Monterey Bay Taekwando

7.2 mi

Absolutely amazing instructors. Very professional. Clean. Respectful…read more I genuinely feel like my child is learning a craft and many skills that will be carried throughout life.

Kickboxing Class

See all

New offering

Eagle Talon Martial Arts

(4 reviews)

0.2 mi

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.

With family and friends after a belt test

Special skills

New place. marina

See all

Salinas Tae Kwon Do Academy

2.0

(4 reviews)

8.2 mi

The teacher does not live by example, don't train there one of the worst places to train .read more

I used to attend here and the instructors have their favorites. I was also 10 and a yellow stripe…read morewhen they had a black belt/boxer 30 year old spar me.. they didn't have her wear gear but I was a child and I was hit hard.

See all

Curtis Sells Martial Arts

(10 reviews)

7.9 mi

We were looking for an extracurricular activity for our two boys (ages 9 and 6) but were having…read moretrouble finding something that they really took to. They don't do well with someone yelling in their face and they're not big on sports. After asking around, we were recommended Mr. Sells Martial Arts. It's so nice that he offers a free, no commitment, one week trial to really see if the kid(s) enjoy the classes. After a week, our boys were hooked and look forward to attending every afternoon. Mr. Sells is so patient and knows his stuff. All the kids respect him and you can tell they all WANT to be there, they're not forced to be there. Mr. Sells will teach your child all things karate, but also sprinkles in some valuable life lessons with each class. None of that toxic masculinity stuff! Pricing is reasonable especially for how flexible the time/classes are. There's always going to be a class that fits your schedule and he doesn't make you feel bad if you miss one. I HIGHLY recommend this to everyone, but even more so if you have a timid/introverted kiddo. Try to get there a little early if you have questions, or call and leave a message, because classes start timely and he is busy with the kids once 3pm hits.

We've known Curtis since High School. He is a very dedicated, knowledgeable, well-qualified…read moreinstructor. Our 3 year old son feels very comfortable with Curtis in his class. For all the parents reading this, I highly recommend Curtis Sells Martial Arts for your kids, He is very gentle and nurturing, and your kids will surely love him. Also, Curtis Sells Martial Arts teaches LOVE, RESPECT, UNDERSTANDING, FOCUS, PEACE, and more to his students.

Mr. Sells passing on his knowledge to the next generation of black belts.

Black belt testing

See all

Very talented young ladies have now earned their black belts after hours of testing.

Taekwondo Jeongsin

(6 reviews)

26.2 mi

I just joined the adult class for a month now. It's because of my son who has been attending the…read moreTaekwondo Jeongsin since he was 4 years old. He is 6 now, and having a green belt level at this moment. And my second son is 4 and just starts it as well. We really enjoy the class. Master Aaron has built a good foundation for my sons and help them succeeded as they continue to grow from each level. It's been amazing seeing them grow as people as they learn discipline for the art. The vibe is quite friendly among students and parents. The facility is clean and spacious. Good place for toddlers, kids, and all ages. Highly recommend!! Thank you Master Aaron!!!

Master Aaron's success is because he really loves and enjoys teaching. In any yelp page / review,…read moreyou find the bad feedback in "unrecommended." But in fact, Master Aaron only has 5 stars there too. Master Aaron also teaches any student - even with disabilities. I was hit by a felony dui hit and run. I was in the hospital over 5 weeks. I have permanent damage to my body, memory issues, balance issues, severe pain. I actually can't even walk normally anymore. Even if you can't walk normally (like my issues), Master Aaron will still find a way to include you into the class. He will adjust the program so even a person with disabilities can still be the best possible. If you or anyone has disabilities or special needs, Master Aaron won't leave you behind. If you're already athletically gifted, he'll improve you. If you can't even walk normally, he'll still improve you. I recommend Master Aaron for any age, any person with any situation, disability, or special needs. He enjoys teaching so much he's always smiling - when he's teaching, when he's talking to you. Even when he's doing the thinking that Masters do, he's also smiling. His influence is a great way to improve your life, health, and personal safety.

See all

Watsonville Taekwondo Academy

(5 reviews)

16.8 mi

My son and I have been looking for a new martial arts studio for a while and we think we've found…read morethe right one with Watsonville Taekwondo Academy. He's been training since he was two but lacks the structure and discipline that is important to move forward. He wanted to find a place where the kids actually practice and spar together and where he can prepare for competitions. He's never been able to do competitions as his last dojos didn't support that. We heard about Linda and the other instructors being good instructors and so nice so we dropped in randomly one day (no appointment). Fortunately, we got the time right and were still able to observe/check out their healthy mind and body warm-up. Then we enjoyed watching the kids spar with each other, safely with tons of pads and such, practicing their kicks and punches. It was great and my son is happy. Watsonville Taekwondo Academy is a cozy lil dojo that's tucked behind Bud's Barber Shop, in the Ace Hardware and Staff of Life parking lot. Other things we liked - the space is so clean! And the kids seem really kind to each other and disciplined. My son says he wants to go every day. Definitely see ya there!

I had known a cousin that trained at this studio a while ago. When I was a kid I wished that I…read morecould have gotten the exposure to this kind of community. The parents were always supportive, the masters or teachers were great and communicative. I remember how cool it was to see new skills become a part of their arsenal while training. (Jump front kick is so cool)In my case, seeing my cousin grow to become a better human was actually really dope because it helped set a foundation of respect and hard work to later benefit their future. I guess when my kids are capable I may think about enrolling them.

American Tae Kwon DO

(2 reviews)

16.0 mi

I've trained at Angel's Taekwondo Academy for years. Angel is an extremely professional and…read moreexperienced instructor who genuinely cares about his students. He's patient and encouraging, and he always takes the time to explain the techniques in a way that I can understand. I've learned so much in my time at Angel's Taekwondo Academy. I'm not only stronger and more confident, but I've also learned valuable life lessons about discipline, respect, and teamwork. I highly recommend his studio to anyone who is interested in learning Taekwondo.

I been taken my kids here for like 2-3 year and angel is good at wat he does ! Kids are already in…read morered belt n bringing medals every tournament they go to

American tea Kwon do

See all

AMERICAN TAE KWON DO

Korean Martial Arts Academy

(5 reviews)

21.5 mi

My daughters have been studying with Master Jin since they were 5. Today, I saw my oldest (now 11…read moreand a black belt) sparring with a beginner man in his forties, not backing off a single time and leaving him exhausted. Taekwondo under Master Jin has done wonders for their confidence, stamina, focus, and respect, and it gives me the peace of mind to know that they will be able to defend themselves and others. Master Jin has trained wonderful teachers, some of whom now have their own schools in the area, and created a strong community. Despite his achievements, he is laid back and approachable. His teaching style is perfect for our kids, and we are very proud to be part of his school.

I did Martial Arts here for 5 years and I loved it! I am now a black belt and I know that Martial…read moreArts has helped me in many ways including self defense, flexibility, confidence and focus. Master Jin is a great instructor. I would definitely recommend this academy to anyone who would like to learn martial arts or how to defend themselves.

Choi's Institute of Tae Kwon Do

4.9

(19 reviews)

43.6 mi

Took my nephew for his afternoon session. I was quite impressed with how one of the instructors…read morememorized every single kid's name as she greeted everyone who walked through the door. These guys are practicing COVID-19 safety guidelines including mandating masks the entire session and having kids hand sanitize right at the entrance. The space is relatively spacious allowing the kids to run around prior to class starting. Lots of energy and very lively. My nephew speaks very highly of the instructors and class sessions (in-person and via zoom respectively).

After attending a few trial sessions at three different Taekwondo schools in south San Jose,…read morewithout hesitation, my teenage daughters decided on enrolling in Choi's. Needless to say, they have been very happy with their decisions since. They enjoy the strict and structured learning environment that sets high expectations for them to achieve. Respect emanates in this environment as everyone greets one another with a customary bow of acknowledgment. While the masters are firm, they are also very supportive and fun. My girls start each class with seriousness but leave with light hearted smiles. It's been over a year now and my once weak daughters have developed not only tight muscles but also a strong sense of self confidence; thanks to the rigor of each lesson. Seeing my fragile girls accomplishing challenging, powerful moves makes me cringe but also feel impressed. Thank you to the passionate and professional masters at Choi's for instilling the love for martial arts in my girls. It is now an element of their identity. Unlike many other martial art schools, I like the authentic feel of Choi's dojang. They are not commercialized. They don't try to sell you anything or talk you into signing long term contracts to trap you in. Some other places I've encountered, they pressure you with gimmicks like a limited time promotion or try to sell you merchandise. There are no salesman here, just genuine martial artists who wants to share their expertise with those whom are interested in practicing this form. I would definitely recommend Choi's Tae Kwon Do to anyone that is looking for a quality and valuable enrichment.

Kyorugi (sparring) class with Olympic medalist/Olympic Referee/USA National Team Member Grand Master Elva Adams

Masters and Instructors Summer 2022

See all

Tournament participants and winners of the Silicon Valley Open Championships 2011.

Windy Hill Park

4.1

(13 reviews)

0.7 mi

What a creatively designed park. It looks like nothing from afar until you open the gate to a…read moregreat playground to unleash your adventurous imagination.

What a great park, so much fun for the lil ones & the older kiddos…read more Nice park to play at & have a snack, plenty of places to sit.

See all

Monterey Sports Center

3.8

(175 reviews)

7.8 mi

The staff are so friendly and helpful. A big shoutout to the lifeguards and swim instructors. They…read moreset such great examples for young swimmers. I always feel safe knowing they are looking out for young children and beginner swimmers in the pool. My son had Kenji as his swim instructor, and Kenji took his swimming skills to another level. We're so grateful for the care, encouragement, and excellent instruction!

My daughter felt uncomfortable with one gym member (male) who always wanted to work in with her…read morewhile she was on a machine. After the 3rd time, I reported this to the staff - Lauri. She told me "I know this man and this is out of character for him." Lauri then told me next time this happens, to tell a supervisor. Isn't that what I just did? Women, be mindful because if men are "friends" or "know" the staff, you may just be dismissed in an uncomfortable situation.

See all

Titus Park Swim and Tennis

(5 reviews)

9.5 mi

Kids have so much fun 80 style I love it parents relax kids swim. Definitely recommend!read more

I grew up living across the street from Titus. I enjoyed meeting my friends there, and swimming…read moreuntil it closed in the evening. It was the wonderful, well-run place to be! To this day, swimming brings back memories of my wonderful years growing up with a great pool, lifeguards, snack bar, and friends lying in the sun, just enjoying life. And, on weekends, my brother and I liked to play tennis. Titus reminds me of the "good old days" and how much it enriched my life! It is such a community pool that, when our dog wandered across the street and fell into the pool, they called us and asked us to come get Spot. LOL. GREAT MEMORIES!

2012

View from diving board

See all

Sign from road

Pattullo Swim Center

3.6

(14 reviews)

6.3 mi

This is a wonder facility proving swim lessons for all ages. The pool & locker rooms are kept nice…read moreand clean. There are showers and a spinner for wet swim suits. The prices are so affordable. The staff is fun! I enjoy the aquatic classes. They are wonderful! Aqua Zumba is great! The participants are so friendly and welcoming. I highly recommend the Pattullo Swim Center. It's AWESOME!

My little boy has been taking swimming lessons at Patullo Swim Center on and off for a couple of…read moreyears. It's really hard to get in classes there because they fill up quick but when we do, the cost is affordable, location is great, and the swim center staff is fantastic. My son's swimming has improved greatly and he was just promoted to Marlin. Yay! While the swim instructors are fun and good with the kids, they seem to come and go. There are two faces that have been consistent and awesome, though, Mark and Kemar. They are always around to answer questions and be kind to the kiddos. We really appreciate that! I'd definitely recommend Pattullo Swim Center. If you want in, prepare to register early! See ya there!

Main pool.

See all

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

12 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Sophia L.

184

12 years ago

Both my 5 year old nephew and I go to this studio and let me say this studio is a place of quality. It encompasses all of Taekwondo. There is something for everyone and for all ages. They do poomsae (forms), sparring (fighting), kicks, self-defense (hand, ground, knife, gun, etc.), gymnastics, weapons (swords, nun chucks), breath control, stranger danger, bully prevention, and they teach life lessons (respect, patience, persistence, etc.) They have a competitive team, leadership team, and a demonstration team. They even have summer camp to get the kids out and about during the day while school is out. Every year after summer camp and at the end of summer camp, my nephew always asks when summer camp will start again . Is there anything the instructor can't do? I highly doubt it! . The place is really a family friendly place. They have so many events for families to come together throughout the year that bring everyone and the kids together. The instructor is amazing. He is highly knowledgable in the art of Taekwondo and is great with kids. I believe they take students as young as 3 and a half!! He definitely has great patience with all students, but expects them to be respectful and do their best. He makes sure that the studio and the family are on the same page and work together to help the student do better not only at the studio, but also outside the studio (home, school, etc.) The studio also has assistance to help out and they are all professional and great role models. As you can tell this studio is really wonderful. Both my nephew and I love the studio, the instructors, and the family that all come along with a place of quality. read more

Daniel A.

14 years ago

We've been with Master Lee for two years now. During that time he has been consistently courteous, respectful, and a true leader to all the students in his classes. He respects the parents, and encourages his students to respect their parents and teachers and family. When instruction is ended, the students bow to Master Lee, the black belts, the assistants, and then the parents. Because, as he says it, without the parents, they would not be here. . The instruction is top notch. He paces the class according to their abilities, and does not teach to go after and kill the other person. He pairs people with other people with the same abilities. And goes with what the people can do, and instructs for the next level belt. There's no intimidation. Everyone respects each other, as Master Lee teaches respect to them. It's a fun, and family type of atmosphere. Not only boys, but girls and women make up the classes. . I have not seen all the other Tae Kwon Do places, but from what I have seen and heard, this is the best family themed Academy on the peninsula! read more

Ricky C.

12 years ago

My son has been going to this studio for about 7 years now. He has certainly developed and gained a lot from learning taekwondo. He is part of the sparring team and has brought home a number of medals from competitions. He is looking forward to competing in the National Championships. Master Lee is very patient with the students and is always very encouraging. The students are always very excited to be in class and have a lot of fun while learning. I appreciate that Master Lee takes time to teach kids about respect and discipline. All this while learning an ancient martial art. Pretty cool! This is definitely the best place to take your child for an after-school sport! read more

R N.

5 years ago

This is the best Taekwondo studio in Monterey County. Master Lee, Mrs Lee and staff are good people and they have great instructors. They stay up to date with the newest methods of teaching. They are very patient with kids of all ages and have a variety of ways to instruct for easy understanding of the art. We had three kids practicing under Master Lee for over 8 years. ZERO complaints! read more

Tracy B.

22 days ago

We came here first when my son was four and back at six as we had gone out of town. We were welcomed with open arms. Master Lee and his staff are caring and wonderful with kids: giving them goals and teaching respect and kindness. Plus the summer camp was an awesome way to burn some energy this summer- highly recommend. We are grateful for MBTKD! read more

Mary Q.

3 months ago

Está Academia es una gran opción para todas las edades, Máster Lee y todos los instructores son muy amables y profesionales. This academy is a great option for all ages; Master Lee and all the instructors are very friendly and professional. read more

Gibson A.

6 months ago

I have been going for eight years and im black belt. This place is really cool with nice instructors shoutout to Master Lee and Mr. Placencia (i hope i spelled that correctly lol) Overall its a great place :D read more

Francis M.

9 months ago

My daughter and son are always excited to go to their Taekwondo class with Master Lee and his team. Thank you MBTA for sharing your love and dedication to this sport to kids and people of all ages! read more

Hank K.

136

5 years ago

I am a black belt and the staff are nice, the teams are cool too. The party's they sometimes do are really nice, also I am in Demo team there and it is really nice! read more

Leo A.

3 months ago

Daughter has been attending for about a month she loves it. Master and Lee and staff are great at what they do.

Mario A.

7 months ago

The best academy for kids in the bay I recommended to anyone especially For kids my son is having a Blas time.

Rhodamae Bejoc ..

8 months ago

I have seen a lot of improvement with my son. I will recommend this taekwondo academy for your kids.

Monterey Bay Taekwando - taekwondo - Updated August 2026

People who viewed Monterey Bay Taekwando also viewed

Bojuka Ryu

4.5

(8 reviews)

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.

American Karate

4.4

(8 reviews)

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!

Eagle Talon Martial Arts

(4 reviews)

Korean Martial Arts Academy

Absolutely amazing instructors. Very professional. Clean. Respectful…read more I genuinely feel like my child is learning a craft and many skills that will be carried throughout life.

Shorinji Kempo Monterey

Shorinji Kempo is a wonderful organization and this branch too. Sensei Arita is an exceptional…read moreperson and a great teacher for all ages. I've been a student for years and what attracted to me to this group was the positive people involved, the defense-minded, non-aggressive martial art, and the fact that there is an equal emphasis placed on positive mental/personal development as is physical development. I actively recommend this group to everyone I know.

Seibukan Jujutsu of Carmel

Truly a great dojo! My kids have been taking classes for a while, and they have gained…read moreself-confidence, made friends, and learned a lot! The instructors are very dedicated and create a welcoming environment. Plus the philosophy and goals of this art are based on ancient traditions yet geared towards the real world with great value of peace and healing... for mind and body.

Discovery Tae Kwon Do Training Center