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    Updated 3 months ago

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    Recommended Reviews - SBG SoCal

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    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.

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    3 years ago

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

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    5 years ago

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

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    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

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    Kim's Hapkido

    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.

    I highly recommend Kim's hapkido! The teachers are excellent. They instill discipline and respect,…read morebut do it in a compassionate way. My son spent about a year and a half there and is much more confident. He achieved his yellow belt with a lot of work and practice. The kids learn self defense abd get good exercise in a fun, safe environment

    Photos
    Blackbelt class
    Blackbelt class
    Kim's Hapkido
    Watching the progress

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    Watching the progress
    Arnott Kenpo Karate

    Arnott Kenpo Karate

    5.0
    (27 reviews)
    4.6 mi

    This place. Oh, this place. It houses something special. If nothing else is helpful about this…read morereview, know that I LOVE accompanying my kids to class every time - not one of those activities that have a parent feeling like "oh, man- we gotta go to _____ againnnn". I plan on joining up once I get the thumbs-up from my doc (my body is a bit broken at the moment). My two kids (ages 11 and 6) have been attending classes for two and a half months now, attending an average of 3-4 times per week. The adjectives I would use to describe this dojo are profuse and positive... welcoming, sincere, encouraging, challenging, supportive, community-building, kind, conscientious, warm, and empowering. Each sensei brings their heart and flavor to the class. Here are some of my favorite aspects of how the dojo is run: Students learn how to operate in community with others through teamwork and mutual teaching/learning. Families are encouraged to participate Students learn that there is something to learn from every person, and something we can teach every person Yes, it's super self defense- AND can be profound metaphor for almost anything positively-connoted that you can think of. I've witnessed these kids (and other students here) develop physically, emotionally, and mentally - and it's only been two and a half months.

    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.

    Photos
    Father and son at Brown Belt
    Father and son at Brown Belt
    Focus Milli
    Focus Milli
    Focus Matt

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    Focus Matt

    SBG SoCal - karate - Updated July 2026

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