This dojo has been amazing for my son and our family. Since starting 5 plus year ago learning jiu-jitsu here, I've seen a huge change in his confidence, focus, and attitude. He's made real friends, learned discipline, and gained skills that go far beyond the mat. The instructors truly care about the kids. They treat everyone with respect, encourage hard work, and make sure every student feels welcome, no matter their level or background. It's a very family-oriented environment where parents feel comfortable and kids feel supported. I've seen some negative reviews, but they don't reflect the truth of what happens inside this dojo. Those comments focus on things outside the school, not on the training, the values, or the community here. If you're considering this place, don't rely on negative comments -- come see it for yourself. Watch a class, talk to the instructors, and feel the positive energy. You'll see great training, strong values, and a community that truly cares about every student who walks through the door. Highly recommend this dojo to any family looking for quality jiu-jitsu and a supportive, welcoming environment read more

This place is amazing! Teachers are dedicated and they give attention to all the kids in the class, whether they are beginner or been doing this a while. They make sure each and every single student grasp the lessons and more importantly, they teach kids to be respectful, disciplined and showcase the opportunity for kids to show their leadership. The community aspect of the place is great too. They also are pretty flexible with classes and timing with kids able to come in 3-5 times a week, without charging extra for every class. I feel a lot of the other places in Castro Valley/Hayward over-charge and have a bunch of other fees (registration, limit the number of classes to 2 per week etc.). read more

I've been taking my son here for about 7 months now and I couldn't be happier ! It took my son a while to get use to being on the mat and around other kids only because he had never done any other sport (so he had no social skills.. my fault! ): ) but over all we have loved being a part of the Ta Danado family. Senpai Edwin and his wife Daniela are such awesome people ! Super helpful and have made this experience for my son one of the best. Senpai Edwin is amazing with the kiddos and I think everyone should be like that especially when working with kids. So if anyone is looking into putting their kids in Jiu jitsu this is the place ! :D So don't say I didn't recommend yall !! read more

Ta Danado - Muay Thai Near Me - Hayward, California

We joined the Mini Ronin class and felt welcome right away. Senpai Edwin is amazing, very patient with the kids and keeps them engaged with fun, structured activities. He does a great job building their confidence, independence, and self-defense skills. We've tried another jiu-jitsu school before, and the difference in care and patience is clear. In addition to learning the techniques of jiu jitsu, Senpai Edwin really encourages the kids to also be helpful at home, be good team players, and to always keep improving themselves. Daniella at the front desk is also the sweetest! Always friendly, welcoming, and personable. The whole place feels genuine and caring, they really make it feel like a home for everyone. read more

We did the two free trial classes last week and were very impressed and decided to sign up for a membership. The owners are super friendly, attentive, and accommodating, and they seem gifted at fostering a sense of family and community. Senpai Edwin is great with kids and his wife Daniela is super sweet and helpful. This gym is a wonderful blend of the Hayward and Castro Valley communities. The parents are also very friendly and welcoming at this gym. Even though there are a lot of students, families recognized that we were new and greeted us and helped get us oriented. When my girls (6 and 7) were scared their kids were really kind and warm and tried to help them get on the mat and get comfortable. It helped a lot. When my oldest cried bc she got overwhelmed at first, the parents assured me that that was normal and that their kids went through the same and that she would love it in no time. They were right. Also impressed with the technical and skills training at this gym (though I'm no bjj expert). They seem to really want to instill techniques into the kids and have a high value at this gym on encouraging the kids to compete. Even Kindergartners are already competing at this gym and enjoying it. Great community here at Ta Danado. Won't be surprised if they move soon, though, because it seems like registration is up and the classes are really full. I don't think they expected so much growth. read more

Ta Danado - Muay Thai Near Me - Hayward, California

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My two boys, husband and I attended today for the parent and me ju jitsu class and it was so fun! The class had really great energy and was a nice intro to the movements of ju jitsu. read more

Ta Danado - Muay Thai Near Me - Hayward, California

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Who's cutting onions here? I could get a bit choked up reflecting on my son's confidence growth in these last seven months. My son has been coming to this dojo for a few months now starting in the 6-8 year old class and I've seen his confidence steadily grow. They do have a toddler class available as well! I've been reflecting on how I can be a better parent and the choice we made to have him start BJJ. It's a tool for self defense, focus, confidence and being able to handle any situations. The world can be an uncertain and scary and unkind and raising a child in these times is daunting. The best I can do is to guide him to hopefully make the right choices and to build a strong mindset whether that's in defending himself or being able to dedicate himself to something worthwhile when the going gets tough. That's where Tadanado's village comes onto the scene! Senpai Edwin, the staff such as his wife Daniela, Alisa, and all the mini-instructors who volunteer make this BJJ world WORK! It really takes training beyond the public school sector to provide the skills needed for life. My son is still a sweet boy at the core but now just growing a stronger exoskeleton. I think the rear naked chokehold might be his favorite move.. hah He's learning to believe and trust in himself. He's learning more about his physical and mental capabilities and with this team alongside him who believe in him, he is going to be unstoppable! Thank you Tadanado Jiu Jitsu! read more

Ta Danado - Mister Smooth in the new black gi! - Muay Thai Near Me - Hayward, California

Our son has been coming here for a few weeks and we already have seen an improvement on this self-esteem, discipline, and much more. This place is not just a class; its a community for the children and parents. Best decision we could off made for our son. read more

Great experience for kids, adults and familes!! My daughter started with the toddler class at 4 years old and she has come a long way! She has learned discipline, patience and how to believe in herself. I have also starting taking Jiu-jitsu classes because of my daughter and we are becoming a Jiu-jitsu family. This dojo has a great sense of community and is very warm and welcoming. The instructors are very knowledgeable and helpful. With the help of Senpai Edwin and Sensei Abel she is ready to compete and have confidence in herself! read more

Did a sparring class and no gi on Friday. Fun professional and will be going back again!

If you don't mind closed doors, sweaty body odor, & unmasked people this is the place for you. Other than that the owner Carlos Sensei was very warm & welcoming. I was coached by another person & he was very helpful. Although their Covid safety protocols are pre-Covid practices, they have a great staff. read more

Ta Danado - No one is masked & doors are completely closed - Muay Thai Near Me - Hayward, California

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My kids love all the team there, Mr Carlos is very humble and kind. Highly recommended read more

Sensei Carlos makes you feel welcomed as soon as you step in. Teaches discipline and respect and all At the same time having fun while making champions. read more

My 3yr old toddler had the time of his life here! My son has autism and this atmosphere was so welcoming and so supportive. The first few sessions were hard for him to get used to following instructions being in a group setting, but after the first week, he always asked to come. This gym encourages kids to have fun and to be diciplined. We signed up through Hayward's Rec Guide and had every intention of signing my son up as a full time attendee, but he was just placed in afternoon preschool and we cannot accomodate jiu jitsu into his current schedule. We hope to be back in the summer time when school is out of session. Sensei Carlos and his other trainers treat all the kids and parents like family. I am really glad to have met him and I am excited for my son's progression in jiu jitsu when the time is right. You truly cannot go wrong with this gym. read more

I'm guessing overall this place is very good once a child gets use to the vibe. Unfortunately the one teacher is very loud and absolutely scared the heck out of my 6 year old on her first visit here. She cried half way through the whole class and then sat in a chair the other half. She comes from a 2 mom family and having a man get low and in her face while talking very very loudly completely terrified her. I get frustrated when things aren't organized better. Even though there was many first time kids there they did no introduction speech. The age range for the class was 3-7 years old. Of course my 3 year old just runs around and can't follow directions immediately. That is totally normal for her age. I was told I needed to keep her off the mat if she can't stay on. How is she supposed to understand this?! Especially when there is no intro in the beginning and no explaining of the gym rules. I didn't get a single teacher name before my kids are suppose to just interact with them. I was left with a 3 year old I was suppose to keep off the mat because she could slip on the cement and a 6 year old that was crying because the one teacher scared the heck out of her. I'm not going to give a small business a low star rating because I think overall this is a good business but they just need to work on their first class process for small children. I'm hoping they see my feedback to make the experience better particular for young girls. For other parents with young kids you may want to take your child to the gym sometime just to meet the teachers and walk around before the day of the class. This way it won't be so confusing and scary for them. I did love that there were 2 female teachers! That was super positive. The owner came in at the end and caused more confusion while he gave a long speech between when our class was done and when the new class starts. This caused a whole bunch of back up in the entrance and crowding. We finally got one introduction but only at the very end. My 6 year old is extremely smart. She would have probably had a completely different reaction if the teachers introduced themselves at first. Also she has never been to any type of martial arts class. She was confused by what the boxing bags were and what people do here. For a small child to hear the word fighting it is very confusing at first without an intro and explanation. Try seeing it from their perspective. I hope this doesn't make her long term resistant to doing martial arts. I know everybody has good intentions here but this really wasn't fun for a tired mom at the end of a work day. read more

The kids are seem to enjoy it and they listen very well. My shy girl has loved coming here the past 2 months and is actually participating and learning different jiu jitsu techniques. Hoping she sticks with it and takes it seriously so that she can start competing. At 5 years old, it's hard to tell if she will fully commit but this is definitely one activity where she's not making an excuse to not go. Sensei Carlos knows how to teach and have fun with the kids. Having the older kids help out is also great. read more

My husband loves this gym and so we started my daughter in classes at 3 years old. She keeps getting better and better. The teachers make it a great atmosphere for kids to learn discipline and have fun. They are so supportive and also try to create structure. I can see from the older kids the benefit that has. Seeing my daughter improve and develop new skills is really a joy. So happy we found this place! read more

You truly feel like you're part of the family. Instructors are kind and patient with all the students. You can enter at any level. You just have to have heart and go for it. read more

I'm so happy I found this gem in Hayward last year. My son is back again after a few months off and I must say I couldn't be happier even through this pandemic. My son desperately needed an outlet and Spark is full of awesome instructors whom are very big on discipline and structure. My son gets rewarded and encouraged to be and do his best every day. Edward, Carlos Rocha, and sorry (I have not learned the other instructors names for we've been gone for some time) are all amazing guys. I really recommend Jiu-Jitsu because it teaches self defense and in addition, help release lots of stress and tension experienced by virtual learning and everything else going on. All the kids respect one another and my son has never experienced otherwise. They bow down to each other in class all the time and It's really cool to see lots of small tough cookies learning such vigorous sport. read more

Ta Danado - Muay Thai Near Me - Hayward, California

Awesome family atmosphere, everyone is super warm and welcoming. My kids do the kids Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class with Sensei Carlos and they love it. He is the perfect mix of fun, discipline and technique for the kids. The studio is clean, neat and well taken care of. I've also watched him run kick-boxing. If you're looking to get in shape then this is definitely class for you. I'm personally not looking to sweat that much! read more

Ta Danado - Sensei Carlos giving specific direction and instruction during the kids BJJ class. - Muay Thai Near Me - Hayward, California

Our son loves coming here. Sensei Carlos is wonderful with him. Along with Donny and Sherman. They do a class for special needs children called "breaking barriers" And we are so grateful to have found a place for our son to go to and be accepted. It's been about 3 months but the warm atmosphere makes you feel like you have been around for longer. I highly recommend bringing your child here regardless if they have autism or not. read more

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It's a great place to change up your workout. I'm at the end of my 6 week challenge and have noticed I've lost some weight and gained muscle. I'll be continuing it at 6 AM, but they do have evening classes and other classes including kids classes and kickboxing. Overall everyone is friendly, supportive, patient, and respectful. There's no attitude at this place. I'd recommend this place for those who want to lose weight, build confidence, and learn self defense. read more

Ta Danado - View of the inside - Muay Thai Near Me - Hayward, California

The teacher is really knowledgeable and informative! We enrolled our kid there & he loves it! I was impressed with the knowledge, patience, and skills he's acquiring. The instructor (Carlos Rocha) teaches kids discipline and skills that they can use all their life. I highly recommend Sparks!!! read more

Ta Danado - Muay Thai Near Me - Hayward, California

Can't say enough good things, sensei Carlos is so patient, understanding and caring with the kids. They really love him and the program he has makes learning fun, my 3 year old is obsessed with jiu jitsu now and practices her moves on us at home. The environment is so positive and inviting and really a great place to be. read more

My baby has been training there fir 2 1/2 years an she is #1 in Jujitsu they train hard an they also do alot with the kids its like a family. read more

Ta Danado - Kaliyah Fanene is my sister an she was number 1 on the League this year 2021 shout out to Sensei Carlos he us the Greatest - Muay Thai Near Me - Hayward, California

BEST MARTIAL ARTS SCHOOL AROUND ! I highly recommend to anyone trying to getter their life. Young old and everything in between !

So happy to have found this place! The instructors are awesome and passionate about what they do. Sensai Carlos not only builds great athletes but also teaches the kids honesty, respect and to work hard to achieve their dreams. My boys have grown so much in their time training here and have even improved in school. Highly recommend this awesome place!! read more

I started training a week and a half ago, to change myself for the better. I missed one class and felt bad all day. The energy here at Spark is awesome! The training flies by and my mental mindset for the rest of the day is great. I'm so glad I decided to shock my system and leap out of my comfort zone. It's a long drive for me, but the reward outweighs the cost. read more

Ta Danado - Day one of "the challenge" a great day to train! - Muay Thai Near Me - Hayward, California

I'm half way into a 6-week challenge here at Spark Martial Arts and I have to say this place is great. The environment is welcoming, the people are encouraging, and everyone shows up to put the work in together. Coach Don is great: motivational, challenging, and he is not only proficient in the art but is able to effectively teach us rookies. I've had limited time with Sensei Carlos (since I am in the 6am class) but in that short time seeing the effortless way in which he rolls is inspiring. The art (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu) is proving to be an amazing style with many benefits for a healthier way of life. Short Story: I recently took my boys to watch the evening class (with Sensei Carlos) and they did not want to leave. Just watching Sensei Carlos and one of his students (@Sherman W.) rolling sparked an interest in them. We are definitely going to try to work BJJ into their school/athletic schedule. GO check this place and the people out! read more

LOVE this place. I admit, I haven't been going since the grand opening, but during this hiatus I totally miss this place (it's only been a week!) Sensei Carlos & Manny are AWESOME instructors in both Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai. They're very personal and are there to help and encourage you throughout the entire class. I've signed up since April of this year with a goal to lose weight and get back into shape. Sensei Carlos makes a great effort in motivating us to not only live healthy but to live the Jiu Jitsu lifestyle. You can definitely feel the genuine care that not only the instructors share, but the entire class shares also. Everyone's extremely welcoming and helpful. Majority of the students were/are from the Sergio Silva gym, which could be intimidating for us newbies, but I haven't felt any ego from anyone at this gym not even once. Everyone has been very encouraging for those of us new to Jiu Jitsu (and to those of us who are obviously out of shape; the warm-ups are no joke!) You'll definitely get a workout in, so be prepared for that. However, although the instructors are extremely motivating, they make sure not to push you past your limits; which is very considerate of them. They also have "Breaking Barriers" class for kids - an anti-bullying program. It's adorable and inspires me to enroll my future kids in a Jiu Jitsu gym :) The gym itself isn't too big and the main attraction is the mat. There's some steps along the windows of the gym where you can place your belongings and chill there if you're not training. The only thing is that I wish the gym had better ventilation (especially on hot days, I start to get asthma! Lol) I hope to see this gym grow (which I'm sure it will) with new faces and a bigger family! Oss! read more

I have been training at Spark Martial Arts since April, and I have loved every minute of it. The head instructor, Sensei Carlos, has over 30 years of Martial Arts experience and has trained with champions like Fabricio Werdum, Rafael Dos Anjos, Daniel Cormier, Roger Gracie and Buchecha just to name a few. Spark is truly blessed to have someone with so much knowledge teaching us Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Sensei Carlos is not only a great fighter and martial artist, but also a very humble and respectful person. He is truly passionate about martial arts and knows how to get the most out of his students. Although, I have only trained with Sensei a few months, I have already noticed great improvements in my game. I am glad to be part of the Spark Martial Arts family. As a bonus, not only do we have great BJJ instruction with Sensei Carlos, Spark Martial Arts holds numerous seminars with other high level BJJ instructors every month. So if you are in the area or looking for a BJJ school, this is the place. read more

My son has been attending Muay Thai and BJJ classes here for a few months now and he loves it. Sensei Carlos and Manny are awesome and great influences on the kids and even the adults. We started with the kids BJJ class, but my son felt like he was learning at a slower pace because the attention span of the little kids can be challenging. He spoke with Sensei Carlos about it and moved to the adult class and he really enjoys it. I would highly recommend this dojo to anyone looking for a martial arts class for their kids or even themselves. Everyone is so nice and welcoming. They also have other events like, movie night and seminars taught by Carlos and Manny. :) read more

My oldest had a bully and a confidence problem. Not anymore. Now his 2 younger brothers joined him and it's one of the best decisions I've ever made for my kids. Sensei Carlos has done a great job with them and we'll probably be here for a long long time. read more

It's the truth. My son is all day with the play... Carlos Rocha and Sherman is filling in the blanks and I am loving it! Come see the movement, bring your Boy(s) and Girl(s) period read more

This review is for Spark Martial Arts Summer Camp Program. I wish I wrote the review last year (May-July, 2018) when I enrolled my then 5yo son for a week with his best friend from pre-school. My son was a shy guy but after that week he said he wanted to continue on with his Sensei for the rest of the summer even without his buddy! I cancelled all the other programs we had enrolled him in and we committed to several weeks at Spark. Sensei Carlos helped the kids with confidence, respect, team sports, personal training and I saw growth that summer that helped my son prepare for kindergarten that I don't think he would have gained staying the summer in his preschool program or bouncing around in other preschool level summer camps. Sensei Carlos definitely teaches discipline through martial arts. He also uses his own life story (take a good listen!) to help the children understand how to be humble and respectful. I even asked him to throw in a few "and eat your eggs and meat to grow strong." Throughout the year my son often referred to Sensei Carlos and the things that he learned. This was a game changer for him. This year (June 2019), Sensei Carlos and his instructors have a more structured program and the kids are really learning more basics of the martial arts. Sensei still has the kids having fun and playing team games, but there is a new level of discipline with the instruction. My son, now 6yo, says that the camp is harder this year but he likes that he is learning self defense (especially after a bully scuffle in the kinder class this year) as well as kick boxing and jiu jitsu. He practices how to hold his hands and properly block himself. Once again, his confidence is being stepped up another notch. Carlos cares about kids. His own life experience has made him a good teacher for the kids, how to be grateful, to be respectful, to be disciplined, to work hard, most of all to be kind, and with these you can grow to be successful. I would recommend this class for boys and girls of all ages. For shy kids, kids with confidence issues, kids who have been bullied and need to feel empowered. I would also recommend it for kids who would like to learn martial arts from a real Champion fighter. read more

This is a wonderful martial arts studio. Sensei Carlos is a very welcoming and friendly teacher. This place isn't just taking your money and throwing your kid a belt. They learn skills and build self confidence under Sensei Carlos. Well worth the very reasonable rates and as a bonus they offer a class for kids with Autism. Go check it out! read more

Let me tell you about this place. The owner Carlos he is very nice and kind, My son, he is only 3 and half years old so he not old enough to register for the class but Carlos let him go try out 2 to 3 times a week until he turn 4 and can register!!! After trying out couples time there my son he loves it and Carlos spend so much time with him just the way I like it !!!!! Much go check out this place !!! Friendly and clean !!!!! read more

Very welcoming great atmosphere! Always something amazing and new to learn. I highly recommend this place!

Both of my daughter's train in jiu jitsu here. They love it. Before coming here, I knew nothing of martial arts . I don't know what I was expecting, but what struck me on our first couple of days was the amount of love in that room. Sensei Carlos has created a family atmosphere here . Not just a great place to take your family, but a place that will embrace you and your kids as family, too. My kids have benefited greatly from training at Spark. They have more confidence and discipline in every day life. read more

I used to do MMA in college, so of course when I decided to get back into it, I researched every gym around my area. Not only does spark offer many classes to fit your schedule, but you train under amazing sensei, and it is in the traditional way, not some gimmick that's just there to take your money. Be prepared for the best workout of your life. I strongly recommend checking out spark and I hope to see you on the mat. Oss! read more