I'm in my 40s and started skating seriously a couple years ago. Found JB through his amazing Youtube channel and really enjoyed his video content. When my instructor through the Society skate shop moved away I figured I'd give JB a shot. I've done three lessons here so far and it's been well worth the time and money. JB has been very positive, gives great feedback, and understands what's good for my progression. I get several super useful bits of feedback every lesson, along with a handful of things to work on in between lessons. We've focused a lot on skating transition, and in our last lesson we spent some time on ollie's. The Sunnyvale skate park and Youtube channel go hand in hand with the live instruction - the park is marked up with blue tape for skaters to learn the lines, and it's really helpful to rewatch videos after a lesson to reinforce what we went over live. Definitely looking forward to our next lesson! If I had started out here instead of on my own I would have avoided a shoulder injury early in my skating days. My schedule means that I can usually only skate on the weekends. I get an email every week from JB Thursday or Friday, check the kid soccer schedule, make sure I've had enough time to practice, and schedule a Sunday morning session if it all aligns. read more

Don't be fooled by how Josh presents himself to younger kids - he has a disrespectful side with a touch of lawlessness. I took a few lessons from him (as an adult) a while back, and he initially seemed like he might be "cool." However, he quickly became disillusioned with the fact I am not nearly the "daredevil" type that he or many of his other clients [many of whom are young] are and that I do not learn as quickly or want to take big "risks" (at least not at his desired pace). I paid him $50 per hour (EXCELLENT money) to (supposedly) help me improve my skills, and yet he still had little to no humility. This made me angry - hence why I decided at that point to no longer do business with him. The final straw for me was when I learned that he is encouraging children to behave illicitly - specifically, by trespassing. See my attached photo from his Facebook page where on a rainy day, the park was closed (with the gate locked) by the City, and yet he and his group jumped the fence so they could still ride. Not cool. And, fast forward to now, and it seems like he has almost outright "claimed" the Sunnyvale skatepark as his own, and as an asset for running his business. This means "regular" members of the community cannot come and skate here, as there will be 20+ little, rambunctious kids running all over the place, making it impossible for anyone else to skate. Sadly the City of Sunnyvale does not appear to have an ordinance against such use, but it is sad to me he doesn't even have enough basic respect to be considerate of both other, "general" people and the community at large. read more

My son Ethan is 7yr old, and he has been skating with Ivan (Josh's student) since this Feb as a pure beginner. It's a fun experience. The lesson was designed to help the student build solid fundamentals and way up to the next level. I can see Ethan is getting better every week. More importantly, he is really having fun! He likes his coach, loves skateboarding, and always wants to learn more tricks. I would recommend the lesson to all the parents who would like their kids to learn, build fundamentals, and have fun with skateboarding. read more

Pro Skate Lessons - Skate Parks Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

I would strongly advise against using this service. I wanted my son to get an opportunity to exercise during the pandemic. I spoke with Hans who assured me that they work with professional and vetted instructors who are reliable and trustworthy. The first instructor never showed and my credit was charged. The second never showed and I was charged again. My son received one lesson and after that no one else showed and we had to cancel the service. Please pay attention to the termination clause before signing. They will not refund your money because they expect you to keep trying to reschedule until you give up Unscrupulous and lacking integrity. It was a disappointing experience for me and my family read more

This place is very poorly run. Parents have to sign up every week and there is no way to schedule a regular class to allow any kind of planning. On top of that the skate instructors sometimes don't show up. I'm adding a star for the particular instructor we had as he was helpful and my kid liked him. That said, the person running this is highly disorganized. If there is someone who knows how to run a business, there are a lot of parents who would love to get their kids lessons. read more

I bought my 10 year old son a skateboard last month, and got him riding a bit...but he just didn't have the confidence to actually _ride_. I did a quick internet search and found this site. The reviews talked about how Josh was great with kids, so without hesitation I reached out and arranged for a private lesson. We showed up on Saturday at the skate park, where I got to watch Josh work. He was everything I had hoped he would be. He had patience, he was encouraging, and he really accomplished what we set out to do... During the lesson, my son was stretched out of his comfort zone most of the time, but at no time did I ever feel that Josh was going too far - quite the opposite, actually. He simply helped my son see that skateboarding isn't as scary as it seemed. But I knew the real value of the lesson when we got home. 3 times that afternoon, my son asked me to take him to the local park - he just wanted to ride! He went on and on about how he loved skateboarding now. I was quite proud. I don't need my son to be a pro - I just wanted him to spend some time with someone who could get him out of his shell - and Josh accomplished just that. I hope my son asks for more - but even if he doesn't, we got our money's worth. I have no hesitation to recommend Josh to everyone. read more

Pro Skate Lessons - Skate Parks Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

Our 7-year-old daughter has been learning skating for a few months and we keep coming back each week because Josh, Ivan, and Hayden have created a fun and safe environment for kids interested in the hobby. Their passion for skateboarding shines through and adds a lot to each lesson. Our daughter went from being an absolute beginner to skating comfortably around much more seasoned kids and adults. read more

My son has worked with Josh and Ivan over the last year and a half to increase his skateboarding skills and build confidence. The personal attention and focused feedback really helped my son improve in skateboarding. I am extremely grateful to the guys helping my child because their connection with him not only provided the encouragement he needed to become an awesome skateboarder but their support also helped him better deal with his anxiety. He has a great outlet with skateboarding and amazing teachers that continue to help him challenge himself. Thank you again, Josh & Team. read more

This is the review of my 13 yr old son Daniel. I have been skating for 1.5 years and have weekly lessons at Sunnyvale. Both private lessons the summer camp has allowed me to go out of my comfort zone and be able to learn tricks easily with the support of my teachers. It was a fantastic experience because of how thoroughly the teachers explained everything. Not only that, but at the camp everyone was cheering each other on when they did tricks that they were struggling with, and I managed to get back a lot of tricks that used to be hard to do consistently. I am grateful for this experience and will definitely come back. read more

After a couple of starts trying to find a competent coach who would stress safety and fundamentals for my son (at the time age 5) we found Josh and haven't looked back. Now age 7, my son is skating at a really advanced level and doing so effortlessly and safely (check out a video of him: https://youtu.be/bPFPdWFIUSg). Perhaps most impressive was the change in my son's confidence, him finding passion in doing something athletic and the plus was him learning to skate respectfully at any park we visit and the great people we get to meet along the way. My kid just loves ripping around the skatepark and loves his coach Josh. As a parent, I love the emphasis on safety and Josh helping these kids realize their potential. From one parent to another ... best decision ever and I wholly recommend Josh as a coach to anyone. read more

My son Keegan fell in love with skateboarding about 5 months ago. We met Josh at our local skatepark where we would see him teaching kids . My son has been taking lessons from him for a few weeks and the progress is amazing. Josh has the ability to give simple advice that can easily be digested . He then adds more concepts to build on. He also has a natural ability to connect with kids. My son is not very trusting so I was amazed to see how at ease he is with Josh . Through this trust he has gotten my son to really push himself and as a result my sons confidence has gone through the roof. In my sons words" You should ask Josh to get lessons because you will have fun!!" Honestly I cant recommend Josh enough , contact him , you will be glad you did!! read more

Best decision of my adult life was to pick up skating and learn from Josh. Not many things humbles you quite like this sport does. I found him through his YouTube Channel which are probably one of the most detailed tutorials on YouTube. He truly cares about your progression and tailors the lesson to make sure you're getting the most out of the time. There has been times when we go over the paid hour but it didn't matter to him because he loves doing this kind of stuff. Also should mention it's such a great workout with how jam-packed the lesson is. read more

My son has been taking skateboarding lessons for about a year now. We've had several different instructors and they've all been good-fun, patient, and inspiring. My son's confidence and skills have greatly improved, and he looks forward to the lessons. I think it's also given him better body awareness and taught him to be more cautious in some situations, which is good because he's my "safety third" kid. Booking is done on a week-by-week basis, which has pros and cons. Although having a standing appointment can be very convenient, booking each week lets me be more flexible about planning other things, and generally I'm able to get my regular time. Josh is friendly and helpful and tries to accommodate our scheduling requests. One thing to note is that the city recently opened a sports complex next to the skate park, and parking can be tight during games, so give yourself a little extra time to find parking-we often park at the Lowe's just down the street. read more

Josh is one of the best instructors there is, I've seen people who do not know how to skateboard learning fast in a safe way, its just amazing. When I was growing up I was the only skater in my neighborhood and got hurt so many times because I just did not have some one to tell me I needed it to loosen up my trucks at the point I used to think skateboarding was all about getting hurt but NO! With a great instructor as Josh you can lear the art getting hurt as less as possible. read more

Josh Balogh is hands down the best Skateboarding Instructor. My daughter has absolutely enjoyed the private lessons. With each lesson, she always gains new skills by the end of the lesson. Her smiles during class are priceless to see. Josh keeps the classes fun! Whether you are beginner or need to refine your techniques, you should definitely contact Josh! read more

Josh is an incredible teacher. He is fun and made my son super comfortable. My son is really motivated to take his skateboarding to the next level, so we went looking for a mentor and teacher for him. Josh was recommended to us. He immediately could see what my son's next steps were and also some bad habits he needs to break. My son had a blast, learned a lot, and our experience has been A+. read more

Over last summer, my son took lessons with Jake who works with Josh. It appears Jake teaches the younger kids t Josh is your primary POC. 1. Jake is a great teacher. In maybe 6-8 lessons, my son could drop into the bowl on his own 2. Lessons are not cheap and cash only (probably for taxes but I understand). Given the cost, I was expecting we'd get the full hour but often things would start late for whatever reason but always end on time. Over time, this did get a bit annoying. 3. They have some rules and they aren't very flexible. I didn't provide "24 hour" notice once and there are no cancellations. Don't expect any give even if you've been a long time customer. 4. Expect to be directly asked (or your kid to be asked) about where you work and more. They are saving to start a larger skatepark, I think, and try to solicit investment and donations from the parents. It's mostly friendly but the second or third time started to feel a bit pushy. All this aside, Jake is a great instructor and your child will absolutely learn. The Sunnyvale skate park is a great location and they definitely do kind of own the park for good and bad. read more

Two guys let their huge German Shepard dogs off leash and go crazy running around the skate park. They were picking up people's skateboards in their mouths and running away. Kids couldn't skate in fear of being knocked over by these ravage dogs. A heard a skate instructor say they knew the dogs and this was "okay". read more

Little did I know when I took my daughter to the Sunnyvale skate park that I would find her next coach. Josh has been awesome with my 10 year old daughter. She has been skating for just under a year and has had lessons from 4 other instructors. She also attended some skate camps. Sometimes the instructors were nice and quite friendly but they were not skilled in the art of teaching skateboarding. They all pale in comparison to the instruction she had received from Josh. I tend to hang nearby and listen to what he saying so that I can reinforce some of this stuff when we go back to the park near our home. I hear him break things down, explain things clearly and demonstrate it in an easy to digest style. He has the ability to be nurturing when necessary while pushing her to progress with every lesson. If you ask our daughter who her favorite skate instructor has been, she says without hesitation - Josh. I wish I would have found Josh a year ago. I know my daughter's skating would have been so far more advanced. With every lesson I can see growth in my daughter as a skater and as a confident young lady. I love the look of pride and happiness on her face when she lands a new trick. It is priceless. read more

Josh is AMAZING!! He intuitively knows what my son needs and how to proceed with him in a patient an intelligent manner. My son had a blast and after his first lesson already appears more confident on his skateboard!! Josh is an old soul and takes great pride in his work and is excellent with kids, a true professional in every sense of the word!! I highly recommend him!! A+++ =) thank you so much Josh!! read more

Pro Skate Lessons - Master Josh with his young student (my son =) Dallas who is almost 5 years old!! Skateboarding is the COOLEST!! - Skate Parks Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

My 10 year old son has started doing Skate lessons with Josh and he absolutely loves it. In a short period of time he has progressed so far it is amazing. Josh's enthusiasm and love of skating is infectious. It is obvious right from the start he is an amazing teacher. He takes safety seriously and shows the students how fall properly, avoiding injury. He can help make sure your equipment is set up correctly. He talks about the physics of skateboarding and the importance of confidance in your own ability. Just being a great skater, does not make you a great teacher, it takes great communication, patience, knowledge, experience and passion, Josh has all of these. I would highly recommend Josh as a skate instructor or coach, he is the best. read more

I did my first one on one lesson with Josh and I had to write him a review. Josh is AMAZING and he is so professional. In one lesson he taught me a lot and made me try things I didn't plan on doing on my first lesson. He has his technique to help you work on your fears when skating. I will definitely continue booking classes with him and would definitely recommend him. read more

Josh is an amazing teacher. He is not only an amazing skateboarder but also knows exactly why things happen. When you make a mistake he can spot immediately what you did wrong and knows how to explain to you how to fix it. Besides having had a great lesson with him, I've seen him teaching everyone from 5 years old to middle age and I can say confidently that he is the best. read more

As others here have written, Josh is an amazing skater and an enthusiastic, patient, professional teacher. We feel very fortunate to have him teaching our children, and feel that they're in the best possible hands with him. Josh approaches his teaching very technically, and has thought through a clear progression of skills that get kids (or adults) up to speed very quickly. His explanations (about where to put your feet, where your head should be aligned, how your weight should be distributed, and so on) are very detailed, but clear to even young children. One thing we've really come to appreciate is that Josh continually stresses park awareness and safety. Before our kids drop or roll in each time, Josh reminds them to survey the area and make sure the path is safe. In one of the very first lessons, and before any new big skills are attempted, he has them stand on the edge of the pool without their board and drop onto their knee pads to practice falling safely. In fact, we first met Josh when he took a moment out of a lesson to come tell us that he thought we were helping our kids drop in from too high relative to their skill level, and that we should make sure they could handle the smaller bowl without help first. Sunnyvale Skatepark is a really great place to learn, and there's not a teacher out there better than Josh. read more

My daughter takes lessons with Josh and he's fantastic, very patient and always positive. I really recommend him for anyone looking for someone to teach skateboarding to your kids. read more

Josh and Jake ware amazing with my eight year old in her first time at a park. Unreal St. Patrick's Day skate in Sunnyvale. TY!

Josh is not only an awesome skater but also a great instructor! He is both encouraging and demanding (in a positive and respectful way). He gives a lot of positive feedback. He teaches our 5-year old since last summer. Not only has our son made huge progress in skating but he also learned how to behave responsible and considerate in a skate park. He learned that he has to be patient and appreciate the little steps of his progress. Josh is very professional, caring, and funny at the same time. He is very attentive and anticipating so that we never have to worry about safety. He also suggests updates regarding the skateboard or protective gear if necessary. Our son loves him and looks forward to his lesson every week. We highly recommend Josh as an instructor and agree with other reviewers: He really is the best! read more

Josh has been teaching my son since he was 5. He is very patient and positive with him which I appreciate.

Josh is an awesome skateboarding instructor. My son has been taking lessons from him for almost two years and has gotten so much better. He went from running away in fear to riding the bowls. Josh has a gentle, patient manner and breaks things down so they're not so scary. I would highly recommend Josh for lessons. read more

Josh is a ripping skater with a talent for teaching. His style of instructing is super positive and encouraging. I am very impressed with his professionalism and serious yet fun disposition. He is adept at teaching all ages and skill levels. I highly recommend Josh if you're looking to improve your skill at street, vert, or park skating. read more

Josh was super responsive and kind via email, and my 8 year old just had her first lesson with Jake, who was friendly and welcoming. She came back exhilarated and inspired! Definitely returning for more lessons:) Oh, and the size and vibe of the park is nice, not intimidating for a beginner. read more

I am a Director of Youth Programs at a local non-profit. I have had the pleasure of being able to send some of my youth to participate in one on one lessons. The teens loved it. Josh is professional, pleasant, and cares about his students. I highly recommend his services. read more

I hope it's clear to Yelp readers and to readers of testimonials on Josh's website, that Josh is an exceptional skate instructor for kids. I'm not sure I can add anything to what already has been said by others except maybe to emphasize that Josh is great at tailoring his instructional style to effectively build skate skills, skate etiquette, and safety awareness, and he is unique in his ability to help build confidence and character. I truly believe that my 7 year old boy not only is a better skater after having worked with Josh over the past year, but is a better young man who has learned to fear mistakes less, be more self-aware, and aware of his impact on others, and value his own and other's individuality. I could not recommend Josh more highly. read more

Normally I don't post bad reviews but this time I hope to protect others from what happened to me in dealing with this company. They still owe me a refund for lessons that were never given. The instructor did not show up; I was never able to get anyone on the phone except when I pretended to be interested in signing up for new lessons. In the two cases that I did speak to people, they were very apologetic, said they would find out what was going on and I never heard from them again. I have waited months before writing this review hoping that there was an error but I highly discourage anyone from trusting this company! read more

My boy has just started taking lessons with Josh and he really looks forward to his every class. With just three lessons we have already seen his improvement - truly amazing. Josh is fantastic. He is very professional and patient, knows how to teach a toddler and pushes my son's limits, but still makes him feel encouraged and comfortable. We will definitely keep taking lessons from Josh. read more

Josh was fantastic with my five-year old boy! His lessons were personalized to the skaters' unique abilities, covered the important basics, and then taught specific skills that my son requested. As a mom, I especially appreciated his emphasis on safety! He was generous with his praise, but not so much that my son started to question it or take it for granted. We ended lessons because we moved away and I wish that we were still able to benefit from his expertise! read more

We feel so lucky to have met Josh! he is the best instructor I could wish for my 12 year old son, who was trying hard to improve but reluctant to get "help". After the first lesson it was clear that we found the "one". He can't wait the whole week for the next lesson. Josh is very professional, committed and fun. He is very encouraging and supports learning in a way that you can see progress very fast. read more

Josh has been teaching my 7 and 6 year olds for a few months. He has been focusing on improving their technique and the result is obvious. In very little time they have learnt to drop in in the big bowl I the fair oaks park and more. read more

I can not say enough great things about Josh and his lessons. He is an excellent skater that everybody seems to know and respect in the skating community. Josh not only has an incredible understanding of skating but the ability to teach in a way that his students get. My son loves his lessons and really responds to his teaching methods. And to top it off Josh is just a good stand up guy that has been a positive influence on my son. I recommend him 110% read more