Great dojo to train for self defense. Learn at your own pace by age and ability. Safety first,…read moregotta glove up to punch.

My 9 year-old son has this to say about Sensei Ford and Kaizen Dojo: "I love it! Sensei is great!…read moreHe's fun and nice, but he's also still a badass! I like his jokes! He's a good Sensei and I like going there very much!" I couldn't agree more! Very thrilled we found Sensei Ford and his impressive dojo. He's a natural teacher, leader, and clearly enjoys sharing the art, sport, and spirit of karate with all the kids. He keeps both the kids and parents engaged with the occasional joke or well-placed movie quote. And yes, he *is* a badass! I hope my son stays with karate at Kaizen Dojo!

This place is awesome. Before committing to this location, I did my due diligence for a few…read moredifferent locations for my eight year old son. The masters here are absolutely AMAZING! Master Kim and Master Suyeon are not only experts in their art, but also extremely entertaining to kids and parents. They're very attentive to each kid's needs and accommodating. Respect!

[Review #129] We…read moreenrolled H when she was 2-1/2 years old... after 3 struggling lessons, she quit. I felt she was too young to start TKD lessons because she was the shortest & only girl in class. H liked her teacher, Master Park, & he always made her feel welcomed & accepted. So we're back, almost 3 years later. H has mastered the basic foundation skills: poomse, punches, & kicks; she is ready to transition from her white belt & test for the yellow belt. The other masters are equally impressive... Master Ian has great form & skills when I watch him instruct the kids with higher color belts. He is also patient & sensitive... as I watched him deal with my l'il one's frustration one morning. Within seconds after talking to her, she straighten up & got in line to wait for the class to start. Master Park is a superb master & is great with kids. He alters from the serious TKD master to the kids' best buddy so they feel comfortable in class; this is especially important for the new students as the class (size) can be overwhelming. In addition to teaching martial arts, he also emphasizes respect to the teacher, your parents, & people. And his teaching overflows to H's everyday life outside of class - discipline, respectful, patience. I highly recommend this school for you or your kids!

My 5 year old girl has been growing a ton of confidence here. We started in jiujitsu and she was…read morehaving trouble leveraging her weight and figuring out the twisting of body parts with her partner. The competitive nature of that program and discipline didn't build her confidence much. Here, the practice is focused on the individual but also as a part of the collective team. No real sparring yet in the Little Samurai class, only some practice punches and kicks with chest protectors. Lots of punching bag practice for strength building and training. Lots of calisthenics as well with lunges, jumping jacks, mountain climbers, frog jumps, burpees, etc. Skills that they can use their whole lives and get stronger with. At the same time, there will be fun games like tag, dodgeball, red light green light to keep their interest and to work on reflexes. Excellent training in focus and active listening as well with focus claps, raising hands to speak, caring for others and awareness of everyone's space. These things I have not encountered in any other studio/dojo. I've seen many places that allow disruptive students or even parents. In contrast, here at 1st class, they don't teach blind discipline towards any instructor/owner but respect for one's self and each other. This alone is what keeps us coming back. This is what schools don't teach enough of. Not to mention the actual martial arts she is learning here. Channeling their chi into a strong Aiya, learning how to punch and kick correctly in self defense. Amazing program for little ones. Instructors are all black belts who are not only cordial, but also gentle yet firm. We fit in very well here and would highly recommend this program for little ones.

Took my little one here for a complimentary class. I was pleasantly surprised by the diversity of…read morestudents and staff. The class was cute. It went by a little fast but I'm not sure if my little one could handle and hr long class though. Besides the distance for us, we would have committed. We may consider later.

Taekwondo 21 is the best!! Master Lee is a dedicated instructor, very professional. Also, others…read moreinstructor are very knowledgeable and nice. My daughter really loves all the classes, her body stronger, and she improves her confidence by taking Taekwondo classes here! If you're looking for a good Taekwondo academy. Highly recommended Taekwondo 21!!!!

My daughter absolutely loves going to her taekwondo classes not only because of the friends that…read moreshe has made here but also because of all that she has learned from Master Lee. She has gained so much confidence and discipline from all that she has learned there. Everyone there is so nice and respectful of one another and it makes me proud of what she is being taught. The instructors are so friendly and supportive of the children that it makes them want to try even harder to succeed.

I've been eyeing Machida Karate Academy since I was pregnant with my firstborn. I had always…read moredreamed of enrolling him here because of the incredible reviews and the connection to someone my husband has admired for decades Lyoto Machida. When we first started dating, he told me about Lyoto, and it felt like destiny that our son would one day train at a place tied to someone we both respected. Back then, the youngest age accepted was 4, so I had to wait patiently. When my son was 3.5, I reached out to the dojo to plan ahead, and that's when I met Sensei Caroline the sweetest, most professional guide you could hope for. I also had the honor of meeting Chinzo Machida. He is incredibly humble and professional, even with a 4-year-old student, which immediately put me at ease. My son absolutely loved his time there. He would talk about it constantly, excited for every lesson, every practice. Unfortunately, after about two months, I realized he wasn't quite ready for the level of discipline and structure required yet, and I didn't want him or the class to struggle. I spoke with Sensei Caroline honestly, and she was completely supportive, encouraging us to return when the time felt right. This academy deserves every ounce of respect and recognition. The environment, the instructors, and the care they put into their students are truly exceptional. I can't wait for the day we come back and fully experience all that Machida Academy has to offer.

My daughter recently started at Machida Karate Academy in Lomita, and I couldn't be happier with…read morethe experience so far. From the very first class, the instructors made her feel comfortable, supported, and excited to learn. They strike a perfect balance between discipline and encouragement, firm when they need to be, but always positive and patient. What really stands out is how intentional they are about teaching both skill and character. My daughter is already showing more confidence, focus, and respect at home, and she looks forward to every class (which says a lot!). The lessons are well-structured, engaging, and age-appropriate, and the instructors truly take the time to help each student improve at their own pace. The academy itself is clean, organized, and clearly run with a lot of pride. Parents get a great view of the classes, and it's easy to see how much care and attention goes into each session.

The dojo is clean, organized, and setup with a viewing area to allow for family spectating, but…read morewith a separation to ensure that the students who are training can focus on their lesson and techniques. The training and advancement program is clear and encourages growth, but at a reasonable pace. With many age/skill group options, it didn't take long for both of my daughter LS to settle into the right group for each of them. This dojo specializes in children, but has great programs for teens and adults as well. Highly recommended!

We recently had my boy's 6th birthday party here. They superb. All 10 kids participated different…read moreactivities with 4 other instructors with fun and laugh. We extended an hour because kids didn't want to leave. They even gave us extra time to play. Highly recommended.

Amazing dojo and community. Very open to people from all walks of life and languages. Excellent and…read moreethical martial art Kyokushin is. Can't wait to go again. Se habla español

I regularly attend classes at this dojo and have been actively training here for a couple of years…read more Sensei Taku is one of the best instructors I've ever had and he has the patience to make each individual's goals a reality, be it to be a championship fighter or better fitness or stronger spirit. This dojo is also an affiliated dojo of the International Karate Organization Kyokushinkaikan which is one of the largest martial arts organizations in the world. More info can be found at www.kyokushinla.com.

I will get straight to it IF YOU ARE AN ADULT DO NOT COME HERE, this is a CHILD'S DAYCARE CENTER…read more The instructors are absolutely phenomenal. If you are a beginner AND A CHILD or young teen, this is the place to be. If you are an adult don't waste your time. I would recommend sweet science, black house mma, or hill street boxing in Long Beach. You will not find calculated aggression here, you will be paired with a child wearing a Pablo Escobar shirt that is half your size to hold pads for.... Wow GREAT TRAINING! Also why have literally an entire closet of gear and harp on having to buy your own gear? Yeah we can argue about hygiene. If hygiene is your priority then get rid of the closet that has literally every glove size and shin protector size. KEY POINTS NOT FOR ADULTS NO IRON WILL BE SHARPENED HERE STAFF IS AMAZING!

I used to take boxing classes in the gym and other places, but I feel like I really learn…read moreself-defense here especially with Krav Maga. Jake is the main instructor for the beginning classes and he is great. Patient, funny, and very experienced. His instructions are clear and he provides helpful feedback. At first, I was uncomfortable because I don't like people touching me, but it's fine since i was always partnered with a woman. The kickboxing classes are great as well. I suggest taking your own gloves if you can. It's an intense cardio workout. As someone who has been harassed and assaulted in the past, I feel so much more confident and stronger now!!