My 5yo and 7yo cannot get enough. Never seen them so dedicated and focused. More importantly the…read morediscipline continues off the mat.

An awesome place to get your kid outside and active! They are doing a great job during covid:…read moreoutdoor classes, masks on, socially distanced. Feels like one of the few places I can safely take Jude right now! They offer a four week trial too. http://www.us-ama.com

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.

Ive been taking tai chi at Rising Sun Master Jim Risinger for a time. Instructor is incredibly…read morepatient and excellent at breaking down the slow flowing movements, since starting Ive noticed significant improvement in my balance,flexibility . Classes are perfect mental reset . Highly recommend this for anyone looking for low ompace way to improve physical and mental well being.

I've dropped into this gym a couple of times now, when I'm vacationing in the area. Fun and…read morefriendly gym. Looks nice and it's clean. I'm a black belt and I've been training for about 16 years, so I've been around long enough to know what I'm talking about. Would recommend

In town for work and dropped into the 6pm gi class. The kids class was still just ending when I…read morearrived. Met with John Marine and Ashley and they were both welcoming and their class was fantastic. A little over an hour is technical drilling and then open rounds after. The Muay Thai class started towards the end of open rounds and as I was leaving they started the Escrima class so I stayed for a few minutes to watch. The community was nice and the rolls were even better. Highly recommended. Will be back whenever I'm in town for work. See you guys back on the mats soon. Thanks for the hospitality!

Carter Sensei is a very patient instructor who is very knowledgeable, passionate, and active about…read morekendo. The class is held every Tuesday in SLO and every Friday, I believe, in Lompac. We practice from learning fundamentals and tradition to conditioning. Since the dojo has a good amount of attendees, we have a lot of time with our instructor and are given almost one to one lessons. Not only that, but Carter Sensei charges at a very affordable price and assists in provide newer attendees with some of his own equipment to see if kendo is for them. In terms of the practice, I feel the worth of practice in terms of strengthening and refining my form every time I come out for kendo. There's always something to look forward to because there is something to always learn and improve in kendo at this dojo!

I've been learning kendo from Carter Sensei for just over a year and it's been a great experience…read more The class is a good mixture of humor, discipline and fun. Students range from little kids to retired locals. Carter Sensei simultaneously teaches beginners and the experienced with the same dedication. The class typically has 3-4 students on Tuesdays (which is great because it's like getting private lessons). Occasionally there's training with Cal Poly students and students from the Lompoc location. I feel fortunate to have an instructor of his caliber in the central coast.

We had a blast at the walk-in ballet class. The studio is cozy and welcoming for all ages. Teacher…read moreLacey did an amazing job keeping the attention of the little ones. She made class fun and instructive. We can't wait to return to ballet and hope to try the other activities Oak Folk has to offer.

The School is Called H.A. Hong Academy. Best place in town to take your children for Tae Kwon Do…read more My children have been attending the H.A. Hong Academy for a year now. The academy is run by the Hong Family. They are amazing. Master Dana, Master Steve and Master Hong are extremely patient and experienced. My children always look forward to attending class. You are made to feel as part of a large family, not just as a student that just comes to class. The children are recogonized for school academics and for achievements at home as well. Listening to their parents and chores earns honor as well. This is a wonderful school that teaches the children more then just self-defense. Their pricing is reasonable as well. They always have specials so you may try out the Academy to see if your child will like it. This is a very good school. Easy drop off and pick up as well.

The family who runs this school really knows their stuff. If you look closely the athleticism of…read morethe teenage black belts who have worked with the Hongs for several years is higher then what you will see at many other schools. Master Hong is very good at taking soft kids and turning them in to confident teenagers who know they're not made of glass. This tae kwon doe school is the real deal. The black belts it produces can compete in the muay thai and full contact karate enviroment. Or with a year or two of Boxing and wrestling be competant in MMA.

Highly recommend, very open yet competitive. With all of the experienced instructors making proper…read moreaccommodations to new students, it makes a better experience for anyone who is getting interested in the sport.

I don't review stuff very often, but I wanted to say a few words about SMBJJ and how it's changed…read moremy life, and hopefully give anyone who hasn't been to the gym a good idea of what to expect. I've been training here for about 5 months now and I've absolutely fallen in love with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I've always been kind of a skinny nerd, into computers and never did any real sports throughout my life, but I was encouraged by a close friend to come check out SMBJJ sometime and I'm glad I finally took him up on it and dragged my butt out of bed and made it here for the 5am class. I had no idea what to expect coming into this gym, but I realized right away that the camaraderie and humility demonstrated by everyone who trains here is absolutely fantastic. These guys are here to train and keep the drama out of the picture. No egos, no bullying, no BS. I've improved my BJJ game from knowing absolutely nothing to holding my own against guys almost twice my size in the matter of 5 months. Not only that, this sport has taught me discipline and given me an incredible amount of confidence that I never had before. I constantly find myself watching videos online to learn new techniques and methodologies of BJJ and I love trying and learning new things every morning. Oh, and I've never been in better shape, which is fantastic for someone almost in their 40s! Though I've only interacted with Chris a handful of times since I started here, I know he is an amazing stand-up guy who takes his gym seriously and constantly demonstrates his commitment to making every person here feel welcome and part of the SMBJJ family. He's always quick to respond if I ever need help with anything and his dedication to making sure everyone grows together here is great. I love that he puts on BBQs and does fun stuff for everyone in the gym from time to time too. I usually train with Ethan Brown in the 5am class (yes, I know that sounds way too early, but it's worth getting up for) and it has been fantastic. His dedication to the art and excellent teaching skills have can brought me to a very high level understanding of the art of BJJ in a very short time. I love how he focuses on the critical fundamentals in order to create a more effective jiu jitsu game instead of just teaching "move 1 into move 2 into move 3." He also keeps it fun by sometimes throwing in some sneaky techniques or new ways to pass guard while keeping his overall teaching method laser-focused and pushing everyone to be their best. Aside from the fantastic community, the gym itself is great- the mat area is HUGE and very high quality. Parking can be a bit crowded for some classes, but there's always a spot somewhere. There are no showers, but that's fine- I prefer to shower at home anyway. TLDR: gym is 5/5, people are 5/5, you will learn a lot very quick and it will change your life for the better! Come check it out!

5 Star! Absolutely the best! My kids love it and the staff is top notch. Why go anywhere else?read more

We planned a birthday party here for my son for 2 hours and loved it. My 6 year old had the best…read moretime with his friends! They let you set up 30 minutes beforehand and the 2 party hosts were very friendly and welcoming. From my initial reach out via email and calls to my final follow-up, they may not be able to get back right away but always by the next day so their follow up is good and that makes a mommy like me happy and less stressed. The party hosts were so patient and great with kids. All the kids felt comfortable and I did not remember a tear from any of the kids; that is a win! I paid with a credit card for the party. It was very easy. They also have a monthly kids night out (aka 'parents' night out' depending on what you're used to) where you drop the kids off there for 3 hours and the parents can have a date night or if the kids just really like to have some fun games, this is like the best party ever and it's only $25 per child. That is a nice mental note to have if you're looking for a babysitting service for a 3 hour night out but can't find one. With this alternative way, they get to play with other kids. I think the kids night out requirement is they have to be at least 3 years old and independently potty trained. We've also utilized their open play during the week so it is great for the little ones too. Pacific Flips, don't change the training of your staff for parties or keep these very two party hosts that we had as long as you can. They are gems!