I was 53 when I first went to Claudio's. I needed a safe enviroment to learn this gentle art and…read morefound it with Claudio, his world class instructors, and the warm big hearted members.

Was camping at New Brighton and stopped in for an open mat. Everyone was very welcoming and…read morefriendly. They all had great technique and I was able to get a lot of rolls in. Will definitely stop by when I am in the area again.

Best decision I've made in a long time. What a workout. So much more enjoyable than the normal…read moregym lifting and on the treadmill. I have now completed three classes. I was hooked after one.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Brian was so kind and informed and patient with my husband! He's out of shape and…read morehas never done boxing before. He's really excited to improve his energy and health with such a fun workout. Brian was super accommodating to our busy schedules as well. Great and affordable 1:1 workout, but they offer classes as well!!

Sandro Batata BJJ changed my life! Having never trained any martial arts before, I was hooked from…read moremy first introductory class with Julio and quickly discovered my passion for BJJ that I hope to continue for as long as I can. From day one I felt like part of the family and was continually pushed to work harder and progress my BJJ game. Each class has a proper conditioning warm up, followed by thorough and detailed instruction on the move(s) of the day, and finished with intense, competitive style training. Julio always takes the time to answer any questions anyone has, re-explain techniques when necessary, and gives on-going advice on techniques, position, and opportunities that arise during training. Having sadly moved away from Santa Cruz and having to switch to other gyms, I can confidently say that I owe the basis of all my knowledge and progression in the sport to Sandro Batata BJJ of Santa Cruz and its instructor Julio. Thank you for everything!

Great place to train! Julio is the head instructor here and is hands on with technique. He…read morecompetes at the black belt level himself so he is up to date on the latest techniques and moves. Awesome environment...with some top level students from white to brown. They also have a few world champions at the academy in Gi and NoGi. The kids class is always packed and a lot of the kids do really well in competitions also! With all the options available these days, this is a great place to start your journey and get real authentic Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Julio doesn't water down his teachings, that is why all the students here do really well. Keep up the good work!

The best service I've ever had the lady at the desk is so nice very welcoming she made my kids feel…read morevery secure. Love it. I'm joining.

This member staff named Ana was son rude! A year ago we went to that place and we parked on the…read moreback of the building, we were waiting for more than one hour so the class to start ( they didn't update their class schedules online) and then this person came and said we needed to move from that parking spot or else she would call the police since we parked there last year we didn't know that was not a customer parking anymore. No manners at all this person was rude and mean talking to my husband in front of our child like that just made my child so upset and didn't wanna go inside the class anymore! That person doesn't deserve to be near children with that vocabulary and horrible manners! Don't recommend this place while she is around.

I first became a student at Sanford's Martial Arts in 1999. I was 10 years old and my father had…read moreunexpectedly passed away. In the same year we had moved to Soquel with my twin and I starting at a new school. In a year with many unknowns, Sanford's Martial Arts quickly became the community we so desperately needed. I credit this dojo for helping me gain the confidence to navigate difficult life changes and the self discipline to persevere, even in the face of adversity. I continued with my training for many years and even became an instructor. Now my 5 year old has been training for 2 years and I cannot give enough praise for Sanford's Martial Arts youth program. Your child will learn about respect, courage, self discipline, morality and YES, they will learn self defense! As a family owned and operated business established in the 80s, the dojo culture is one built on a foundation of respect, community, and inclusivity. This place feels like home to my family and me.

My son has been practicing karate here for 1.5 years. Truly, I cannot say enough good things about…read morethis program. First, the instructors are amazing. They know where every kid is at skill-wise and are so reassuring and supportive when the students are learning new techniques. Second, mat chats! In every class an instructor takes 5-10 minutes to talk about different subjects like bullying, strangers, trusting your gut, respect, or self discipline. The students get adult role models, aside from their parents, to teach important life skills. Lastly, the dojo feels like an incredibly supportive and safe place to be. Amazing staff, movie nights, karate with mom or dad days, so many fun activities! I'm very thankful for Sanford's and watching my son build confidence here.

Boxing is great for cardio and I definitely love it! I am NOT a professional by any means nor do I…read moreclaim to be, but I don't let that stop me from learning here. This place has INCREDIBLE instructors-- many of which are former competitors or professionals, but they don't gloat or talk about that. All they care is about teaching you the art of boxing, perfecting your technique and sharpening your skills and mind so you can be ready for a fight -- if that's what you actually want to do, or just spar. The staff here train your brain. They give you the tools and fundamentals that will help you in the ring, such as stress, push towards whatever hurdle you're forcing through at this gym, but also in life. Very convenient location near by my house. I can literally walk to their building and BOOM I am there, it's that close! If you're a novice, beginner or seasoned pro. All are welcome here, never judgment just great people who want to see your win. LETS GET TO WORK. Thank you and I look forward to more lessons.

I have been part of this boxing gym for about 7 years. The coaches are professionals at what they…read moredo. Carina Moreno is a 5-TIME world champion in 3 different weight classes. There is no doubt that they know what they are doing. Some of the most outstanding facts are their structure, passion, family-oriented approach, friendliness, supportiveness, cleanliness (impeccable), and disciplined foundation. FUN FACT about Carina; if she is not training, she is cleaning the gym. Lol Don't tell her I said that. There are youth classes and adult classes for early birds and for those who can make it in the afternoon. I usually attend the adult class and my teenage daughter also joins the class. I feel like this class has allowed us to spend a little more time together while each doing self-care and building healthy habits. The students are all very positive, patient, and supportive. There is a great friendship and family vibe in this gym. The coach Rick Noble, and Carina Moreno are willing to support their students and competitive fighters to accomplish their goals. If you have Rick and Carina in your corner, you better believe that you are in trusted hands. We are accepting and welcoming of diverse populations and a safe environment. I might annoy the coaches sometimes because that's how I show them, love, lol... but they accept me for who I am and accept even the things that they do not understand. An anecdote from the 5 am class. While in class, I was in the last 2 rounds of bag work, and I felt so tired, but then I saw from the corner of my eye some ladies who just started boxing and never had done boxing in their lives. It made me remember my beginnings in boxing. By them just trying, I was motivated and inspired by their strength to continue. We are a team, with emotional strength, healing, growing, and learning. We are a community within the community. If you are interested in boxing, this is the gym to be in. If you are not boxing with us, I don't know what you are waiting for.

I trained a martial arts program called Limalama at Synergy Dance Fitness in Aptos starting early…read more2018 until the class shut down in November 2025. While I can say the program started out well the first couple years but after instructors and ownership eventually changed just about everything went downhill from there on. Here's the problems I faced that destroyed the quality of the program: Class went from training 3 times a week to 2 times a week but still charged $100 per month Scheduled class time would randomly change At one point they tried to charge students for belt tests even though we were previously told that would never happen Belts were rewarded as a way to keep students hush and cover the low quality of the program No organization for class structure or training material The program never had sufficient equipment Half of class material was training that could be done at home without help I was charged as a student for several classes that I taught when the instructor was absent. When I asked they basically said the class doesn't bring in enough money and tried to deny that I taught enough classes. Instructor was constantly absent Instructor would arrive late and leave class early Instructor would occasionally cancel class and claim there would be a makeup class but would never follow through Instructor had very little motivation and no concern for teaching material Instructor did not have enough training experience to lead a program Instructor would reject any idea to help make the program better Instructor would complain about formality of students while not respecting formality himself

I've been taking the contemporary dance class with Cambell at this studio for about half a year…read morenow. The atmosphere is so fun and creatively charged -- it's the kind of space where you immediately feel free to express yourself and explore movement without judgment. I didn't have any dancing experience prior to this class and Cambell has been such an amazingly supportive and inspiring instructor! She choreographes beautiful moves which are both elegant and intentional. Some of them challenging but that's also what I like about this class -- I get to learn and push my dancing boundaries. She's very supportive and takes time to explain and answer all our questions. We always start with a thoughtful warm-up and stretching session to prep our bodies and prevent injuries, which I really appreciate. It sets a grounded, focused tone for the rest of the class. The group vibe is super positive too -- everyone is supportive and uplifting, and there's a real sense of community.

I've known and trained with Sensei Merek Dorf for many years. He's very patient and supportive of…read morebeginners. The dojo might be small but its members are dedicated practitioners. They have a direct affiliation with Japan and study a rare style of kenjitsu called Ryushin Schouchi Ryu http://ryushinshouchiryu.com If you're looking for an authentic dojo and legit instructors this is your place!