We've been coming here with my son for a little over 3 months now (from almost 5 to now newly turned 5) and have had an outstanding experience. Seifu Mario is wonderful with the children and achieves a beautiful balance between building genuine relationships with kiddos, while also commanding their respect, focus and discipline. Seifu manages a class full of 4-7 year olds with such ease, keeps the class running smoothly and quickly, and checks in individually with students to keep them progressing in their own KungFu practice. The studio is clean and organized and it's clear that Seifu is truly passionate about what he does as shown through his style, interactions with children and parents. read more

I signed my son up for this. He's 13 and not really into sports, but we want him to be active, so he said he'd like to give this a try. I was a bit worried because he's a beginner in an all-levels 13-17 year old class. Right now he's the only one with a white sash. But I didn't need to fret. There are usually 2-3 instructors in the class (one might be an assistant) so he gets plenty of help. They have individual instruction during the class to work on specific things the kid needs to master, plus group instruction. The group is very kind to my son and his self-confidence is growing. It's pretty cool to see. read more

My son started with 5 Elements when they offered it at his school as an after school program. He loved instructor Nathan, and loved doing Kung Fu! Nathan personally reached out to me and let me know that he thought my son would benefit from joining classes on a regular basis at the studio. I spoke to him about my son having issues focusing and sitting still in class (he was 5 at the time) and he said Kung Fu would be perfect for him. He has been doing Kung Fu for almost 4 years now and his behavior, concentration, and focus have improved so much. We love all of the instructors there. They are all so wonderful with the kids, very patient, and diligent. They send monthly newsletters to keep the parents informed, offer camps during school breaks, and hold fun events such as bowling and beach days to keep everyone involved and having fun. I highly recommend 5 Elements!!! Also - during this time where they have not been able to have the studio open, they have been very active virtually! They send emails with new information, as well as reminders about the zoom classes they are offering. I love that my son can still learn and practice from home. read more

My son loves it here they teach him alot of valuable skills that he can use not only use in his training but at school or at home aswell. I would highly recommend this place to anyone read more

I trained in the adult program for about the past 3 years. One of the hardest parts of moving away from San Diego has been that I won't be able to train at 5 elements anymore. For adults interested in a martial arts school to train at in San Diego, I highly highly recommend training with Sifu Mario at 5 Elements. Mario is incredibly knowledgeable across a wide array of disciplines -- his martial arts knowledge extends across multiple disciplines and he also brings extensive knowledge of how the body works and how to keep it strong and healthy. He also displayed a wonderful ability to gauge where his students are and how to best provide training based on individual students needs! Further, Mario's focus is not solely on "fitness" or going through the motions of combat -- but also focuses on the wellness of the mind-body connection. I know that some of my biggest growth as a student was in our Tai Chi Qi Gong training! I am very grateful for the opportunity to train with Mario -- even though I have moved away from San Diego, I have learned enough to also keep training on my own, as on top of the base curriculum (which is a blend of Shaolin and Wing Chun kung fu), I have also learned forms in Zhao Bao Tai Chi and with the long staff. I really could go on for a long time, but I absolutely loved training at 5 Elements. If you are a total beginner, 5 Elements is a great place to go. If you are have trained extensively in martial arts of whatever style, 5 Elements is a great place to go. read more

Sadly after 6 months or so of having my three kids in this Kung fu program, I cannot say I would recommend this place to anyone, and to make matters worse if you pay a year in advance like we did they do not return your money for the unused portion of what you pay for. According to the owner, his reasoning is that he has a small business and therefore cannot afford to return money for classes paid in advance. Now as business owner I understand this to a certain point, due to having employees and overhead. The problem with that argument is that when you pay in advance it translates to unearned income in accounting terms, which means that the money is there but it should not be spent until it is technically earned. With that said. I would understand fining one month of the credit or requiring a 30 days notice to cancel, but telling me that none of the money can be returned seems a bit shady and can't be legal? (Which by the way the owner purchased a Tesla shortly after we paid in advance) I will be there for the rest of time that we have paid for,by force, due to the fact that they refuse to return our money. If you have any questions or wish to hear more about our experience we will be in class reluctantly because the owner has forced our hand and has protected himself by stipulating it in a contract that no one reads in good faith! So think twice before going here and definitely do not pay in advance!! read more

This studio is great! I have known Sifu Mario since he started in Martial arts and have seen him grow into the wonderful person and instructor he is today. I am so proud of him for taking the steps to start his own studio and program and continue teaching the adults and kids in the neighborhood. All 3 of my kids have studied under him over the years reaching the level of 6th section. His studio is clean open and well organized. I am confident he will be here and continue to grow his program for many years to come! B read more

My son is 4 and before we chose 5 Elements, we tried a few other places to see which studio fit our family the best. After trying a lesson at 5 Elements, it was a no-brainer. I have never seen fewer than three teachers in a class, which means all of the students receive feedback and attention and the instructors are able to break the kids into groups by ability and need so they can differentiate instruction. The teachers are all clearly capable and skilled, but they are also kind, enthusiastic and passionate about what they do. Classes are always fun, educational and of course a great healthy workout for my wee boy. A few things I LOVE: 1. They teach the students a skill (Kung Fu) but also self control, breathing, patience, respect, focus and kindness. 2. They give direct instruction about dealing with bullies in a positive way, being confident, and taking care of each other. 3. They often have children from slightly higher belt levels assist in leading the class demonstrations which builds community, confidence and sense of inspiration for the younger ones. 4. Although my son only attends once a week, I already see that he is improving, not only his "moves", but his flexibility and focus and his desire to be healthy, which he actually talks about. 5. He loves the teachers. They are always kind, caring, positive and encouraging while being honest. They don't just move kids through to the next belt, which some of the places we tried actually do. 6. It's completely affordable. After looking at other places I was afraid we couldn't afford to have our son take Kung Fu, but 5 Elements charges a very fair rate and truly offers a high-quality experience. Now if I could just get my son to stop practicing his Kung Fu moves on his sister... but that is no fault of 5 Elements. :) read more

Joining the Kung Fu program led by Mario Mayorga was (and is) one of the best decisions I made in behalf of my son. Luke was 5 at the time and full of energy needing "the right" direction with a mix of structure, dicipline and fun that all children should cultivate. Mario and Ben know the right recipe to get the kids focused and motivated to keep learning and improving their skills. The improvement of Luke's concentration at school was just amazing. I'm so happy with the program and caring instructors. The new studio is beautiful. We will follow Mario wherever he goes. read more

I've know Mario for 7 years. If you want to learn about martial arts and health, I suggest you contact Mario. He definitely practices what he preaches. He walks the talk and has an amazing calmness and confidence. Whether you're looking to improve your life or the lives of your children Mario can help. His facility is clean and warm. Two thumbs up! read more

My son has been going to 5 elements for 3 months now and we love the experience he is receiving. We visited 4 different studios before choosing this one and we couldn't be happier. Instructor Ben & Instructor Mario teach the class with patience, skill and organization while still making the class fun. read more

Bullys are cowards who feed on fear. Equiping your child with the skills they need for the world we live in today. Its better to avoid a potentaly negitive situation, but if cornerd. you can rely on your life skills to get you by. I will give myself & family the skills/ confidence require for world we live read more

I recently visited this school and was quite impressed! I've participated at several other dojo which were satisfactory, but, 5 Elements have quite a bit more to offer... a Large space to workout. Very Experienced Instructors who are professional in demenorand proficent in ability. Heavy matted flooring. Getting the disipline of the art is important. These guys are on the right page! read more

This place is top notch. I am continually impressed with Sifu Mario, Instructor Ben, and Instructor Nick as they patiently work with my 5-year-old. Sifu knows how to talk to children and encourage them while still pushing them to be better. As of right now, my daughter is working to earn her yellow belt and her biggest challenge is her focus. Sifu has taken the time out of his busy schedule after every class to talk with her about how she is doing, what he expects from her, and to teach her that she is in control of how fast she progresses. As a military family, we struggle constantly to find programs that our children can adapt to quickly. Our 5-year-old was instantly at home here after testing out several other schools in the area. Can't recommend this place enough. read more

My son has been with this studio for about half a year and he absolutely loves it! He has made many friends and continually learns the importance of discipline, body control, and strength training. The instructors are very patient with the children, good at keeping them entertained while they are learning, and professional. It looks like so much fun I have been considering joining the adult classes myself. My wife and i highly recommend 5 Elements. It is a clean, well organized facility with a great staff and awesome values to be learned. read more

I signed my daughter up a few months ago and I can't be more happier! She is learning effective self defense, plus responsibility and self esteem. Sifu Mario & Instructor Nick are very kind and patience with the kids. The studio is clean and very organized. I would definitely recommend the summer camp! read more

My wife and I enrolled our 2 boys (ages 5 and 7) in the 5 Elements program about 6 months ago. Sifu Mario, Instructor Ben, and the 5 elements staff deliver a high quality product for a very reasonable price. In this program, I have seen my boys self esteem and focus increase. They learn important lessons about personal responsibility and mutual respect while have a great time. I would highly recomend their summer camp program that give the kids a chance to try new things and have fun in a great possitive environment. read more

I really admired the patience shifu Mario and instructor Ben showed while trainning our kids to learn kung fu. This studio was really closed to home and our children enjoyed attending their trainning. Shifu Mario worked on a 1 on 1 when our kids needed improvement on their skills to help them get better. I highly recommend this studio/class to anyone looking for some good trainning in kung fu. read more

My son has been a student at 5 Elements's for over 3 years now. Before coming here we tried several studios all over San Diego and my son and I both agreed this is the place for us. My son entered as a 10 year old boy and now as a 14 year old is really growing into a young man. The exercise, focus, motivation from Sifu Mario and the teachers has helped shape my son into a young man who loves keeping fit, respects the Kung fu culture and has goals of obtaining black belt one day. They focus on what he needs to work on to move towards his goal, they help him put his skills to use in sparring class and they provide positive role models. I am so glad that they focus on the forms and techniques while guiding his moral compass before allowing him to spar. I am also glad the sparring is not in a competitive way , more focused on putting skills to real life practice. Top notch studio 5 Elements team! Keep it up. read more

This studio was recommended to me by a friend after I mentioned I wanted to get my foster child involved in Martial Arts to help with his focus & insecurities. From the first day this studio has been a blessing. The changes in him over the first year of attending classes have been phenomenal & they have been such strong, positive role models for him. They have blessed us in many ways & I look forward to him continuing at this studio for a very long time. read more

I had recently registered my kid sister into this dojo, she isn't really an active child and honestly is very spoiled so as an elder sister, I took the liberty of engaging her in a multitude of activities that she could take pride and passion in. In the process we ended up taking her to the free class offered to all first time students at this dojo(thank God for it) and she, to my surprise, loved it. I'm sure she had some hidden motivation somewhere in her that I didn't know about but I'm even more sure that a lot of it had to do with the instructors. There is a particular instructor that I saw made her feel very welcomed so thank you, Instructor Marshall, for remembering my little sister's name the following week. I personally love that the instructors stop the students to teach them how to bow correctly or how they stop them to show them how to properly enter the mats without tangling the beads in the doorway, it's wonderful reinforcement of discipline and respect. read more

BAD EXPERIENCE WITH THIS STUDIO. We pulled our kid out of this program after about 7-8 mos, which is how long they have been in business. We found them to be very unprofessional and did not have a good or well defined program..which became apparent after a few months. After repeated attempts to resolve the issues, we left frustrated and upset. This ended up being a bad experience for our son and tore him down, rather than encouraged him. Repeatedly overstepped his role as instructor with my son and I found him to be extremely disrespectful to me as the parent. We were encouraged to write a review when they first opened, as others have as you can see here. We waited until we could see how things went and I am glad we did. It definately took several months to understand the name of the game here with this studio, and now that we do, our only choice was to quit this studio due to lousy service. Complete waste of my time, my son's time and our money. He should be paying me for the frustration and upset this experience has been to our entire family! Disappointing to say the least! read more

Although this is a new school, we have known Sifu (master) Mario for several years. Our son trained under him at another location. Mario's new studio is well-done, great equipment, light and large. We are so pleased with what he has created. But, most importantly, we are pleased with the quality of his instruction, his knowledge of karate, his gentleness with young children and the high expectations he places on performance as students move up in belt level. Mario wants to instill in students his philosophy of martial arts, self-discipline, self-confidence and humility. We are more than excited about our son, who is a black belt, continuing his instruction under the teaching of Mario. read more

I am very honored to be going to 5 Element Martial Arts. Sifu Mario and Instructor Ben are always willing to teach me and my fellow students the fine elements of Kung Fu and the basics of self-defense. The studio is spacious and is in a very quiet neighborhood. Getting the new uniforms was the most exciting part. The punching bags are never ending and although they have gloves you can borrow, it is highly recommonded that you go to your nearest Big 5, Sports Authority, or Sport Chalet and get yourself a pair of Everlast gloves.(Boxing or MMA gloves) read more

Our son has attended both the after school program and the summer camp. He will now enter the regular program at the wellness center. This has been a very positive experience for us. Our son has gained confidence and agility. He has a clear idea of when it is appropriate to use his learned skills and a greater respect for others. The staff is friendly and responsive. They provide a great source of mentorship for their students. read more

Great studio, clean and wonderful location. This is a wonderful place for your child to learn traditional karate. Instructors are nice and well trained. read more

This is an outstanding school! My son has trained with Sifu Mario and Instructor Ben for years at another facility and we were happy to support this new endeavor. We, as parents and as former students ourselves, have the utmost respect for both instructors. Sifu Mario and Instructor Ben are highly trained, patient, kind, and professional. They create a safe environment for their students by instilling respect for individuality, and promoting an open door policy for parents. Sifu Mario has created a school that has a very welcoming atmosphere for both the dedicated students training there, and the parents watching them in the waiting room. My son continues to learn new things, even after 10 years of training, and always looks forward to his time at 5 Elements Martial Arts and Wellness Center. They also have Yoga classes and adult Martial Arts classes. There is something for all ages and stages of life, I highly recommend this school! read more

What a great studio!! If you are thinking of signing your child up for martial arts I would highly recommend this studio.

Great facility, clean and pleasant. Instructors really understand how to work with children to motivate them and provide constructive feedback. The best testament is that my daughter loves attending class and can't wait for each lesson. The Kung Fu techniques are solid yet accessible to children through fun games and focused practice of fundamentals. read more

Great kung fu and yoga classes. My 9-year-old son has been taking lessons from Sifu Mario and Instructor Ben since the school opened. He loves it. And I love the effects the training has had on him. He is more disciplined, coordinated and respectful. Plus, he is actually learning effective self defense in the regular classes and sparring classes. Sifu Mario and Instructor Ben are great with the children. And I have found them to be nothing but professional. I have also been doing yoga at the school. The instructors are top notch. It is quite a different experience taking yoga at a studio instead of a large gym. The classes are smaller, tailored to any requests and include adjustments, so I know I'm doing the poses in a safe and effective manner. I'd give the school 6 stars if I could! read more