Great place to train Hopkido, Master Kim and his black belts are amazing teachers, you will 100%…read morelearn how to defend yourself if ever in a real world situation. Great dojo, great people.

I love the training here. Have been attending Master Kim's hapkido class for more than two years…read morenow and I've learned so much. Working on my purple belt. Great group of students as well.

I started with Master Bob in 2011 when I was going through a divorce. I trained with him until 2017…read morewhen my wife and I (we got remarried) moved from Mission Viejo to Chino Hills. My business was right next door to Villari's Martial Arts in Lake Forest at the time. I went two to three times a day and got my black belt a year or so prior to moving. It's tough and it's not for everyone, but I felt I gained a better understanding of myself, more confidence in business and great exercise. You have to be patient with your training, dedicated to practicing and willing to pay the cost for a high level of training - Master Bob is 10th degree black belt. A lot of martial arts is on you. Master Bob can give you the good news, but unless you are willing to practice, get physical and handle a hit, your wasting your time and money. I've been playing ice hockey for nearly 30 years, I've met guys that get knocked on their butt, have their stick lifted (you either know what that means or you don't) or get rid of the puck as soon as someone skates toward them and they end up quitting. Like karate, this is either for you or not. But I can see the difference in how I play the game, the scrums I no longer get in, and my ability to control people without getting a penalty. I would say one of the biggest take-aways from learning karate is learning how not to get in a fight, but you are confident if it should happen that you can take care of yourself. Being an entrepreneur, I think it's a great skill to have in starting a business. Nope, I'm not talking about beating people up, but the confidence you achieve in learning karate is noticeably better in all of your business dealings. I've worked, trained and learned from a variety of black belts over the years now, and the level of understanding Master Bob has of karate is unparalleled. I would say similar to learning guitar from your local guitar teacher or Eric Clapton, they both know the chords and the melody, but you know which one would impart more understanding of the instrument. Also, I saw the reviews. The two ladies that wrote negative reviews never stepped foot in the place. Master Bob is ethical, professional and very respectful. My business was right next door, you wouldn't miss her based on that picture. The second lady with the kid, there's no way anyone gets to a purple belt and goes to another Villari school and they say he's not even good enough for a yellow belt. Master Bob does not skimp on what he trains. I know for a fact that he watches your growth and would not advance you without a strong knowledge of the materials you are testing for. As for the other guy with a negative review, I think he pretty much said what I said, it's either for you or not. The higher you go, the harder it gets, there's no denying that. This is not a school for participation awards. As for "worshipping" Fred Villari, I've been to several of his karate seminars and he was very humble and realistic in his approach. All karate programs show deference to their founders. The second part of his diatribe is unfounded and basically a mischaracterization of experience he admittedly doesn't have. Last, I have been attacked and what you learn works.

If you're going to study martial arts, you need to be very honest with yourself about why you are…read moredoing so. I am giving two starts, because this would be a fine place to leave your kids if you have no other place to put them, for some reason. There are both cheaper options, and more effective places to put them (an after-school tutoring program, a useful martial art, etc.), but it's up to you. At Villari's, the curriculum consists of learning increasingly complicated punch-defend drills. Your increase in rank is determined by both you ability to memorize these punch-defend drills, and your ability to pay for the extras, like the "belt-test fee", add-on materials, patches, etc. When you achieve a black-belt in the Villari system, in theory, you will have memorized hundreds of punch-defend drills. The system promotes a specific cult of personality, namely the worship of their founder, Fred Villari. Classes begin with bowing to his picture. Students are regaled with fantastic stories of Villari's (and the head instructors') combat and physical exploits. Students must buy and read published Villari materials in order to advance. Patrons are told that Villari's SKK was "the first mixed martial art" and is superior, both morally and in technique, to other forms of fighting, ESPECIALLY mixed martial arts and boxing. IF you want to learn to defend yourself, you should study a martial art which incorporates a fully resisting, live opponent. Examples include judo, Brazillian jiu-jitsu, kickboxing, and certain types of Karate. Many martial arts schools in the US are a scam. NEVER sign a contract or provide a credit card number to ANY school, without exception. If something feels off, leave. If you try classes at Villari's, things will star feeling off, very quickly.

Hands down one of the best BJJ studios in OC!!!!We visited a few spots before picking Rysk BJJ. A…read morefew of our friends kids have been coming here for a few years and spoke so highly of Master Francisco Lima and his BJJ Studio. My girls were really apprehensive at first and after meeting Master Chico and trying out they were all about it. My girls have been going here for 3 months now and the growth I've seen in them in terms of confidence, discipline and just overall happiness has been tremendous!! Highly recommend Rysk BJJ to all!!!

Great place to train Jiu Jitsu. Our family initially came here to get our 4 year old into the…read morepeewees class, and it didn't take long for me to sign up as well. Professor Chico runs a great program and keeps the space super clean. All the families that come with their kids are great as well.

Best experience ever. Had a great time with the instructors that made every belt test worth the…read moreeffort. Cracking a rib, my falt for not blocking our master's knee to chest. Now he's police officer. I'm not great with names, but I do remember the ONE person that made me feel like a white belt, Kirt? Kurk? He was awesome and I wish him and all my brothers and sisters the best of luck. Kevin

When I was a teenager, I took some martial arts and it helped me not only physically but mentally…read more I had been wanting to get back in to it for a while now, but being an adult with bills and a child made it difficult to fit in. Once my daughter was a teenager, however, I realized we could BOTH attend training together. I didn't (and still don't) have time to take two separate classes, but with us taking the same class, it works. California Martial Arts Academy is one of the few locations I found that had an adults and teens mixed class. And it's awesome. Both the teens and adults treat each other with respect and everyone gets along so well. Honestly, at first, everyone almost seemed TOO nice. I wasn't expecting such a warm welcome from not only the instructor but every one of the students. But don't mistake kindness for weakness. These classes are challenging (in a good way) and you absolutely come out of each one with a better ability to perform Kung Fu. Whether it's holding your horse stance a little longer, or kicking a little higher, you will improve steadily. You'll always hate doing horse stance, though ;) Anyone in the area looking to learn or get back in to martial arts--whether alone or with family--should totally give CMA a try. I believe they still do one month free trial so you really get a good idea of the place (as opposed to maybe a single class or week like other places may do).

So far so good, learning YMAA Qigong and Tai Chi meditation and martial skills. Looking like I…read morewill get what I put into it. Have met great people on this path and great leadership at the helm.

Great teachers. Very patient and kind. Spend the proper amount of attention to everyone in the…read moreclass.

Tai Chi has changed my life. I never imagined there would be a martial arts school near my home…read morethat taught traditional martial arts and Tai Chi, a style that blends Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism, which I had only seen in movies and on television. Under Coach Zhang's guidance, I began training with other students every day, focusing on slow weight transfer and lower body strength, and concentrating on breathing and meditation in the movements. I am especially grateful for Coach Zhang's meticulous and dedicated teaching. Practicing Tai Chi has improved my balance, coordination, and flexibility in a short period of time. I was pleasantly surprised to find that whether I was swimming or doing bodywork, my movements were more coordinated and easier.

Our son has been attending Therapeutic Martial Arts of Orange County for over two years, and the…read moreexperience has been nothing short of amazing. He has autism, and finding a program that truly understands and supports his needs was incredibly important to us -- and we found that here. Master Fahim is incredibly patient, kind, and understanding. He has a remarkable ability to connect with each student at their own level, providing the perfect balance of structure, encouragement, and compassion. It's clear he genuinely cares about every child's growth, both inside and outside the studio. Through tae kwon do, our son has improved his fitness, focus, and self-confidence. We've also seen big gains in his attention and reaction skills, and he's learning valuable lessons about self-defense, health, and safety in a supportive environment. What's even better is that our daughter, who doesn't have special needs, also enjoys the program. She loves the classes, the sense of community, and the fun way Master Fahim keeps everyone engaged and motivated. It's amazing to have a place where both of our children can learn, grow, and thrive together -- each at their own pace. We're so grateful for Master Fahim and the entire team at Therapeutic Martial Arts OC. If you're a parent looking for a program that truly understands children with special needs while also being wonderful for neurotypical kids, all while promoting physical fitness, focus, and personal growth -- this is the place.

Master Fahim at the Therapeutic Martial Arts is amazing. He involved our son right away into the…read moreMartial Arts practice. We were not sure if our son will like Martial Arts because we tried before and it did not work. But this exact center is so special and Master Fahim has international experience with families from different backgrounds and cultures. He has experience with autistic kids as well and he is a RCOC vendor. We recommended him as a Cabrillo Point Academy vendor as well so more families could easily find him. We highly recommend Master Fahim.

Coach Leo's MMA knowledge is truly exceptional! In just two Muay Thai classes, I've learned more…read morethan I did in six months at my previous academy. He's patient, incredibly knowledgeable, and makes everyone feel welcome. I'm genuinely grateful to be learning from him Thank you, Coach Leo! OSS!!

Just watched my husband get his butt kicked (work out wise) at this new spot. The owner is a legit…read moreMMA fighter; very structured, very precise movement. He knows what he's doing for sure. I totally recommend this place for anyone who's up for a serious work out, but also to acquire real defense skills.