This review is long overdue, but it's one I've been meaning to write because Tempest Taekwondo has been such a huge part of our lives. If you're a parent looking for a taekwondo school that truly helps kids grow -- not just in skill, but in confidence and character -- this is it. My son started when he was 5, and now at 7, he's a purple belt! Over the past year, he's gained so much strength, balance, and focus... every belt promotion feels like a proud-parent moment. He walks out of every class a little taller and a lot more confident. I actually stumbled on Tempest by accident -- I was walking past the dojang on my way to Redlands Barre (same building!) and saw one of my girlfriends and her son in the Wolf Cubs class. A week later, my son was signed up, and the rest is history! The Tempest team -- Master Terrence, Instructors Minh and Vi, and the rest of the instructors -- go above and beyond for these kids. Classes are fun, challenging, and full of energy. They know how to push the students while still making it feel encouraging and positive. What really makes Tempest special is how much it feels like a family. Instructor Minh is amazing at keeping both parents and kids involved -- she reads out the goals and notes we parents submit so the kids hear that encouragement directly. The team also gives out Taekwondo cards for things like Best Attitude, Courage, Skill, Citizenship, and even special editions for training camps or holidays. It's such a clever way to reward effort and gamify progress! And an unexpected bonus -- taekwondo has made my son a way better soccer player! Something about learning to kick with precision and discipline has carried over to the field. His coordination, balance, and agility have skyrocketed. I swear his soccer game has improved fiftyfold since joining Tempest! Earlier this month, the Tempest team competed in the Orange County Open Martial Arts Championship in Newport Beach, and it was incredible to see how far they've all come. Watching them perform their poomsae together, show power in speed kicks and punches, and beam with pride was pure joy. My son brought home gold, silver, and bronze, and he was so proud of himself -- we were extra extra extra proud of him! We've also made some wonderful friendships through Tempest. Ethan's had playdates and hangouts with fellow students, and we've connected with such great families over the past year and a half. When your kid loves where they learn -- and you love the community that comes with it -- that's something really special. And speaking of community, Tempest organized an awesome camping trip at Silverwood Lake earlier this year -- movie night, Easter egg hunt, campfires, the works. It was such a fun weekend bonding with other families and the instructors who make this place feel like home. Watching our son's journey -- from wobbly white-belt kicks to confident purple-belt poomsaes -- has been one of the most rewarding parts of parenthood. Tempest isn't just about martial arts... it's about confidence, community, and character...on the mat and off. read more

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This review is long overdue. Our son has been going to Tempest for 20 months now and we've seen such exponential growth. He started at 4 y/o and just recently moved to intermediate level. Words are not enough to describe the experiences he's had in the last year, but suffice to say that we are extremely happy with the skills he's learned. Master Terrence and all the instructors (especially Alejandro and Lauren) are amazing. Instructors Minh and Vi are friendly and welcoming.The junior instructors are extremely helpful. Tempest has a very inviting and friendly environment with supportive instructors, family members and students. They offer free trial classes so make sure to check them out. If you think you or your child can benefit from the physical and mental discipline it provides, take a chance and join! You won't regret it. read more

Tempest Taekwondo - Intermediate class - Taekwondo Near Me - Redlands, California

I agree with every positive thing in all the previous reviews, so I won't spend time repeating what has already been written. I will share the unique thing that earned them my 5 star review. My son started at Tempest when he was 6 years old. The class he attended had children as young as 4. And you can imagine how intimidating a martial arts class can be for kids that young. One thing I noticed was that when a child came to class either reluctant to participate, or if they were having a hard time and wanted to sit out, they would all run back to their parent and bury their heads and cry. That's nothing new, children of toddlers are very familiar with that type of behavior. But what struck me was Terrance would quietly leave the class for one of the other instructors to handle, and he would walk over and have a seat next to the parent and child. He would lower his head, maybe put a hand on the back of the child, and he would ask what was the matter. After a few moments, he would gently talk to the child, give them words of encouragement, and once he got confirmation from them, would either lead them by the hand, or sometimes even carry them back to the mat, and get them participating again. I've seen him do that, often with the same child multiple times on different days, until they built up the confidence to be successful in his class. To me, to have that kind of patience and gentleness of character, especially for children who aren't your own, speaks volumes. read more

Tempest Taekwondo - Taekwondo Near Me - Redlands, California

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Tempest taekwondo in Redlands has been great for the family. We couldn't ask for better instructors and Master Terrance. The encouraging, supportive, and family-friendly environment is great!! Thank you to the amazing owners! read more

Tempest Taekwondo - Taekwondo Near Me - Redlands, California

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The entire staff of Tempest have been so welcoming and friendly since the very beginning. We can't say enough how much our boys have been much more enthusiastic and excited going to class. Master Terrence and Master Rachel have always treated our boys so well since they started taekwondo. They have a knack of bringing out the best out of every student and bringing joy to learning taekwondo. Master Vi & Master Minh have been just as instrumental in making Tempest such a friendly and warm atmosphere for families and especially the kids. Especially like the additional hint of Jiu-Jitsu with the self defense incorporated in some of the classes so far. Definitely a recommendation for those exploring martial arts for their kids or even for themselves. read more

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My kids love Tempest Taekwondo! The instructors are so positive and motivating, and it's clear they really care about the students. I can see my kids' confidence growing in class. They learn not only new skills but also teamwork and camaraderie with their classmates. I also appreciate that the school gives students the chance to join tournaments and learn how to compete in a supportive way. It's a great environment, and we're really happy to be part of the Tempest community! read more

Tempest is a fantastic taekwondo studio! It is so obvious that the students here are very fond of their school and it is great to see students of all ages (children and adults) and levels (white to black belt) with this much interest in competing whether it be in kicks, forms, or sparring! I also appreciate that there is a woman instructor as well, Instructor Minh. She's great and is a wonderful role model for young girls! It is so important for both young boys and girls to see strong and confident female figures in their lives. Tempest Taekwondo is a martial arts school that I would recommend to anyone in the Redlands area to attend whether it is to better your physical fitness levels and to learn self defense, or for your children who would benefit being in a structured environment that supports both individual growth and team efforts as well as boosting confidence levels (not to mention it's so helpful in burning some of that seemingly endless energy they have)! If you're not convinced, take a trial class! I'm sure you'll feel right at home. :) read more

We have been here multiple years, since it opened its doors. Tempest provides excellent and disciplined instruction. Students move up the ranks based on their demonstration of skills learned in class, and not just because they pay money or have the minimum number or classes. Every stripe is earned and it shows in their students who excel at all of the competitions they attend. Expectations are high but also tailored to each students abilities and capabilities. If you are looking for a place to challenge yourself or your children and to truly learn the discipline of Taekwondo, this is the spot read more

Unfortunately I cant recommend this TKD studio. Classes seemed unstructured and there was not much focus on techniques. In order to get the masters attention, you need to pay him for a private lesson it seems. Also, there are colored belts and very young black belts leading and assisting. When I'm paying good money to aquire a skill, I want experienced belts teaching me. read more

My family is new to the area and we wanted to create a routine and immerse ourselves with the community. Joining Tempest was a game changer and made the moving transition so much more palatable for my daughter. She has a master whom she admires and very knowledgeable and welcoming instructors. My daughter has been taking classes for about 5-6 months. We can see that Tempest will be a crucial part for our her growth. On her first day she was shy and it took some coercion to get her to join the class. Now, about half a year later, she's already asking when she can compete. The curriculum is not just for learning moves. Anyone with a pedagogy background can see that. Once I observed the higher belt kids assisting in class, I knew character building was a serious part of the program. Having kids help out actually adds a level of difficulty for the staff. They need to keep tabs on more people and delegate jobs. I appreciate the thoughtfulness and I want my kid to one day walk into the studio with pride and give back to a community that cares for her so much. I've gotten to know some of the other parents and they have been warm & friendly. It's nice to be in a community with likeminded people. My family is proud to be part of Tempest. We're here to stay. read more

After learning more about Tempest Taekwondo and Terrence I am beyond impressed with this studio. I am constantly searching for businesses like this to recommend for our community. Terrence's skillset exceeded my expectations. I highly recommend you stop by. read more

Clean studio and highly qualified staff! Best martial arts studio we have seen in the Redlands Area by far!

Our initial attraction to Tempest was the fresh, open studio and a Master our son admired, someone we believed would truly lead this new place. Everything seemed to be going well, and soon our whole family became involved. We even brought nearly 30 of our friends to the studio. Over time, concerns began to surface. We asked to meet with Master Terrence alone, and he agreed. When we arrived, Minh was already there and said she had to be present as a witness. This blindsided us and prevented us from speaking freely about the concerns we had intended to share with him. It was not just about that meeting, but about the pattern it revealed. We saw dishonesty, and we saw that the values Taekwondo is supposed to be built on were not truly present at this studio. That was when we knew it was time to leave. We want our kids to know that when you give your word, you keep it. You live what you teach. Integrity is at the heart of Taekwondo. We later learned that Master Terrence has been falsely claiming the rank of 5th Dan. He tested for it, but Kukkiwon did not grant it. He knows this, yet still presents himself as if he correctly earned it. The partners chose to go along with it, and that is not the example we will ever accept for our kids. read more

Both of our little ones (6 and 3) go to Tempest and they never want to leave class so they bring class home with them. Tempest has truly made a strong positive impact on our little ones. We couldn't ask for anything better. It has become another home, another family. This is the place to go for taekwondo. read more

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Went here for their opening event and have been hooked since. The kids love all of their lessons and always looking forward go coming back. This place is well run and provides a very supportive environment. Highly recommend this place! read more

My family loves Tempest Taekwondo. We have been to a couple local studios and Tempest clearly stands out as the best studio in the area. The studio is clean and the masters are incredibly caring, knowledgeable and professional. Many studios seem to push for more students and seem to promote their students based upon payment and attendance This pay for advancement approach creates an environment where instruction and student achievement becomes secondary. I have also noticed in these environments that the masters tend to have stronger egos and care more about their degree of blackbelt rather than the success of their students. If a student is not learning in this pay for promotion environment then the student is blamed and not the delivery of the instruction. My daughter became very frustrated in this environment as she was being promoted without full mastery of the skills. Her poor foundation became evident for the promotion at higher level belts. She wanted to quit and this is where the pressure campain of the studio kicks in. Managemet convinces the parent that this is normal and applies extreme pressure to stay in the program. I thought this was normal until we were introduced to Tempest. The masters at Tempest are humble, incredibly knowledgeable and care about the students. They make sure the students understand their instruction, why it is important and how it connects to prior and future instructions. If a student does not understand, as with my daughter, then Minh and Terrence step in to help guide and encourage the students. We followed Terrence to Tempest from another studio as he is well known in the community as the best Taekwando master. He has gained this pooularity as his knowledge, skill and delivery of instruction are far superior than any other master. Tempest is also where we met Minh and Viam. Minh is amazing with the children and is so encouraging. She has the perfect balance of knowledge, caring and encouragement which instills confidence in the children. I noticed that this confidence also led to increased levels of self esteem and self motivation. She has helped my daughter in so many ways. My daughter is excited to go to Tempest and has excelled under Master Terrence, Minh and Viam. This team of Masters at Tempest are truely remarkable. I want to thank Tempest for their dedication to the art of Taekwondo and more importantly the children that look up to them for guidance and support. read more

Tempest Taekwondo was a deeply disappointing experience for our family. The culture was arrogant and toxic, shaped by the narcissism of Minh, the co owner, and the inflated ego of Master Terrence. Integrity simply does not exist in the way this school is run. Minh carried herself as if she was always right and could never be questioned. Families who voiced concerns were quickly dismissed. In time, many realized it was better to walk away than remain in a school built on deception rather than respect. One of the clearest demonstrations of this lack of integrity is Master Terrence's ongoing claim to hold a 5th dan. He presents himself as such on the website, on social media, and even by the belt he wears, while the official Kukkiwon record lists him as a 4th dan. From the very beginning, Tempest chose dishonesty over transparency, misleading families for 22 months. Kukkiwon is aware of his deception, which has already had consequences and will not go unnoticed moving forward. This false claim has been called out by respected masters and even parents who left, yet he continues to hide it from his own school. Lies like this eventually surface, and when they do, the damage is undeniable. Disrespect was part of daily life at Tempest. Master Terrence often told students from his previous school that they needed to "unlearn bad habits," even though he both trained and taught there himself. He and Minh mocked videos of kids from that school, making fun of their poomsae and kicking while viewing its Instagram, revealing an elitist mentality. He also spoke poorly about his former master, spreading lies that have since been disproven. Both Minh and Master Terrence regularly talked about their own students behind their backs in unkind ways. Minh even shared confidential information about a student that should have remained private, a complete breach of trust. They mocked their own students too, commenting that one adult student was struggling with her front kick and would not be promoted until she could kick her leg above her head. Minh also fat shamed, telling us more than once that we "represent Tempest so we can't be fat," and then laughing about it. I saw Master Terrence yell at kids on multiple occasions in a mean and demeaning way. Instructor Rachel, who was well liked by many families, was humiliated in front of everyone and told not to be friendly with kids or speak with parents. They also pitted kids against each other, telling them that "so and so is going to pass you up," creating rivalry instead of encouragement. The lack of qualified instruction made things worse. None of the experienced black belts from his previous school followed Master Terrence to Tempest. Instead, advanced kids were required to "help" an hour a week. It was presented as building responsibility but in reality only covered the shortage of instructors. At times, they even turned to YouTube to learn how to run classes. Minh was often on her phone texting while teaching instead of engaging with students. There was also a revolving door of instructors who rarely stayed long, adding to the instability in training. What happened at the September 27 event, including the conflict that arose between Master Terrence and other respected masters, will never be acknowledged within Tempest because leadership will keep it buried and hidden. The only bright spot during our time at Tempest was training with Grandmaster Najem. The kids learned excellent sparring techniques from him, and his background as an Olympic silver medalist speaks for itself. Unfortunately, Tempest's leadership mishandled that relationship, and his time there ended on terrible terms through no fault of his own. When an instructor of his caliber cannot remain, it says everything. We still maintain a close relationship with Grandmaster Najem, and he continues to guide and inspire our son alongside Master Suk, both of whom embody true integrity and Taekwondo spirit. What families still inside Tempest do not realize is how much is being hidden from them. The dishonesty and coverups run deep, and this only scratches the surface. At the end of the day, the school is built on lies, greed, and arrogance, caring more about money than the kids and families who walk through their doors. My son is now back with his original master, surrounded by instructors who lead with honesty and heart. The contrast has been night and day and a reminder of what Taekwondo is truly meant to be. read more

My daughter has been going to Tempest for one year now when we first signed up the owner Mihn asked me how would I like to pay through a check or debit card and when I stated debit card, she said there will be a 3% charge for running a debit card, which is illegal in the state of California. The owner is supposed to be an attorney which I would think she knows the laws but clearly she did not know this one, after I stated that we completely got the cold shoulder from her as an owner. We have walked in several times and we have gotten no acknowledgment. No hello, no welcome, nothing. She ignores us as we walk in and she is sitting right at the front desk. She has been very mean to our daughter. She has been very mean to us because of this statement she will purposely say hello to all families and ignore our family as we are sitting down, they ask children to raise their hands in a correct way, and when my daughter raises her hand in the correct way, she purposely ignores my daughter and goes to children who do not raise their hand in a correct way just to avoid my daughter. I have her on video cheering kids on and when my daughter gets recognized, she completely turns her face or does not recognize my daughter as an owner or instructor. Mihn shouldn't be teaching children. She should not have anything to do with children. She is so mean. We have witnessed her be mean to children, say cruel words like get out of my face now, we have witnessed her yell at parents and many more things. We have made the choice to leave Tempest, which is very sad for my daughter because she really loved the Master, but we will not allow anybody to disrespect our family or our child. Master Terrance is a wonderful Master. He was so amazing with our girl and we will miss him dearly whenever he decides to open his own place which he should. We will definitely sign up with him because he brought so much kindness and fun to our daughter and to us. So many families have been treated poorly by this lady and she clearly only cares about money! The customer service is very bad by her. I hope one day she will learn to be kind to people who pay to keep her business open. read more

Great community, good people. The staff and owners are in the business for the right reasons. Keep up the good work Tempest!

Tempest TKD is THE BEST studio around! Minh, Vi, Master Terrence and all of the other instructors are PHENOMENAL. You can feel and see the love they show the kids and families on and off the mat. They support these kids and encourage them daily. TKD culture from "back in the day" was SO MUCH TOUGHER AND STRICT from my understanding. The instructors bring the perfect balance here. The kids are expected to show respect to everyone and they're given respect as well. There's a reason why Tempest brings home gold medals in every tournament they go to! My son has been with Tempest since it first opened, and we've continued to be impressed with the studio and instructors ever since. I know Minh, Vi, Master Terrence and the other instructors want nothing but the best for our kids! We love you, Tempest! read more

I recommend this business with the highest rating. I was in the studio a week ago. I watched one of the owners Minh teach. She gave personal attention to each of the students. She was upbeat and positive with them yet she demanded a lot of them. She was highly skilled in how she taught. You could tell she had had considerable training in the field and was totally qualified. I recommend her highly read more

I will start by echoing many of the recent reviews of Tempest. This is a great taekwondo school and I find that there is a lot of emphasis on building both confidence in students and overall competance in a solid taekwondo background as students progress. The instructors are engaging and fun, but know when and how to stress discipline and safety. Taekwondo is both about physical and personal growth and the staff fosters and environment where students, especially younger ones, are encouraged to learn discipline and leadership. At the beginning of class, higher color belts and black belts help lead stretching and adults often help out during classes (epecially those our kids are enrolled in!). This helps reinforce the expectations that, as students progress in Taekwondo, they become leaders and role models to others. I really appreciate this aspect of the school, especially when you see how excited the younger students are when they get a chance to lead the bows at the beginning of class or call out stretches. I also would like to highlight that that Temptest instructors are very sensitive to students with different needs who often benefit from more flexibility and understanding. My son has ADHD and while he is good at mastering athletic skills struggles with focus. The instructors, especially Master Terrance, know when to encourage him and when to pull him aside to help him refocus. As an "older" student, I appreciate that Temptest isn't one-size-fits-all when teaching skills and the instructors are very good at working with me to understand how I can best learn and master the skills to help me advance in Taekwondo. read more

Thank you, Minh, Vi, Terrence and all of the other instructors for being a big part of my son's life. Seeing him grow inside and outside of Tempest has been amazing. The joy my son has on the mat, at home and at tournaments is all because of these people! He's grown from a shy and somewhat timid boy to a confident, brave boy. We are so thankful for the community Tempest is building. We support and love you all! TEAM TEMPEST!!! read more

Fantastic business run by fantastic people. Very welcoming and kind environment. Highly recommended if you are looking to learn some taekwondo. read more

Minh Ta Dinh who is one of the owners is an outstanding instructor. She cares so much about her students and shows such love for them. At the same time she expects high standards of achievement. I have never know anyone I regard higher because of her integrity, love, skill, and excellence. read more

My 3 year old daughter tried out Tempest Taekwondo today for the first time and absolutely loved it! I was so impressed by the instructors, especially Rachel who helped my daughter to feel comfortable while gently encouraging her to participate in the class. Everyone was incredibly friendly, from the instructors, to the students, to the parents. The studio is conveniently located in South Redlands with plenty of parking. The facility is clean and new! It only took us one class to sign her up to go back! read more

We have been going to Tempest Taekwondo for about 3 weeks now and absolutely love it! We went to a free trial class for my 5yo and signed up that same day. Master Terrence and all the instructors are amazing with the kids and always take the extra time to make sure all the kids are getting the help they need. They make sure that everyone is treated with kindness and respect and I love the little lessons they teach the kiddos as well. The studio is very clean and well kept and I love how convenient the location is. I definitely recommend trying it out! read more

Tempest Taekwondo - Beginners class - Taekwondo Near Me - Redlands, California

This place is amazing!!! I have a 4 year old that has a hard time keeping his attention on things so my husband and I found this place and decided to see if taekwondo would help. The leaders are patient and kind, but also firm.They have helped our son immensely with his balance, attention, coordination and his overall strength. I feel like he's starting to grasp the concept of working for something and we are very thankful for everything. highly recommend this place to anyone. read more

This new studio blew my expectations out the water! All of the instructors were friendly and highly skilled. Their prices are very reasonable compared to others in the IE. Minh, Viam, and Terrence has put much love into this studio and it really shows! Anyone who is in search of a Taekwondo studio should look no further. Sign up now before they fill up! read more

Absolutely amazing class the instructors are very professional and also family oriented I definitely recommend signing up the whole family or even solo!! read more

Master Terrence and Rachel are great with my kids. They love this place and I'd recommend it to any friend.

If you took all the best ideas you had about how to teach Taekwondo and put them together you would have Tempest Taekwondo. From students breaking boards to instructors giving cards to students for showing dedication and motivation,Tempest teaches and rewards students. There is a place for everyone there. Classes range for young children to families. The teachers are attentive and positive. The pace of instruction is excellent. For white belts, stripes are given as proficiency in each technique is demonstrated. When all techniques are learned the student is tested and advances to the next belt. The instructors are patient and vigilant as students learn new techniques. Students and parents are given the opportunity the talk about how taekwondo has helped them. read more

Great place for young children to learn to new skills! The Master and Instructors are awesome and make classes fun for the kids.