I've been training here for about 16 years. Great place to learn traditional karate in a safe and…read moreaccepting environment.

From moment we found Todd and Jill practicing at Ohlone, we were greeted with encouragement. My…read moreson has developed discipline, respect, confidence, and body awareness at the dojo. The focus on physical fitness and mental well-being is evident in every class. The sense of community among students makes it feel like a second family.

I have been going to Berkeley Isshinryu for over seven years now, so I figured I should finally…read morewrite a review! Because you don't do something for seven years if you don't love it. BIK is a small, laid-back dojo made up of a diverse group of practitioners from many different Isshin-ryu "strands" and in some cases completely different styles of karate or other martial arts altogether -- everyone is welcome here, and over the years the dojo has benefited from getting lots of different perspectives on the style and martial arts in general. We work hard and take our training seriously, but everyone is primarily there to have fun while also learning martial arts & staying in shape. Many of us also hang out & socialize outside of class as well, and there are regularly post-class pizza & beer trips for birthdays, promotions, etc. Because of the small size of the class, everyone gets plenty of attention, both as part of the group and during individual work time. The instructors are positive and friendly, and provide helpful and constructive feedback in an encouraging way. Again, although we work hard, this is not a super-aggressive, testosterone-driven dojo, so beginners or people who are less excited about the combat aspect of martial arts don't usually end up feeling intimidated or uncomfortable (and people who *are* looking for a super-agro school don't tend to stick around for long). We usually start with 10-15 minutes of stretches & light calisthenics, then spend the rest of class on some combination of basic techniques, kata study, pad work, partner work, self-defense, or sparring. (Students begin sparring only when the instructors think they are ready, and with plenty of supervision; also, no one is ever required to spar -- or do anything else, really -- if they don't want to.) The intensity of the workout is more or less self-selecting; if you want to be sweaty & panting by the end, there are usually opportunities to work hard enough to make that happen. If you want an easier, gentler workout, you can always dial it back to whatever you're comfortable with & ready for. Highly recommend! Again, I wouldn't still be here after seven years if I didn't think both the class and the people were awesome. :)

Here is my husband:…read more I've been practicing with this dojo for almost a year now and I can't get enough, I love it. I started karate to get in better shape and this class has significantly improved my conditioning as well as redefined my sense of well-being. The first hour of class generally incorporates a range of stretching, challenging calisthenics, and empty hand techniques intermingled with a social atmosphere and chance to let the workday tensions unwind. The second hour of the class focuses on your forms (katas) as well as two person combination techniques, striking the pads, sparring, and numerous other applications. The instructors have great experience and work well with students of all skill levels. I was an Isshinryu orphan from the east coast and the transition into this dojo was very welcoming.

After a few upsetting situations at our Middle School with chronic bullying, I figured the only way…read moreour son could break the cycle would be to learn self-defense. I had heard of Krav Maga and knew this would alleviate my fears for him. I discovered this amazing family-run business and I'm satisfied thus far. Gaby and his son...the owners, are very welcoming and immediately offered my son and daughter a private lesson. The class so far has given them a boost of confidence as well as skills to protect themselves if need be. Unlike Tae Kwon Do, they can utilize these skills in real-life situations to mitigate an attack either on themselves or their friends. I'm considering doing it myself. It's a great workout!

Great place to begin your journey into Krav Maga! Gaby is an amazing instructor and works well with…read moreall skill levels along with his instructors. It is very welcoming and filled excellent members! You will love the good vibe and life skills training!!

My son attended this dojo for over a year, consistently showing up and putting in effort. Despite…read morehis commitment, he was never promoted, even to half yellow, while I noticed other kids who attended less frequently or who seemed less focused did receive promotions. According to their online system, my child had about 68 hours of verified instruction, yet still no advancement. From what I observed, promotions sometimes appeared to happen faster for children whose parents were more involved in dojo activities outside of class. For example, I saw families volunteering their time or providing other support, and those children seemed to advance more quickly. In my case, we were not involved in those types of activities, and I couldn't help but wonder if that played a role. Behavior standards also seemed inconsistent. I witnessed my son being told his behavior was a reason for not advancing, yet other children -- including some who were regularly reminded to focus or who disrupted class -- were promoted. At the same time, I often saw my son working hard, staying engaged, and following instructions. I'm not the only parent that felt this way either. There were also some teaching methods I personally felt uncomfortable with. For instance, I once heard comments directed at kids, such as calling them lazy, that struck me as discouraging rather than constructive. While some families may see this as tough coaching, it didn't align with what I wanted for my child. In the end, I felt the promotion process was unclear and discouraging for my son. Eventually, I decided it was time to move on. This is just my personal experience, but I think other families may want to carefully consider whether this dojo's style and values are the right fit for their child.

I have been attending EBJI since 1999 at age 7 as a white belt (beginner). Since then I have…read morevisited many dojos around the country and on 4 continents and achieved 3rd degree black belt. EBJI is a unique dojo, and one that upholds the traditions of Judo and Japanese culture. Their moto of "building good people through Judo" is an understatement I've witnessed firsthand. I have had the privilege of seeing peers and myself grow. From originally attending the kids class, where the focus is on exercise, good manners, and safe falls (which saved me from broken bones outside of the dojo growing up), to intermediate and adult classes where Judo skills are built upon, community and giving-back is fostered, and a complete person, both inside and outside of the dojo, is born. The adult advanced class focuses on competition and Judo techniques while the adult beginners class focuses on the recreation of Judo for all ages ranging from 20s to 60+. EBJI has a history of athletes who have competed in the olympics, coached olympians and MMA fighters, and olympic level referees. But they also have a history of successful entrepreneurs, parents, first responders, educators and more. I am thankful to have experienced and been part of this dojo. I cannot recommend giving EBJI a try highly enough, both for your child and yourself!

UC Berkeley doesn't allow anything functional. It is "dangerous." It is "toxic masculinity."…read more What is really dangerous is presenting arts like Yangmudo as self-defense courses. If you use the techniques presented there you will get hurt. The only art they have here that is at all functional is Judo, but it is practiced with gi's only. They have Karate but is 90% kata and shadow boxing. The only reason to join any of these programs is if you want to compete in a specific sport such as TKD. Besides that it is worthless. They are scared to even let you do techniques with a partner most of the time. It's a ridiculous place. There is much more demand in the student population for arts such as Jiu Jitsu, wrestling, Muay Thai, etc., but they won't allow it.

Excellent and eclectic program, wonderful instructors and interesting self-defense lessons mixed…read morewith martial arts nugget stories. Even though competition is not emphasized in my club, I learn a lot in terms of physical training and self-defense. Even if those are not your goals, the friendly community and the interesting people you get to know are worth it.

My name is Jocelyn Cheung and I am twenty seven years old. I have been at Golden Lion Martial Arts…read moreSchool since I was sixteen years old. (2000) My reason for sticking with Golden Lion is because everyone is family and has always cared about me and each other. We mingle with each other by having picnics, movie night and not to mention we mingle with other students from the whole Plum Blossom Federation by competing in Tournaments and other cool events. Even though we have fun and joke around, practicing at Golden Lion is tough. They train you well and make sure you understand and practice correctly. It's not just about doing the moves, but the lower the stance the better. They train you hard even though it's tough, because, "No pain no gain," is what Sifu always says. Why would you want to go somewhere to train and just "DO" the work without "REALLY" knowing it?" Waste of money and time. You might as well get a great work out and come home feeling really good. Not to mention," it's not a waste of money by doing so." I wouldn't be at Golden Lion for twelve years already if I didn't like it there. I get good vibes from not just the people, but the work out. Yes, I admit, I have skipped classes, but you know what? Its one hellova miss out. Skipping a kung fu class session just makes it worse because the donut you had that day would still be in your system and that just means those calories are stuck there. I can't stress it enough to say that being at Golden Lion is one of the best things in my life. Also, if having problems outside of Golden Lion, just being at the school has nothing but happiness. Its not Choy Li Fut that I love & practice, its Golden Lion that makes me want to stay and learn Choy Li Fut.

Today, mindfulness/ meditation 5 minute apps are very popular to help with stress…read more However, many people do not realize that the outer body movements of Tai Chi Chuan are the perfect compliment to moving the inner chi energy throughout the body which helps when practicing mindfulness/meditation. The meditator needs this movement to strengthen the body and to help open the psychic centers to be most effective. A one hour session at Mountain Lion includes Qigong warm-ups, meditation/ breathing to calm the mind, and drills performed slowly to help students cultivate deep concentration and mind/ body co-ordination for balance. The instructors are constantly watching to ensure that each move is performed properly to prevent injuries. In addition, they are knowledgeable about how each move affects different parts of the body so movements during the hour will engage the whole body. This does require effort and a commitment, but the goal of attaining health, longevity, fun, and inner tranquility is worth it - especially for the 50+ crowd. To top it off, the instructors and classmates continually give positive feedback on what you are doing correctly to boost your confidence. My only regret is that I didn't start the Tai Chi Chuan practice at Mountain Lion when I was much younger. Nadine Oei

Hanabi Judo has been a fantastic experience for our family. We moved from abroad and Hanabi…read morewelcomed us in with open arms, working with my son to feel comfortable and confident. Dan Sensie is accomodating, always available to give families and kids the individual support and attention they need, and runs a dojo that is warm and community-centric while still maintaining the highest level of discipline and professionalism. We have watched my son grow stronger and improve his skills and practice, while working hard and enjoying himself!

Great experience talking to the owner about conditioning my older body, safety and learning how to…read morefall. Obviously his focus on children is important for the future, but he has great wisdom for us older folks as well.and a special session Tuesday nights for the more mature.

I have been studying tai chi for more than four years with Lenzie Williams and his student Jane…read moreSharp. Tai Chi turns out to be surprisingly challenging. And if the number of returning students of Mr. Williams are any indication, it is still challenging after 15 +years. Tai chi moves very slowly yet it proves to me again and again that it is a really good workout. I like the philosophy of tai chi which is taught as a part of the movement instruction. Somehow I have taken some of the tai chi philosophy and applied it in my work life. And my husband points out that since I started regular tai chi practice, I have gotten no colds. Instructor Lenzie Williams says of his work: "This school represents an environment where people are carefully taught the important basics and fundamentals of the art, then are encouraged and supported in working at whatever level and pace they choose". You have to learn tai chi from the beginning and in a certain sequence, so check out the web site to learn when the next sessions begin.

Lenzie Williams, tai chi instructor (& student of Laoshi Lo Pang Jeng --Mr. Ben Lo for 3 decades)…read moreis outstanding. He practices/teaches and embodies tai chi. While the studio, one among many within this complex (8th & Dwight), needs a paint job & some clutter busting, I suspect its unkempt nature filters out those of us only attracted to shiny surfaces. You can study tai chi all over the bay area, but Lenzie Williams is authentic. After my 1st class I looked for youtube videos so I could practice what I'd just learned. But, as Lenzie predicted: I found that youtube didn't deliver. This lineage isn't just about physical movement, though neither is there any dogma expressed. It begins from within and then gets expressed in beautiful movements-- a slow, yet powerful dance. Learning this kind of path from a video is akin to eating a rich, gently -tended-all-day broth with a plastic fork. If you want to learn tai chi, why not go straight to the real deal: Lenzie Williams ?