One of the main reasons we put our son in TKD was to help boost his self-confidence. He was only 4 years old when he first started, and was a very shy, timid boy and he just needed a little push to come out of his shell. After just a few months of TKD, his self-esteem began to grow and he looked like a natural on the mats. Watching and looking at our son now (who is now 7), you'd never think he was that shy, little boy. He is very determined to continue TKD and has goals to get his black belt. One memory that sticks to me the most was when our son was 5 years old and he refused to belt test because he was so nervous and was afraid he was going to make mistakes. Not only did the instructors speak with him and reassured him that everything will be ok, even if he made mistakes, but the students and parents also cheered him on and rooted for him. Our son eventually tested, and his self-confidence was through the roof, all with the help of our Vallejos TKD family. It really is true when they say "It takes a village." Another reason why we love Vallejos TKD is because they also acknowledge the kids' accomplishments outside of TKD class, whether it be having a good report card at school or doing chores at home. Thank you Vallejos TKD family for your love and support always read more

My daughter is 6 and has been a student at Vallejo's taekwondo for two years now. It's so amazing to see her progress and grow in the art of taekwondo. They are firm but fair and also allow for a little fun and silliness. I really appreciate the way they teach and work with kids of all ages. This school teaches discipline and respect and accountability which is such a rare thing to find these days. And they are so reasonably priced for what they provide. Kwon Ja Nim is great with the kids without being too firm or too lenient and Maam Debbie takes a personal interest in the kids as well. This class has taught my daughter so much and I highly recommend them especially if you, like me, have a high energy child that needs the outlet. Taekwondo is a real life skill for my daughter and I'm excited to see how much she grows and learns from them. read more

My son loves the classes- really cool that they focus on one skill every day. He's been challenged and looks forward to stripe/belt testing!

This Tae Kwon Do School is more than just a school, it is Family. The accountability and Responsibility taught here is Outsanding! My children who are students here started less than 3 months ago and I can already see the change in them in a positive way. I am grateful to be apart of this school and look forward to the years to come. read more

Started with this family owned school this year and I can't say enough about how happy we are. Our son was a younger (4) than most of the other kids and we were worried he wouldn't be able to keep up. They were so patient with him and gave him the confidence and structure to help him succeed. Our son loves coming to class! When shelter in place orders came they seemlessly switched classes to zoom to keep the kids engaged. They are now hybrid - zoom and back in school with masks and ensuring social distancing by limiting the amount of people in the studio. Precautions also include hand sanitizing and temp checks prior to entry so we feel safe resuming lessons. Excited to continue on with this school! read more

Vallejos Tae Kwon Do provide a structured and consistent learning environment for students. Hard work, body awareness, physical and mental stamina are some of the qualities taught. This business has adapted to the Covid-19 pandemic first by Zoom only classes, then a mixture of Zoom and outdoor masked classes to now indoor masked classes with Zoom option. Feedback is always taken seriously. I am grateful this has remained a consistent option when so many other businesses and opportunities are gone or very limited read more

Vallejos Tai Kwon Do has helped my child in many ways. This school helps children learn self defense, social responsibility,team work,focus and self respect. Great way for kids gain confidence! We have been going for three years and hope to continue for many more. A covid friendly solution for kids! Great for children that need physical movement and exercise! read more

To be honest, we cannot say enough about this wonderful establishment and family. Debbie and Kwan Ja Nim are unbelievable people. We started up a month prior to school starting and the boys love it. The nice thing is they work with our schedule. We would LOVE to put them in 4 days a week, but our schedule makes it more difficult so the boys go two days which in our case is better than not at all. The boys are more disciplined and respectful. I agree with the other postings that Kwan Ja Nim is VERY PATIENT and gives us and our kids feedback that we need to assist our children grow and be better people. If you are looking for a place to take your kids for martial arts, this is your PLACE! Try it out, come as a referral, try there special they have to offer, it will be worth it. I promise! Prior to joining Vallejos Tae Kwon Do Academy, I called around to other local establishments a couple times in the last year or two and the schedules were very strict and expensive and my boys would have been separated due to their age which meant I would have to drive my boys to two different classes 4 days a week. I was pleasantly surprised when I called Debbie and I believe that I saw the original ad on Facebook. Again, they were very accomodating and my boys are in the same class they are only a year apart and are going for the same belts. I have also met some wonderful families since joining! read more

Almost 3 years and My son is going to be half way through getting his black belt! He still have the same enthusiasm going to this school everyday. He made friends outside of school. His little brother will be starting white belt class sometime next year. read more

My family and I now attend Vallejo's Tae Kwon Do. Since my last post, my son and I have also joined. I have lost a total of 37 pounds..! read more

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Highly recommended! My son has been a student for about 5 weeks now. He absolutely loves attending and says he can't wait for each class daily. Family oriented, fantastic staff, positive environment, and a great school to have your child attend. Very proud to be a part of Vallejos Tae Kwon Do! read more

As a parent of 2 children that went to VTKD I can honestly say that I am so very thankful that my husband and I enrolled our children years ago. My kids started when they were 7 & 8 yrs old. At the time that I enrolled my children, I had one child whose self esteem was pretty low and the other child was having behavioral issues. Needless to say, Kwon Ja Nim and Mrs. Vallejos both worked with my children and after only several months I could see the change in my children, for the better! My children continued with VTKD all the way until they earned their black belts. One child even continued to earn his 2nd degree black belt. That child is now in the United States Navy and without his training here at VTKD he would never had the self esteem, confidence and willpower to get him thru bootcamp and the rigorous training that was required! My other child is now in college and playing soccer and succeeding in every endeavor she pursues! My children are 20 & 21 yrs old now and I can honestly say that I am so thankful that we made the decision to enroll our children here at VTKD! Thank you Kwan Ja Nim and Mrs. Vallejos!! read more

I write this review giving my utmost recommendation of Vallejos Tae Kwon Do Academy. Our spirited son is typically uninterested and disengaged from his zoom classes, despite the various tricks that his teachers pull out their hats, but VallejosTae Kwan Do Academy has brought a level of focus that we have never seen in him before. With the guidance and encouragement of Master Vallejos, our son has been extremely motivated to be the best he can be. Master Vallejos has a way of balancing constructive criticism with positive reinforcement in a way that encourages our son, while showing him the complex forms and techniques, all while doing so virtually (400 miles away). Our son often comments how much fun he is having during their zoom classes. After earning his first stripe as a white belt, he shared that it was the best day of his life! Mrs. Vallejos is also very communicative with the multiple apps and emails used to connect with parents, as well as enthusiastic about her students progressing in martial arts. Our son's dad could not be more excited for our son's participation in vallejos TKD, as he himself was a previous student and earned his black belt 2 decades ago from the same school. The academy has and will continue to be family! Enrolling in Vallejos TKD is the best decision we could make for our son and we are confident that this investment will instill a life-long discipline that no other school could offer our child. read more

My son started at Vallejos TKD in August of this year. In the short four months, I have seen such a HUGE change in my son's overall attitude and demeanor. He has become more disciplined and I truly believe this school contributed a lot to this change in him. My husband and I had a good feeling about Kwan Ja Nim and Ms. Debbie right from the moment we met them. I definitely know now we made the right decision in choosing Vallejos Tae Kwon Do School. I highly recommend this school. read more

Love this place and the people too. My son has learned so much. The other families that attend are very friendly and supportive as well. Master Kwan Ja Nim and Debbie are amazing people.....just can't say enough about them. I can see the postive change in my son. This school doesn't just teach Tae Kwon Do but teaches students to be confident, have self-respect and respect for others. Great school!! Highly recommend them. read more

I hope that people take this constructively but I have a feeling that's not how this is going to go. Sadly this used to be a great Tae Kwon Do Academy, that used to strive for appreciation of the art as well as enhancing personal attributes to make the student a better, more well rounded person in life. Over the recent year since the change in stupid space the instructors have become lax - less caring, and more willing to "pass" the students along from level to level just so that they can keep them coming back and keep the parents happy (more $$ in their pocket). Some of the students who are in the higher belts seem like they barely go through the motions and some blatantly don't care. I also found out that most of the reviews on this site were from parents coaxed into leaving positive remarks in the expectation that they would receive a discount. I am myself a black belt holder from a different Academy in the East Bay and the dedication on behalf of the Masters and the student commitment is lacking. Additionally, the wife of Kwan Ja Nim freely walks about the studio while the students are working and barks at them "Tell your mom blah blah blah" or "I'm going to video tape you and tell your sisters what you're up to here". This disrespect of the master by his own wife is appalling!!! Worst of all if disgruntled parents speak up, you can bet that their children will be treated differently in the class. I believe they've changed their priorities or lost sight of the things that matter most in Tae Kwon Do just to get more people into the classes and keep the $$ coming in. I hope they can get back to a balance between the two. read more

I have been a long time student of Vallejos Tae Kwon Do. I started when I was about 11 years old when I was home schooled. Prior to this, I was obviously struggling at the time as I had been pulled out of school with bad grades and I was getting into trouble. Through home schooling and the obvious work of Master Vallejos and Mrs. Vallejos, I was able to turn it around at a young age and excel in my studies and not get into trouble. I was able to focus all of the energy that I had and apply it to something positive with a goal in mind, achieving a black belt. I achieved my first degree black belt from VTKD in the late 90s and my second degree from VTKD when I returned to Benicia after graduating college. Achieving my black belt took hard work and dedication, but it payed off as I learned skills that are not found in many other places. When I mention skills, some examples that come to mind include discipline, teamwork, and courage. All of these have helped me excel in my personal life as well as professional life. I continue to attend VTKD and I am a proud student there. I wouldn't trade any of my experiences there as it has helped turned me into who I am today. Thank you Kwan Ja Nim and Mrs, Vallejos for your work with me throughout the years. read more

We just starting bringing our 3 year old son to their Tigers class and it's the greatest thing in the world! In just three weeks he has grown so much. He's always been a very shy boy but in the last 3 weeks he's popped out of his shell. The teacher goes by "Sir". My son tells me that "Sir" said I can't do karate unless I'm at "rotty" school. "Sir" is extremely talented and excellent with the kids. He has taught them listening skills, coordination, patience, and a whole bunch of others things that they didn't even realize they were learning. I can see more confidence in my son. And Debbie is amazing as well! They kids love her the same! I highly recommend this place place to all! read more

We have been a Vallejos Tae Kwon Do family for ten years. Words cannot express how appreciative my husband and I are of Kwan Ja Nim and Ma'am! Our oldest son was a student here, and now our youngest son attends the school. I am continuously impressed with the Vallejos' dedication to their students. Kwan Ja Nim is fair but firm, exhibits patience with his students while maintaining a disciplined environment, and teaches the martial art of Tae Kwon Do in a welcoming yet structured environment. As a former teacher, I appreciate the fact that Kwan Ja Nim and Ma'am take a vested interest in the WHOLE PERSON. What I mean by this is that they not only concentrate on the skills required in learning the art of Tae Kwon Do, but they concentrate on the EMOTIONAL WELL BEING of the student as well. They encourage PERSONAL BEST in all areas of life: school, family, sports, conduct, etc. To be a part of VTKD is to be a part of a family. And I really mean that. There have been many of us who have had ups and downs over the years...and the Vallejos' have been there to share in the happy times as well as to provide encouragement, strength, a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on during the bad times. Our oldest son is 15 and our youngest is 11. We are very proud of our boys and their accomplishments, and we are grateful that VTKD has been and continues to be a big part of our sons' lives. Our boys are honor students and very involved in extra-curricular activities. They are always happy to share their experiences with Kwan Ja Nim and Ma'am, and to accept their advice as they learn to navigate through life. Vallejos Tae Kwon Do is a fantastic place to study martial arts and to learn how to be disciplined, determined, well rounded...and to achieve one's PERSONAL BEST. Thank you Sir and Ma'am. I will always sing your praises!!! read more

There are no words to describe the excellence of Vallejos Tae Kwon Do Academy. Not only does Kwan Ja Nim have over 30 years of experience, but he is exceedingly patient with the children. Since my 5 year old son started he has improved his self-confidence, discipline, and focus not only at tae kwon do but in school and home as well. The things he's learning will help him for the rest of his life. He gets out of school excited to get to practice. I highly recommend it to anyone who's looking for an activity for their child that builds character and returns benefits tenfold. read more

I am beyond grateful for VTKD. My son was struggling socially in school and having a difficult time staying on task. Kwon Ja Nim taught him to be focused, to be disciplined, and to create goals for himself. We've made the best of friends along the way and The Vallejos have treated us like family since day 1. Having a positive place for my 6 year old to express all of his energy has been life changing! read more

Wow! I can not believe I have the opportunity to do this. I was impressed the day I walked in to check out the joint. The kids were using words like please and thank you, yes mam and no sir. This was to good to be true. Then I met Debbie Vallejos'. The woman who can talk on the phone answer your questions and hear a child saying something wrong at the back of a busy school and call them on it! This is my kinda lady. Then after watching Master Vallejos' teach class I was sold. It was not until some time later I realized how incredibly lucky all the students are to be taught by a Master of his caliber. No matter which school you go to ask if and/or how many classes the maser teaches. You'll find that at a lot of schools it may be never or the students have very limited access. Not so good when you have to pay for the education that they will receive. I can not begin to express how much the Vallejos' have meant to my children and I. Our 14 year association has produced 3 black belts and a number of assorted other belts. There were some hard lessons learned along the way. Having the Vallejos' in their lives to help reinforce everything we were trying to instill in them has made them all better citizens and people. If you want your child to be coddled and live in world where everyone is a winner and equal. Don't bring them here. Because in this school you have to earn it, you have to be responsible, and you have to act in a respectful manner. This will help your child be a better citizen, build their confidence and teach them how to achieve a goal. I short you will not find two, more caring people in the industry. As a father I will always be in Debbie and Rubins Debt. They always had my back and I will never forget that. read more

Great family orientated dojo, they made us family from the beginning. May be pricey, especially to the one bad review, but quality doesn't come cheap. You get what you pay for and compared to another place in Vallejo, this place definitely deserves to be voted Best 3 years and more. read more

Debbie and Reuben have been a staple in this community forever!!!! They are 2 of the kindest most genuine people I have ever met in my life! They are amazing with their students and my daughter still remembers her time there! What an impact! The discipline mixed with love that they offer can truly only be found at Vallejos Tae Kwon Do!!! BRAVO!!!! read more

I can honestly say this is a great place. The people are honest and trustworthy. They show compassion in teaching our children to defend themselves, as well as manners and respect. I highly recommend this place to all. read more

This is a wonderful family oriented organization with a great history in Benicia. My boys have attended this school for a year & a half & have grown exponentially both physically & mentally since they 1st began. Master Vallejos & his team of black belt instructors are excellent with students of any age. I cannot express how grateful I am to have Master Vallejos & Mrs Vallejos in my boys lives. This is a serious school that will teach you lessons for a lifetime. This is not a black belt factory like some other local schools. You earn everything here with sweat, discipline & commitment. read more

Words cannot express how much VTKD has impacted my children's lives as well as ours. My children have been attending VTKD for several months and have learned so much. I am so grateful to be apart of a great, amazing, caring school. Everyone is so friendly and kind. 5 ! read more

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Words can't explain how happy we are here. My son loves this place. He's been attending almost year and has grown on so many areas. Very family oriented and very supportive. read more

I knew something was different as soon as I walked into Vallejos Tae Kwon Do Academy. It felt like "home" and family. After taking MANY years off of TKD, I wanted a school that was going to push me. Being a mother of 6, working full time and a gym rat-I wanted a hard workout. Not only did I get a hard workout, but respect and caring. After my first lesson, I knew I wanted to come back. To make this a life long journey. I was looking not only to reach my black belt but to go much further. This school is such an amazing place. My 7 and 8 yr olds also attend and they LOVE it. It shows them how to respect everyone. How to be compassionate towards others. But most of all and the biggest change that I've noticed is that they are believing in themselves. That they can do anything with hard work. That quitting is NOT an option. That if you fall down, you HAVE to get back up. Kwon Ja Nim is an AMAZING instructor. He takes the old and the new to help students understand. Ma'am, (Mrs. Debbie), is such a wonderful person. She's always there to lend a helping hand, ear or shoulder. It's EASY to see why anyone would LOVE to be apart of the Vallejos TKD family. read more

Great cardio kick boxing class! Great environment for all genders, ages & sizes. So happy I have found this class! I love how I feel afterwards & such a great release! read more

My son has been attending classes at Vallejos Tae Kwon Do since June of last year. It is a tremendous school that teaches their students more than just Tae Kwon do. Kwan Ja Nim and Ma'am Debbie are consistent with insisting manners are displayed every minute....they correct them if one does not answer them politely. Kwan Ja Nim has the "patience of a saint" or now days they would say "patience of a jedi master". I attend most of the classes and watch and observe ..... he never raises his voice, he always is calm and polite to each and every child in the class, he answers their questions (even the silly ones) and he always, always has time for the students!!! My son has a routine Monday through Thursday that homework must be completed, his room and toys picked up so that he can go to class. He is always eager to go and most the time has his uniform on early. The schools has installed my son with confidence but more so they have guided him to be polite, caring and successful. My son has already calculated that he will be 12 when he gets his black belt!! Debbie Vallejos is so warm and personable - she greets you and always asks "do you need anything today" or "do you need me?" . Her demeanor and presence brings a "feeling" to the place that makes you comfortable that you could ask or tell her anything. The kids love and respect her with her own title of "Ma'am". Thank you Kwan Ja Nim and Ma'am Debbie for providing a safe and beneficial home away from home for all of your students read more

This is the first our family has joined a martial arts program. We signed up our oldest son a couple of months ago and we have been very happy with the program. Our son is enjoying it and is learning so much, not just tae kwon do, but discipline, confidence, and making lots of friends. He was intimadated at first, but with Kwan Ja Nim's patience, he has made this an activity our son looks forward to. He is a good mentor for our son. Debbie has been wonderful and very helpful as well. I've messed up our meeting and training schedule so many times and she's been very patient with me :) When our other son is of age, we will definitely sign him for class as well. I recommend everyone to check them out. read more

I can't say enough wonderful things about VTKD! From the moment we started, the atmosphere has been accepting and positive. My son has learned to respect his peers and his teachers and has gained so much confidence. He is excited for each class and loves to come home and teach me what he's learned. Debbie is always available if you have questions or concerns. I'm so happy I've signed my son up, and I highly recommend giving them a call and trying it out. They are very honest and truly care about the well being of the children. If you are curious give Debbie a call, she will be happy to answer all your questions. read more

We are so lucky found this place as our son's Taekwondo school. Master Kwan Ja Nim and Debbie are the best. It always a joy to come and learn. Our son is more confident and independent only a month after attended Taekwondo class. We all love the Vallejos Tae Kwon Do!!! read more

Fantastic Academy for Tae Kwon Do. Master Vallejo is SO patient and a kind, gentle man with YEARS of experience and wisdom yet excited every lesson to teach new children (and adults) the skills he has. They have a great 6 week introductory package that cannot be beat and Debbie makes sure you are 100% taken care of and happy with the program at all times. A fantastic outlet for all children to learn discipline, good manners and the fine art of Tae Kwon Do. Kwan Ja Nim is SO into the classes they often run over in time, which is beneficial to the children and he makes sure everyone of all levels is taken care of. Would highly recommend to anyone. read more

My son has been coming to Vallejos Tae Kwon Do for just about a year now. It has been a fantastic experience. Brandon has learned a lot and has really wanted to do well and achieve higher levels. Kwan Ja Nim is a fantastic leader and pushes the kids without being harsh. Brandon is focusing more and starting to become more disciplined. Kwan Ja Nim, Debbie, my husband and myself work together to get to a common goal in helping Brandon succeed in both Tae Kwon Do and at home. I can not say how much I love them and appreciate all they do not just for my son but for all the kids they work with! :) read more

Excellent for kids because they focus on training the entire child - concentration, determination, athleticism, and progress toward goals. Kwan Ja Nim is a serious teacher who drills and encourages each child and makes everyone comfortable with smiles and laughter. His assistant, Mr. Bradley, helps the kids with patience and careful guidance. My daughter loves going to Vallejos Tae Kwon Do and we're so glad she's found a sport she truly enjoys! read more

My two kids have been going here for a year now. It has been awesome watching them build confidence in themselves, watching them confidently help others, seeing the friendships they've gained, and the respect they have learned. My kids look forward to coming to class, they get excited to bring in their school report cards and earn stars for their uniforms for good grades. I love how the discipline that is learned in Tae kwon do carries over in all aspects of their life. Money and time extremely well spent! read more

I won a month class at Vallejos at an auction. Contacting Debbie to get going and arrange classes for me. She was great in making me feel comfortable and welcomed to the studio. As I started the classes as a beginner, Kwan Ja Nim was amazing. I was always leaving the classes eager to come back for the next session. Unfortunately, my schedule doesnt allow me to continue with Vallejos for now. But, I am bent on returning. I Highly recommend Kwan Ja Nim and Debbies classes to anyone. You will learn a ton, get in great shape and become part of special unity of people that like to have fun too. read more

The reason I am giving this place one star is because of the focus of this place. At first we really liked it for our son. Even though $145/month is pricey for kids TKD, I thought we would give it try. Well what this place won't tell you is that every time your kid child moves on to the next belt, you have to pay an additional $75 dollars for the new belt. At the second level (yellow belt) you HAVE TO purchase $275 worth of equipment for sparring. Not to mention, when your child does receive a stripe, it can be taken away and they can't earn it back until the next month ( which devastated my 7 year old). I think that's a great strategy for discipline but not if i'm paying $145 dollars to re-do the entire month. The worst part of this business is the contract. PLEASE READ ALL OF THE FINE PRINT! I was at this place for 4 months and then decided we had had enough with the system and we just couldn't afford all the money they wanted from us. So we stopped going (and I informed the owner of that) and I am still to this day getting $145 taken out of my account. I called the company that handles that handles Vallejo TKD's money and they told me that there is no way for me to legally not pay the remainder of the money. Debbie has structured her business so that even if you are unhappy with the service, you cannot get out of the monthly payment. These people are after your money. They have a ton of followers which I'm sure will disagree with me or say that I did something wrong. I have never written a review on Yelp. Am I upset and blowing off steam? Absolutely! Do I want other moms and families to be careful, yes I do. There are a lot of good families there and this is not supposed to be disrespectful to them. read more