Kim's Hapkido is an awesome place! My son started at the South Pasadena location when he was 5. But…read moreafter only 3 months, the Covid pandemic shut down everything. Afterwards, at age 8, he had his second start and has been learning Hapkido for nearly 4 years now. He enjoys it a lot. This school is a wonderful place to learn self-defense, develop self-confidence and how to stand up to bullies, practice discipline and respect, and forge friendships. Master Kim and every single instructor are great with the kids (and adult students, too!). Hapkido as a martial art combines kicking, striking, throws, grappling and joint locks into a very effective self-defense system. While these techniques might seem scary and, as a parent, one might be concerned about injuries during practice, there is no reason to worry at Kim's Hapkido. The entire team of instructors is patient and skilled, and safe instructions have priority. In all the years watching my son practice, I've never witnessed an accident or unsafe instructions, including during the sparring sessions. Kim's Hapkido employs a neat belt system, with about 13 different belt colors and stripes from white to black belt. While these many steps are more than what you typically have in other martial arts, they provide an effective motivational tool to keep attending practice. Achieving the next level belt color is based on performance and an official exam (with board breaking!), and each kid is immensely proud when they are awarded the new belt. No belt is given merely based on the time spent in the dojang, but rather is awarded based on the merits of having learned the respective set of techniques. By now, my son has climbed up the belt ranking by 10 steps, and each successful passing of a belt exam represents a wonderful highlight that nurtures his self-confidence and personal growth. The adult classes at the South Pasadena location usually are 8-15 in size, whereas the kids' classes are larger, depending of the day of the week. However, in all classes there are always multiple black belt instructors available; therefore the teacher-to-student ratio is excellent; during the detailed technique portion of the class, safe and personalized instructions are assured. My son attends practice 2-3 times per week (depending on his soccer practice), plus 1 sparring session in addition. The sparring sessions are restricted to intermediate + advanced students and require the wearing of well-padded sparring gear (hitting the head is prohibited!). The gender distribution is about 50:50, and it is great to see how girls hold their own during sparring; a valuable lesson to learn for the boys! Another clever concept is Master Kim's Star Program, where kids can earn small, star-shaped merit badges for their uniform, based on achievements outside of Hapkido (such as in school or church or another sport). Some of the kids wear over a dozen of them as a proud display of their varied accomplishments during their young lives! This is one more example of how thoughtful this place is with regard to instilling a sense of achievement in its students. Despite its location in the heart of South Pasadena with its high rental costs, Kim's Hapkido has managed to keep its membership fees fair and affordable, which I appreciate. The studio is nicely spacious and there is a designated seating area for the parents in case they want to stay during class and observe (or read a book). Parking is easy and free; there is street parking along Fair Oaks Ave, dedicated parking behind the studio, and a large lot behind the Canoe House across the street.

I highly recommend Kim's hapkido! The teachers are excellent. They instill discipline and respect,…read morebut do it in a compassionate way. My son spent about a year and a half there and is much more confident. He achieved his yellow belt with a lot of work and practice. The kids learn self defense abd get good exercise in a fun, safe environment

My 7 year olds just started here. They staff is really great and they are loving it. My kids were…read moresick this week and were able to participate in thier class over zoom. It is very pricey ($200/month for 2 classes a week, +$99 registration, $100 uniform, and $20 groin protector) but I actually called another similar place in the Pasadena and they were about the same price per month.

Our 7-yr-old daughter asked every day for two months to start karate lessons. When I started the…read moresearch for schools, I originally needed something nearby that would fit her school and my work schedule. This school was perfect on those practical levels. It's clean, well-maintained, and family-friendly. Parking is easy to find, and the pricing structure for classes is affordable and reasonable. What has exceeded our expectations is the excellent staff, instruction, and care. Our daughter loves Sensei Anto and Sensei Aram, and has made friends in her classes. She looks forward to class and practicing at home. She recently passed her test for yellow belt and the experience provided her with such pride, joy, and a determination to continue and excel. Like most kids, there are moments where she doesn't want to participate or acts up; Sensei Anto manages his kid classes well. He knows when the kids need a run-around break, and when behaviors need to be addressed. He balances fun with technique, pays attention to kids who need extra guidance, empowers more advanced kids to help out lower levels, and generously gives praise when deserved. We're so happy with this fantastic school and look forward to continuing our daughter's martial arts education here.

If you have children and haven't been to SBG SoCal, check it out!…read more We have toured all the major jiujitsu studios in Pasadena and none can match it in cleanliness, teacher:student ratios and quality of instructions. Coach Marco and his team really know how to teach and empower kids. Not only do the kids learn jiujitsu and other martial arts, they also learn life lessons. Marco has been a life coach for my son. Teaching him about humanity, friendships, bullying and respect. And it's super clean which I appreciate. If you are searching for a jiujitsu experience with both quality instructions and amazing instructors that care for your children, then check it out. I've learned how to properly execute gentle, yet firm, parenting, just by watching Marco in action. I also want to add that Marco and his team are heroes. During the Eaton Fire, they were helping displaced kids, housing them at the gym, and subsidizing dozens of kids' jiujitsu membership because of their loss. Kindness at its finest. A++++++

I've been to many gyms in my life all ranging from mma to boxing to jujitsu & I always noticed a…read morecommon theme with these gyms. It was either favoritism or egos in the way. When I first arrived to SBG they welcomed me with open arms & they honed in the fundamentals of MMA & Jujitsu. The experience & environment at the gym is unlike any other gym that I've been to. They treat you like family & let you go at your own pace when it comes to learning. The classes are filled with intense fun & are structured. Just within a year I've seen huge improvements in my Jujitsu as well as MMA skills. The coaches are fun & don't take themselves so seriously like other gyms do. They make you feel like you're part of something bigger! The gym is always clean & blasting good music lol. They treat everyone the same & there isn't any egos or bad vibes there. We just recently competed & we did better than anyone could have expected. Coach Marco is truly one of one & without him & his amazing gym we wouldn't have the skill set that we have now as a gym. If you are thinking about trying it out or looking for a new home. Try SBG So-Cal ‼

My 10-year-old son has been attending K Taekwondo for just over a year, and we couldn't be happier…read morewith the experience! Grand Master Lim and ALL the instructors are amazing--patient, encouraging, and truly dedicated to helping each student grow both in skill, confidence and discipline. We've seen such positive changes in our son's focus, discipline, and self-esteem since he started. The classes are well-organized, energetic, and fun, while still maintaining a strong sense of respect and structure. It's clear that the school cares deeply about each child's progress, both on and off the mat. If you're looking for a Taekwondo program that builds character as much as it teaches martial arts, K Taekwondo is the place to be!

I have 2 kids (9 and 8) who wanted to learn martial arts. I tried researching Karate vs Taekwondo…read morevs Hapkido and really could not decide what would be best. We randomly stopped by K Taekwondo on a Saturday (they were doing belt testing) and the kids loved what they saw. They have a really nice intro package (something like 6 weeks and free uniform for 40 dollars) and the kids enjoyed it from the get go. They have been going now for 3 months and overall the experience has been great. The instructors are great and the Grand Master is amazing. Kids look forward to the weekly classes (2 classes per week) and we are impressed by all they have learned to date. Would definitely recommend, for kids and teens and adults alike (they have a separate adults class).

I am taking Benson Lee's Tai Chi class at Azusa Senior Center. Benson is a wonderful teacher and I…read moreenjoy his classes. I have only started recently but they have made a big difference like increased energy level and better circulation. What a privilege to have someone of his caliber teaching us!!

Super excited that they moved to this location! It is located in the OO KOOK K BBQ plaza with lots…read moreof parking. I am attending Sifu Benson Lee's intro class and it has been great. I love how I can learn Kung Fu as well as get a good workout in. Extremely beginner friendly, and he is very patient with his students. Highly recommend if you are looking to learn self defense, kung fu, or tai chi. Give it a try!

This place. Oh, this place. It houses something special. If nothing else is helpful about this…read morereview, know that I LOVE accompanying my kids to class every time - not one of those activities that have a parent feeling like "oh, man- we gotta go to _____ againnnn". I plan on joining up once I get the thumbs-up from my doc (my body is a bit broken at the moment). My two kids (ages 11 and 6) have been attending classes for two and a half months now, attending an average of 3-4 times per week. The adjectives I would use to describe this dojo are profuse and positive... welcoming, sincere, encouraging, challenging, supportive, community-building, kind, conscientious, warm, and empowering. Each sensei brings their heart and flavor to the class. Here are some of my favorite aspects of how the dojo is run: Students learn how to operate in community with others through teamwork and mutual teaching/learning. Families are encouraged to participate Students learn that there is something to learn from every person, and something we can teach every person Yes, it's super self defense- AND can be profound metaphor for almost anything positively-connoted that you can think of. I've witnessed these kids (and other students here) develop physically, emotionally, and mentally - and it's only been two and a half months.

We couldn't be more grateful for this place -- and for Mark Arnott, who has built something truly…read morespecial here in Eagle Rock. My son is AuDHD and has historically struggled to push through hard things. In just four months, the transformation has been remarkable. He's learning to understand his body, building real resilience, and beginning to grasp what it means to both give and earn respect. That growth doesn't happen by accident. Mark runs his dojo with warmth, kindness, and genuinely high expectations. Simple things -- like his habit of telling students to say hello to someone they don't know -- go a long way toward building a real sense of community. And it shows: the parent couches are always full, and it's become one of our favorite places to connect with other families. My son is progressing beautifully in his skills, but honestly, what he's gaining beyond the mat matters just as much. We're so glad we found this place.

Been coming here for nearly a year. very sweet and structured environment for my child. I love…read morethat Master Lee and the assistants all remember the kids names. I like how they stress respect and structure while keeping the class interesting for young kids. When going from white belt to yellow, Master Lee made it very easy to ease in my 6 year old. But when going to orange belt, he inspired my little kid to understand that it takes practice to level up. Love it and highly recommend!

Our son has been going to this studio for about 7 years now. He had not lost his interest even he…read morehas earned his black belt. It's not only a great way to get extra exercise but Master Lee always makes sure to give the students life lessons like appreciating the parents, doing their best, be respectful and so much more.

Logic Pasadena is a clean family friendly and vibrant place to learn jujitsu. All the professors…read moreand coaches are kind and first class. No shady types here! My son and I have been practicing jujitsu for over a year now and it's the best decision I ever made. Highly recommended!

My child has been practicing BJJ in this Pasadena location since early 2021. Professor Bence is…read moreremarkable when teaching techniques and making sure lessons are well understood. He is very patient and his personality facilitates the art for both, children and adults. I highly recommend this location!