Our child went to WVMA. All of the instructors were great, but the place just got more and more crowded. There are just way too many kids in a class for the size of the place. SUPER crowded! And the more and more crowded it got, the more and more chaotic the floor got and that led to less and less instruction for the kids. I wish it didn't get so bad, because we really liked it there! They desperately need to limit the class size! read more

Love the discipline. The teaching of morality and respect are great ideas that have longevity and benefits. The spiritual aspect is most important. read more

Coach Dan's incompetence (don't call him Sensei) caused me a catastrophic knee blow, which will never heal. 3 ligaments torn, 1 requiring replacement surgery, both menisci fractured, plus severe nerve damage, which is actually the most painful part. I swore at his incompetence, ignorance and irresponsibility about every second for the whole 3 years it took me to be able to walk almost normally again - because every step was a painful nightmare until I found the right doctor. Under Dan's watch there are no guards against injuries - quite often my sparring partners would literally go full out, with Dan's approval. That should have made me to leave that cursed place, but I was naive and didn't know such injuries can happen in 0.3 seconds. I am athletic and physical exercise is at the core of how I live. Dan robbed me years of exercise and gifted me pain till the end of (my) days. This is a business lead poorly. My advice: If you want to train there as an adult then turn around and run away, fast. For kids it's less bad - it's just like any other gym where kids can get exhausted. Just don't expect the discipline, respect, mental control, moral training and power of example that a Japanese-rooted Sensei would cultivate. BTW, those are more important than just getting your kids tired, so do your homework and find a true Sensei before registering your kid. Again: This guy, Dan, should stick to selling services that, first of all, don't hurt. It's ok not to do great. It's not ok to do damage. I swallowed all this pain without complaining for 6 years - I did not intend to write this review, but now I randomly ran into the WVMA Yelp page; maybe this will save someone's ligaments. read more

My kids have taken lessons and other martial arts institutions. This is a stand out dojo. Instructors are so committed. It is clear that they are not here just to run a business, there is incredible commitment to the art. Personal touches such as appreciation notes in the mail that can motivate your youngster. I'm also also very impressed that they don't charge extra for taking test tests like other martial arts institutions. The kids learn a lot more than just martial arts: confidence, and leadership are part of the learning experience. I was so motivated that I enrolled for adult lessons as well. read more

I have been involved in Karate for more than 40 years and recently moved to San Jose. I wanted to find a school for my 14 year old grandchild and after speaking to Sensei Dan, enrolled her in the school. I observe all of her classes and can tell you from experience that West Valley is technically perfect in it's style and excellent in their teaching methods. I have watched my grandchild progress in just a few months from an insecure, depressed child into a happy, confident person and technically very good for only a couple months. She is progressing rapidly. The students are all respectful and supportive of each other. I'm sad to say I have seen many poor schools in my years but West Valley is an excellent school that I would recommend to anyone, any age, any level of experience, to join if they wish to pursue martial arts and become excellent martial arts and good moral and productive ad read more

Found this place online and we have tried a couple of other dojos for our 3 kiddos in the past year. It's a smaller practice area but well staffed and you can tell the respectful climate has been practiced and is well established. Personally, I don't have the capacity to watch a class with poorly managed children behaving badly or not interested in putting in the effort to learn. This is NOT that kind of a place (thank goodness). Sensei Dan answered all of my questions telephonically before the first trial class and continues to have the same personable approach even after we joined. The team treats its young leaders with the same respect as seasoned vets and therefore the students do as well. I can't say enough about the teaching of martial art's mental focus and body awareness over 'faster', 'stronger' , 'more more more'. Thank you WVMA we are grateful to be a part of your dojo. read more

We still love WVMA dojo. The staff here is amazing. They love what they do and it shows. They have tremendous patience when working with the students and I really like the values they teach: focus, respect, what to do if you're in a dangerous situation, integrity...What my kids are learning here and what they get out of this program has far surpassed what I ever expected they would get. read more

Our son is loving his new experience in martial arts! The instructors are kind and inclusive, patient and disciplined, excellent role models for the kids. We love it so far! read more

I do not often write Yelp reviews...but WVMA has earned 5 stars and then some. Both my young boys (6 and 4) have trained here for the past 6 months. The experience has been incredible. They love it, they get exercise, they learn discipline, coordination, respect, self defense, and more. Sensei Dan and Sensei Lucas (and their broad team of supporting Senpais) are absolutely amazing with both age groups. All the instructors are dedicated, proficient, kind, and attentive, and the ratio of students to instructors allows for plenty of focused attention for the students. They clearly toggle the lesson plan to be age group appropriate, keeping things fun (but not funny!), with over arching principles of the lessons present throughout. The belt system is done in a way that is incrementally rewarding to the kiddos - it is not tacky or superficial, every stripe and belt award has to be earned...this is all done in a way that helps the kids stay excited and engaged, keeping their eye on the next milestone and their progress. I have not seen the older kid classes nor adult classes (would probably sign up if I had the time for them)....but I would love to see the progression. I am proud to have my boys be a part of this dojo, and I look forward to many years of training and progress to come. Thank you, Senseis Dan, Lucas, and the whole WVMA team!! read more

My kids (11 and 5) started karate at WVMA a little over a year ago. Immediately, I was impressed with the instructors, who not only teach punches, blocks and kicks, but more importantly, teach self-discipline, self-confidence and self-control. More so, during this challenging time of COVID, West Valley Martial Arts has risen above and beyond. They didn't miss a beat, being the first (even ahead of the school district) to schedule multiple weekly Zoom classes and create fun contests to keep the kids engaged - from a distance. As it was declared safe to do, they have carefully and thoughtfully planned in-person, small classes, setting up canopies and mats outside to create their parking lot dojo. They do all this safely, requiring health questionnaires and temperature checks prior to class. I can not praise Sensei Dan, Sensei Lucas, Senpai Paula and the rest of WVMA staff enough for showing the kids what it means to have grit. read more

Fantastic Dojo. My son loves the place and is learning so much. They are good with discipline and make it fun for the kids as well.

I have known Sensei Dan since the 1990's (back when he was Senpai Dan) in high school, and we were friends outside of karate. Although we both trained, we never trained together. Over the years, we lost contact, then saw each other again, then lost contact, and this past year, we re-connected yet again! I knew he had started a dojo some years ago, but I was not training at that time. So, when I got back into training, it was such an honor to be invited to train at his dojo. At the end of the class I told my old friend with the greatest sincerity, "You have something very special here." Dan Wakefield is as legit as they come - a true, life long, martial artist in not only his attitude, but in his skillset as well. He knows, currently trains consistently, and understands an array of different styles, and brings this to the dojo. Dan is a Sensei... and a student. He is a real "Martial Arts" nerd - and this shines through in his classes. The atmosphere of WVMA is fun and light, but extremely disciplined, and I still cannot grasp how this is accomplished... to have a joyful dojo (filled with laughter), but respectful and mindful at the same time. The only way I can see a reason for this, is knowing Sensei Dan personally, and witnessing that the dojo reflects and radiates his wonderful personality. The children's class is wonderfully run, with more than a handful of Senpai's at hand, including the dedicated Sensei Lucas Low. They do a bit of light sparring, a vigorous - yet fun - warm up, practical self defense, jujitsu, kata, basics, etc. The kids are engaged with what's going on in class. When a child is distracted, I see how the instructors are able to redirect that distraction to attention. It's wonderful to see how this is done. Mental Aikido delivered with a smile! And all that being said, watching the kids do basics and kata and other fundamentals - they are as sharp as tacks. Their stances, technique and spirit is strong. One would think that - in martial arts - a class can't be funny and "goofy" - yet have reverence and skill and discipline at the same time. Somehow, at WVMA, this is the environment - and it's great. The adult class is amazing, and with the popularity of MMA, it is a shame that there is not enough shining light on traditional martial arts. I can attest - having briefly trained in MMA - this dojo is as legit as what I've witnessed in MMA in terms of techniques and practical combat. With safety at the forefront, the light sparring sessions are excellent. While still retaining traditional kata and martial arts fundamentals, Sensei Dan embraces other styles and introduces this to his curriculum (i.e. Brazilian Jujitsu). Sensei Dan has many years of BJJ under his belt, and is an adept grappler. I couldn't recommend any more, than for adults looking at martial arts in the San Jose area, they should give this a try before committing to an MMA gym. It would be a pleasant surprise. In my opinion, karate is blocks, strikes, throws and locks. All of these aspects are covered extremely well by Sensei Dan. Also, the "bunkai" or "application" of kata in the more advance classes are truly amazing. Sensei Dan teaches "...don't just go through the sequence. Your kata has to mean something." With the array of "McDojo's" out there, franchising and dumbing down martial arts into "guaranteed-black-belts-or-your-money-back" - West Valley Martial Arts is just not going through movements. What they do, means something. It is a dojo with purpose and love. read more

This is a great Martial Arts Dojo and community. They have taken several measures to keep the kids safe during the Covid Pandemic and they are always coming up with new and innovative ways to engage their students. Not only do they have in person classes (outdoors), but they also include zoom classes. My 12 year old son loves going here. They include Jiu Jitsu in their program and well as weapons training. So, he can engage in multiple disciplines. read more

Both my daughter (age nine) and son (age 6) have been learning martial arts at West Valley Martial Arts over the last two years. I'm always impressed at the level of patience the instructors have here, especially with young children (and even beginner adults like myself). Over time, I've watched various students move up in rank. Invariably, they've changed from learning basics of karate (stances, power, spirit, breathing, etc.) and have developed into quite advanced and refined martial artists. In watching my children strive to improve their katas, I caught myself encouraging/urging them on with suggestions for their techniques. Eventually, it dawned on me that I couldn't be a hypocrite any longer. I decided to try it out myself and a year ago, I signed up for the adult classes. The adult classes are a diverse group with various levels of experience and backgrounds. Everyone that I've trained with here has been very supportive. Each night is different, but there is usually some mix of karate, aikido, ju jitsu, and even tai chi. I leave the dojo, deeply satisfied, knowing that I've worked out my body and mind. I've honestly never felt better. We checked out plenty of other dojos in the area before we settled at WVMA. Some were way too strict and regimented, others catered to the other side of the spectrum where children ran amuck. At WVMA, Sensei Dan Wakefield and his staff have done an outstanding job teaching students great everyday lessons of respect for one another, stranger danger, having a positive mental outlook, and how to be confident with their abilities. If you are in the process of looking for a dojo for your kids or yourself, I would strongly recommend West Valley Martial Arts in Campbell for your consideration. read more

We really love West Valley Martial Arts. The instructors use positive communication with the children. They teach karate plus practical self defense, like how to break free if someone grabs your arm. They also teach the kids how to be humble. We toured other places but this one showed the most positive instruction/discipline towards the students. My son has been attending for 3 months and he really looks forward to attending. Sensei Dan is so good with the children. We're very grateful to have found such a wonderful place. read more

My two daughters and I have been going to WV Martial Arts since the beginning of the year and we all give West Valley 15 stars, 5 from each of us! I took martial arts when I was a child and a little in college. I looked high and low for a dojo that would serve a few goals for my 7 year old daughters a) self defense skills, b) respect,, discipline, confidence c) physical fitness and of course d) have fun. I also was hoping to find a dojo for myself to do the same. I visited numerous popular dojos in the area and West Valley was the head and shoulders the best. My daughters have taken tennis, ice skating, dance, soccer and a myriad of other classes and thanks to Sensei Dan's and his staff, Martial Arts is the one that they love the most and tell me that they see themselves going there forever. Sensei Dan and his staff are so friendly, patient and teach real world lessons and values. The first class I took, everyone introduced themselves to me and made me feel very welcome/comfortable in their dojo. The next evening I showed up, everyone remembered my name and welcomed me back. The adult class is so friendly and a nice size so you get very, very good instruction for Sensei and the senior students. What I also love is that we study a variety of styles so you are able to combine great techniques from a Karate, Ju Jitsu, Chinese Boxing, Tai Chi, etc. Everyone in the adult class works hard but also has a smile on their face. They all work hard to teach the new members. It is far from a dojo that is intimidating, over crowded or full of students who are trying to advance at the expense of beating their classmates. In fact, my wife is looking forward to joining the dojo too! Sensei Dan has taken the commercial aspect back out of contemporary dojos and in place has built a special community of really nice teachers and students who share a common passion for learning martial arts. Isn't that what we are all looking for? read more

I've looked into other martial arts dojos, and I have to say that West Valley Martial Arts is the best one around! Sensei Dan relates to the kids at their level and is very encouraging to the kids. Not only does he teaches them karate, he teaches them self discipline and respect. My son and daughter love going to karate. They are always asking to go to karate afterschool. My daughter, who is very girlie and started off very shy at the dojo, has completely opened up at karate and takes pride in trying to learn the different moves. My son even practices his kata at home! I also have to give kudos to Sensei Mike. He's always energetic and always has a smile on his face. If you're looking for a martial arts dojo, I highly recommend this one! read more

Sensei Dan Wakefield and his team are wonderful coaches. This was our children's first martial arts class. Not knowing what to expect and anything at all about martial arts, Sensei Dan took his time explaining to me what it is about and the exercises they do for students. My 6 yr old daughter who never had any interests in martial arts, she's hooked. She can't wait to go to her class with her brother. She keeps asking if today is her karate class. We try to go three times a week as recommended, and it has been great. Our 8 & 6 year old are happy, healthy and respectful to others. West Valley Martial Arts teaches more than just physical exercise, they teach manner, values and disciplines. Sensei Dan knows how to work with the students based on their age group. One of our kids' favorite routine is Sensei says... (as Simon says). Although it's 15 minutes drive each way (which there are few other Karate studios closer to our house), this one is a keeper. If I can give a 6-star, then it'd be it. read more

I'm very satisfied with Sensei Dan Wakefield and his staff at West Valley Martial Arts. My son has been attending for almost two years (since age 5) and we go not just to learn karate, but rather, to learn the respect and discipline that Dan instills in his students. Sensei Dan is a wonderful teacher and is great with kids of all ages. I have recommended this martial arts studio to several friends and classmates. Kids that learn from Sensei Dan and his staff should consider themselves lucky. read more

West Valley Martial Arts has been wonderful for my two very energetic sons! They absolutely love the classes. They have been attending since the dojo first opened. They come home excited to show me the new things they have learned all the time. The program also keeps them very motivated with earning the next belt. Sensei Wakefield is amazing with the children and with the parents as well. He is extremely patient but also very disciplined. Not only does he teach them martial arts but he also teaches them valuable life lessons. We highly recommend this program to everyone!! read more

This is such a great dojo. I love going to class and everyone is so nice and helpful. Sensei Dan and Sensei Sean have taught me so much and it's only been 3 weeks! I highly recommend starting here! read more

My daughter has been a student at West Valley Martial Arts since August. She attends as often as her schedule allows. She loves the teachers, and the students. I highly recommend this studio for kids (my daughter is 13). The teachers connect well with the kids, and know what they like (they have movie nights etc., know how to motivate them). My daughter's attitude about life has changed (more positive) and she treats people with more respect. I credit the teachers with this change. The dojo offers adult classes that I'd love to take, but it's my daughter's dojo and that would be weird! I highly recommend West Valley Martial Arts! read more

Great for the whole family. We Love This Place! Sinsei Dan really knows his art, and it's obvious from the way they teach that he and the other sinseis genuinely care about each student individually. We enrolled our son to help build his self-confidence, and it wasn't long before we were in classes ourselves. Our son loves his classes, and we love ours as well. The whole family is much fitter, healthier and happier thanks to West Valley Martial Arts. read more

My daughter has been going to West Valley Martial Arts for almost four years. I couldn't have been more impressed from the very beginning. Sensei Dan welcomes all kids with a genuine smile, and makes them feel at ease to enjoy the experience. I enrolled my daughter to help with respect, and I've gotten that, and so much more. Self defense, confidence, respect for others, and a great way to get some much needed energy out. I've been meaning to write this review for years. Sensei Dan, Sensei Shawn, and their sempia's are well deserving of a five star review. They even do a parents night out/ movie night for kids almost every month. My daughter begs me to sign her up every time. I know I made the right decision to enroll her in Sensei Dan's dojo. read more

Sensei Dan, Senpai Lucas, and all of the teachers are the main reason we choose WVMA. They are super fun, compassionate with kids, and incredibly skilled so every class is a blast for my son. He is excited to come back and I love how much he wants to show us what he has learned at home. We are proud to be part of this Dojo and highly recommend them to family and friends. We toured a few other places in the area but nothing compares to WVMA! read more

My two boys started taking lessons at this dojo this year and I am very impressed with Sensei Dan, Sensei Sean, and their black belt students who assist them. Even the senior brown belts help the lower ranked students. What I really like is that Sensei Dan teaches the skills and tries to get the kids to understand what he is trying to teach them. I took karate when I was about 19. I learned katas and all the moves but I never understood what the moves (other than kicks and punches) were for. Sensei Dan actually explains what the move is trying to accomplish. He also teaches them jiu-jitsu and how to handle themselves if faced with a bully. Real life situations and his first advice is to run away if possible. read more

This is a fantastic place to learn karate. I took my son and after a few months signed my daughter up too. Great teachers, patient and fun. They teach respect for the sport as well as each other. It is so much more than a way to keep active. I am so glad I found this place. read more

West valley martial arts is a very great place to learn martial arts the instructors are very nice and funny.

Our daughters have been here for 4 months and we love it. The kids have fun and also are held to a high standard of discipline. There is a high value placed on respect and discussions at each lesson center around specific scenarios the kids may encounter and examples of what they can do to handle themselves. It's a good and age-appropriate physical workout and kids are expected to listen and control their own minds and bodies. The Senseis are smart, funny, and the older youth who work with them to mentor the younger ones are kind, helpful and feed my faith that my children have access to good older role models. read more

This place is wonderful! I have been going to the adult class for around 6 months, and there are plenty of other teens as well as a wonderful community. The senseis are wonderful teachers and the techniques they teach are effective and taught very well. Great place for all ages! read more

It's been 2 years since I've started West Valley Martial Arts, and I am becoming MORE and MORE confident by the minute!!! (It is almost 3 years)When I first arrived to this dojo, I had some problems with making new friends, and finding my voice/confidence. But as weeks went by, so did my problems! I made tons of friends(including Senei Dan, and Sensei Sean)and have showed them the real me a few times which is how I started expressing myself and VOICE to others. I'll admit that when your child or yourself joins this dojo...you'll feel a little bit shy and scared on what's gonna happen. But I'll guarantee you this, you'll feel like their a part of your life...YOUR NEW FAMILY! I am proud of everyone at the dojo even myself! I didn't know I could do creative(yet awesome)things and everyday or whenever I can, I'll try to go against a black belt even Sensei Dan once in a while...and I'll keep working on my mistakes. Because THAT is what makes me stronger day by day. Thank you everyone for your comments on the dojo! I am proud of seeing MY RANKING every single day of my life and I will always be with these guys until the end. I am a 2nd kyu brown belt and have another year and a half to go roughly, before being a black belt. The reason I'm telling you this is because I'm NOT just proud or bragging about my belt rank, but it's because of this: Never stop trying, never ever STOP trying, because if you do, you'll regret stopping what you started. So please, never and NEVER give up on your goals/dreams in life. Reach for them. read more

i've training at west valley martial arts for 5 month and i love it. sensei wakefield has a great adult program that promote good fitness and proper body mechanics.since being here ive been in good shape and I've learned some great self defense skills i highly recommend it read more