I've been training here for many years and Morita Sensei is a great teacher and a great character…read more The mat area of the dojo is nice and big so there's lots of room to maneuver. The members are generous with their time and their knowledge and want new students to get better. There are adult and kids classes and a women's only class, too. We're a social group, also. There are always people hanging out after the evening class, chatting about technique, and discussing all that's good in life. If you're interested in Japanese martial arts, come on down!

Great place to study and learn Aikido. I joined the Higirikan Aikido dojo a year ago and all the…read moreinstructors are top notch with very helpful fellow seniors. I took my initial Aikido classes with Morita Sensei many many moons ago at San Francisco State University back when he was teaching at SFSU and those classes were awesome.

Great place to train with a solid group of people. Whether you're a competitor, hobbyist, or…read moretraining for fitness, 10PSM has what you need. I think my skillset and training has progressed relatively fast here and don't know if it would have been the same elsewhere. All the instructors are knowledgeable and have great teaching pedagogy.

The gym has profoundly impacted my journey over the past three and a half years, especially in…read moreearning my blue belt. It's not just the physical training; it's the mental growth. I've learned to adapt in various situations, think outside the box, and approach challenges with a strategic mindset. The community and instructors have been supportive, pushing me to grow both on and off the mats. Thank you Coach Adam, Coach Ian, Coach Alan for all your insight, strategy, and guidance!

We attended this studio for a year. We would have left sooner but they make you sign a one year…read morecontract and buy their expensive branded uniform. They give you a one week free trial and they put on a good show in front of the parents. Once they have you locked in for a year everything changes. The class sizes are huge. There are not enough coaches for one on one instruction. Your child becomes just a number and they are not personable with the parents unless your child is one of their favorites. They use sexist language like, "don't cry! What are you a girl?" They mock, yell at and tease the students. They take away stripes as punishment if your child speaks during class. If any of that is your style maybe you will like it. The instruction is sub par. My child is excelling at their new studio. People go to Gracie because of the name and you will see a lot of rich, affluent parents chatting with each other out front. On another note. Parking is terrible and there is nothing to do on that street, not even a coffee shop. Classes are at the height of traffic. I do not recommend this studio. *edit. We were told that we were REQUIRED to sign a one year contract. The response to me below means either they have changed that policy or the response is untruthful. I stand by every word of my review. I was made to sign a contract.

Both of my sons started training here when they were 6 years old, and they are now 11 and 13. The…read morecoaching has been EXCELLENT throughout their training. The coaches are firm and technical, but also fun, caring, thoughtful, and understanding; my kids love it here! My older, quieter son has developed strength and confidence, and my younger, energetic son has learned to manage his strong emotions; skills they didn't even realize they were developing through their training and amazing coaches! As a single mom, I really appreciate the support and teaching from each of the coaches, not only in jiujitsu, but also in strong positive values, compassion, mindfulness, and community. The coaches take the time to individualize their training to each student's personality and needs, and I have been awed at times by their patience. Students learn the importance of respect/kindness for others, regardless of differences; they learn to feel comfortable and confident with themselves and with peers. This inspired me to also start training 2 years ago, as I saw that the classes, coaches, and students are all so welcoming! And I have noticed positive changes both physically and mentally (much needed with 2 kids and work!). The school has always been understanding and flexible to our schedule and genuinely tries to work with families' various needs to the best of their ability. Coach Cris and Larissa are both wonderful to work with, and their kindness has fostered this community that many have commented "feels like family" (it really does!). My kids have developed long-lasting friendships where classmates stay to have dinner after class with us (next door at PJ's Pizza!), and I am finding the same sense of family in the adult classes. My sons and I are so fortunate to have found Charles Gracie San Mateo!!

My family has called El Niño home for years and I mean that literally. My son is turning 13 and has…read morebeen training since he was 4, right alongside his sister. This place isn't just a gym, it's where they grew up. The coaches here are something else. They don't just teach technique they invest in YOU, they remember your name, and they make you feel like you belong from day one. Walking into a martial arts gym for the first time can feel intimidating, but El Niño strips all of that away. You walk in a stranger and leave feeling like family. And for anyone making excuses I'm a mom of two, a wife, and I work full time. If I can carve out time to train Jiu-Jitsu and fall completely in love with it, anyone can. This gym meets you where you are and grows with you. I will be here for the rest of my life. Best gym. Period. Highly recommend.

I love this place been here since 2011 the location has great parking and even better coachesread more

This academy stands out because of its culture…read more The instruction is excellent, and also what really makes this place special is the people. The coaches teach the details behind each technique instead of just showing moves, so you learn not only what to do, but why it works. That approach has made a huge difference in my own understanding of jiu-jitsu. The atmosphere is welcoming and respectful. Whether you're brand new or have years of experience, everyone is treated like they're part of the team. The advanced belts are approachable, the training is challenging without feeling intimidating, and there is a genuine culture of helping each other improve. One thing I really appreciate is that standards are high. Progress and promotions feel earned, which creates an environment where people are motivated to keep learning and getting better. At the end of the day, a great academy isn't just measured by how good the instructors are--it's measured by the kind of community they build. This is a place where people enjoy training, support one another, and continue growing both on and off the mats. If you're looking for a jiu-jitsu academy with outstanding instruction, a winning competition team, a positive culture, and teammates who genuinely want to see you succeed, I highly recommend giving this place a try.

I really wanted to love this place because, to be fair, the quality of the Brazilian jiu jitsu…read moretraining here is excellent. The instructors clearly know what they're doing, and the kids' program is well-structured and engaging. However, as a parent, the overall experience leaves a lot to be desired. The biggest issue? No WiFi for parents. If you're going to have parents sitting around for an hour or more during classes, it's pretty unreasonable not to provide even basic internet access. Not everyone can just disconnect from work or responsibilities during that time. The waiting area is minimal, and without WiFi, you're essentially stuck doing nothing or burning through your mobile data. In this day and age, that feels like a pretty basic amenity that should be standard--especially for a place that otherwise operates at a high level. So yes, great training--but not a very parent-friendly environment. Until they address this, it's hard to fully recommend.

When we started taking classes at Motion, we were total beginners. Like, we were lucky if we took…read morethe dogs for more than a 20 minute walk and we accidentally found the place because we were hunting for Vietnamese sandwiches .. those type of beginners. Good thing we lucked out and ended up at Motion FMA! She was interested in taking Jiu Jitsu, and he was interested in taking Muay Thai. So, like any commitment-phobic people, we bribed each other into taking both classes. (Yes, they have both! And now more!) The BJJ classes are well-structured with both drills and sparring, extremely practical, and definitely did not need us to already be hella fit just to get started. The Muay Thai classes are great for cardio and, let's face it, some serious frustration-management ("f***in boss!" LOL). Everyone else in the classes is also super welcoming, which definitely makes it easier to start something new, as well as says a lot about the community they've built. We were super stoked when they started the Stick Mobility classes, and have now been trying to get everyone and their moms to join us. We tell them, it's like fun yoga, with the after-feeling of a massage, set to 80s music. The great thing about Martin and Jyn is that they really know how to adjust the teaching based on your learning style, experience, and ability. We found that in all their classes, we were having a great time learning while getting a hell of a workout in. We highly recommend Motion FMA for anyone looking to make the move from couch *potato* to having a *grape* time getting your fitness on with some awesome folks!

Martin and Jyn are amazing in and out of the mats , if you are in Pacifica area I highly recommendread more

This school has made such a positive impact on not only my outlook on life, but also improved my…read morephysical capabilities and confidence in challenging life situations. I've been a student for 8 years and I can say this Dojo has helped me build an athletic body and conditioned my mind to reach my most confident mentally balanced days of my life especially during difficult situations. As years of training here continue, I still learn something new and am fascinated in how Sensei Johnson connects the physical lessons in class with non-physical everyday challenges. I've been to several martial arts schools and I find this one fits my needs the best. Shopping for a school can be daunting but know that here you will find the instructors pay close attention to proper technique to avoid injury and deliver efficient strikes, provide ample safety gear, teach with positive reinforcement, and are family friendly. Sparring does not start until the student has learned proper technique for basic self-defense, which reduces risk of injury. We're all working adults and learning students, the last thing we want is a broken nose or sprained ankle. Other schools I've attended had students start sparring after 2 weeks of enrollment and I ended up going home with bruises, unlearned technique, and apprehension to return. It's not like that here. If you're focus is to become a street fighter, this is not the place to be. If you want to become the best version of yourself in mind, body, and spirit, this is the place to go. Martial Arts training is not a sprint, but a marathon and a way of life. The best lessons are learned over time and experience, so trust the long term goal and process. You can be so much more than you think you can and this school made me realize that about myself.

Peter has been doing this his whole life. I attended his and Mr. Jo's classes for almost ten years…read morethrough the 90's until I had to move away from the area. He is a terrific instructor. There was always a great mix of striking, attention to detail to technique, self defense and light grappling. The confidence, strength and hyper mobility from training here long term cannot be understated. Training here I was in the best health of my life. I'd recommend this school to all my friends in any age group.

Used to be affiliated with this school up until about 2 years ago, and had to leave due to other…read morecompeting priorities. Sensei Joji is a top notch instructor and provides a lot of valuable instruction to his students. Sessions are intense, but provide a lot of practicality. There was also a sense of a community with the annual holiday parties during Christmas time. Would love to come back here when time permits as Sensei Joji is as good as they come as far as instructors are concerned.

I have trained here many times, and with Sensei Yaguchi on numerous occasions. If you're reading…read morethis, you should probably disregard the previous review from 9 years ago. They teach excellent karate here that is well within the standards of the International Shotokan Karate Federation. This is good, traditional Japanese karate. I encourage you to come see for yourself. It's a very open and welcoming establishment, that is great for kids and adults alike.