Main Street Martial Arts has been an absolute godsend to our family over the past three years. When…read moremy son first started, he was struggling in school with hyperactivity, poor impulse control, and difficulty focusing. The transformation we've witnessed has been remarkable. The instructors at Main Street Martial Arts are incredible role models who have helped my son channel his abundant energy in positive ways. He has become stronger, more focused, and significantly more respectful. The improvement in his behavior and self-discipline has carried over into all areas of his life. We utilize multiple programs offered by the studio: Regular classes After-school program (they even provide van transportation twice a week!) Summer camps Holiday camps My son genuinely loves going there and has excelled in martial arts competitions. The instructors provide an excellent balance of structured routine and challenging workouts, while also incorporating fun community activities that keep the programs engaging and interesting. The owner Lance and all the instructors deserve tremendous credit for creating such a positive, nurturing environment. They've given our son an amazing outlet for his energy while teaching him valuable life skills. We are incredibly grateful for everything Main Street Martial Arts has done for our family. If you're looking for a martial arts program that truly cares about developing the whole child, I cannot recommend Main Street Martial Arts highly enough.

This is a great discipline for all ages!…read more My 13 year old son has been training at Main Street Martial Arts for a little over a year now and he loves it! After years of competitive boys gymnastics we decided it was time to try something new. Taekwondo has been a wonderful transition, still offering a constructive mind-body challenge, and a better fit overall for our family. The studio is spacious, family-friendly, has a positive community atmosphere and very dedicated staff. It's a been such a safe & healthy social outlet (especially during the pandemic) where fitness, growth and respect are paramount.

I can't say enough about Women Empowerment at Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Vallejo! What started as a personal…read moregoal to earn my pink belt quickly turned into joining a community of inspiring women who truly have each other's backs. From day one, I felt welcome and supported. Nikki is a phenomenal instructor--she teaches with clarity, structure, and real-world practicality that makes every class feel valuable and impactful. Whether you're looking to learn self-defense, build confidence, or find a strong community, this is the place for you!

We first tried a Jiu Jitsu gym in Fairfield, and after just one class, we left very unsatisfied. My…read moredaughter, who was only 5 at the time, was placed in a class with much older, more experienced kids without any explanation, guidance, or pairing with a mentor. During one exercise (which had never been explained to her), a more experienced student took it upon himself to "correct" her by tripping her, causing her to fall face-first. The instructor neither checked on her well-being nor addressed the behavior. The incident left her shaken and unwilling to try Jiu Jitsu again for quite some time. After months of encouragement, she finally agreed to give it another try, this time at Gracie Jiu Jitsu, which had been highly recommended by fellow school parents. From day one, the difference was night and day. The coaches are not only professional and skilled, but also incredibly patient, welcoming, and attentive to each child's needs. They make sure every student understands the exercises and feels safe while learning. One moment that really stood out to me was when my daughter accidentally overextended her wrist. Both coaches checked on her at separate times, Coach Miro even offered to wrap her hand, and later Coach Nikki reassured her that these things happen and everything would be okay. As a mom, that level of care spoke volumes and showed me they truly prioritize their students' well-being. What I also love is how they blend skill-building with play. They incorporate games like Simon Says and end the class with dodgeball. This isn't just fun, it's smart. Play is a crucial part of how children learn, and it's clear the coaches understand how to keep kids engaged, motivated, and happy while still teaching discipline and technique. Beyond physical skills, Gracie Jiu Jitsu focuses on life lessons. Each month, they highlight a value, last month's was respect. The coaches talk about what it means, how to show it, and how it applies outside the gym. They also teach the importance of community, standing up for others, and resolving conflicts peacefully, using Jiu Jitsu techniques only when truly necessary for self-defense. My daughter is now not only learning how to protect herself, but also how to be respectful, compassionate, and confident. Gracie Jiu Jitsu is giving her tools that will serve her for life. Highly recommended.

I earned my black belt from Master Kim in 1993 while serving in the Navy at Mare Island. Went on to…read moreearn 2nd Dan from another school after I was transferred. Master Kim was a wonderful man who genuinely cared about each and every student. I love the guy.

A recently learned of the concept of "A Third Place." Coined by Ray Oldenberg, it's a social…read moreenvironment that is not home (first place) and not work (second place). He identified key characteristics of all third places. "They are on neutral ground and promote social equity by leveling the status of guests. Conversation is the main activity and the mood is playful. Strangers are welcome, and there are regulars who feel a piece of themselves is rooted in the space. They enjoy the same feelings of warmth, possession, and belonging as they would in their own homes." I know this is seriously corny, but William Kim's Tae Kwon Do Center is the best Third Place for families. You truly feel a sense of community when you are there. All the instructors are so good with the kids. I have personally seen how beneficial Tae Kwon Do is through my own 9-year old (who started in 2023 at 7). He has blossomed due in large part to Tae Kwon Do. Because I attend almost all of my son's classes, I've also witnessed so many other students excel. These kids learn discipline, respect, perseverance and many more valuable social and emotional skills. And even though the students are training hard during class, the classes are actually really fun! Even for parents just sitting and watching. In addition to being a great place for your kids, as a parent, you might find yourself connecting with other local parents who may even become close friends and trusted associates. Families have been sending their kids to William Kim's TKD for decades and for good reason. The center has deep roots in the Vallejo community. Third places like William Kim's are successful because of the people who volunteer and work there--especially the Kim family--who are committed to improving each students well being through the discipline of the art of Tae Kwon Do. Families continue to flock here because they can see and feel this commitment. Also there are not many places you can go to like this, where you see different generations, from gen alpha to millennial, gen x and beyond, socializing well and getting along with one another. Sidenote: My husband had been wanting our son to start Tae Kwon Do for years, since he participated in several martial arts when he was younger. He did extensive research before deciding where to start. He picked William Kim's because of Grandmaster Kim's excellent reputation (Grandmaster is a 9th Don!) And, even though we live further away in Cordelia, we believe the quality of William Kim's is definitely worth the drive to Vallejo.

i have been going for the last 10 years and have had the best experience ever, great community,…read moreeveryone is treated like family easy to get into

Great school with awesome teachers! The kids are learning good attitudes, manners, and valuable…read morelife skills in a positive environment.

My daughter has been training at this studio for 5 years, and it's been one of the best decisions…read morewe've made for her. The sense of community here is incredible -- it feels like a second family, not just a place to learn martial arts. A huge part of that is Shifu Eric Mitchell. He's an exceptional teacher -- patient, kind, and genuinely gifted at connecting with kids. He knows how to push them to grow while making sure they feel supported and encouraged every step of the way. Watching my daughter build confidence and discipline under his guidance over the years has been wonderful. If you're looking for a kung fu studio with real heart and a teacher who truly cares about your child's development, I can't recommend this place enough.

My son has been a student of Shifu Mitchell for nearly two years now, and I can't recommend him…read moreenough. He teaches students with patience, ensuring learn Kung Fu for real-world applications, while teaching philosophy to ensure they understand when to apply what he teaches. There are many options for martial arts in Vallejo, but I encourage everyone to give this school a try.

Originally, I had heard about Soaring Eagles from a friend, and I was curious about enrolling my…read morechildren, but then the pandemic struck. Fast forward to four years later and I discovered that Soaring Eagles offers classes through our home school charter, so I called to express my interest and set up a visit. When I called, I spoke to Master Wayne Jones. I could tell right away that he is very business oriented, but friendly. He invited us to come to the dojang to watch a few classes to help us decide if this would be the place for us. At first, I had trouble finding the parking lot since Google Maps will tell you to turn right instead of making a slight right down the one way street behind the building. When I finally did park and enter the dojang, we were greeted with wide smiles and invited to sit anywhere to watch a class. There were two main classes at the time, one in the front room for children 7-12 and one in a back room for children 3-6. Miss Aliah teaches the Little Eagles with the assistance of various Black Belts. She is a natural with the kids. She gets down to their level, explains the moves and kicks in a way that children can easily understand and most importantly, she is patient but stern. Kids will sometimes get out of sort, but she maintains a level of order and discipline. The kids know very well when it is play time and when it is learning time. The Basic Children's class for 7-12 year olds was being taught by Master Wayne and Mr. Boone, a fellow Black Belt. I was impressed that even though the class had well over 20 kids, they were able to make sure that everyone lined up correctly, uniforms were neat and belts were tired. Master Jones has a loud powerful voice that commands attention and he is also firm yet compassionate with his instruction. The school is run by Master Wayne Jones and his wife Mrs Master Adrienne (6th Dan), along with the assistance of their daughters Ms. Aiesha (4th Dan), Ms. Aliah (3rd Dan), and fellow Black Belt Mr. Boone (4th Dan). I was highly impressed that their entire family consists of black belts as this is exactly what I want for my children. Not only are all the children black belts, but so are the grandchildren. This is truly impressive! There are many class times to chose from during the week and you can have an A/B schedule where you come every other day, two days a week. Classes run from 4:45-8pm (the late night class is the adult class from 7:15-8 am). They also offer different levels of membership which includes the Black Belt Club-( 2 regular classes and one specialty class a week that usually includes weapons and sparring training) and Master's Club- (Attend as many classes you want in a week, including a specialty weapons class on Thursday night; and targeted weapons training on Saturday consisting of bo staff, nunchuks, escrimas stick, forms (Taegeuk), tricks and kicks and combat weapons). You will also have an opportunities to compete in tournaments, even one hosted by the dojang on Mare Island in the Spring. The tournaments are a good way to test your skills and see taekwondo applied in real life applications. I also appreciate that you don't just learn taekwondo. We learn hapkkido, jiu jitsu, self defense and how to fall properly. If you take Def Con with Master Adrienne, you will learn how to stretch and strengthen your body in ways you never knew you could. In Ms. Aliah's trick and kicks class, I have learned some kicks that aren't just impressive, but also useful in sparring. In Ms. Aiesha's sparring class, you train with the best of the best and learn how to hone your craft. You also learn about community. I have had so many people show up and support me through different events and I have in turn shown up and supported others. This is what a true community represents. Something else that impressed me about Soaring Eagles is the diversity in the dojang. Many cultures, ethnicities and faiths were represented in the different familes and everyone had a mutual respect for one another. I was sold. Now over a year later, my second oldest is a blue stripe belt, my oldest is a soon to be green belt, my husband is a soon to be yellow belt and I am a green belt with black belt aspirations!! We all decided to join the fun! I truly appreciate the village I have found. Mrs. Master Jones, Master Jones, Ms. Aiesha, Ms. Aliah, Ms. Javina and the entire dojang have been so welcoming and supportive. I am forever loyal to Soaring Eagles and they won't be able to get rid of me!

Awesome place! I bring my 5 year old here to the little eagles class and the instructors do an…read moreexcellent job keeping the kids engaged, being patient and teaching valuable lessons.

My 3 boys have been going here for years and they love it. Coach Joe and all the coaches are…read moreextremely supportive of my boys, building their trust and confidence. They have truly grown under their mentorship. They have a built a strong community in this town, if you are looking for a place to call home, this is it.

Rooted Jiu Jitsu is an amazing place to train for both hobbyists and serious competitors alike. The…read moregym has a great supportive vibe, where people are genuinely nice and happy to help others learn. Coach Joe is a great guy and an expert black belt in the craft. There are regularly open mats at 5 am for those true jiu jitsu addicts

Dr. Andrews and his wife Laurie were terrible to my son. I witnessed them being very cruel to some…read moreof their teachers that were in their teens. I was very sorry that I put my son in this karate school and that I was not made aware of the treatment until much later when my son said he would not go back. They kept my money, would not give me a refund. I would never recommend to anyone, especially if your child is very young as mine was when he started.

I have practiced karate for 12 years. When I moved to Napa, I went to all karate dojos in this…read morecity. Pinewood karate is the best and the most professional karate dojo in Napa. The master is Dr. Daniel Andrews, and his karate teacher is Donald (Don) Buck. Don Buck was the first branch president of Kyokushin Karate, student and good friend of Mas Oyama (founder of Kyokushin karate). Dr. Andrews' jiu-jitsu teacher is Raymond (Duke) Moore. The kid's class is also very good which is taught by Dr. Andrews' son. Private lesson is also available. If you are looking for a real karate dojo, here is the place for you or your kids. OSU!