I've had the privilege of training at Gracie Barra Encinitas since 2005, and it's truly been one of…read morethe most meaningful and consistent parts of my life. Under the guidance of Professors Nelson Monteiro and Rafael Ramos--both world-class instructors and incredible human beings--I've grown not only in my jiu jitsu journey but also as a person. Their leadership has cultivated a culture that is as welcoming and inclusive as it is technical and disciplined. From day one, this academy felt like home. The atmosphere is warm, the community is tight-knit, and the values go far beyond the mats. It's a place where lifelong friendships are made and where everyone, regardless of rank or background, is treated with respect and care. I earned my black belt here 14 years ago, and I still look forward to every training session. That says a lot about the kind of place this is. Gracie Barra Encinitas isn't just an academy--it's a family.

This has been an amazing experience for our kids. All the instructors are amazing and very…read moreattentive to assure that the kids are practicing safely and all of the students are doing it with good sportsmanship. This is the first class facility through and through.

Where should I start? Master Castle and all of her staff are incredible…read more The reason why we started coming here we was because it was highly recommended by our friends and family. I know it's been around for a long time, and now I understand why. My twin five-year-old boys go there for karate, they also go there for camp, and fun nights out. It's a wonderful place with loving and understanding people and I'm so glad that we listened to our friends and family and decided to join the Encinitas karate family! Thank you so much for everything!

Master Castle and her team of amazing humans not only teach top notch martial arts, but they run…read morefantastic summer camps that my kiddo is actually excited to go to! Full of fun activities and learning experiences these camps are worth every penny. Each week has a different theme (spies, Minecraft, space) and are tailored to a wide range of age groups. They are flexible with times and days and are really attentive to detail. The effort and planning put in really shows. My 8 year old is also a karate student there and he loves it! Spring and fall break camps are also offered! 10/10 stars!

I am a black belt who has been training with Master Joyner at USSD Encinitas for over 17 years. If…read moreyou think that suggests a biased review, let me explain. I have actually trained with USSD since 1998 and have experienced the style and discipline of 4 other instructors, including another Master instructor at another USSD studio in the last few weeks. I am a Physician by profession and can easily discern personal as well as professional skills and comportment. Master Joyner masters both. His group classes are rigorous....but karate is not meant to be easy. Considering he is a 5th degree black belt, with rare exceptions, Master Joyner is always the instructor in his group and private classes, very unusual in this industry. He also works really well with children of all ages. If you have any desire to do martial arts or to simply help your child with discipline and structure, I highly recommend this skilled and compassionate instructor at USDD Encinitas!

This place is horrible. I came here and did karate for 2 years until i was a purple belt and had to…read moreleave because it was terrible. My brother is a little sensitive, and Master Joyner hates kids who cry. For example, my brother forgot to bring a note to class, so he was stressed about it. He was given 50 pushups and leap-frogs, and was out of breath so naturally, he started crying. Master Joyner got so mad that he grabbed him by his HAIR and yelled at him. He also grabbed the back of his gi and shoved him into the closet, and there was another person even watching. he resumed saying to the other kid who was a white belt, "See, *name*, I'm not rude, this is just how I act, okay?" The kid nodded in shock and I was standing against the wall while he said this, and I was scared horribly when he did this because it is generally scary to have a teacher do this. My parents later emailed him and he said that he didn't do it!! he is a horrible liar and a bad person in general.

I've been training with Kickforce Martial Arts for the last 3 months & all I can admit is…read more.. Don't think about joining here if you're not READY to break a SWEAT. Don't think about joining here if you're not READY to become a LEADER of your own LIFE. Don't think about joining here if you're not READY to be part of the FRIENDLIEST COMMUNITY around. Training at Kickforce Martial Arts not only allowed me to improve my Martial Arts. But, also become an individual who can take lead within my own community. The community here is so openly supportive that there's no space to say "I LEARNED IT ALL". We all help each other grow one another whether if it's in training, character & on development. I really RECOMMEND taking Mrs. Aguilar Kickboxing Class on Tuesday's. She will work you, break you & build you back up as a whole new fighter & individual. I don't have any kids myself, but I witness growth within all individuals of all ages. From a 5 year old to their 40 year old parents. There's just so much confidence that kids are introduced too. That if I had a kid, I would waste NO TIME on having them be part of the community.

My experience with Kickforce began in June of 2025. It began with the Tigers program for my then 5…read moreyear old, about to turn 6. He was adjusting to something new and out of his comfort zone. Which leads me into something that I have taught my boys now that I learned from Master Aguilar. The best way to put it is each time we do something even just a little bit outside our comfort zone, that circle that bubble that is protecting our fears and our anxieties its opened a little bit more. I loved hearing that because it's what I've known to be true for so long and that way of explaining it. Anyways aside from Master Aguilars Moments Of Wisdom, I will call them, I began to see my son needing a closer role model. So we began the beginners class, both of us. My son is loving it and he's gone up 2 belts and almost going on a third. He is using his voice more and for the first time (yes after 8 months ish) he didn't give me any push back on going. He has been being recognized for accomplishments and we are BOTH getting stronger together. Tara and her husband are amazing The customers and their children are humble and nice. This is the place to be for your martial arts journey.

This beautiful, well-maintained gym is home to many talented and passionate Brazilian jiu-jitsu…read more(BJJ) practitioners and hosts a team of great coaches and mentors to continue improving your skills and techniques and also growing your passion for the sport. Although the name nor location stands out much at a glance as a gym for BJJ, it is well known among locals and visitors of their excellence and commitment to expanding the roots of the sport in this area. It's been heard near and far about their ability to bring in top practitioners for seminars and guest visits. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to come in for a couple sessions taught by Eric and his team. With multiple sessions a day, multiple days a week, it was flexible to find a time that worked for me and with people of all levels, it was a great opportunity to learn from some talented folks. They do host gi and no gi sessions so if one's more your cup of tea, consider checking their schedule to determine the best days and times to attend. With a private parking lot, it makes it also convenient to come in at any of their sessions and be able to hop in and out without worrying about finding parking or getting stuck in traffic while trying to navigate the constantly construction-ridden streets of Solana Beach. The first impression walking into Studio 540 was the immaculate training area which included the main area of mats but also the side areas, staging area, and bathroom/showers. Eric and everyone who came in were extremely welcoming and made the session a great learning environment. The training was balanced with warmups, drills, and open rounds and had a good pace to keep bodies warm and flowing. I only wished I had more time to come by more often! Overall, Studio 540 is an exceptional gym for those looking to get into the sport of BJJ as well as for those who are a bit more advanced and looking to level up your game. Their facilities are extremely clean (they expect team members to wipe and sanitize the mats after each session) and well-maintained. Their footprint in the community has quite a reach and brings in folks from afar to come train so you may have the opportunity to meet a great group of people. If you're looking for a gym to call home or simply a visitor interested in keeping up to speed and in shape, give Studio 540 a look!

Amazing martial arts studio! The instructors are knowledgeable, patient, and great with students of…read moreall ages. The environment is positive and encouraging, helping build confidence and discipline. Recommend for anyone looking to learn and grow!

My daughters have done martial arts before at a different studio and took a hiatus for a few years…read morebefore telling me they wanted to do it again. We started back up here and I've been able to see my kids build their confidence, have fun, and become more disciplined than ever. I'd recommend this place to anyone who wants their kids to build confidence, discipline, and learn the power of self respect.

Kyoshi Manie and Sensei Summer bring a wealth of experience and pedigree to their karate teaching…read more They provide high quality instruction in a positive & encouraging environment and I couldn't ask for better role models to teach confidence, discipline and the physical and mental benefits that karate provides. The studio is brand new and has a modern yet warm and welcoming vibe. Kobayashi is a great addition to our community. We love it here!

We tried several Tai Kwan Do Classes. This is by far the best place . The master engages the kids…read morein every class and my son is learning how to focus. He works on mind and body focus as well as eye contact and loud and clear voice. My daughter who is only four also takes the class and loves it. She didn't want to take it until she watched one time and couldn't wait to join in! It has helped with both my children's confidence and self esteem! HIGHLY RECOMMEND this cla

Our kids have prospered SO much here over the last 3 years! Master Kang takes a great personal…read moreresponsibility for the kids that come into his studio. He treats each child and adult with a personal respect that I have not seen in American culture. My husband is Korean and I am white. Our children are so respectful and so different since they began taking classes here. I owe a lot to Master Kang and his teachings here at the studio. Today we had an AMAZING birthday party here! All of my 8 year old daughter's friends LOVED it! I have been getting a great response from the parents and the kids! Thank you so much, Master Kang - The Park Family