Puma Karate

I studied at Puma Karate from mid-​elementary school (late ‘90s) through late high school (’09), and I earned a green belt with a black stripe. I could have gone further, but I got distracted and took a few years off and had to backtrack before leaving Simi for college. The years I spent here have made me confident that if I am forced into a combative defensive encounter, I will fair much better than I would if I hadn’t spent years training. It’s been years since I’ve taken a class, but the movements are still hardwired — I know how to correctly throw a punch and how to interpret an opponent’s movements.
I was always challenged physically and mentally in my classes. Technique classes pushed me to overcome physical exhaustion and pain and instead focus on practicing techniques with maximum power and correct form. Studying kata taught me precision, waza classes developed my defensive instincts, and sparring classes taught me how to time defensive and offensive maneuvers. During my last year with Puma, I took BJJ classes, which expanded my arsenal of techniques. I’m short in stature, but the techniques I learned and the experience I gained while rolling allow me to overcome this by taking opponents to the ground and defeating them through leverage and agility.
Puma struck a really good balance between developing hard ability and developing the person. Instructors were always demanding but compassionate; you always knew they cared about you as an individual. Even though as a teenager I slacked in my efforts, they were always willing to help me bring myself back to my highest potential. I really regret becoming distracted as a teenager, because I know that if I had really engaged my training, I could have achieved a sense of accomplishment that would be grounded in reality. In the ten or so years I spent at Puma, I watched students become black belts, and those students developed unquestionable ability and confidence. I know of numerous students from Puma who have been forced to defend themselves, and their training has allowed them to avoid terrible outcomes — people who could have been seriously physically harmed, even kidnapped, and they were able to defend themselves quickly and effectively.
Sensei Fisher, who now runs the dojo in Big Bear, provided a hard, disciplined, traditional training environment. More recently in my training, Sensei Abraham expanded on Sensei Fisher’s foundation, incorporating Brazilian Jiu-​Jitsu and engaging students even more thoroughly. I’ve never been let down by my instructors. Black-​belt Senpai, especially Mr. Scott, have very effectively engaged students on a personal level, helped them find holes in their individual technique patterns, and motivated them to improve.
As cheesy as it may sound, Puma Karate always felt like a family to me — people who cared about me and wanted me to become the best version of myself and demanded that I work hard and focus, but people who also understood that I was a human going through personal struggles and wanted to help me overcome those struggles.
Of all the experiences I had before leaving for college, none have had a more positive, lasting impact on my life than Puma Karate. Like I said, I just wish that I had worked harder towards the end of my time there so I could have finished strong. Regardless, I have internalized the lessons of Puma and will always be grateful to all my instructors.
If you or your child are interested in martial arts or want a physically-​engaging hobby that will teach you discipline, keep you in shape, develop your confidence, and prepare you for potential combative encounters, you will be greatly rewarded by turning to Puma Karate, whether in Simi Valley or Big Bear.

I would give 10 stars, if possible. There are so many wonderful qualities to this program and the people that run it that Unilocal would cut me off before I could finish.
First, patience: my son is a VERY head-​strong 5-​year-​old. He challenges me on a minute-​by-​minute basis… Teresa and Karen, however, found a way to communicate effectively with him, quickly.
Second, respect: Teresa and Karen respect their students, thus, the students respect them. My children have also increased their showing of respect for me because of the respect required for participation at PUMA.
Third, perseverance: I’m not a local to Big Bear but stayed here all summer. This studio suffered a great loss but refused to quit. Thank goodness! Their perseverance passed to their students. There is nothing my children «can’t» do.
I’m so grateful to have found PUMA Karate. I’m sad to have to go home but I know that even having these wonderful people as a part of my children’s life for this short time has made them (and me) better people.
I 100% recommend trying this program for your kids… My only regret is that I didn’t sign myself up too!