I've trained under Mark Leong for many years now, and he is a very knowledgeable and patient Sifu…read more If you are interested in learning 'soft' style Wing Chun, Bay Area Wing Chun is a great place to learn it.

Shotokan Karate Do International Federation (SKIF) Hawaii is led by Les Nishikawa Sensei (7th Dan),…read moreand is affiliated with SKIF Japan, founded by Hirokazu Kanazawa. The school practices traditional karate kihon (basics), kata (forms), kumite (sparring), and weapon techniques. Instruction is individualized, student-centric, and affordable (~$50/mo with discounts for family groups). New students can join at any time, but should contact the Sensei first. The dojo (classroom) is located in the first floor of the Japanese Cultural Center, and is purpose-built with martial arts in mind. Classes are taught in English, with some Japanese for dojo rituals, technique names, and counting.

Great place to lean Shotokan karate. Balanced curriculum with tournament opportunities. Families…read moreoften train together but it's a great place for adults of ages to train as well. The senseis are great with kids and adults and reach discipline and control. Lots of opportunities for social fun as well.

Aikido of Honolulu: 426 Luakini St, Honolulu, HI 96817…read more(Todaiji Hawaii Bekkaku Honzan, Temple) I've been a member of Aikido of Honolulu since 2010, and through my experience I can say that practice here most closely aligns with practice in Japan. Members range in age from 5 to 75, through Junior and Adult classes, and everyone is friendly and respectful. Depending on what you're looking for in practice, you're time can be focused on exercising, learning techniques, or just practicing to enjoy engagement with other members. For more information: website: aikidoofhonolulu.org email: dojo@aikidoofhonolulu.org

AIKIDO OF HONOLULU @3224 WAIALAE AVENUE:…read more This Dojo is the very first Aikido Dojo outside of Japan since 1961. And it is closing its door 05/01/16 due to the lease could not be renewed. I am deeply shocked to the news. They are looking for a new location at this point. I had practiced at this Dojo for a few years with wonderful people while Aoyagi sensei was still alive. I had enjoyed watching children's classes, thinking great way to use up kids energy and teach discipline. I love AIKIDO philosophy of "harmony". Hope they find a good house soon.

My son and I had the good fortune of attending a seminar at Tako jiu jitsu last week…read more As soon as we got there I could feel that good vibe and I knew we were going to have a good time. The head instructor Shel is super chill and was very welcoming. I highly recommend this school to anyone who lives in the Honolulu area. We will definitely be back

Excellent jiu-jitsu school with real, old-school training! The business is run by Coach Shel, who…read moreis extremely technical and brings a true old school approach to jiu-jitsu. He's an OG with deep knowledge, great skills, and a strong emphasis on discipline and fundamentals! If you're looking for authentic jiu-jitsu taught by someone with real experience and high standards, this is the place!

Used to attend. Awesome controlled environment of friendly people. Highly recommend it for keeping…read morein shape, keeping reflexes up, and trying out your style in a stand up point sparring kind of way. If you are looking to just WIN, it's not really the place to go. The people are friendly, the coaches keep things safe, and you learn how the different styles move. It's also good if you need to test your sparring against past/present point sparring champions.

The Honolulu Sparring Club is a melting pot of some of the best martial artists in the state of…read moreHawaii, open to all styles specializing in sport karate. Founded buy eight time international champion Ron Pohnel. We train/fight hard and have a great time doing it. Currently run by Ken Proctor.

I started training at Grappling Unlimited in June of 2024, but my journey actually started because…read moreof my son. For a long time, I wanted to get him involved in jiu-jitsu, but I kept finding reasons to put it off. Eventually, I decided it was time to stop making excuses and find a place where we could start training. We tried a different academy first, but from the moment we walked through the doors, my son and I felt like outsiders. It just wasn't the right fit for us. My mother recommended Grappling Unlimited since she knows Enson, and I'm grateful she did. From the very beginning, Rei was incredibly welcoming and helpful. She answered all of our questions, made the process easy, and helped my son and me get started. Walking into a new gym can be intimidating, especially when you don't know anyone, but we immediately felt comfortable and welcomed. What started as something I wanted for my son ended up becoming a journey for our entire family. Not only did my son and I begin training, but even my mom eventually started her own jiu-jitsu journey in September 2025. Being able to share this experience with three generations of our family has been something really special. Since I started training, I've come to appreciate what makes Grappling Unlimited different. The instruction is outstanding, the coaches are knowledgeable, and the training partners are always willing to help. The gym has a culture where people work hard, support each other, and genuinely want to see everyone improve. Like most white belts, I've spent plenty of time learning the hard way, but every coach and training partner has played a role in helping me grow. I've gained confidence, improved my fitness, challenged myself in competition, and learned lessons that carry over into everyday life. Recently, I competed at NAGA. Stepping onto the competition mats was something I never thought I'd do when I first started training, and I know I wouldn't have had the confidence to do it without the coaching, support, and encouragement I've received at Grappling Unlimited. Most importantly, Grappling Unlimited gave my family a place where we felt welcomed from day one. Looking back, walking through those doors was one of the best decisions I've made. I'm proud to be part of this gym and truly grateful for everyone who has helped my family along the way. If you're considering trying jiu-jitsu--whether for yourself, your kids, fitness, self-defense, competition, or personal growth--I highly recommend giving Grappling Unlimited a try.

Great place to learn jiu-jitsu, MMA, kick boxing, and other martial arts!…read more Been fortunate enough to experience this location and all the good they do for the community through their classes. Coaches here are top notch. Many of them have been doing their art for years. Peace of mind to those who may be nervous about learning more. No shame here. Everyone of all expertise is welcome. Egan Inouye is a great inspiration to all. The outcomes and accomplishments of the students speak for themselves. They perform the highest in all categories across all ages, male or female. Very lucky to have seen my step daughter thrive under their instruction and become champion multiple times over. Can't recommend this place enough to family and friends!

Been training here for 4 months now, and I'm really enjoying it. I thought I was in shape the…read morefirst week and was exhausted. Now my cardio is much better, but it's quite a workout. People don't go full force to knock you out so don't be scared. All I can say is don't quit and stick in there if you want to learn; your body just needs time to adjust. Everyone is cool and goes to local mma events together, just like one big family. Most martial arts places don't give out prices on their websites, but I can assure you HMC has some really good ones. As for the cost, Leandro's BJJ is $70 I think and around $95 for monthly classes at HMC. If you are a student it's $80 which is what I pay monthly. There is a $50 initiation fee (every mma place has this). Drop in fee is $20 I think. It's a good deal compared to other places if you ask me; training on the mainland ranges from $100-$210 monthly. You can pay by cash, check, or monthly bank deposit. No BS contracts. The no gi BJJ comes with the price so you can learn grappling in addition to kickboxing if you want to do mma. I know some people who've just done this and have been successful in the ring. I prefer more instruction so I take gi jiujitsu. The schedule on the website hasn't been updated so check my picture for an updated version. HMC also has a branch in Kaimuki operated by Chris on Sunday only which you can pay a drop in fee if you're signed up with HMC Kalihi. They have grappling and kickboxing classes. There is also a Branch in Wahiawa operated by Haru that meets MWF at noon and evening and has Leandro Nyza BJJ on Tues/Thurs. They teach boxing, kickboxing/muaythai, and mma classes. Haru is also a native Japanese speaker and frequently has students from Japan coming down to learn from him. People are still signing up even though the new UFC BJ Penn Gym opened! The UFC Gym might offer all the mma classes you will need, but I still come here because the boxing/kickboxing instruction is more advanced for my level and the quality of training partners and instructors are much better, taking my game to the next level.

Brushing up on skills and advancement skills. Was proper and a great touch up and experienceread more

We were lucky enough to find Sensei Maile during the height of the Covid pandemic lockdown. Our…read moreboys, twins age 6, began private lessons with her outside at our house. This fall, they have been able to attend classes and private lessons at the newly opened Kachi Karate dojo on S Beretania. The boys LOVE Sensei Maile. She is calm, patient, fun and a super skilled expert. She also happens to have a daughter their age, so she really "gets" kids and knows how to motivate them. My husband and I love that she emphasizes the mental discipline, including doing well in school and being respectful of your parents, in addition to the physical discipline. I cannot recommend Sensei Maile and Kachi Karate highly enough! We are so happy to have found this wonderful place for our kids to learn and grow.

First of all, I knew nothing about karate other than what I saw on the Karate Kid, and when I…read morepictured kids taking karate I pictured a hard ass teacher yelling at his students just like that mean teacher at the Cobra Kai dojo. So when my father-in-law suggested my daughter try a karate class near our house, I was a bit hesitant...she was only four, REALLY tiny, and not the most aggressive kid; but she was coordinated and definitely could use the discipline; so we decided to try a free class with Kachi Karate. When I met Sensei Robert him and heard how he spoke to my daughter as he took her aside to teach her some basic things before class, I could see he was a really nice guy who had a special way with kids...and my anxiety about this whole thing just went away. In the beginning, my daughter had a hard time following along as a lot of the class had been taking karate for at least a few more months. After the first couple of classes, she wanted to quit, but we convinced her to stick with it for just one month and told her she could quit if she didn't like it by then. Sensei Robert had always made it a point to make sure the higher belts in the class take care of and teach the younger ones. This helped her a lot, to feel like the older kids were supportive of her and not going to make fun of her. it was also a great lesson in responsibility for the older kids as well. At home, she kept practicing and practicing, and one day was able to get some of the moves from the kata she was learning. From achieving that, it ignited her confidence and commitment to the class as a whole. So much so that she has kept up with this for over year a year now! I also really like the fact that there are two female teachers - Sensei Maile and Sensei Shannon. They are both so good with the kids and I am grateful that my daughter gets to see at an early age that women can be both feminine and strong at the same time. And now, I see karate in a whole new light. It has kept my daughter physically and mentally fit, but also instilled in her important life values. She started kindergarten this year at Aina Haina school and I truly believe that Kachi Karate has helped her transition into this new chapter in her life more seamlessly. It is evident not only in her work ethic, discipline, and respect for others, but also in her ability to make new friends, try new things and be a more confident person overall. Sensei Robert has also expanded his dojos around town and even has a karate class for 3-5 year olds that my 3 year old son will be trying soon! I think it's great what he is doing for the communities around here and I would highly recommend his classes for any child, boy or girl - as they will be getting much more than self-defense skills - you'll be surprised at what they can accomplish and what kind of person they will become!