I can't believe it, but my kids have been attending Solis Martial Arts for 3 years now. They started as white belts and have made steady progression over the years. The journey has not lacked complaining, but generally, they come out of class drenched in sweat, but with smiles on their faces. I think they are healthier and stronger from the consistent exercise. They're also more confident. Sifu James is a wonderful instructor that teaches with positive energy. His teaching style is a good blend of discipline and compassion. Solis Martial Arts is trying not only to produce good martial artists, but also good members of the community. Ms. Carla is the owner but also teaches some of the classes. She's very friendly and has been more than fair to us over the years. Our kids' classes have the option of going up to 4 times a week. That gives us some flexibility given that we try to get the kids there 3 times a week. Overall, we've really enjoyed the program and being part of the Solis Martial Arts family. A good business starts with people and there are 2 good ones currently managing things there. read more

Solis Martial Arts - Front - Martial Arts Near Me - Hercules, California

The instructors are passionate, patient, and genuinely invested in helping each student succeed, no matter their experience level. You can tell they care about building strong character just as much as teaching martial arts. I highly recommend James Solis Martial Arts to anyone looking for a supportive community and high-quality instruction. Whether you're starting your martial arts journey or looking for a place to continue it, this is the place to be. read more

My daughter has been a student at Solis for almost 5 months now. Sifu James, Ms. Carla and the other instructors are the kindest people and they are all great with the kids. My daughter looks forward to coming to class every week. Not only have I seen her confidence increase, but she's more focused, disciplined and eager to learn -- all of this with a huge smile on her face in every class! I look forward to seeing my daughter continue leveling up at SMA. Thank you SMA for all that you do!! read more

My 12 year old granddaughter is working towards her black belt at Solis Martial Arts. She is happy and is learning form, function, and intensity from a staff that is dedicated to giving their full attention to each student. She has improved dramatically since she started there over a year ago. She is very proud of her new level of skills and abilities and it shows on her face because she is always smiling. She transferred from a nearby dojo that has 50-70 students on the mat during their classes. You cannot teach, monitor, or keep safe any child in a crowd that big. None of the students get any personal attention or help during class because there is only one instructor on the mat to teach 50-70 kids. At Solis, when there are more than 10 students on the mat, there are at least two or more instructors. They care about the safety of the students and give precise, individual corrections and instructions so that when they advance to the next level, you know that they are worthy of the new belt color. Professor Solis, Sifu James, Instructor Doan, and Miss Carla are great at motivating and teaching the students that attend Solis. I am extremely happy that our family goal of helping our granddaughter get her black belt will be realized at this dojo. She has gained confidence, pride, and self-respect for her accomplishments in martial arts, and we feel that with this critical skill she will be safer in today's world. Thank you so much Solis Martial Arts for helping her on her journey. read more

We heard about Solis Martial Arts from a mommy friend. Called and signed up for trial class and immediately, we all loved it. Ms. Carla and Sifu James is so nice. The classes are very structured and organized, lead by Sifu James. Sometimes TAs are there to assist the class. They were all super attentive and willing to help correct kids with their forms. Very clean environment. I saw them mop the mat a few times between the start of our class. The lobby is small, but I think it's great so there's not too much distraction for the kids during class time. My son is with them for about 3 months now. He looks forward to his class every time. Would definitely recommend if you are looking to building self confidence and discipline for your kids! read more

My 7 year old looks forward to coming to class each and every time. The classes are fun, she gets a nice workout plus she learns the values that they reinforce with their students of Integrity, Respect for oneself and towards others, Self Control, Commitment, Perseverance, and Indomitable Spirit. The class is kept interesting with upbeat music playing, techniques are practiced at an appropriate length of time, and the kids are paired up to practice with each other. At the end of the class, the kids each congratulate each other for giving their best. It's a very supportive and positive environment. read more

Solis Martial Arts - Martial Arts Near Me - Hercules, California

My daughter has been coming here for almost a year now and I can honestly say the change that I've seen in her is nothing short of drastic. She has not only learned skills to protect herself, keep her physically fit, but she's also gained so much confidence! For a teenage girl to posses a high level of confidence that is something I'm deeply grateful for. In addition, I have to say I love the family feel. When we went to watch her test for her yellow belt, I felt happy to see how encouraging everyone was. From the people who take the class with her to her instructors everyone was cheering her on. I'm glad I found Solis Martial Arts and convinced her to try it out! Best decision ever! read more

Solis Martial Arts - Martial Arts Near Me - Hercules, California

Great karate school my son has been attending four year and is doing well. Not only is he learning karate but has learned alot about discipline. Master Taylor And instructor James are great instructors. Very happy with the school. read more

My daughter absolutely loves going to karate. All of the instructors/ professors are extremely friendly, patient & attentive. Before karate my daughter was very shy and soft spoken. After a couple months, not only did she gain confidence but also new friends! *kickboxing for adults is a must try! Very high energy to burn those calories & lots of fun. read more

I dont usually write a review but this place deserves it. They focus on individual progress, self discipline, leadership skills and respect. All of the instructors are well trained as an educator. I highly recommend Solis Martial Arts! read more

This review has been a long time coming. One word to describe Solis Martial Arts is incredible! My son has been a student since we first saw it open up. He has now progressed from the little ninja program to the Junior BBC. I can honestly say that he has grown up with Professor Solis. The training has taught him discipline, respect, and character. Some of the key elements of raising a child. My fiancee and future sister in law also joined Solis in the beginning and felt great after attending classes. They learned self defense as well as got a workout with each class. I finally found the time and started attending kickboxing classes. To be honest, the first few classes are tough as you acclimate yourself to the training and temp. Once you get those out of the way, you start to feel better and see improvements. Each class is guaranteed to give you a good workout as long as you put in the effort. All the instructors are great people and so are the classmates. Everyone gives genuine support and encouragement. I say come by and give the class a try. Professor Solis is always willing to have people try the classes before making the commitment. read more

I HIGHLY recommend this place and Prof Solis to everybody we know! Our 4 yr old was so shy when he first started. He wouldn't even get on the mat. He would stand still during the games and activities, yet he was so fascinated by how energized all his new classmates were. The first two times we went, I literally had to drag him onto the mat. And when I got him there, he would just stand there. But Instructor Maria, Teacher Darlene, Instructor James, Instructor Alyssa, and Prof Solis would all make an effort to get him to participate. Even though he was stuck stiff, they would encourage him by moving his arms and leg into position, and using gear to get him to physically participate. But on the third time (after he got his super cool outfit), he started to get more warmed up. It even got to the point where he would ask to go after school even though class wasn't offered that day! He is now more pumped than ever. He is always smiling from ear to ear from the time he walks into class to the time he leaves. He actively participates and is so excited to be there. I can always expect him to finish all sweaty, which is a good thing bc that means he's pushing as hard as he can! I would never have thought that he would enjoy this class as much as he did. I was definitely a bit nervous at first, but I'm glad we stuck through it. Prof Solis was never once pushy; he was always confident in what the school would bring and always encouraging my son to be great. There are other places that offer martial arts, but we felt this one was the best fit for our little man. Right off the bat, you can feel the genuine passion, sincere kindness, loving care, high energy level, and upbeat positive attitude from ALL the instructors and teachers. Every single one of them pays close attention to your kid and they find ways to help them grow confidence, strength, and respect with positive inspiration and encouragement. A BIG thank you to Prof Solis, Instructor Alyssa, Instructor James, Instructor Maria, and Teacher Darlene for bringing such a positive vibe to this place. It is the STAFF here that makes this place a gem. read more

Both my son and I train at Solis Martial Arts. A few years back we suffered a loss, I lost my husband and my son was left without a father. I feel that practicing martial arts has given him many strengths. Instructor Solis and Sifu Mike have been strong male figures for him, and through them he has learned respect and discipline. (Although he is a work in progress) For myself, I have had some health issues come up that have been elevated due to a high stress life. I decided to enroll because of the simple fact that I enjoy it. In addition it has been a great stress reliever, and obviously has great health benefits. I've made great friends here and it has help boost my confidence. I strongly recommend this to anyone who wants to get in shape, learn self defense, gain confidence and reduce stress. We love SMA! read more

This place is great. It is a center for many types of martial arts in the Bay Area. They have karate for kids, teens, and adults. They also have Muey Thai, Eskabo Dan, and kickboxing. The owner, manager, and head teacher, professor Ed Solis is extremely knowledgeable and, more importantly, friendly and welcoming. The other teachers here, Sifu Mike, and others are also very knowledgeable and friendly. The whole place has a welcoming atmosphere, everyone at Solis Matial Arts makes people feel welcome the minute they walk through the door and part of a "family" as soon as they they take a class. I have an eight year old daughter who does not like physical things much or fighting at all. I took her to Solis Martial Arts' grand opening which had demonstrations. As soon as she saw how much fun people were having she wanted to sign up. She now lives coming to class. She has a blast. All the teachers are great, knowledgeable, patient, and overall good with kids. And I appreciate the values she is taught, respect, modesty, courtesy, integrity, self control, and perseverance. read more

I have both my boys ages 5 and 7 go there. It is a pleasure watching the staff work with the kids. From the black belts masters to the younger instructors they all seem to be so modest, nice and patient with the kids. I enjoy watching the instructors have fun passing on their knowledge as much as I have fun watching my own kids confuse the right foot for the the left.. My kids' soccer coach who has his girls go there referred me to Solis. I wouldn't even look anywhere else if I were you. If you've ever done anything extreme and challenging in your life you'd notice right away: Professor Solis and his team are solid and master their craft, yet they are not driven by ego and pride but modesty and respect. Hands down, some of the best people I've met in a while. read more

I recently enrolled my two daughters at Solis Martial Arts and I feel we have found a long term establishment where my children can grow, learn, and enjoy their new skills while making good friends. The facilities are welcoming and clean and the staff are warm and friendly. I was very picky in choosing where to enroll my daughters and tried out a couple of other schools prior for comparison. Solis exceeded my expectations with their professionalism and the way class was taught and conducted. The children were disciplined yet having fun! My girls look forward to class each time and that makes it all worthwhile. Thank you Solis Martial Arts! We are so happy to have found you! read more

I love Solis Martial Arts! As a middle aged man, in significantly less than good shape, I have been looking for some type of exercise I actually enjoy and can stick to. I've tried gyms, treadmills, walking, you name it. When the school first opened, my 18 year old daughter saw the sign and starting bugging me and the rest of my family to give it a try. She was actually able to convince me, my wife and my 16 year old son to give it a test run. I was very skeptical as I thought I was too old and too out of shape to try kick boxing. I am sure glad she was persistent! After trying it only a couple of times, my whole family signed up. The adult beginners class is so cool! Everyone made us feel right at home. I was pleased to see there was a full spectrum of age and physical ability represented in the class. Everyone is super encouraging and you really do feel like part of the family. Professor Eddie Solis is a top notch instructor with a lifetime of experience in marital arts. He has been teaching for over 30 years. Sifu Mike Fermin has also devoted his life to the martial arts. They are both great instructors that work with you at your level. All the staff is very encouraging and motivating. The apprehension I felt first coming into the class quickly melted away. I have never had such fun, while also getting the best workout I have ever experienced! I use the FitBit activity tracker and always burn somewhere in the neighborhood of 600 to 700 calories in a typical 50 minute class. I especially like the structure provided by Solis Martial Arts, and the attention paid to being a true martial arts studio. I joined back in January of 2015 and am still going strong today! My stamina and strength have increased dramatically. I am now a yellow belt and have no intention of stopping! I can't recommend Solis Marital Arts strongly enough! I am still amazed to this day just how much fun, challenging and an awesome full body work out I get in every class! Come on down and give it a try. You will not regret it! read more

It's been 2 years since we found this gem and so happy to continue to be part of this awesome family! What started as 2 extremely shy kids have blossomed into confident social butterflies....not to mention being able to develop the skill set to have yellow belt advance. We are forever grateful for the SMA family! read more

Solis Martial Arts - Martial Arts Near Me - Hercules, California

I love the kickboxing program. I was thinking it was going to be like 24 hour fitness but it's more marital arts than that. It is the best stress reliever from a rough day at work. It helps too that my children can come and watch during the class in the family friendly environment. My four year old also attends the little ninjas class. My favorite part of the class is the respect that the kids are taught that translates to their everyday lives. I have to say my son always responds, "yes, ma'am" to me since he has started going. read more

Having Solis Martial Arts open their home to us in Hercules has been a true blessing to the city and our neighborhood. They don't just treat you like family... You are family! My wife and I have watched our kids develop not just into Martial Artist enthusiast but first hand witness their individuality develop. Like the Solis Martial Arts' creed they have transcended with the indomitable spirit. Which is a true testimony to Professor Solis and Sifu Mike and the entire SMA team's effort and passion for the art and the community. The atmosphere is welcoming for anyone and everyone. Not to mention encouraging. I have also joined the evening kickboxing class and it is amazing! The focus for any age and rank is the same; which is to be physically fit, learn self-discipline; how to be respectful and courteous and humbling oneself to challenges and valuing the care and thought of the camaraderie built amongst your peers. Thanks to SMA we have a place we can call our second home. #SMAFamily read more

Solis Martial Arts is a great place! I recently enrolled my 9 year old and 4 year old and have seen the values that are being taught aside from martial arts. They focus on working on the physical aspects of martial arts, and also help build confidence, respect, and integrity. Professor Solis, Instructor Maria, Instructor Alyssa, and Sifu Mike are exceptional! They do a great job teaching, while also being patient and encouraging towards all the students. This was especially important for me because I know how timid my 4 year old can be. It took him a few classes to finally get on the mat, but everyone was always so welcoming, that his fear slowly started to fade away. Miss Nora is always very friendly and makes you feel very welcomed from the minute you walk in the door. There is nothing but positive vibes, and great martial arts! read more

My son truly enjoys coming to Solis Martial Arts because of their upbeat environment and the fact that he officially has a white belt and gets to use gloves during class. He's stoked after every class and comes home asking me to play "Eye of the Tiger" so he can practice the moves he learned in class thus far. SMA's adult kickboxing class is high intense interval training that incorporates cardio kickboxing, core workout, and aspects of martial arts. Each day I go I learn something new- a new combo, a self-defense move, a karate stance, or how to "dance with sticks". Professor Solis and his team are great, and the people I've met so far make this dojo a fun and family-friendly environment. read more

My son has learned so much in the past 18 months at Solis! Now I am in the adult class, and loving it. After a stressful day at work, kickboxing elevates my mood while strengthening my body! The adult class is very supportive and fun! My 20-year daughter is in the class with me - everyone works out at their own pace. Awesome instructors for kids 4-1/2 to adults. read more

Solis Martial Arts - Solis Martial Arts - Martial Arts Near Me - Hercules, California

See all

This place is Great! Professor Eddie and the Instructors that run this Studio are Awesome. They certainly have a zest for life in every kid or adult here. Great programs and time schedules, well for me that is, but I think there is much more to intake when you meet the Professor and his Instructors, like Instructor Maria. Like I said, you cannot go wrong enrolling your child or yourself here. There is a lot taught here that any child or parent will learn from. Very clean and family like environment. No egos here... OUS! read more

Enrolled our 5-year-old son about a month and a half ago and we are extremely happy with the decision. Professor Solis, Instructors Allysa, James and Maria are all great, instilling discipline, structure, hard-work, and confidence in each and every one of the kids. The welcoming environment made it easy for our son to be enthusiastic about coming to class. Can't wait to get our 3-month-old enrolled once he's of age! Keep up the great work Solis Martial Arts read more

This is a great program. Our son is in the youngest level, and it can be difficult to maintain the attention of wiggly littles. Not so at Solis Martial Arts. The children are kept active and moving the entire time, and the instructors are mindful when little bodies start to lose focus. The activities are clearly linked to martial artistry development and mental discipline. The kids also have lots of fun! The director does a great job of getting to know the names of all the children and parents and offers various activities outside of class for socializing and community building. I really like this place and would highly recommend to anyone looking for a high quality extracurricular activity for their kiddos! read more

i'm so happy we enrolled my son here. The first class was free and we wanted to give it a try to see if my son was interested and he had so much fun. Everyone there works so well with the kids! We can already see the improvement on what my son is learning from the instructors there! I'm so proud of him after every class. He looks forward on going each time! THANK YOU SOLIS MARTIAL ARTS FOR ALL THAT YOU DO! read more

After we moved to the area, my wife and I were looking for something to get our daughter into to work on her confidence and keep her active. A coworker had talked about a school and given it great word of mouth, but I had forgotten the name. It was good luck that my wife brought her to Solis Martial Arts for a trial class! My daughter fell in love with the workout and the atmosphere so much that she talks about the next class before we leave the building! Her level of discipline has skyrocketed and her manners have improved as well. When she finally gets home after class she's tired, feels like she accomplished something, and is eager to learn more and more. Everyone is welcoming and kind, and they want you to do your best when you come in the door. I'm trying to get my wife to join me in some classes, too! read more

My daughter has been attending Solis Martial Arts for a little over a year now and she absolutely loves it! When she first began here, she was so timid and shy that she would NOT even step foot on the mat. I spent almost 3 weeks, going at least 3-4 days, taking her there to encourage her and show her that there was nothing to be afraid of. Professor Solis and his team were so kind and patient with her that she FINALLY got onto the mat and started participating! Now, she loves it and enjoys going to practice everyday. I originally chose to enroll her in martial arts because she was having some problems at school with one of her classmates. I wanted her to build her self confidence so she would be more comfortable in standing up for herself and her beliefs. Along with confidence, she has also learned about respect (for herself and for others), discipline and the importance of perseverance. I can honestly say that I couldn't ask for a better team to teach my daughter these incredibly important life lessons than the Solis Martial Arts family. They are beyond awesome! read more

My five year old have been studying here for about a year in their Little Samurai program, he loves it. The staff here are young but very professional, friendly, patient, honest and knowledgeable. James is a great instructor. Not only does he teaches the kids martial arts. He also teaches them the value of being a good student and a good person. Unlike other studios, this place puts a lot time in the community. I highly recommend this studio. read more

My grandson has been attending Solis Martial Arts just about 2 years now. The internal change I have seen in him is very rewarding to me. His self control is not yet 100, but it has improved. I am highly impressed with my grandson's behavior, his desire to want to continue in this class & his development skill wise. It's a struggle for me monetarily, but he's flourishing. Enough said. read more

One year ago I was introduced to Solis Martial Arts. Sorta of stumbled upon it because my sister didn't want to try Kickboxing alone so I decided to try it with her. Honestly, it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. If you need to lose weight but at your own pace while having amazing classmates and teachers... Come to SMA! In Jan 2016, SMA held a 45 day fitness challenge to start off the year right to shed the happy holiday weight. What I loved about it most was the support and motivation behind it. 45 days later and many fun kickboxing/BBC classes later, I dropped 15 lbs and felt lighter but stronger than ever. Professor Solis pushed the kickboxing and BBC class to the maximum potential but he also did not push his students to where they were uncomfortable. Other students that have participated in the challenge also reached their goal weight and we supported each other along the way. One person even lost a whopping 20lbs in 45 days! The amazing thing about SMA is the overall environment of the school. Professor Solis, Sifu Mike, Miss Nora, Miss Maria, and Miss Clarissa definitely maintain professionalism but more importantly, they treat everyone like family and will continue to motivate you. They are also flexible with your schedules especially if you work full time. Martial Arts schools can be intimidating, but definitely not at SMA. SMA Students' attitude (including the adult students) always seem to reflect Professor Solis and the other teachers - welcoming, motivating , and supportive. Join SMA for fun, to get healthy, meet new people, or even just to try something new! read more

I want to start by stating that I never wrote a yelp review before. I only would read them when I wanted to check out new places. I'm writing this review because this place is beyond awesome! I wanted my 4 year old daughter to start martial arts classes and, of course, I turned to yelp to help me look at some nearby places. Professor Solis was the first person I spoke to. He told me about the classes and gave me the schedule. First impressions are huge for me and I got a good vibe from him. He spoke very highly about his studio and I could tell he treats his students like family. After checking out places and schedules of other martial arts studios, I felt Solis' had the best environment and energy for us. My daughter was so shy when we went to watch some of the little ninja classes, I thought she wouldn't want to participate. She only wanted to do the stretches and combinations at home. Professor Solis was so patient and worked with my daughter for weeks, giving her private lessons until she was comfortable with him. I officially signed her up after she got on the mat by herself. Now my daughter always wants to go to "ninja class." All the instructors are super nice and helpful. I know we've found a good establishment to help build my daughter's confidence, discipline and respect. read more

My granddaughter has now been in Solis Martial Arts for a year. I am so impressed with how much she has learned and accomplished and at only 6 years of age. She seems more confident, willing to try new things and is now able to speak up. These are qualities that I had hoped she would acquire in addition to learning discipline, respect and perseverance. She is now a solid yellow belt in BBC1, the 3rd level class from where she began. I did not expect her to get this far for such a short period of time. She loves Professor Solis and does very well under his guidance as well as Sifu Mike and Instructor Maria. I've watched my granddaughter progress from fearful of trying something brand new to overcoming her fear and loving it. It is so wonderful to watch. read more

Very good place for a little kid to start the karate with. My son started when he turned5 and he loves this place. The instructors are strict but nice. My son comes here three times a week . He is very happy to be here read more

I LOVE this place for my 4 year old. Great place to learn martial arts, discipline, and respect - AND IT IS FUN for the kids. My son enjoys it so much. Friendly staff and Prof Solis is always very welcoming. Highly recommend this place. read more

Solis Martial arts is a wonderful place, the staff and instructors are very respectful and really nice. I recently enrolled my 6 year old daughter into their little ninjas program and she loves it! They are great with the kids, really motivating and energetic. I strongly recommend this Martial arts school to everyone, I'm so glad I chose Solis. read more

My girlfriend and I initially went in to enroll our 9 year old and 4 year old into their martial arts classes. Immediately I saw the great values that were being taught. I was so intrigued by their classes, that I also ended up joining the adult beginner's class. I have never taken any martial arts, but that didn't matter because Professor Solis and Instructor Maria are very helpful and encouraging. They do a great job not only with the younger classes, but also with the adult class. It's a great workout and also a fun environment! I high recommend this place to everyone, especially families! read more

My son goes here & they are the best with the kids! The professor & assistants are very respectful & courteous & tries to work w/ you in anyway they can. My son looks forward to class each time & loves instructor Alyssa & of course the entire staff. Very family oriented which we love! I highly recommend them! read more

I am learning a lot here, it helps you gain self confidence and discipline, its great for your spirit and its a way of life. I highly recommend it. read more