Our son has been attending this studio for over a year. Chuck, or "Sir" as the kids refer to him…read moreis great w/ kids and adults. He knows how to teach kids in a fun yet disciplined manner. We love what this karate studio has done for our child, giving him confidence, strength and motivation.

This Martial Arts Studio is the perfect place for people of all ages to get a good workout- learn…read moreself discipline - respect- and self defense. Mr. Chuck Kainz is a talented instructor that has been teaching Tae Kwon Do to families in Novato for over 15 years.

My son takes classes at this dojang and has had so many positive experiences with the other…read morestudents and teachers I highly recommend the program here

Master Kim is an amazing, supportive, talented and loving teacher. This school is amazing for…read moreadults as well as little ones and teens. The program leads by example and is deeply rooted in the tenets of traditional Tae Kwon Do. This is no mall chain martial arts school! Master Kim is the real deal! I trained with him consistently for 13 years .He has taught me through the thick and thin of life I started out as a little weakling with no coordination and no prior martial arts training. The school and its environment lovingly led me on a path of self empowerment and compassion. I am now part of a growing community, have trained the wee ones and the black belts and have come to appreciate the benefits of a balanced life. Go here. Send your children here. He rocks!

I can't say enough great things about West America. I first discovered them in Covid as my daughter…read morewas in preschool nearby. Each day, I witnessed kids eagerly walking towards the dojo for team practice. They were calm, parents were present, and it seemed as though they truly wanted to be there. Fast forward 4 years, my daughter is a Purple belt and performs on their demo team. That meant that she performed with West America in the finale of the Asian American parade in San Francisco this year! What a moment that was for our family, especially given her Nai Nai was visiting from Taipei. West America has taught my kids resilience, confidence, friendship building and how to build trust with adults and mentors. They make make friends outside their schools and have created an environment that is uniquely "theirs". Chantal and Roger (sibling owners) give them agency inside the walls. Not only are they learning an ancient skill with self defense components, they are learning respect, focus and working towards a goal (the belt tests). West America is literally home away from home for my children. Where else could I ask a business owner to text me personally when my kid arrives by bike for practice? I wish they could bottle that magic for every after school activity. From a practical standpoint, West America makes parents lives' easy. You may have to chase them down to answer the phone or sign up your child for a class, but remember, they're a small business and the focus is on the children. We love the flexibility of choosing 1 day a week, or unlimited as seasons change for families. We also participate in camps over school breaks and in summer. Current students and those that have never done tae kwon do are welcome and folded into the mix. Again, its magic.

Our son has been practicing here since kindergarten and is now entering 5th grade. It has been a…read moretremendously positive experience for him. We can't say enough good things about Roger and Chantal. It's a wonderful community.

My son has been in Taekwando with Defense Pro for a a few months. It's been an extremely positive…read moreexperience. He was struggling with team sports and we needed something more self paced. He has adhd and has trouble concentrating. Taekwondo has been great for him because there is enough movement to keep his attention. John is really great with the kids. He has the perfect balance of keeping them in line while also keeping things fun. I've been really impressed with the program and we plan to stick with it for the long term. Side note: You sign up through novato parks and rec.

Empowering, Confidence Builder from an Experienced Professional!…read more We had a great private self-defense session with my high-school age daughter and John at our house. My hope is she will never need to leverage the techniques John taught her, but now she has the tools to defend herself if/when necessary. John's approach is very effective. He brings the right tools to train on self-defense and understands how to communicate to the student - including providing relevant stories and examples to make it relatable. Every young woman should go through a course like this: - Situational awareness: How to avoid being in a bad situation (when you are alone, when you are with a male 'friend' who has different intentions, or when you are with friends at 'gatherings' with 'beverages'). - Self-defense: How to defend yourself from an 'friendly' who is aggressive or a true aggressor (how to get out of 'uncomfortable' situations, how to get out of common physical 'holds', and how to fight back). I highly recommend and we will be back for a refresher before my daughter goes off to college.

I go there and I have learned a lot of things. Like ax kick,front kick,side kick,round house kick,…read moreand more. It is a really good place to have fun and learn how to protect yourselves.

Not open during posted hours. Can't find information about the classes. Won't return phone calls.read more

Master Gus is an amazing coach -- he makes every child feel welcome from their very first day. My 5…read moreyear old daughter has a blast every class, gets to use both her body and mind, and always leaves feeling proud of what she's accomplished. I also love that the classes are such an even mix of boys and girls. The environment feels collaborative and supportive, and the kids are building both confidence and skills. Highly recommend -- 5 stars!

The actual classes are amazing!!! Master Gus is SUCH a great teacher, and he demands respect in the…read morenicest way. I even feel the need to respect him as we enter, but again, in a great way. He creates the environment of fun but also teaches the youngest ones (my son is 5), that you need to listen to be successful, you control your body, it doesn't control you, work hard, and you can do hard things. My son really loves it and I can see the growth. He already can count to 10 in Korean, say thank you, and does things I've never seen him do. My son is a bit of a goofball, and he needs some growth in the area of focus, but I think this will be improved with time in these classes. You get gymnastics, physical conditioning, the art of martial arts and some life skills all in one. What more could you ask for? Well, there is one thing I wish they had. In this heat wave I wish they had air conditioning! Only reason I'm giving it 4 stars instead of 5, but I almost wish I could give 4.5 stars because I know that's kind of trivial. It's just when we have to also be present outside and it's 99 degrees, yikes! Yes we could miss a class or two, but that's not what Master Gus would suggest ;). And I agree, if they are willing and get water breaks, they're fine. Maybe I'm just complaining because I'm the one who is hot haha. Try it out! Start at 4 years old! My other son can't wait, and we already had to buy him a tae kwon do uniform on Amazon because big brother had one and he wanted to join (but can't yet as he just turned 3). Can't say enough good things about this place. Hope to see you there!

The teachers here are fantastic. Every kid is given individualized instruction, even in a group…read moresetting. There is a positive vibe and students support each other. The program feels a bit overwhelmingly complex at first. They have many options and different events, dates, milestones... once we attended for a month or so I got the hang of things. And there is always a friendly face to answer questions.

We have had the pleasure of knowing Senior Master Schafer for 2yrs. He has always been an…read moreinspiration for us. Recently we became students of his, and we couldnt be more impressed. We are fortunate to be a part of his martial arts family. If you want your child (or yourself) to learn martial arts, and skills to succeed in life ... SIGN UP and never look back! Enjoy the journey!

My three children, ages 10, 12, and 15, started at this dojo a few months after we moved to Marin…read more After doing a bit of research we contacted PMA. Our first interactions via email were warm and welcoming, our initial trial class was so fantastic that the kids wanted to join right then and there, and since then, we've been going 3 times a week! This dojo is about dedication, discipline, respect, and hard work. The lessons taught here are ones that our children will carry with them for a lifetime. We feel so incredibly lucky to have such a gem in our community.

My son has been coming here for a few years. I can't say enough good things about Mike, Karen and…read moretheir staff. It is a clean dojo, with a warm environment. It is obvious they know what they are doing, building the intensity as the kids show progress. While the physical part is great, and I have seen grows in my kid's abilities, the life lessons are where they have this place dialed. Little nuggets of wisdom the teachers sprinkle, encouraging the students. Also they have a very substantial teen cohort which tells me they have the right formula.

I was a student of Mr. Brantley for many years back in the day. I came up from white belt to 1st…read moredegree black belt with him as our instructor and won many of tournaments with my classmates under his teaching as well. Taekwondo is the way of the hand and the foot yet the lessons he taught myself and others stuck with us much deeper than just that. He instills honor, respect, integrity and perseverance in all of his students which in turn made all of us better human beings than skilled self defense students. Mr . Brantley is a great Taekwondo instructor but a better character teacher, there is none. So I'll say that to say this. Try out a class for any age and see for yourself. If it's for a short time or for years like it was for myself and many others, the lifetime experience you'll gain won't disappoint anyone.

Our 5 year old son just started and he loves it! Mr. Brantley does an amazing job with these kids.read more

We have been here for 5 years. Not a bad word to say about it! Such a variety of things offered and…read moregreat community.

This place is the best. Community-oriented, fun, and…read morefriendly. They have a great summer camp. Many other classes offered also. Young kids, teens, adults, seniors. Judo & kick boxing.