I've been taking classes here for a little over two years and I've only now thought to leave a…read morereview lol. As you might guess, I really like it here! Everybody, both the instructors and the other students, is really nice and supportive. The instructor, Yuka, is a great teacher and gives a lot of personal attention. She also does a great job accommodating people's preferences and abilities so that they get the most out of their time here. The studio's super clean - Yuka uses one of those cleaning robots before every class, and the mats all get wiped down with sanitizing spray after each use. Personally, I take these classes to train for self-defense, and I like that that's what it's focused on. We train for common self-defense scenarios and all of the techniques are very practical. However, this is also a great place to practice Wing Chun for both cultural and fitness reasons! Can't recommend it enough.

I entered the studio late, but was greeted with kindness…read more The students, ages young person to elders,the fluid movements of the instructors, the ease and gentleness of the way they calmly and precisely encouraged students to mirror their movements was fascinating. I am so looking forward to my first class and the classes that follow for the opportunity to learn self-defense and gain strength in my body and mind!

My name is Jocelyn Cheung and I am twenty seven years old. I have been at Golden Lion Martial Arts…read moreSchool since I was sixteen years old. (2000) My reason for sticking with Golden Lion is because everyone is family and has always cared about me and each other. We mingle with each other by having picnics, movie night and not to mention we mingle with other students from the whole Plum Blossom Federation by competing in Tournaments and other cool events. Even though we have fun and joke around, practicing at Golden Lion is tough. They train you well and make sure you understand and practice correctly. It's not just about doing the moves, but the lower the stance the better. They train you hard even though it's tough, because, "No pain no gain," is what Sifu always says. Why would you want to go somewhere to train and just "DO" the work without "REALLY" knowing it?" Waste of money and time. You might as well get a great work out and come home feeling really good. Not to mention," it's not a waste of money by doing so." I wouldn't be at Golden Lion for twelve years already if I didn't like it there. I get good vibes from not just the people, but the work out. Yes, I admit, I have skipped classes, but you know what? Its one hellova miss out. Skipping a kung fu class session just makes it worse because the donut you had that day would still be in your system and that just means those calories are stuck there. I can't stress it enough to say that being at Golden Lion is one of the best things in my life. Also, if having problems outside of Golden Lion, just being at the school has nothing but happiness. Its not Choy Li Fut that I love & practice, its Golden Lion that makes me want to stay and learn Choy Li Fut.

Today, mindfulness/ meditation 5 minute apps are very popular to help with stress…read more However, many people do not realize that the outer body movements of Tai Chi Chuan are the perfect compliment to moving the inner chi energy throughout the body which helps when practicing mindfulness/meditation. The meditator needs this movement to strengthen the body and to help open the psychic centers to be most effective. A one hour session at Mountain Lion includes Qigong warm-ups, meditation/ breathing to calm the mind, and drills performed slowly to help students cultivate deep concentration and mind/ body co-ordination for balance. The instructors are constantly watching to ensure that each move is performed properly to prevent injuries. In addition, they are knowledgeable about how each move affects different parts of the body so movements during the hour will engage the whole body. This does require effort and a commitment, but the goal of attaining health, longevity, fun, and inner tranquility is worth it - especially for the 50+ crowd. To top it off, the instructors and classmates continually give positive feedback on what you are doing correctly to boost your confidence. My only regret is that I didn't start the Tai Chi Chuan practice at Mountain Lion when I was much younger. Nadine Oei

We enrolled our tween-age kids at Karatedo Shinyokai in October 2019 for two reasons: they needed…read moreexercise, and this was the closest dojo. It turns out that we are fortunate to have found one of the best teachers I've encountered, in any subject. Mark Sensei teaches traditional Okinawan karate in a way that is still fun and engaging for typical California kids. He expects a lot from his students, yet is dynamic, understanding and fair. This dojo transitioned seamlessly into virtual classes on Zoom as soon as the shutdown began, and these virtual lessons have been going as well as anything possibly can at this time. The opportunity to engage daily with a group of peers, even virtually, has been priceless. The kids have learned so much beyond punching and kicking: discipline, culture, the value of working hard towards incremental goals... The more senior students help the junior ones with instruction and feedback, and their self-confidence and engagement is something unusual in the average young person. Our kids spent eight weeks in Summer Camp and got to try their hand at so many other fun activities: shodo calligraphy with brushes and ink; various traditional weapons like nunchuks and sticks; even making their own sushi and somen to eat "with" their karate friends! I myself joined the Adult classes in March, and they have helped me in so many ways that I've made this training a priority in my life. Not only have I lost 12 pounds so far :), but there are so many other benefits I was not expecting: better stamina, better mood, a new community of friends, and the mental exercise of learning complex kata. The expression "it's never too late to try something new" has never seemed more meaningful. Karatedo Shinyokai: cannot recommend highly enough!

My 6 year old son takes classes from Sensei Mark and loves it. He looks forward to every class and…read morethe atmosphere is great for boys and girls of all ages. Sensei Mark is fun, patient and informative and offers his students more than just self defense, but a positive way for the kids to carry themselves in all aspects of their lives. The older or more experienced kids help out the younger, newer students in a very postive caring manner that is very impressive ; and fosters a environment that stresses students supporting each other and improving ones technique by also being a good teacher to one another. My son has shown an increase in discipline, self control and confidence. My wife and I are very pleased and highly recommend Karatedo Shiyokai.

This place is a gem! And Master Pitts is a one-of-a-kind martial arts instructor! It's obvious he…read moregenuinely cares about each and every student. I've walked by this dojo many times on my way to yoga. I remember seeing small groups of kids classes here and Master Pitts always seemed really nice. When my son turned 3yrs old and started to be able to follow instructions a little better, this was the first place I wanted to check out for classes. My husband and I stopped by one evening to ask about the Little Ninja class and paid to do a one time drop in class to see if our son would connect to it. Boy are we happy we did because my son LOVES THIS CLASS. My favorite thing about this place is Master Pitts' commitment to instilling confidence and integrity in the kids. The first thing they are instructed to do upon entry of every class is to shout "I will do my best!" Before they leave, they shout "I did my best!" This alone is priceless. If your little one is shy or not very confident, this is a safe and caring space to help them build their self esteem. Classes vary a little each time so the kids stay interested and engaged. They learn to stretch, kick, and punch. Most importantly, they practice listening and following instructions. Every class ends with each student shaking hands with one another and saying "courtesy and respect." If your kid is on the younger side like mine (under 4 or 5yrs old), expect to get up from the sidelines to help them. Master Pitts is also great about going around to help the kids individually and there is always a second instructor who helps as well. I highly recommend this place for kids. If you can't take my word for it, bring your kid in to do a drop-in class and you'll see for yourself just how AMAZING Master Pitts is with children.

Master Pitts is an amazing teacher. In addition to his skill at working with all age levels…read more(toddler through adult), he has so much patience in working with the kids. My children started with him when they were 3, and they were so wiggly and had never been in a structured learning setting prior to starting with Master Pitts. His instruction was wonderful, and my kids loved going to classes. In addition, the community of students and families connected to the Academy was so warm and welcoming. I started taking my own classes not too long after, and I had a great experience, too. Unfortunately we moved far away, but I still miss Master Pitts and the community of martial artists he nurtured.

As someone who studied karate in Japan for several years, I appreciate traditional martial arts…read moreinstruction. Stiles Sensei is a traditional Shotokan master. His classes are a good workout, fun and his depth of understanding of techniques and ability to communicate is unsurpassed in my experience. He teaches adults only. Join us.

If you are looking for a Shotokan Karate dojo in the Bay Area, you will be well served to train at…read morethe JKA of San Francisco. T.J Stiles is a truly excellent instructor - a fifth degree black belt, with over 20 years of teaching experience, he comes directly from the Mori Sensei lineage of JKA and practices the traditional Japanese Karate Do. He is very technical and explains technique, body movement and application extremely well and really helps you identify and overcome your weaknesses and bad habits. I have tried other dojos in SF, but this has been the best by far in terms of serious practice, proper technique and true karate spirit! I highly recommend.

Both of my daughters have had very positive experiences at EBJI. They started as beginners and over…read moretwo years, they each developed body awareness, mental toughness, and camaraderie with their peers. The instructors are skilled and supportive. I appreciate that this organization encourages their older more experienced students to become leaders to the younger ones. Most of all, I appreciate the friendly and supportive community at EBJI, and always look forward to connecting with other parents.

My son attended this dojo for over a year, consistently showing up and putting in effort. Despite…read morehis commitment, he was never promoted, even to half yellow, while I noticed other kids who attended less frequently or who seemed less focused did receive promotions. According to their online system, my child had about 68 hours of verified instruction, yet still no advancement. From what I observed, promotions sometimes appeared to happen faster for children whose parents were more involved in dojo activities outside of class. For example, I saw families volunteering their time or providing other support, and those children seemed to advance more quickly. In my case, we were not involved in those types of activities, and I couldn't help but wonder if that played a role. Behavior standards also seemed inconsistent. I witnessed my son being told his behavior was a reason for not advancing, yet other children -- including some who were regularly reminded to focus or who disrupted class -- were promoted. At the same time, I often saw my son working hard, staying engaged, and following instructions. I'm not the only parent that felt this way either. There were also some teaching methods I personally felt uncomfortable with. For instance, I once heard comments directed at kids, such as calling them lazy, that struck me as discouraging rather than constructive. While some families may see this as tough coaching, it didn't align with what I wanted for my child. In the end, I felt the promotion process was unclear and discouraging for my son. Eventually, I decided it was time to move on. This is just my personal experience, but I think other families may want to carefully consider whether this dojo's style and values are the right fit for their child.

I've trained here off and on and I love it. The coaching staff is amazing. I have attended the…read morebeginner classes as well as the advanced class. The fundamentals class is very welcoming and taught in a very understandable way. The advanced class has world class champions,literally. I am very satisfied with this dojo. You won't find another like it. You have to check out the new dojo. They put a lot of love and effort into this place.

A truly wonderful beginning tumble class for active and/or shy toddlers. You can tell the…read moreinstructors love this place and what they do. They are so patient and engaging with the students. Both my boys have loved the tumble class. We happy to have found a wonderful group of instructors and new friends in our class.

Master Min, Katie and Master Eagle are so nice. Very fun and nice training. Could be more intense…read morefor beginner :)

I have been consistently blown away by the TG Taekwondo studio. After the first class, they knew…read moremy daughter's name as if she had been attending for months. The instructors work MAGIC with kids. Master Kyle especially keeps things fun and entertaining yet focused on the lesson. My daughter absolutely loves him. My daughter LOVES going to class and talks about class throughout the week. She even practices at home without a struggle. We love that she has learned good manners, good listening skills, and self confidence. We would strongly encourage anyone to join!