Updating my review since our family recently moved away from Menlo Park. My daughter started taking…read morekarate at USSD alongside my son and they both loved it. Since I came to the night classes here as well as the women's kickboxing class, I've had plenty of opportunity to get to know the instructors (Teacher Caldwell, Teacher Willie, Jodi, Brian, etc.). They are not only all excellent teachers, but friends that our family will miss. Since this location hosts many classes, I'll break down the review into each class/instructor Karate: My kids (ages 5 & 7) just tested for their yellow belts here and are both eager to continue karate. They tell their friends about how much they love their class. I was so pleased with their instruction that a close friend started her kids training here as well. Teacher Caldwell is kind and patient with the kids, and Teacher Willie's energy makes him one of the kids' favorite teachers. Kickboxing: The women in this class have become good friends. I loved this class so much that I would tow my younger two children (5 & 2) to class when I couldn't get babysitting. Jodi is energetic and knowledgable and let my kids play (or held my toddler) while I trained, which is a rarity. Expect a hard cardio workout with a lot of focus on careful technique. Tuesday/Thursday night grappling/striking: I made this class less frequently than the others but was always glad I came when I could. Willie brings the same energy to this class that he does to the kids' karate class, and I appreciated learning not only from him but from the other class participants whose experience surpasses my own. Grappling is (in my experience) focused on BJJ and takedown techniques while striking is strikes/kicks. Both classes often involve sparring, which I've found to be one of the most helpful ways for me to put what I've learned into practice. Monday/Wednesday Urban Combat: An excellent self-defense/HIIT workout class. I left a detailed review on the Urban Combat Yelp page. Martial arts has become one of my favorite things to do, something I'm hoping to teach in the future, and a source of discipline and confidence in my life. I owe it all to the investment and mentorship I have received through this studio, and I will miss it dearly. If you're looking for a solid martial arts experience for your children or for yourself, USSD is as good as it gets.

The instructors are all well versed in their arts, and have a terrific appreciation for those who…read morecome to learn. From beginners to those more advanced everyone comes together in a supportive, and motivating, way that fosters challenging one another to improve themselves. I have had the pleasure of participating in both the Urban Combat, as well as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes and would highly recommend it to anyone seeking to learn self-defense, as well as those seeking a wonderful alternative to an hour and a half at the gym.

Pros: Instruction is consistently terrific, and the regulars there are friendly and welcoming. It's…read morein a convenient location, and at an excellent price. Cons: I'd like to see the mats cleaned more regularly, and I wish there were showers in the building. The street and permit parking can sometimes be annoying.

Good instructors, good hours, and good attitudes.read more

My son started training at Redwood City Martial Arts Center and it changed how he approaches…read moreeverything. He set the goal of earning his black belt, and the discipline he learned on the mat carried straight into school and daily life. He has achieved his brown/black belt and is on his way to a full black belt. Sr. Master Hafez Adle and the instructors hold kids to a high standard. My son learned to focus, follow through, and earn his progress through effort. That kind of character building is hard to find. If you are looking for a program that teaches your kid more than kicks and forms, this is the place.

My son is neurodivergent, and finding a sports activity that supports his confidence, focus, and…read moresocial skills hasn't always been easy. Kuk Sool Won has been an incredible fit. Master Hafez Adle is patient, kind, and truly understands how to meet each student where they are. He celebrates progress--big or small--and create a welcoming, respectful environment for all kids. My son looks forward to every class and has grown so much in confidence, coordination, and self-discipline. I can't recommend Kuk Sool Won enough, especially for families with neurodiverse kids who want a place where their child is seen, supported, and included.

Exceptionally good training . I have trained in various styles in different cities over my adult…read morelife and can confidently say that this is the best overall training that I have found Effective and reality-based but without the edge some places have

I've been training here for 6 years and I still look forward to each class. Ive done martial arts…read moremy whole life (Karate, Boxing, BJJ) and none of them are like Urban Combat. This place is focused on real life and how those arts come together with actual common sense for dealing with potential situations. The classes include fun workouts, lessons in various martial arts / weapons, and film study on real situations. Brian is an amazing teacher - hes not lecturing from the sidelines, he is right there with you showing you how its done. If you are interested in learning actual self defense strategies separate from traditional martial arts - this is your place. Its a bay area hidden gem! Note - this place is in the Karate studio (parking in the back).

This is a wonderful Dojo. Excellent for kids. Great blend of karate and kung-fu. Focus on…read moresparring and practical applications.

My two children have been attending Z-Ultimate karate with Sensei Molly for over a year now. The…read moredojo emphasizes three principles: - Respect - Discipline - Humility But in the time my children have spent with Sensei Molly, I've seen them develop so many more attributes, including: - Confidence - Enthusiasm - Strength - Coordination - Agility - Teamwork - ...and so much more I could go on and on about how much of a positive impact Sensei Molly and her dojo have had on my kids, but seeing is believing. If you are even remotely curious about signing up your kids for martial arts/self defense lessons, I highly recommend you drop in and view one of Sensei Molly's sessions--or, better yet, sign up your kids for a trial class. That's what my wife and I did, and it was a no-brainer for us to sign up for twice-weekly lessons. Whether in the dojo, at home, at school, or anywhere else, Sensei Molly's lessons of respect, discipline, and humility will shine through your kids.

We've had a fantastic experience at Tamayo's Judo. The Sensei is an excellent instructor, and he's…read morecreated a wonderful community of supportive parents. He's very good with the little ones and has many different levels of classes in addition to adult classes, including "Parent and Me" classes as well as classes for 4-6-year-olds to get them ready for transitioning to the more advanced classes. My son has learned a lot about Judo techniques, but also self-control, motivation, collaboration, teamwork, goal setting, and pushing himself outside of his comfort level. The Sensei is an amazing mentor and has tremendous patience and kindness for the littles. Highly recommended.

Great location in the heart of the bay area. The mats are super unique and have some sort of…read moresprings under them. It makes the throws much more comfortable. Coach Raul is a very experienced Judoka with a background in other grappling arts. I've learned so much from him and am excited to continue my Judo journey with him.

Wushu Central is an incredible organization and one of the best programs you can get for your kid,…read morefor both obvious and non-obvious reasons. Like in any martial arts school, your kid is going to get plenty of physical exercise, practice coordination, agility and self-defense, but this program offers so much more. First and foremost, the instructors are *incredibly good* at working with kids, including very young kids with all of their quirks. The lessons are always engaging and fun (kids really enjoy them), while successfully teaching not only physical skills, but also important life skills. Very young kids will learn and get used to following instructions (which is one of the most important early skills), and older kids will work on developing grit, focus, growth mindset, helpfulness and respect, and other desirable qualities. The program is brilliantly designed to be engaging and motivating in positive ways. Very importantly, while Wushu Central teaches martial arts, they do not teach aggression -- in fact, there's a lot of emphasis on NOT hurting others. Moreover, every session there's a 5 minute "circle time" where coaches and kids talk about safety, good behavior, how to be a good member of society, and other goot skills and traits. Our son joined when he was 4 and a half. We loved it so much that after only a month we decided to buy a lifetime membership, and it's paid off spectacularly well. Almost 3 years later he still loves these sessions and is very invested in his progression. In fact his interest in this class never dropped, which is almost unheard of at such young ages, and he's the sort of kid (a geek) we didn't expect would enjoy martial arts. The entire time we've had nothing but good experience. Sifu Troy and the instructors are all incredibly kind, humble, professional and passionate about the art. In fact many of them have been practicing at this very institution since they themselves were small kids -- a testament to the vision and the incredibly remarkable job the founder David Chang has done since he started the program decades ago. This place deserves nothing but praise and the highest possible recommendation.

Great place with amazing instructors who very patiently deal with kids and make learning so much…read morefun. Sifu Troy is awesome!

I regret that I didn't learn Kung Fu long ago as it's made a tremendous positive impact on my life…read more I did actually try a few classes throughout the years, but they were always lame in some way (e.g. lots of shouting, too macho, too much like dance class). SiFu Don's class is perfect. A wonderful combination of exercise, practical instruction, and learning elegant ancient Kung Fu forms. SiFu Don is impressive in his mastery of his art, yet undertstated in his manner. He will encourage and inspire you to achieve more than you imagined you ever could, but is also kind and understanding of your current ability level. He translates complex movements into simple step-by-step instructions that he demonstrates meticulously and gently corrects you as necessary. I couldn't recommend this class highly enough!

Always wanted to learn kungfu?! Then take this class!…read more This class under Sifu Don is a great way to introduce yourself to the discipline of kungfu, especially if you're starting from zero. Sifu Don brings years of kungfu training and does a great job of translating it into a learning environment. Everyone hears of draconian kungfu teachers with their insane punishments, but thankfully, Don isn't like that (though he's still badass). Instead, he understands the various skill levels and physical limits of his students and provides gentle encouragement along with lots of one on one attention. Whether you want to explore a new hobby or revisit some old kungfu skills, come to class, bring so loose fitting clothing/athletic gear and a willingness to learn something that most people suck at right off the bat. Doing Bruce Lee caliber moves as a beginner will take time, sweat, and (hopefully very little) blood, but this kungfu class provides that road.

My kids love going here! They have been in it for almost two years and it has done wonderful things…read morefor their self esteem! Thank you Coach Leo and Coach Gustavo!

If you're looking for a fun way to engage your core, your grit and your wits, look no further…read more Serao Academy is the best gym I've ever trained at in the Bay Area and arguably the best gym in the South Bay. The instructor's are friendly and knowledgeable and the culture is vibrant and fun. That said, training is fierce and the talent here is top notch. Thank you to Serao Academy for teaching me Jiu-jitsu. I'll be taking the foundations learned here and building on them in Southern California. 10/10 would recommend.