoom classes are helping him get the exercise he needs during SIP. Please continue the online classes. Highly recommend this dojo with happy friendly staff! read more

Pallen's Martial Arts - Excellent customer service! Sifu Jessie delivered my son's belt after online belt testing. - Martial Arts Near Me - San Leandro, California

I just had my son's fifth birthday party here and we chose the Ninja obstacle course theme. My son originally chose a Ninja party theme and we had booked at Pump it Up, but after looking at Pallen's website hoping to inquire about classes and gift certificates I noticed they offered competitive birthday packages. The BEST decision I made and I don't regret loosing my $100 deposit with my previous Pump It Up booking, Pallen's was that much better. Not to mention I walked into to EVERYTHING being set-up. They supplied the table top, banners and etc to create the appropriate party theme experience. My son had a phenomenal time from competing with his party guests during the ninja obstacle course, playing in the bouncy house, breaking boards which later turned into party keepsakes, to the cutting of his birthday cake with Grand Master's sword. Not only did the 2 hours feel like more then enough time, the parents and few tweens at his party were fully engaged in the activities. Definitely considering having my daughter's 11th birthday here as well-Grand Master was GREAT with getting them off their phones‍. #BEST5thBIRTHDAYPARTYEVER read more

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I'm impressed how my son has grown in the Big Tiger program. He even won 1st place in his division in the Golden Gate International. We were blown away! And he's only 5! He's learned through discipline, hard work and dedication can be fun and rewarding! He's fully engaged with the instructors and loves interacting with his fellow classmates weekly. As a parent, I'm also entertained watching his classes since the professor makes it fun for all ages! It's a family atmosphere and we love the Pallen crew! read more

Pallen's Martial Arts - Martial Arts Near Me - San Leandro, California

I haven't gotten the chance to even write a review. But today is the day. It all started with us joining the trunk or treat. Which was so much fun. During the trunk or treat we met with the grandmaster. He is such a great person to talk with. (We were super late for the trunk or treat). Grandmaster Jordan helped us and made sure that next time we'll get notified. Throughout the night we got to meet with Bianca. After the trunk or treat we spoke again with Bianca, I let her know I wanted more info on how am I able to sign my kids up for martial art class. She then took us inside and we met with Jordan. The grandmaster's son. We got to know a little of how things are and he gotten to know my children a little bit. I love the enthusiasm energy he gives with he's teaching the classes. Discipline is key, I'm glad he's also teaching the class what other disciplines are besides discipline at home. Love the family. By the way Mrs. Pallen is such lovely person. They feel like a second family to us. I don't get too many open arms because I'm antisocial. Lol I would definitely recommend Pallen's Martial Art. read more

I can't imagine our family without Pallen's. We started with lessons for our twin boys two years ago and it's been a life saver. I love that Pallen's focuses on the whole child, integrating character lessons into each month. The entire Pallen Family goes above and beyond for all of their students. We started the After School Program last year, and it has made a huge difference in the boys' lives. They have grown and matured, and I credit so much of that to the teachings of all of the Pallen's teachers and instructors. They genuinely care about their students, and the families. I always feel welcomed, and my questions are always answered. It is such a warm and welcoming environment. When Covid started, they were such a lifesaver, we moved seamlessly to Zoom classes, and took part in the weekly dance parties and art classes. It kept me sane! They have been attending Summer Camp and the boys love it- they get out of the house for some much needed socialization. I love it because I feel safe, they do temperature checks at the door, have social distancing protocols, and keep the facility spotless. We love Pallen's!! read more

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Almost a year ago, my daughter started taking Karate classes through the San Leandro parks and recs division. They contract through Pallen's, and we were lucky enough to have Mr. Jessie as the instructor. She was in the middle of her second session when the SIP started. She would cry that she missed Mr. Jessie and karate. Since Pallen's started their digital program we were able to sign her up directly through them. She has been so excited every Wednesday and Friday for her Tiger class. They have had excellent communication- newsletters and emails. They have weekly challenges that the kids can do, 2 live classes and 2 pre recorded. It has been so great to have an extracurricular activity back. Also, we love Mr. Jessie! read more

I TRUST Pallen's a Martial Arts with my boys!! For the last five years my children have attended karate classes, after school program, summer camps, tiger class and are now testing for their Jr Blackbelt at Pallen's. In my culture we believe it takes a village to raise a child and the Pallen's have been our village through the good and bad. My husband and I believe it was the best investment we've EVER made ( and continue to make) in our children's growth. Grandmaster and Mrs. Pallens have a level of excellence, customer service and experience with children and youth that make it more then karate. They model for their staff, families and youth every value and skill they teach. Because of them, my older son has a confidence he didn't come with. My youngest son has developed amazing leadership skills and self discipline , they both have a drive to succeed even when things get hard that comes directly from their training with the Pallen's. As well as the endless seeds planted within them of how to navigate the world emotionally and mentally, In this season more then ever it's very important to surround your children with people who will partner with you to support the social, emotional and physical growth and health of your child. They are excellent in their cleanliness and structures on keeping young people and families safe during this season. Pallen's Breed!!! Come join the family. -Jenjii Hysten read more

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Absolutely the best. The quality of instruction is top bar and they take imparting their knowledge to their students very seriously, but with a great atmosphere. They have tons of patience with the kids but also stress the importance of structure, focus, and respect. Sir Jessie is absolutely the best with the kids and I and the other parents find ourselves chuckling at how he and the other instructors can make each class fun. They are extremely structured and well organized and the way they do their belt system is very fair, creative, and well-earned. They go relatively easy on the younger kids but expect more as the child gets older and matures. They also empower the parents by advising them that they have the right to delay or take away their childs belt or belt tips if they get out of line; which has improved my daughter's behavior! They also have a oodles of functions which includes get togethers for summer bbq, halloween night, christmas banquet, nerf night, movie night, etc..!! Ive come to to quickly learn how deeply committed the Pallen's are to its families and the community. I brought my daughter here from a different Martial Arts school in San Leandro which I paid the same price for half the number of training days and not even close to the quality of Pallens. Even though its a further drive and a bit more crowded, it is totally worth it. Alright alright alright! Thank you Pallens!! read more

Pallens is a class act! They immediately offered online programming when Covid-19 hit and it was thoughtful and challenging. I have appreciated that my son is receiving his karate instruction in a structured way that allows him to focus on personal growth each week. They have continued with all the normal testing protocol and he is enjoying karate more than ever. He is training in a twice a week session and also in the black belt club. All the online class offerings are focused on skill development, respect and personal achievement. Well done Pallens! read more

I highly recommend Pallen's! My son has been coming here since he was 3 and he is now 7. When everything happened with COVID-19, they were quick to find an alternative to keep the kids going with their karate. We have been doing the online classes since all of this happened and it's been great. They provide my son with lessons twice a week and then do a live review via zoom twice a week to go over the lessons with their instructor. You can also do one on one lessons which is great for my son. I know my son misses being in the dojo, but he enjoys being able to do it at home and still see his class mates and work with Mister Jordan. Thank you Pallen's for your hard work and dedication to the kids, it definitely does not go unnoticed! read more

My son started the Pallen's after school program at the start of his TK year in 2019 and we couldn't be happier with our experience. The program is incredibly well rounded and the instructors are kind and engaging. Within the first few months, my son had gained so much confidence and coordination. When COVID hit, and ASP closed, Pallen's was super quick to implement options that allowed students to stick with the program and stay connected. My son looks forward to his weekly virtual classes and has remained committed to working towards his goals. We are so impressed by this family, and the programs they have to offer. We are thankful to have them in our lives and look forward to many more years with Pallen's. read more

Pallen's are Great; the Instructors are Amazing, they take the time to know their students to encourage, praise, discipline as needed they explain the lessons clearly and help when asked; their professionalism is outstanding and they make it seem easy to achieve goals and promote self confidence. Thanks for all that you do. Linda Carranza read more

HIGHLY RECOMMEND FOR KIDS' BIRTHDAY PARTIES! Jesse and the crew are amazing! We had a birthday party here for our 5 year-old daughter, and everyone loved it. They provided food and decorations, and Jesse led the 20+ kids in a couple of karate lessons and then facilitated some fun "karate games." The whole process was well organized and easy, and super fun for all of the kiddos and adults! read more

This is a review of a birthday party at Pallen's. If you are looking for something different and amazing for your child's party, I highly recommend Pallen's. We had a wonderful time, and now have a very special memory. Pallen's has been around for a long time and I knew them to be a reputable school for martial arts. We celebrated our son's 5th birthday party at Pallen's and the staff and the party were amazing. Most of the kids were between 4 and 5 with a couple littler ones and a few older ones. We decided to go with the deluxe party option and it was worth it. Until the day of the party, I had never been inside Pallen's so I had no idea what to expect. When we arrived we were impressed with the set up. They had a decorated tiered-table ready for the additional food we had brought. There is a refrigerator available for cakes and drinks, cubbies for the kids shoes, a small set of bleachers for the parents to sit and watch the kids, and a decorated table readied for the kids pizza . All kids receive a name tag and the teachers take the time to call each child by their name. They started with a lesson and then the kids were split into to two groups. One group went outside to play inside the jumpy house while another group ran the obstacle course. The kids got to run the obstacle courses a bunch of times, while grown ups could cheer them on from the bleachers. It was cool watching the kids grow more confident with each run. After eating pizza they came back and took turns breaking boards. They did a good job of letting our son shine on his special day, while giving attention to the other children. To be honest, when the party first started out I was a little concerned because some kids burst into tears in this new and strange environment. But, by the end of the party, some of those same kids broke their board like they had been doing it their whole lives! The favor bag was full of cute ninja stuff: tattoos, ninja stickers with a ninja scene to decorate, whistle, pencil, a couple of toys, a lollipop, and includes a free trial class! We added a couple of additional items, but the goodie bag was great as-is. Another plus is that parents of the kid guests aren't required to stay, but I think all of them ended up staying. The cake cutting was awesome. Special thank you to Mrs. Pallen, "Uncle" Jessie -our instructor, and the rest of the staff. read more

We started our son here when he was 4, and kept him in for about a year (until we moved away). We (parents and child) absolutely loved the place. The instructors are amazing and do a great job of teaching the kids discipline and how to focus, especially impressive at such a young age. We immediately felt like part of the Pallen family, and miss going for our twice-a-week lessens. They also hosted our son's 5th birthday party. We reserved the space for a couple hours on a Saturday, and they ran two 30-minute private sessions tailored to our son and his friends. Parents came up to us after the party and said it was the best birthday party they had ever been to. Kids that were shy or not interested in joining the class at the beginning, were full-on participating by the end of the first class. This is a gem of San Leandro, and we were sad to have to move away and leave it. read more

Awesome martial arts for the whole family. Very good instructors who really break it down when it comes to teaching. You can even learn different styles all in one school. Karate, Tae kwondo, Cardio kickboxing, stick fighting and now they have Muay Thai and Jui Jitsu!!! read more

We have been a part of Pallen's extended martial arts family since our youngest daughter was 5 (she's now 16)! The martial arts training is "pure" and they truly deserve their two recent awards and recognition from Bay Area Parent, Best of the Bay; ~Gold **BEST MARTIAL ARTS SCHOOL** and ~Silver **BEST SUMMER CAMP**. This is not just a business but a way of life for them. Professor Jordan Pallen and Felipa Ortiz-Pallen are my kindred spirits. My family and I have much love and respect for them as well as for the founder of their system, Grandmaster Max Pallen, Sr. Many blessings to the Pallen Family........KIA!!! P.S. Felipa also teaches an awesome cardio-kickboxing class which I highly recommend. You will feel great after training with her! read more

My niece loves the community class they hold on Saturday and now she has advanced to another level and is going to start classes

Our son has been training at this Dojo for 4 years now (8yrs old). Our daughter just started (3-1/2 yrs old) The Pallen Family, headed by Grand Master Pallen, run a tight ship. Their staff are skilled at working with children of all ages, and are able to achieve the desired outcome. They are serious, and train proper technique but have a lot of fun as well. Kids learn hard work, discipline, and good sportsmanship as well as team work. We're very happy with the training our children are (and will) receive here! Recommend to anyone looking for a good place to learn self defense or teach their child martial arts. read more

Pallens San Leandro is not just another karate school, its a family. I have been apart of the Pallens family for over 9 years and I'm happy to say that my nephews are now attending classes. And they love it : ) This is not just a sport for kids, adults of all ages should give it a try, when I started there I was about 28 years old and I was able to go through the program with help from my professor, the blackbelt/assistant instructors, and the professor's wife, Felipa. This school is about being positive, showing respect, and keeping the kids & adults motivated.... : ) read more

Our 6 year old son joined a few weeks ago and he loves it! A very solid place for children. Very family oriented.

Pallen's Martial Arts is the truth. I started my son out with a 6 month trial and here we are 2+ years later. We love it here because they make you feel like you are definitely a part of the family. We were a little concern when Covid hit as to what would happen but low and behold they were definitely ahead of the game. The zoom classes are great. I've even participated in the warm ups and have been able to assist my son when a partner is needed. The weekly challenges also keeps them more involved. When my son broke his wrist (not karate related), they showed concern and offered him encouragement during his healing process. He even received a personalized "get well" card. We LOVE the Pallen family. I couldn't have picked a better place for my son to be a part of. Thank you guys soooo much!!! read more