My kids have been part of the Kugtar MMA family since 2019, and I can truly say it has been such a…read morepositive experience for both of them. Over the years, they have trained in Tang Soo Do and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and have had the opportunity to learn from so many wonderful instructors, especially Maa'm, who has had such a positive impact on them. She is an amazing instructor and a genuinely great person. You can tell that she truly cares about every one of her students. She gets to know them, believes in them, encourages them, and wants to see them succeed not only in martial arts, but in life. Maa'm can be tough, but that is part of what makes her such a great martial arts instructor. Martial arts isn't always supposed to be easy. Maa'm knows when her students are capable of more, and she pushes them because she believes in them. Her toughness comes from a place of caring and wanting her students to become stronger, more disciplined, and more confident. I have personally seen a tremendous change in both of my children. Before joining Kugtar, my son was being bullied at school and struggled with standing up for himself. Since becoming part of Kugtar, his self-esteem and confidence have grown tremendously. Seeing him learn to believe in himself, stand up for himself, and know that he has the skills to defend himself if necessary has meant so much to me as a parent. If you are looking for a martial arts school where your children can learn how to defend themselves while also building confidence, discipline, respect, and character, I highly recommend Kugtar MMA.

Excellent coaches. They teach the children to be disciplined. I don't have to worry about anything…read morebecause I know my son is in a good training environment. The work Maan and the coaches do is excellent.

Having experienced other BJJ gyms that "teach" you 1-2 moves then throw you onto the mat the "roll"…read morewith little to no experience, I was hesitant to give it another try. My buddy attends this school, and finally convinced me to give BJJ another chance, as the Gracie Academy was different than all other trial-by-fire gyms I had attended. I enrolled in the 10-day, no hassle trial that included a BJJ gi and white belt. Over those 10 days, I was able to attend 4 classes and haven been going ever since. Tom (the black belt instructor) is very knowledgeable, and will take the time to listen to your question and address issues until you understand what is being taught. I highly recommend you come join us on the mat!

My daughter was nervous her first class but Brendon and the instructors were awesome and went out…read moreof their way to make her feel welcomed. She had an amazing time and learned a couple of moves her first class. She immediately got home and practiced said moves on her dad. She left the class feeling happy and proud of herself.

Best dojo ever!!! The sense is sensible and displined. He is a great instructor. I would recommend…read moreit to everybody interested.

So glad we found this dojo. Sensei is the best and he builds great rapport with his students. My…read moredaughter is a little shy but the kids are welcoming and the parents are also just as kind. 10 out of 10. I just hope that Sensei doesn't retire anytime soon so she can train under him for years to come.

Monterey Bay Taekwondo has been one of the best decisions we've made for our children. The…read moreinstructors strike the perfect balance between discipline and encouragement. They challenge the kids while still making every class fun and engaging. We've noticed huge improvements in confidence, focus, listening skills, and overall attitude. The positive environment and strong sense of respect they teach really stands out. Master Lee and the instructors are incredibly patient, encouraging, and truly care about each student's growth -- not just in Taekwondo but in confidence and discipline as well. If you're looking for a program that builds both physical skill and character, this is it!

This place is an amazing place for children! They teach them great life skills, in addition to…read moreTaekwondo! I would highly recommend for anyone interested in signing their children up for an extra curricular program! :D

As a beginner, I've had an incredible experience at Monterey Martial Arts so far. I found the…read morecohort that Michael has organized to be very welcoming, very compassionate, and very dedicated to practice. I received helpful guidance during my sessions. And although they were intense and challenging, I felt safe and energized. I'm looking forward to gaining empowerment, strength, and toughness. IMO this is an awesome place and well worth your time.

For almost 2 1/2 years, my kids (now 8 and 11) have been attending class twice weekly here with…read moretheir teacher Michael Yerzy. As a teacher myself for many years, I highly respect Shifu Yerzy's passionate and consistent approach to instruction. The students learn self defense to last a lifetime, exercise routines and stretching techniques to last a lifetime. And at the foundation Shifu Yerzy teaches an honorable and moral approach to physical training which will prepare my kids to stay safe and protect loved ones. Every class ends with a reminder "We are here to learn, not to fight." It's been a positive and rewarding experience for my family and many others!

Not a lot of advertising and flash, but simply the elusive opportunity to learn from a reputable…read moregrand master, a thing which is becoming a rarity. Teaching adults and kids, group and private classes. An opportunity for training beyond what many dojos can offer in the US. Master Kim offers virtual classes now as well, and you can see some videos of his for free on YouTube through the website. Eagle Talon Hap Ki Do is great for beginners, but it's also an opportunity for any truly advanced martial artists who want to add a skill set or increase overall skill. Master Kim has abilities and knowledge other instructors might not. I would encourage elite practitioners to use him as a resource in the Bay Area.

Practicing hapkido here at Eagle Talon Martial Arts strengthens the body, mind, and spirit. Master…read moreKim is a great mentor in martial arts and life. He adapts to each student and challenges us constantly. All the while, he keeps a positive and encouraging attitude. The focus here is good body/mental health and self-defense. You don't need to be big, strong, and powerful to succeed here. Also, the lesson hours are great for working professionals. Master Kim holds two adult classes in the evening. Class sizes are relatively small.

*A love letter to my favorite place in the Monterey Bay area.*…read more If you are looking for a martial arts gym in the area that will introduce you to the art and take you to the next level, look no longer. Coach Mark is truly the best with whom I trained under and cares very deeply about helping students continue to realize their potential as human beings and as martial artists. I had my first class here Feb 2021 and was impressed with Mark's high level instruction, and the quality of my fellow teammates. The impression of a martial arts dojo for people who have never trained is that it is full of dangerous people ready to smash newbies. And while this is true for some gyms, Eliteteam Monterey is the type of place that will simultaneously push you to become better and empower you. It was through the coach and teammates' encouragement that I decided to compete, and if you are willing to learn the program and train consistently, you will be carried to another level with the support of a stellar coach and hard working team. Having trained at four different gyms since 2016, one learns to look at some details to understand the "health" of a gym: 1) The mats are always clean and are sanitized after every session. 2) Mark pays close attention to the organization, cleanliness, and vibe of the whole facility, so you feel right at home. 3) A shower is available for those on morning, noon, or evening training schedules and is stocked with "Defense" soap so that every person can keep the team safe with good hygiene (anti-ring worm, anti-staph). 4) This academy now has a Full Monday to Sunday schedule, with 6 AM classes, 12 PM classes, 4 PM classes, and 6PM classes. 5) It is a very inclusive academy and has classes for all levels, and women's classes 8-9 Saturday. 6) The coach constantly emphasizes fundamentals while helping you build skills, and then try them in live sparring under his close supervision so that everyone stays safe. 7) Striking classes are offered as well In addition to jiujitsu, I also benefited a lot from Coach Mark's advice about applying principles of the art in my professional and personal life, and how to improve my health. He provided me with strengthening exercises, cardio exercises, cool podcasts, and coaching at competitions, to help me build more confidence as a person and as a martial artist. Thank you coach Mark and the Elite Team Monterey crew. Catch you on the next roll.

I was visiting for a few days due to work and this was the highlight of my trip. Great vibe, I felt…read moresafe as a visitor, awesome technique. Thanks Coach Mark, and all the others of the team. Highly recommended

I've been going here for kickboxing for over 12 years on/off. I recently returned after two back…read moreto back babies and can say hands down without it I would not have met my weight loss goals in 1/2 the time I had intended. The best shape I was ever in was when I was attending this class 2-3 days a week. It's the best workout on the peninsula hands down. Not to mention years back during atandt we had a celebrity drop in and he was even impressed. Can't say enough good things about their kickboxing classes and it's amazing they offer them 6 days a week.

I have been wanting to get back in the martial arts for a few years. I have been searching for the…read moreright instructor that balances the discipline and passion that I have been missing. I'm happy to say the search is over! If you are looking to learn from a great teacher that will push you to your limits at any age the search is over for you too!