Man this place is special. Not only is coach mike a Great fighter and teacher but also a great guy!…read moreWhether you are just getting started or a veteran this place is great. expect to find a community here, a lot of guys are there often some every day and it shows. Go in trust coach, give it your all, enjoy every moment, and you will not regret any of it. Ps. Jiu jitsu guys 10th Planet santa barbara trains there goated school and goated team.

I came to Valhalla as a student in May of 2021, and am forced to leave this negative review due to…read morewhat I believe to be Mike MacDonald's abuse of the SB community and his students. The intent of this review is to leave my impression of his gym as a person who has trained at multiple gyms; I believe Mike has purposefully incurred brain damage on new students for the purpose of exacting personal revenge on them for perceived slights. I also believe that he takes efforts to evade sanctioning bodies designed to keep people who train in martial arts safe. Anyone who comes to train at Valhalla should be aware of what I believe to be Mike's views on accountability and there are photos below as evidence for my claims. I was training at Valhalla in 2021 when a new student visiting from outside the country came to the gym in October 2021 who argued with Mike about how much money he should pay to train at Valhalla. I was told by Valhalla administrators that this "low ball" attempt from the student was something that Coach Mike was not happy with. This student was very new to the sport and I believe that Coach Mike was aware that he was not skilled enough to compete in any kind of sparring tournament. Despite this, Mike allowed this new student to compete in an unsanctioned sparring tournament that occurs often at Valhalla. This student was paired up against one of Mike's star pupils, and was knocked out three times within a couple of minutes. This new student was so inexperienced, he did not even know to ask someone to be his cornerman for this event. All of this potentially because he "lowballed" Mike; This is not how new students should be treated. In the days following the tournament, I reached out to an administrator at Valhalla (Roxanna Bina) to get the contact information for this student who had taken so much damage. I was the only person to reach out to this student after the tournament to ensure he was okay. This was just one example; other examples include holding one night tournaments where some competitors will compete in multiple fights without an actual doctor present, as well as 200 lbs men being paired against much smaller women in sparring tournaments where knockouts are commonplace. Mike continues to hold this tournament without matchmakers, without medical personnel, and continues to evade letters from the CA State Athletic Commission regarding the nature of his tournament. When I told Valhalla administrators that they should have the sign up sheet for the tournament include a "cornerman" checklist so that they could make sure every single person in the competition had someone with them, I was told that this would make the tournament seem more "official" and that this would invite further scrutiny from the CA Athletic Commission. This backwards logic ultimately doesn't serve the best interests of the people competing in the tournament. There are bodies like the IKF that hold tournaments with registered nurses, multiple judges and matchmakers, and in general have some official accountability. I believe that Mike doesn't want to make the monetary investment to do these things, and would prefer to have free reign over the entire process. As someone who has trained at multiple MMA gyms, I would advise people to look into other gyms in the area for sparring purposes. I believe that Mike views new students as cannon fodder to give easy experience to his more experienced pupils and believes himself to be above the law. I believe that he will continue to allow the safety and well being of his students to take a back seat to his pride and lack of willingness to make the monetary investment to ensure that sparring tournaments held at Valhalla are safe and fair. I believe that he will remove anyone from the gym who tries to bring this to his attention. I will be contacting the CA State Athletic Commission with these same concerns and hope that they will hold him accountable for his actions. If you want to train martial arts in SB, I believe that you can do better than being taken advantage of by Mike MacDonald.

Matt Bridi Sensei (3rd Dan) is a gifted instructor with great insight & educational metaphors…read more Located at the Goleta Valley Community Center, AKI Goleta Aikido is a great place to have an introduction into the world of Aikido. Affiliated through Aikido Kenkyukai International, AKI Goleta offers fun & exciting children's classes for the local community. However, you don't have to be a kid to try Aikido. Their adult program meets twice a week & gives you a one-to-one personal approach to the Art. Not only do you get a tutor like environment to learn Aikido, but you also get to enjoy great stories from their members after class with a cold glass of IPA.

Matt Bridi is the main instructor, or sensei, at AKI (Aikido Kenyukai International) Goleta. He…read morecreates an open, welcoming, and safe environment that I really appreciated as a total beginner with aikido. I now participate regularly in the adult aikido sessions here on Tuesday and Thursday evenings with Matt, Andy, Vern and the rest of the crew, all of whom are very experienced teachers and practicioners of the art. I have also seen Matt and Andy teach the kids' classes on Thursdays, and they are really good with kids. They are able to teach kids discipline, leadership, physical control, confidence, and gentleness, all through aikido. Whenever I have a kid, he/she will be doing aikido. I would highly recommend this dojo to adults and children--everything about this place is so positive. And the first month is free, so give it a try!

While visiting Santa Barbara for a week, I was fortunate enough to train at Paragon's main location…read moreand it lived up to its legendary reputation. I had the honor of taking a class with Franjinha himself, as well as one with James. Both are phenomenal instructors who teach with incredible clarity and precision. You can tell they have a deep understanding of the art. I enjoyed the more intimate classes at noon. It created a great "good vibes" atmosphere where it was easy to connect with training partners. Everyone was super friendly and eager to roll. The training was challenging and technical. It's an amazing place to learn and grow your jiu-jitsu, and I felt very welcomed as a visitor. Can't wait to come back on my next trip!

I don't know how else to say it, but this gym has changed my life for the better! I even sought out…read morea new job to make sure I could pay the membership--worth every penny. I started out kickboxing, and have now trained jiu jitsu for the last two years. The sport is amazing, especially for women in regards to self defense and self confidence. And the instructors are dedicated, extremely proficient, patient, motivating, and fun. As a few others have noted in their reviews--Paragon becomes family! If you've been on the fence about trying boxing, kickboxing, wrestling, or jiu jitsu (GREAT kids' classes for anti-bullying!), start a trial today. You won't regret it--believe me!

Came in to see about getting classes for my nine year old and when I expressed interest in myself…read moretaking classes the guy actually rolled his eyes and laughed. If this is any indication of the style of business conducted here I will take mine elsewhere.

Our two boys have been training at USSD for several years now. We are very pleased with all of the…read moreinstructors. They make it fun, but make sure to instill discipline as well. We also like how they rank up, and can see the progress and achievements.

My son started taking the kids classes with Aikido Kenkyukai when he was 4 years old. He is now 10…read moreyears old. He really loves it. I have watched Aikido really make positive changes in my son's life over time in terms of being respectful, being kind, showing empathy, helping others, gaining confidence, conflict resolution and keeping fit. Martial arts have provided a positive type of structure in my son's life. After watching my son train for a number of years I started training in the adults classes and have realized many benefits myself in terms of very positive physical changes, as well as changes in how I perceive social and business situations. Training in Aikido is hard to describe in that by the end of the class, you are drenched in sweat, tired, invigorated physically and have a huge smile on your face. The work outs are amazing. I've been so enthused about training and have taken a role in assisting with the kids classes as well. My son is 10, I am 48, this martial art is truly for all ages. The instructors and staff are all great. Lia Suzuki Sensei is a world-renowned teacher and we are so lucky to have her influence her on the central coast. Beginners are treated with so much respect and care here that I'd suggest to any kid or adult that is a little nervous about training to put those feelings aside and try an intro class - you will feel very welcomed here.

From the owner: Confidence, fitness, focus, discipline, emotional strength, spiritual development... These are some…read moreof the things you and/or your child can expect to gain at Aikido Kenkyukai, making a profound change in your life. Suzuki Sensei embodies many of the principals of Aikido and comes from a direct lineage of Aikidoka, based in Japan. What this means for the layman is she's "close to the source." She's very skilled and deeply cares about the art. We offer weekly classes for beginner through advanced students and hold special seminars throughout the year with internationally acclaimed instructors Our Founder and Head Instructor trained intensively in Japan for nearly 10 years. Communication and collaboration with Japanese instructors and others from around the world, continues and thrives at our school.

My son attends this school. Amazing teacher as well as his wife handling the bookkeeping end. All…read morearound great people, place, the way it's ran and the quality of teaching. I would recommend anybody to practice here. Just walking in the door you are overwhelmed with good vibes and true passion for the art. His wife is one of the sweetest most kind people I have dealt with. Bottom line. Awesome place.

Training under Sensei Jim Risinger at Rising Sun Martial Arts Academy has been a powerful…read moreexperience for me. Sensei Jim teaches far more than martial arts techniques. Of course the training is solid--forms, structure, discipline, and real skill--but what makes his school special is the character and mindset he builds in his students. He brings patience, humility, and deep respect into every class. What I appreciate most is how he meets each student where they are. He takes the time to guide people step by step, helping them grow stronger in body, steadier in mind, and more confident in themselves. His teaching carries real life lessons about discipline, awareness, and staying centered even when things get difficult. Because of Sensei Jim's guidance, I've gained more than martial arts training. I've gained focus, patience, and a deeper respect for the path of continuous improvement. If you're looking for a martial arts academy that builds skill, character, and community, Rising Sun Martial Arts Academy under Sensei Jim Risinger is the real deal.

Highly recommend Karate Kempo! My child has been part of the Kempo family for two years, and the…read moregrowth I've seen--mentally, physically, and in his self-defense skills--has been amazing. His confidence and self-esteem have improved so much. I love that it's not just for kids--the whole family can get involved. I joined the kickboxing class with Mrs. Teresa and love it! They also offer a ladies self-defense class once a month, which is a great bonus. Definitely recommend signing up the whole family. 5 stars!

Over the past 20 years, I have seen Master Parson advance from 1st Queue (Brown belt), to the…read moreMaster level (8th Dan) he is today. He is a highly respected martial artist on an international scale. Having more than 30 years as a martial artist myself, I will tell you he's one of the best natural fighters I've ever seen, and his ability to instruct foundational techniques as well as advanced fighting skills is 2nd to none. He's top tier in the American Kenpo Karate Federation, and so are those Black Belts he's instructed. If you are a parent seeking a martial arts program to instruct, guide, inspire, as well as teach your kids how to legitimately protect themselves, Master Parson's program should be highly considered. If you (YOURSELF ) want to learn a genuine, no-nonsense style of self defense, I encourage you to attend his classes. And yes, he's a personal friend whom I'm very proud of; not just because of his fighting abilities, but his passion to teach those skills to anyone whom enters his Dojo. From beginners to advanced level fighters, his door is always open.

Amazing place. My daughter will be going away to college and it's a perfect place for her to take a…read moreself defense class

Bottom Line: This is a great gym with people who actually care…read more This review is for the kids classes only as I have no knowledge of the other classes. We tried to get our son interesting or excited about a variety of group sports as well as individual sports. He just had zero interest in any of it. Something about this place has captured his attention and imagination and now he talks about it, looks forward to going and excels on a daily basis. Whereas in the past it was a struggle to get him ready to leave to go do something, he's ready to be out the door in a moment for Krav classes. As a parent it's SUCH a hard line to walk, the line between fun and discipline. This place does an amazing job allowing the kids to actually be kids but at the same time provides them with a level of discipline you would expect from a Martial Arts facility as well as instilling a work ethic. On top of that they also have fun kid events like a Halloween gathering and I've heard rumblings of a Nerf war. If you're looking for a place to go to learn some amazing self defense techniques or even a little community of people who look out for each other, this is a great place to start. I have learned a ton just from watching the kids go at it. Highly recommended.

A little sad to have finished up the KUT 6-week challenge, but also really excited and more than…read moreready for what's next for me here at the dojo :) 10/10 experience, it's been so much fun!

Really friendly and clean studio. The people and instructors are really welcoming and make it a fun…read moreplace to come back week after week. The classes are beginner friendly and instructors are great at giving individualized instruction as well. Would highly recommend to anyone looking to switch up their workout or add something extra to their current routine.

I had an excellent experience. Very professional with various levels of focused warmup and…read moreexercises. I can't say enough good things about them. They have a fantastic rehabilitation program I discovered while attending Tai Chi class. I wish I had more time to spend with these guys.

Sifu Rafal Brzozowski is a generous spirit; his instruction is clear and he is patient. Tai chi…read moreimproves both my balance and my temperament, and our classes on the ocean are especially fabulous. Our student body ranges from children to "the mature" yet sifu's spirit ensures that there is no competitiveness among us; we practice together even as we each walk our own path. I have been a university professor for three decades and sifu ranks among the best instructors I've encountered. Abe Peck