I've had the privilege of training at Gracie Barra Encinitas since 2005, and it's truly been one of…read morethe most meaningful and consistent parts of my life. Under the guidance of Professors Nelson Monteiro and Rafael Ramos--both world-class instructors and incredible human beings--I've grown not only in my jiu jitsu journey but also as a person. Their leadership has cultivated a culture that is as welcoming and inclusive as it is technical and disciplined. From day one, this academy felt like home. The atmosphere is warm, the community is tight-knit, and the values go far beyond the mats. It's a place where lifelong friendships are made and where everyone, regardless of rank or background, is treated with respect and care. I earned my black belt here 14 years ago, and I still look forward to every training session. That says a lot about the kind of place this is. Gracie Barra Encinitas isn't just an academy--it's a family.

This has been an amazing experience for our kids. All the instructors are amazing and very…read moreattentive to assure that the kids are practicing safely and all of the students are doing it with good sportsmanship. This is the first class facility through and through.

I am amazed and thankful how our 7 year daughter has grown in skill and confidence in only 30 days!…read more Master Pattison knew exactly what to say and how to get her comfortable very quickly and worked with her through her initial unease. Thank you

We love CMA! My 4 yr son is so excited to go to class and asks every day if he can go. I really…read morelove that it's paid like a gym membership that he can use or not use as much as he wants. The patience of Master Pattison and all the teachers there is really amazing. My son can get very distracted and unfocused and the teachers gently bring him back and he is really learning respect, focus and self control. We are very glad to be a part of CMA

My daughter joined North County Self Defense almost 2 years ago…read more This has been such an amazing journey watching her learn and make new friends. I am very Grateful for all the instructors for having such patience with my daughter. Especially when she has her meltdowns. They way they are able to help calm her and get her to rejoin class. I am so excited for everything she will continue to learn. A direct thank you to Sensei Robert Ellis for supporting my daughters needs and help with her growth.

Our granddaughter Nichole started with North County Self Defense two years ago…read more Nichole was introduced to the dojo by a current and Long time Student Elaina, whose mother Sarah is also one of the teachers. From the very start we Could tell this place was different from any other karate studio. Nichole was welcomed, made to feel like part of a family not just taking a class . Sensei Moss and all of the teachers are AMAZING! They really care about the student and help in every way ! If anyone is looking to have their child attend Karate or even themselves we highly encourage you to go by the dojo and take a class. You won't be disappointed!

If you want real Krav Maga training, this is the place. Self-defense is essential, but the…read moreconfidence you build here carries over directly into your work and daily life. Dana Kaplan, the lead instructor, won't feed you false compliments. He knows that giving you a false sense of security about your abilities will only harm you in the real world. This is the only authentic Krav Maga in town.

I have attended KMSD on and off for a decade. I have experience with different forms of martial…read morearts and different studios including Hapkido, boxing, MMA. If you are seeking to learn true personal self defense, KM is it. It is taught to law enforcement and military, so that makes it a thumbs up for my goals. Dana Kaplan is an incredible, caring instructor and I am so happy to be back in his classes again. I will continue working with him in the years ahead and appreciate the time and effort he puts into making each class valuable and fun. I have become much more aware of my surroundings and confident in my capabilities since training here. Highly recommend!

This dojo is awesome! Master Waterbury is not only a fantastic instructor, he's also a wonderful…read moreperson. His classes are clear, concise and well thought-out. The culture in his school is very welcoming and there is no ego or posturing that you sometimes encounter at other martial arts schools. I would highly recommend this school to anyone looking to train and grow as an individual. Perfect for kids AND adults. He also offers a lot of cool classes like fitness or self defense workshops for the community. Top notch!

We adore ZUltimate self-defense! The private lessons are absolutely fabulous! The instructors are…read moreknowledgeable and ready to help you train on any given day! Thank you to the instructors for a fabulous experience!

I went there before it's really fun and on Fridays they normally have little party witch are funread more

Thank you Jr. for your dedication to your practice!…read more Thank you Master Siefu and Sempai Jen and all the staff at West Coast Martial Arts for your dedication to students and building him up to be a stronger individual! WCMA is a strong community of compassionate instructors and students!!! We are proud of Jr. for Never Giving Up!!!!

Been here for two years. Great community. Great way to get in shape. Be prepared to workout.read more

Carlsbad kickboxing club is an amazing combat gym in a great location in Carlsbad near the beach…read moreand downtown area. Pros: I have been at this gym for over 3 years and the things that keep me here are the coaches and the consistent people who train here. The coaches are very knowledgeable and experienced in boxing and Muay Thai and spend time to really help any one of all levels. If you're new or experienced, you will be able to get a great workout and practice in, building your skills whether you plan to compete in the ring or learn for self defense. They have a great weight room here that has everything you need to get a great lift in. Free weights range up to 100lb dumbbells and plenty of bars for squats, bench, deadlifts and stationary cardio treadmills and bikes. They have 3 bathrooms as well as a sauna for higher paying members. The staff behind the desk are also very helpful and friendly! Cons: Since I started here at the gym, prices were very reasonable ranging from $120 - $160 depending on if you do a year contract ($120 ish), 6 month contract ($140 ish), or month to month ($160ish). Note that prices may have changed since I've started but if you obviously plan to stay, definitely do the year contract to get the best bang for your buck and plan to come in at least 3 times a week to get your moneys worth. They offer private lessons too but can range from $90-$100 a session depending on if you buy a single session or a bundle. They are amazing ways to learn even more than you would in class but aren't always for everyone. Verdict: This gym is a great boxing and Muay Thai gym with plenty of options for beginners to experienced fighters. Go here if you live nearby!

I am a black belt who has been training with Master Joyner at USSD Encinitas for over 17 years. If…read moreyou think that suggests a biased review, let me explain. I have actually trained with USSD since 1998 and have experienced the style and discipline of 4 other instructors, including another Master instructor at another USSD studio in the last few weeks. I am a Physician by profession and can easily discern personal as well as professional skills and comportment. Master Joyner masters both. His group classes are rigorous....but karate is not meant to be easy. Considering he is a 5th degree black belt, with rare exceptions, Master Joyner is always the instructor in his group and private classes, very unusual in this industry. He also works really well with children of all ages. If you have any desire to do martial arts or to simply help your child with discipline and structure, I highly recommend this skilled and compassionate instructor at USDD Encinitas!

This place is horrible. I came here and did karate for 2 years until i was a purple belt and had to…read moreleave because it was terrible. My brother is a little sensitive, and Master Joyner hates kids who cry. For example, my brother forgot to bring a note to class, so he was stressed about it. He was given 50 pushups and leap-frogs, and was out of breath so naturally, he started crying. Master Joyner got so mad that he grabbed him by his HAIR and yelled at him. He also grabbed the back of his gi and shoved him into the closet, and there was another person even watching. he resumed saying to the other kid who was a white belt, "See, *name*, I'm not rude, this is just how I act, okay?" The kid nodded in shock and I was standing against the wall while he said this, and I was scared horribly when he did this because it is generally scary to have a teacher do this. My parents later emailed him and he said that he didn't do it!! he is a horrible liar and a bad person in general.

It's been a minute since I've taken boxing lessons and I generally dance or do ballet barre, so I…read morewas in pretty good shape. Boy, was I wrong. This class is challenging. By the end of the course, I was drenched in a gallon of sweat. I had Andrew the owner as my instructor. We probably had altogether 1 or 2 minutes of water time. All the other minutes were burpees, jumping jacks, push-ups, and one-on-one instructions, and the remaining periods were all on the punching bag. Andrew is friendly and knowledgeable. He'll go around each person offering corrections to ensure you're doing it correctly and lessen the likelihood of injury. He also tailors the workout based on your conditioning, which is nice. The facility is nice and clean, Andrew even showed me a backroom that's like a workout room which is reserved for private lessons. I came in here once and will definitely return. Andrew promised that he'll get me into a summer bod and get rid of this dad bod; so someone will one day love me too!! This is a crazy good workout, you'll definitely feel it the next few days. But I feel the amount of strength and endurance and calorie burning in this class is insane. I'll definitely be back, 5 STARS!!!

I have been boxing all over North County for years and I've never found a place that actually…read more makes you feel like a part of a family. Wrapt is this place. From the owner Andrew to the instructors, you get great instruction from great people. If you just want to burn calories or if you want to improve your boxing technique/IQ, they have classes that have you covered. They also do HIIT classes if you want to change it up. This is not your cookie cutter boxing gym, it is a unique boutique boxing experience. I love Kina for technique, Andrew for a kick ass workout, Anthony for real world fighting instruction and Lenzi for an amazing calorie burn. You need to try it:)

Master Joyner and his group are a great team. My son joined at school with the once weekly campus…read moreprogram and he quickly fell in love with the program. He joined the dojo and all of the instructors showed him respect and discipline. It's a great program and they have a long standing relationship with local schools.

Went by there today to check it out instructor gave me a free demonstration I really like this…read moreplace going to check out a class on Monday.