Our daughter (7 years old) has been training at this martial arts school for over a year now, and I…read morecan honestly say it has been one of the most meaningful experiences of her childhood so far. When we first enrolled her, it was simply to introduce a new form of exercise and help build her confidence. But what we discovered was so much more than just a class--it became a place where she grew, matured, and found something she truly loves. From the very beginning, I noticed how happy she was every time she stepped onto the mat. Watching her focus so intensely during class and seeing how proud she was of her progress made my heart full. Her confidence has grown in ways I never expected, and the joy she brings home--even practicing on her own--shows how deeply this has resonated with her. One of the things that stands out the most is the incredible consistency and structure the dojo maintains. The principal and the foundation of this dojo are grounded in expectations that are strict, but completely reasonable. Students are expected to come prepared, stay focused, practice, and give their best. And what's remarkable is how the instructors carry that same tone throughout every session--firm, supportive, and unwavering in their commitment to holding each student accountable. This level of structure has helped our daughter thrive, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. Each Sensei is compassionate, attentive, and truly invested in each child. They all make sure each student receives equal attention, no matter their pace or personality. I love not only rooting for my own daughter but finding myself cheering for every child in the room. You can actually see them growing--not just in technique, but in kindness, courage, and respect for one another. What moves me the most is the culture Freestyle Martial Art has created. Yes, the kids compete with each other sometimes, but afterward they show such kindness and encouragement. They lift each other up. They celebrate each other's wins. They comfort each other's frustrations. That kind of environment isn't an accident--it's a direct reflection of the teaching, leadership, and values here. We are incredibly grateful for the impact this school has had on our daughter. Her confidence, her focus, her discipline, and her sense of pride have all blossomed because of this place. Watching her progress under such exceptional guidance has been a gift, and we look forward to seeing her continue to grow in this amazing community. If you're looking for a martial arts school that teaches more than just technique--one that shapes character, builds confidence, and creates a truly supportive culture--this is the place.

Great place for kids to learn martial arts. Mr. Miller is very patient with children. He teaches…read morekids to be respectful and to follow rules, but creates an environment that's fun for the kids. My son loves coming here!

The gym is amazing and the people are great but if you want to cancel your membership make sure you…read moreREAD your contract and understand it. The staff that are in there will help you out with anything that you don't understand just don't bs them when it comes time to put in work. The people in there as well can help you out with stuff you don't understand. If canceling just know ABC Fitness is a pain in the ass to deal with. The gym has helped me out with my cancellation so I have no problems with them but ABC Fitness can suck my fatty. Coach Jose, I appreciate the knowledge you taught me even if it was for a short while. To the owner: I bet you get a lot of hate because of this but just know I enjoyed the gym and the people I trained with. I would love to workout again at your facility if I ever get the change to come back out to SD but not while ABC Fitness is your financial advisors and holders. Again I appreciate the staff for helping me out.

Douch bag money monger is the most appropriate way to describe Michael, the owner of this dirty,…read morehot, sweaty and gross place. We tried it out for a couple months, hated the fact that there is no aircondition and classes that are listed on the website don't exist like stick martial arts. What a scam. I explicitly asked what the cancellation policy was suspecting that it was going to be a hassle, many gyms make it hard so they can continue charging our after you don't go there anymore. This place takes the cake in making it hard to quit. You have to send a REGISTERED letter well in advance then they charge you a $50 cancelation fee! For what! Just because you don't want to go to their hell hole anymore! Of course it's all in fine print and they don't tell you when you sign the IPAD. Then they send it to collections if you don't pay the $50. It's so sick and sad, especially because it's obvious there are a lot of young people who appear to be students or starting out in life and don't have the money that this a-hole extracts from them. This place is NOT badass, it's despicable! Go elsewhere where you are not going to be an ATM for this loser

As a parent whose child has been training at this dojo for a while, I wanted to offer a different…read moreperspective from the one below. Sensei Sherry does have a very direct and no-nonsense personality, and I understand how that might come across as standoffish, especially over the phone. But in person, she is truly one of the most decent, grounded, and caring individuals I've ever met. She may have been firm if she felt there was confusion between Taekwondo and Karate--they are very different disciplines, and she's deeply committed to preserving the integrity of traditional Karate. In fact, that just shows she's not doing this for profit, but out of a true passion for Karate and a genuine love for the kids she teaches. She's barely making any money from the dojo, and honestly, customer service in the commercial sense isn't her priority. What she truly cares about is the growth, mindset, and character development of the students she works with. Sensei has taught my son so much more than just martial arts. She's helped him train his mind, build discipline, develop strong values, and learn what it means to have respect--for himself and for others. The impact she's had on his confidence and behavior has been nothing short of life-changing. Within just two years of training, he started earning medals from local Karate competitions, and now he's preparing for his first national competition! I'm incredibly proud of him, but even more grateful for the amazing sensei guiding him on this journey. I would really encourage you to visit the dojo and try out a class or two in person before making a final decision. It's hard to get a full sense of someone's heart and character over the phone. Once you see her in action with the students, I believe you'll come to see that she is truly one of the best--and for the level of dedication and mentorship she provides, her fees are more than reasonable. Wishing you and your daughter the very best on your martial arts journey--wherever it may lead!

Sensei Sherry and Sensei Alanna are amazing teachers and they create a caring and tough family like…read moreenvironment. My husband and I combined have lost over 110lbs over the year thanks to the great work out, motivation, and positive reinforcement. Our son is also becoming stronger, more confident, and has made great new friends!

Very Family oriented. I feel comfortable with my kids here…read more Raquel is the owner and Mom and a super friendly and kind presence. I would poop here anytime.

I was able to drop in on the Sunday 10 AM gi class. I reached out via the contact from on the…read moreStronghold website and received a text in a very timely manner about my request to drop-in. The waiver and drop-in fee were also taken care of with Raquel prior to the class. Professor Johnny taught class; warm-ups, instruction/drills, positional sparring, then live rounds. There were only a few of us in the class, but everyone was extremely welcoming and very tough. Professor Johnny also participated in the positional and live rounds. It was a very good experience to be able to share the mats with someone so skilled and decorated. He put the hurting on everyone but did so in such a controlled and safe manner. Thank you for allowing me to train with you Stronghold!

Love working out here. Nice large gym that isn't often crowded. The machines are always fixed and…read moreworking. Lots of space to do a variety of activities from turf to Olympic lifting. Great gym overall

I was given a three-day pass and walked into what looked, on paper and on the tour, like it could…read morebe the one. 34,000 square feet across two levels. Turf. Sparring ring. Mat arena. Recovery area. Brand-new half-million-dollar renovation. The bones were impressive. Then I stayed long enough to actually use the place. The equipment is almost entirely Hoist. I cannot stand Hoist for serious lifting. The entire aesthetic is black-and-red themed, which I found nauseating after about ten minutes. I tried to force it. It never clicked. The locker room is the real tell. Tiny lockers. Clear shower doors. Bathroom stalls that looked dirty. Sinks with no paper towels. I had an accidental spill from one of my bottles and there was literally no way to clean it up. Meanwhile the main floor is stocked with spray bottles and paper towels for the machines. Hygiene and recovery get treated as secondary. Turf day was chaos. It was supposed to be open free space. Instead a class of roughly thirty people had taken it over and the staff didn't seem to know what was happening. The tire flipper was missing its inner weights. The turf itself is small enough that people were stacked and grouped on top of each other. Absolute bedlam. Upstairs the studio instructor was excellent--warm, noticed I was new, invited me in. That part felt right. The recovery room looks solid, but requiring a towel just to use the sauna is one more small friction that adds up when you're there six days a week. Everyone I met was friendly. The culture is warm and welcoming. People clearly love the place. That's why I kept second-guessing myself. But I am not looking for a themed environment that forgives operational gaps because the paint is fresh. I need order, elite free weights and machines, and a locker room that matches the standard of the training floor. Hygiene and renewal are not extras. They are central. This gym has the square footage and the new equipment, but the mismatched details--neglected bathrooms, missing pieces of equipment, uncontrolled open space, small frictions everywhere--turn what should feel like a high-level training center into a hodgepodge rec center with a nice renovation sticker on it. I wanted to love it. I didn't return after the tour. It just isn't my tribe.

This dojo is great. The space is so open, clean, and comfortable to practice in. It has such a…read moregreat vibe. Cat STRADA Sensei, Tom Liu Sensei are great instructors and very knowledgeable in their craft and they provide great spiritual guidance as well as great fundamental aikido's teachings. I really enjoyed my time practicing and taking instructions from both Cat and Tom. They are both very supportive, encouraging and super friendly folks. They foster a family oriented environment and are always willing to go the extra distance to support your training by providing seminars and various other resources to supplement your training.

What an amazing place to train! Thank you so much to Strada Sensei and Liu Sensei for their hard…read morework making this dojo such a welcoming place for self-empowerment and community. Weekly classes offer an insightful, introspective, and creative approach to Aikido! Being such a large and beautiful dojo, this is a great space to hold seminars, and the kind energy of the people who teach and train here make it great for those pursuing martial arts at any level!

We stumbled into this place for a birthday party. It is big, spacious, not corporate and I got a…read moregood vibe from the owner and instructors. This option works way better for us that Karate places 20+mins driving away in Point Loma with only 30 min classes for more money. I like the drop in structure. We signed up and can pick from 4 or so classes for my 7yr old. The class for the 4 yr old uses great story telling to teach poses. We are intrigued. Yes, the owner is a character, with certain ideas and proposals of how to do things. But he was very responsive, collaborative when we needed to negotiate and find a solution. In general, please dont CAP and rant. This does not make yelp reviews believalble and spoils the community vibes of yelp. If you are so angry, that you can only scream, take a karate class elsewhere for composure and come back with a calm, reflected review. I do check yelp to learn what people complain about. Yet this.:.

I attended a Women's Self-Defense Seminar at the Old Town location. The course was very informative…read moreand covered situational awareness and basic self- defense techniques. The three instructors were excellent. I highly recommend this course for women of all ages.