Quick Review: Ji Sung Taekwondo is far more than a martial…read morearts studio - it is an extraordinary community led by passionate, highly skilled instructors who build confidence, discipline, respect, and leadership in every child. From transformative classes to unforgettable birthday parties, the staff consistently goes above and beyond to create a positive, empowering experience for both children and parents. Detailed Review: Our family has known this taekwondo studio since my brother and I were children. Some of my fondest memories growing up were attending TKD tournaments with my parents and cheering my brother on from the sidelines. Life has certainly evolved since then - my brother and I now have families of our own, and while we may no longer jump five feet in the air to break boards with a single kick (or perhaps we still can!), one thing has remained constant: the exceptional community at Ji Sung Taekwondo. Over the years, much has changed, yet the studio's core values have remained unwavering. Ji Sung Taekwondo continues to cultivate confidence, resilience, discipline, respect, teamwork, cultural appreciation, and outstanding martial arts skills - all while creating an environment where children genuinely enjoy learning. Not every instructor possesses the rare combination of being engaging, encouraging, patient, and deeply invested in their students. Just as classroom teachers vary, martial arts instructors do as well. At Ji Sung, however, you will find highly skilled, compassionate, and remarkably dedicated instructors who consistently go above and beyond for every child. After researching numerous TKD studios, I can confidently say this is the most impressive team I have encountered. As a parent, my goal is to raise confident, respectful, and capable future leaders, and Ji Sung reinforces those qualities beautifully. One of the most impressive things about the instructors at Ji Sung Taekwondo is how intentional and attentive they are with every child. They consistently call students by name to keep them engaged and focused, model positive behavior through clear examples, and offer meaningful praise and encouragement that builds both confidence and accountability in the children. Master Sahar is truly exceptional! She has an extraordinary ability to connect with children and capture their attention through positivity and encouragement. Rather than focusing on negative behavior, she reinforces good choices and models expectations in a way children immediately understand. The students genuinely want to succeed under her guidance, and it is remarkable how quickly they become more attentive, respectful, and confident in her classes. Miss Joy is equally outstanding - attentive, uplifting, and incredibly knowledgeable. She takes the time to ensure students learn proper technique correctly and thoughtfully refines movements with patience and precision. Master Kim leads with expertise, attentiveness, and high standards. He notices everything, maintains strong discipline, and motivates students to perform at their very best while still making them feel supported and encouraged. We deeply appreciate him and the incredible community he has built. We recently hosted a birthday party at Ji Sung Taekwondo, and it was one of the best decisions we could have made. Master Sahar, Miss Joy, and Esther exceeded every expectation and completely impressed both the children and parents in attendance. Within just an hour, the kids learned technique, discipline, and respect - and by the end of the party, each child successfully broke their own wooden board. It was such a meaningful confidence-building experience, and the children left feeling proud, empowered, and excited. When our children attended their first trial class, my four-year-old daughter was extremely shy and hesitant to leave my arms or step onto the mat independently. By the very next class, she confidently ran onto the mat on her own, and at home she now responds to my requests with, "Yes, ma'am!" every single time. It is absolutely adorable and makes me incredibly proud. That transformation is entirely thanks to the warmth, encouragement, and patience shown by Master Sahar and Miss Joy, along with Master Kim's supportive guidance for parents. Thank you to the entire Ji Sung team for the extraordinary energy, heart, and dedication you pour into every class. Your positivity, teamwork, perseverance, and kindness create an environment that truly shapes children for the better. This is far more than a taekwondo studio - it is a community that inspires children to become stronger, more confident, and more respectful versions of themselves.

The instructors spent much time with my son and he just graduated to an orange belt. So proud of…read morehim. Thank you to the the whole Ji Sung team

We've have both of our boys in classes at Essence BJJ Walnut Creek for over a year now, and it's…read morebeen a fantastic experience. We come every week for different age group classes, and both of my kids look forward to it each time. The instructors are excellent with the kids -- they know how to engage them, earn their respect, and create a positive and motivating environment. It's clear they care about the students and put a lot of effort into teaching and building character. I also want to mention the recent remodeling -- it really improved the facility and made the space even more welcoming and functional. Highly recommend Essence BJJ to any families looking for a great martial arts program for their kids! Although I have only my boys there for now, I will definitely sign up my youngest daughter to go there in about a year or so.

My 10 year old son has been training here for nearly 3 years now, and he absolutely loves it…read more Not only does he learn a practical defense, but the coaches also reinforce the values we practice in our own home; respect, fairness, discipline. Not only is he challenged to push himself physically, but he has fun too! He's made a lot of new friends since students come from different schools. The coaches listen to their students and their parents. They're always available and approachable to talk to. They're there to help. Safety is a top priority. And while this is a "martial arts" studio, this isn't a "fight" studio. Although if you do choose to compete, they will support you 100%, from kids to adults. Best of all, we're treated like family here.

Studio 2366 is such a fun and welcoming place. First time I attended a class, everyone was so…read morefriendly. Professor Eric is so passionate and he has a lot of patience. If you have questions, he will break it down step by step and stay with you til you got it I highly recommend this studio because everyone will motivate and help you progress.. There is no ego here which is a plus!

Professor Eric and coach Elaine are amazing! Great community with positive energy. Highly…read morerecommended!

My family and I recently moved from South Bay last year. I was doing a summer for BJJ before I…read moremoved and after getting situated into our new home I decided to get back in the gym. I was not very well versed in all things BJJ at the time so I will share my experience accordingly. First things first, I didn't understand the big differences between Gi and no-Gi BJJ. It is a critical question you need to ask yourself what you prefer before getting started. Before the move, the gym I practiced at was using Gi. Honestly, I think the Gi sucks! My hands would get hurt getting stuck in grips, extra rashes, and damage to my ears and face. Everyone was taped. It is just more brutal on the body IMO. As an 'old man' for this sport longevity was one of my deciding factors. That being said, THIS gym is no-Gi which I would recommend over Gi. The other part I will mention is about this gym itself. The support and comradery of the coach (which draws the quality of students) and the students are extraordinary. Coach is VERY hands-on, teaches most of the classes and even does roll with his students on occasion. Ending note...everything is clean, sanitary, and professional. No bullshit BJJ gym, get in here and give it a try (for yourself or kids)!

10th planet wanly creek is the right place if you are looking for some Nogi Jiu Jitsu, Alex is a…read more well-rounded grappler; him as his team are high level. I been coming here since I moved to cali and Alex has advised me well and some personal and coaching way. I'm happy to have the 10th planet Walnut Creek guys as friends..! oSs

Fourth year training at Dogo. Personalized and structured training, motivating and family oriented…read more Fully equipped for technical and strength training. Thank you Gustavo and Dogo team for the continuous encouragement and learning!! I appreciate everything.

This is coming from someone who had been training muay thai, boxing, krav maga, and jiu jitsu at…read moremultiple gyms around the bay, DOGO is absolutely fantastic. Gustavo is very knowledgeable and knows what he's doing. If you are looking to learn basic or more advanced self defense skills, this is the best gym for you. You really get what you put in with these classes, but you are guaranteed to come out stronger and more prepared. I absolutely recommend DOGO, and refer all my friends here all the time! I love this place and the people who teach and go here. It's a family, not just a gym. No intimidation, no judgement, just support and good vibes. Join now, you won't regret it, trust me.

Wah Dojo combines traditional Kyokushin training with something most dojos leave out: sparring with…read morehead strikes. On Fridays, the Dutch kickboxing class lets you practice face strikes safely with headgear, which makes the sparring feel much more realistic. If you're looking for a Kyokushin gym that actually prepares you for real-world fighting while staying true to tradition, this is the place.

My little person started training here about 4 months ago. She's seven and absolutely loves it…read morehere. We absolutely love it too. She is receiving the best Karate instruction in the area. She is learning tradition, discipline and true Karate from a group that truly cares. It also helps that all the instructors are also bad asses. If you are in the Pleasant Hill/Concord area and looking for Karate instruction, this should be the only spot you need to look.

CrossFit in a nutshell: approach as a strength and conditioning program built on constantly varied,…read moreif not randomized, functional and scalable movements executed at high intensity. My motto: "Being in shape requires one thing: hard work. And working hard requires no talent" About 4 weeks ago I attended my first class. I was feeling nervous. I had heard crossfit is a hardcore fitness challenge. I walked in with butterflies in my stomach not knowing what to expect. I was first greeted by Meg which runs the gym and who also is a certified crossfit trainer & a has a black belt in Kempo Karate. I still did not know what to expect, and was feeling intimidated by the "WOD" aka work out of the day. I had never done a overhead, power push, jerk before. (scared) Once the class was instructed what we had to do, I was guided by Meg on body mechanics and BAM!! I fell into the swing of it. From my first day experience, it has me coming back four times a week. Everybody is very friendly and welcoming. I remember someone telling me "we all been in your place before", and it only gets better =) Everyday is a new work out so never a dull moment. ***Shouts out to Meg, Alex, Jonathan, Vanessa, and Manolo they all have the drive to provide direction, supervision, encourage, dedication, and motivation enabling you to work safely at your full potential.

Sensei Meg runs a wonderful martial arts program for children. She is a child whisperer and is also…read moremasterful with quirks and behaviors. She and Sensei Robert had been god sent already before the pandemic. Since the pandemic they have become lifesavers to my 6-year old. They have a great outdoor set up for classes so they take place in person. There is also a zoom option. I owe the renewal in my child's COVID mental health and spirit to them (and I am not the only parent who feels that way). If you are looking for a martial arts place for your kiddo, you couldn't find better.

Been here for over a year, and i truly love it. Great, friendly coaches, and the environment is…read morevery accepting of all experience levels. The other members are always down to help me learn, and I always feel accepted. 5/5 stars!

Went to Combat Fitness for 8 months. My striking improved dramatically. This is the place to be to…read morelearn Muay Thai and get fit in the East Bay, the coaches are legit. Most people are pretty cool too. One piece of feedback is that the training hours are somewhat limited compared to other Martial Arts gyms. I started a new job and could only attend on Saturdays due to the hours. Thus I needed to find a new gym. Hope to be back here soon tho!