Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    SBG SoCal

    5.0 (68 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 11:30 AM, 3:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

    SBG SoCal Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - SBG SoCal

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Kids MMA classes
    Andrew L.

    This gym has been absolutely incredible for me and my 3 kids ! The prices are around the same from what I've seen in other gyms in the area, however the coaches here are incredible! I've definitely noticed the difference in my Kids listening skills as well as confidence since they've started. I take the jiu jitsu and MMA classes myself and it's most definitely better than any gym I've been too!

    This place is an amazing environment for the whole family my wife & son enjoy the classes just as much as I do, I came from a previous gym that only had striking and originally signed up for only the MMA class but when I saw how much fun the BJJ classes were having I decided to join and have since attended all the different types of classes offered. The coaches are very experienced and all provide their own style specialty to improve your own skillsets , in my year coming to this gym the coaches have given me the confidence and skills to compete.

    See all

    Photo of Eric K.
    58
    20
    0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of J S.
    1
    20
    5

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Andrew L.
    251
    54
    23

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Coach Marco and his team are the best. My daughter has been going for 4 months and we absolutely love it.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Lillian M.
    261
    77
    17

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Neal N.
    14
    609
    516

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Steve Y.
    152
    44
    17

    9 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Cathy N.
    151
    14
    6

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dan H.
    485
    3
    0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of E E.
    0
    19
    0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jesse A.
    128
    27
    8

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Best Gym ever. Sanitation, safety, education, and respect; and the community/connection. No words. My mind is still blown.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Amy R.
    236
    9
    0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Cristiano D.
    215
    111
    92

    8 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mel D.
    52
    2
    4

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Daniel S.
    129
    30
    2

    10 years ago

    Helpful 10
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - SBG SoCal

    Review Highlights - SBG SoCal

    Coach Marco is the greatest coach ever, explaining things clearly and with expertise as well as good humor.

    Mentioned in 15 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Karate 778 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Kim's Hapkido - Belt Rack

    Kim's Hapkido

    4.9(14 reviews)
    2.9 mi

    Kim's Hapkido is an awesome place! My son started at the South Pasadena location when he was 5. But…read moreafter only 3 months, the Covid pandemic shut down everything. Afterwards, at age 8, he had his second start and has been learning Hapkido for nearly 4 years now. He enjoys it a lot. This school is a wonderful place to learn self-defense, develop self-confidence and how to stand up to bullies, practice discipline and respect, and forge friendships. Master Kim and every single instructor are great with the kids (and adult students, too!). Hapkido as a martial art combines kicking, striking, throws, grappling and joint locks into a very effective self-defense system. While these techniques might seem scary and, as a parent, one might be concerned about injuries during practice, there is no reason to worry at Kim's Hapkido. The entire team of instructors is patient and skilled, and safe instructions have priority. In all the years watching my son practice, I've never witnessed an accident or unsafe instructions, including during the sparring sessions. Kim's Hapkido employs a neat belt system, with about 13 different belt colors and stripes from white to black belt. While these many steps are more than what you typically have in other martial arts, they provide an effective motivational tool to keep attending practice. Achieving the next level belt color is based on performance and an official exam (with board breaking!), and each kid is immensely proud when they are awarded the new belt. No belt is given merely based on the time spent in the dojang, but rather is awarded based on the merits of having learned the respective set of techniques. By now, my son has climbed up the belt ranking by 10 steps, and each successful passing of a belt exam represents a wonderful highlight that nurtures his self-confidence and personal growth. The adult classes at the South Pasadena location usually are 8-15 in size, whereas the kids' classes are larger, depending of the day of the week. However, in all classes there are always multiple black belt instructors available; therefore the teacher-to-student ratio is excellent; during the detailed technique portion of the class, safe and personalized instructions are assured. My son attends practice 2-3 times per week (depending on his soccer practice), plus 1 sparring session in addition. The sparring sessions are restricted to intermediate + advanced students and require the wearing of well-padded sparring gear (hitting the head is prohibited!). The gender distribution is about 50:50, and it is great to see how girls hold their own during sparring; a valuable lesson to learn for the boys! Another clever concept is Master Kim's Star Program, where kids can earn small, star-shaped merit badges for their uniform, based on achievements outside of Hapkido (such as in school or church or another sport). Some of the kids wear over a dozen of them as a proud display of their varied accomplishments during their young lives! This is one more example of how thoughtful this place is with regard to instilling a sense of achievement in its students. Despite its location in the heart of South Pasadena with its high rental costs, Kim's Hapkido has managed to keep its membership fees fair and affordable, which I appreciate. The studio is nicely spacious and there is a designated seating area for the parents in case they want to stay during class and observe (or read a book). Parking is easy and free; there is street parking along Fair Oaks Ave, dedicated parking behind the studio, and a large lot behind the Canoe House across the street.

    This place was a surprisingly good find. They really know how to treat kids. Everybody seems to…read morereally like it. They have a good system of continual progression. Prices are very fair.

    Photos
    Kim's Hapkido - Blackbelt class

    Blackbelt class

    Kim's Hapkido
    Kim's Hapkido - Watching the progress

    See all

    Watching the progress

    Arnott Kenpo Karate - Women's self-defense

    Arnott Kenpo Karate

    5.0(26 reviews)
    4.6 miEagle Rock

    We couldn't be more grateful for this place -- and for Mark Arnott, who has built something truly…read morespecial here in Eagle Rock. My son is AuDHD and has historically struggled to push through hard things. In just four months, the transformation has been remarkable. He's learning to understand his body, building real resilience, and beginning to grasp what it means to both give and earn respect. That growth doesn't happen by accident. Mark runs his dojo with warmth, kindness, and genuinely high expectations. Simple things -- like his habit of telling students to say hello to someone they don't know -- go a long way toward building a real sense of community. And it shows: the parent couches are always full, and it's become one of our favorite places to connect with other families. My son is progressing beautifully in his skills, but honestly, what he's gaining beyond the mat matters just as much. We're so glad we found this place.

    What an amazing and well-equipped dojo! I've wanted to study karate since I was young, and I'm…read morefinally getting around to it very late in life. I'm not a hardcore athlete by any stretch of the imagination, so I was looking for a new sport which would be fun and one where I could learn at my own pace, while also teaching me new skills and providing a good workout. Arnott Kenpo has totally delivered on these objectives. While I'm just at the beginning of my martial arts journey, I can see myself sticking with Kenpo for years to come. This is not an angry, tough-guy dojo. Mark and his fellow instructors make learning kenpo fun, exciting and understandable. If you're looking for an exercise in measuring relative testosterone levels, look elsewhere. However, if you want to try a wonderful dojo where you and/or your kids can learn a terrific martial art (Elvis did Kenpo!), gain confidence, and get a great workout, then I wholeheartedly encourage you to visit Arnott Kenpo.

    Photos
    Arnott Kenpo Karate - Father and son at Brown Belt

    Father and son at Brown Belt

    Arnott Kenpo Karate - Focus Milli

    Focus Milli

    Arnott Kenpo Karate - Focus Matt

    See all

    Focus Matt

    Champions Karate - Training!

    Champions Karate

    4.9(35 reviews)
    6.7 mi

    I took 4 years of martial arts when I was a teenager and my son (age 12 and also with 4 years…read moreexperience) is a brown belt in karate. When we started looking in this area for what will become his new dojo, we were open to starting over in a new style, so we read all the reviews and websites for all the local instructors and then visited the advanced classes of the 9 within our acceptable travel distance. Both of us being experienced and knowing the path to black belt can take many years, we committed to really finding the right instructor for him by training with the 4 of those 9 that we liked best. Champions Karate and Master Greg Muttart was the second of the four we've tested and he and his training truly lived up to his school's name. From the first time we met Greg, my son and I were both struck by what a nice guy he was and knew we'd be back to try his training. When we returned, we took 18 classes with Master Greg, attending 2 classes each training week. As an experienced martial artist and parent, I evaluate the trainings we attend with a critical eye for the style itself and the quality of the instruction and how the instructor is with their students. Greg and Champions Karate excel in both. Greg has trained in many styles but the foundational style he teaches is Hapkido. After two months of watching my son's classes, I consider this style far superior to any others he or I have trained in and/or seen. Greg's teaching of Hapkido is practical, built on foundations that are easy to understand and immediately applicable, clearly explained, and constantly approached from the perspective of how to use the techniques to defend yourself. Classes feel like Greg consistently has a clear plan in place before class starts. They are always well structured and include stretching and a warm-up exercise series, review of foundational skills, and various drills on how to apply those skills in real life. Hapkido also has no katas/forms, so all the training is on technique. Even with 4 years of experience and just watching, I learned so many things I wish I'd been taught all those years ago during my own training. Greg clearly lives and breathes martial arts, frequently referencing the styles of various pro fighters, recent educational videos he's seen, and decades of his own sparring experience. He works wonderfully with both kids and adults, makes the classes really fun and interesting to both take and watch, and he's got a great team of black belts supporting him. If I were looking to get back into training, Greg would be the instructor I'd choose and I definitely recommend checking out his classes if effective and fun self-defense conditioning is what you are looking for.

    Our chlidlren Lucas and Elle have been taking karate lessons at Champions Karate Monorovia for over…read morea year now. The karate lessons are great, but they learn so much more, and the positive impact it has made in both their lives. Needless to say there has been a huge void for our kids not being able to attend their classes for the past 3 months. But, that all changed this week with their reopening. They have gone above and beyond to set up all of the safety protocols to provide a safe enviroment for everyone. Our children just finished their first week back at class and are looking forward to next week. Thank you!!

    Photos
    Champions Karate - Boxing class!

    Boxing class!

    Champions Karate
    Champions Karate

    See all

    Jeff Speakman's Kenpo 5.0 Monrovia - JSK 5.0 Grand Champion - Las Vegas July 2023

    Jeff Speakman's Kenpo 5.0 Monrovia

    5.0(7 reviews)
    7.6 mi

    My kid (7) has been training at Jeff Speakmans Kenpo 5.0 Monrovia for a little over 2 1/2 years…read more She has not only made tons of progress in her art, self confidence, and discipline. She has made a ton of friends and incredible memories. Sensi Berj, is patient, knowledgeable and an incredible martial artist with the credentials to prove it. We had looked at plenty of studios before we settled here and we have never looked back. From day one we knew, this was exactly the atmosphere and people we wanted teaching/training our little one. It's 100% more than just a karate studio, it feels like one big family.

    This is my utmost honest review of a place. My kids joined this dojo, were students for under a…read moreyear. I had them join to build their confidence, gain physical ability, and learn self discipline. That is exactly what we got. I am appreciative to Sensei Berj. We came in very honest with what my intention was for my kids. It wasn't abt competing, belt color (although it does help with the kids when the earn the next belt). I wanted my kids to enjoy this experience. We previously went to another TKD dojo. They didn't even take the time to learn my kid's name. Too many kids, not enough instructors. Here at Kenpo was a different, delightful experience. The group was small, Berj takes the time to get to his students and their abilities. He truly wants to see each child succeed. That is rare in today's world. Most places are abt payment. This place is abt seeing the student thrive. The only reason we stopped was because of schedule conflict with other activities, and we weren't really into competing (which I'm pretty sure would've been fine to continue without competing but we just decided to stop instead). Again, I'm appreciate to Sensei Berj. Thanks for building their confidence and overall well-being. Keep up the good work .

    Photos
    Jeff Speakman's Kenpo 5.0 Monrovia
    Jeff Speakman's Kenpo 5.0 Monrovia
    Jeff Speakman's Kenpo 5.0 Monrovia - Learn, grow, be your best!

    See all

    Learn, grow, be your best!

    SBG SoCal - karate - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...