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.

Fantastic family-like atmosphere, caring knowledgeable instructors who focus on safety, well-being…read more Really comfortable safe learning environment especially welcoming for beginners.

Both my son and I go here and we love it! Great environment, solid people, great instructors. Well…read morerun, organized, great communication. Highly recommend Caique academy!

A friend of ours recommended this dojo. What a unique and wonderful place!…read more We went for a free trial class and were instantly impressed. All of the staff and the Gracie's are so good with the kids - very gentle and encouraging, but with structure and consistency. They treat each child as an individual and take time to work with each one. We have felt such sincerity and kindness from everyone we have ever met there. Our little one's physical and social confidence are already noticeably growing after only a few classes. And this is such a positive and engaging place, it's always a very preferred activity for us. Parents and families can stay to watch and learn by observation. There are also games like air hockey downstairs for after class. So, it feels like more of a family hangout spot than just a drop-off and pick-up activity. I should also include that as an MMA fan, I partly picked this school because of Rodrigo Gracie's top credentials and legendary career. This alone makes the dojo unique, but when combined with the warm, family friendly approach they have, it is truly a special place.

"Wonderful gym with a great atmosphere! The coaches are highly skilled and patient, offering…read moredetailed instruction for all skill levels. The training environment is fantastic , supportive, and focused on growth. A super place to learn and improve your kids Jiu-Jitsu while being part of an amazing community!"

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!

I've been going here since I was 9 and still do, the instructor is without a doubt one of the best…read moreto offer, he is very patient and caring and when I'm there I'm sure to help him keep the studio as clean as possible, the vibe is incredible and hard work is greatly encouraged, I've had the fortune of doing my volunteer hours there and it's been fun

I love this place. My daughter is 5 years old and she's in the Taeki class. The owner of the place…read moreis very friendly. Same as for the Tae kwon do teacher, he's good with kids. They talk to them and builds a good relationship with them. They have a special which is $99 if its your kids first time including a uniform. When I went here to enroll her, they told me she could attend the next class which I was done enrolling 15mins before the class starts, and the tae kwon do teacher cleans and preps the mat that they practice on so I dont mind if my daughter lays down. Also the schedule is very flexible. There's about 10-15 kids in class and the Black belt students helps him tame and train the kids. We'll be staying here for awhile I'm pretty sure.

Conscientious and skilled instructor who directs students with care and compassion. A leader in the…read morefield with knowledge and experience that is not found often.

Master Manuel Marquez is a skilled master of martial arts. BUT he does not intimidate you, he is…read moreable to teach you. You won't be afraid to try and you won't be made fun of if you aren't getting it They want everyone to feel welcome and part of the Kung fu family The studio has a good atmosphere where anyone at any level has something to learn and the classes are taught in an inviting safe environment I would definitely return and I'd bring my friends

First visited Taishi Judo almost 2 years ago... From the moment I entered the dojo, I could see…read morethat this dojo is very serious about the sport. The attention to detail that the instructors instill within their students is second to none. It definitely is not an accident that their students are almost always at the top of the podium when they compete, which seems to be almost weekly. Over the past 2 years, I have seen many of the students grow into respectful, courteous, confident and competitive Judokas. I have seen them take a very uncoordinated child and helped build them into a very strong player. I am very glad that I visited the dojo and decided to enroll my entire family. They love the atmosphere, the instruction, and most of all, the family feel. I strongly recommend this dojo to anyone that is interested in learning traditional judo that can be utilized in modern day competition.

I have been bringing my sons to Taishi Judo Club for the past 3 years. Even though we live in San…read moreFernando Valley and our home Dojo is Valley Judo Institute I try and bring my sons to Taishi every Saturday. Before i started this review I read the other reviews and took a little exception to one of the negative reviews. First of all if anyone knows anything about Judo in the United States knows that not many people will be able to make a living running a Judo Dojo. Almost every Dojo in the Southern California area with an exception of a few are all pretty much run as non-profits and all of the instructors do it for the love of the sport. So this being said you can not rent a fancy state of the art facility. Do the math $30 a month if they had 50 students that is $1500. How can you run a business on that. So, don't judge a book by its cover. Recently there has been a lot of changes at Taishi and it seems like Taishi has become the go to spot on Saturdays. If you want to get a good hard workout this is the place to be. You have Black Belts and kids coming from all over California to train their. On any any given Saturday you see kids from Valley Judo, Norwalk Judo, Gardena Judo, South Bay Judo, Sawtelle Judo and even kids from as far as Fresno Judo. So, they most be doing something right for people to be coming here to get extra practice like us. If you are local to the Taishi Judo and are interested in Judo give them a try. You will not be disappointed. One more thing the parents of the kids at Taishi Judo are some of the most hospitable people in the Judo Community. While the kids are working out the parents are usually enjoying cheese and wine and having a great time.

I encourage each visiter to give this class a good six month trial before making your decision…read more Most Aikido dojos concentrate on wrist locks, elbow locks and shoulder locks.This is pre-war Aikido. The Yoseikan Budo tchnique incorporates Judo techniques, major body throws, sutemi waza, sacrafice throws and leg take downs, basic newazakarate, western boxing, and a traditional form of Japanese armed combat known as Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu. Pre-war Aikido used atemi to cause harm when necessary. One of the greatest practitioners of Aikdio, sensei Hiroshi Isoyama would often use head butts (atemi) or sacrafice throws (sutemi waza), to help subdue his opponent when challenged by boxers and wrestlers. This pre-war technique was said to be kept hidden after World War II; Samurai were known as a threat, and aikido became a friendlier sport over the years (aka post-war Aikido). You've stumbled upon a rare version of Aikido. Your ranking is earned, not given. Yoseikan Budo is a respected art that teaches effective, practical self defense against multiple opponents at one time.

Unlike many reviewers, I have never stepped into an aikido dojo before entering this class. I…read morewalked away with practical knowledge on how to respond to 4 common grabs and the mental framework to advance my career. Originally I planned to observe a friend during his practice, however sensei welcomed my participation. The first things I learned were critical skills (I realized these were never taught in schools) such as discipline, how to manage emotions, and calming the internal state of mind. Participating in the class has cleared my anxiety from the workplace. Then Sensei paired me with a student that has been honing his skills for nearly 20 years. He taught me the techniques and theory behind defending against larger adversaries. After the end of our class, more students began to pour into the dojo. The schedule is organized so that beginners will have an opportunity to observe and meet advanced students practicing their techniques. As a working professional, I highly recommend Budo Yoseikan North American Hombu Dojo. In the famous words of the Terminator: "I'll be back"