Pacific Martial Arts

If you are thinking about starting karate with your child, I would definitely watch the hilarious karate comedy movie «The Foot Fist Way» and then, go find a YMCA. We did a year at this place. They require a six month tuition commitment and when it expired, the very next month, they raised the tuition to try to loop us into another agreement. This guy Jason Knight is kind of a sheister and this place is like a cult. When you go for an intro lesson ($ 20) «Mr. Knight» will make his dojo seem like a very very special and magical place where children learn the ancient wisdoms. He will fool you into paying big money for classes you don’t need (they require twice a week classes which is nearly impossible for most families) and tell you when you sign up that you can freeze tuition whenever you want just to get you to sign up. But be forewarned: it’s up to him whether you can have a tuition freeze or not — everything is very arbitrary and up to his whims at his dojo. And the more you spend at his dojo, the more he likes and advances your kid. And he wants all your kids taking classes and you and your friends, too. Belt tests, tournaments, gi, all this equipment that is barely used– he makes money on all of it. He makes a big deal about the kids getting a hanbo — he measures the kids for it and charges $ 6 – 10 It’s a dowel from Home Depot. Anyone could get it and cut it for $ 1. And he is all about speeding the kids through the belts (ka-​ching!) They belt test once a month and so the kids never truly master anything. It is sad, watching these kids standing there not knowing and being embarrassed. And then they get the belt anyway. And most of the time Mr. Knight is hanging around in shorts and chatting– on the rare occasion that he puts on his gi and half-​heartedly teaches a class, he will just go off and lecture the kids about his «peace army» for half the class. The karate they teach is ok– it is by no means as special or «authentic» as all these reviews make it out to be (several of them are written by teachers at the dojo.) I am sure Mr. Knight will not miss a chance to respond to this review and try to make it appear that he is the upstanding business man/​child psychologist?/black belt zen master dude, but don’t let the act fool you. Take it from me: this guy really wants your money and he’s very manipulative about getting it. Also, practically speaking, for a pricey place all about discipline, they could clean the mats, they were always stinky and dirty. I think you can definitely go to the YMCA and have a better experience and save yourself lots of money.

I have been training at Pacific Martial Arts for almost two years and can honestly say that it has changed my life. Mr. Knight is a great teacher, an accomplished black belt, and a great leader who and inspires his students to train hard and never give up. Aside from the benefit of fitness and health, I have gained self-​confidence, focus, peace of mind, and a strong sense of accomplishment and the power to set and achieve any goal. There is a strong sense of community at this dojo, where families are encouraged to train and grow together, where children are nourished and cherished, and where anyone with the determination and work ethic can gain strength, power, and the ability to defend themselves if necessary. Practicing traditional values like respect and tolerance for all people and learning to resolve conflicts with open dialogue are just a sampling of the positive life lessons to be learned at PMA. If you’re thinking about training in martial arts and want a well-​rounded and life-​changing program, Pacific Martial Arts is the place to be.

Both of my kids have been studying here under Mr. Knight since he started. We were one of the earliest families and I can’t thank Mr. and Mrs. Knight enough for all they have given my kids. The approach here gives kids confidence, focus as well as physical strength and refined movement abilities. The enthusiasm and respect expected in the dojo has given us a language to use at home as well. The instructors Mr. Knight has trained each offer unique and different qualities that have benefited my kids. I only wish I had had the same training they are getting. For them to know they can handle themselves physically and to have the concepts of trained focus and respect impressed upon them at such a young age will be qualities they will carry through adulthood.

I was visiting a friend in Los Angeles, and her son goes to Pacific Martial Arts, so I got to watch one of his classes. It’s a nice studio, very spa like, not your typical gym like space. There were two classes going on at the same time, since it looks like they have two spaces in the plaza they’re in, so there were a lot of kids! Parents were outside in a patio area chatting, and it seemed like everyone knew each other. I saw some of the students hugging the teachers, which was really sweet, and the head instructor, Mr. Knight, greeted us personally and talked to us after class. I thought that was really nice. If we lived in LA, I can see myself enrolling my child here. I wish there were a karate school like this where we live!

My niece has been with Pacific Martial Arts for a little over two years now, and she is loving it even more than when she first started! She is now a ninja (6 – 8 year olds), and it’s been such a gift seeing how much she has progressed. It’s also been wonderful getting to know the staff at PMA more. They feel like family to me, and you can tell how much the teachers really love working with the students. They make the classes fun and energetic, and I have seen Mr. Knight and the other teachers go out of their way to talk to students and their families one on one to help them in their character development. I enjoy coming to classes and often get a lot out of them myself! I just got the chance to go to her first belt testing, and it was such a joyful and positive experience. Some students had their own cheering sections which added to the festivity. PMA also provided coffee and snacks, which I thought was a nice touch. I can’t wait to go to the next one!

I brought my son to this Dojo based on the Unilocal reviews and the fact that the owner is a child psychologist. So I figured this will be a great place for my son to learn and have fun. Not the case! First off the energy is really low and the owner seems like he lost his passion to teach or just simply doesn’t care about the kids, My son was miserable. Seems like they don’t really pay much attention to the children that need the most help in practicing. There is not enough support. Jason Knight doesn’t want to be involved with the kids that need the most help. It almost seems like he’s bored. There is no passion in this place to teach. If you’re looking for a place to bore your children and have to pay for each «belt ceremony» which by the way should be an award and not something you buy to move up in belts, this is the place. If not go elsewhere with someone that has a love and passion to teach the children. Either way, seriously not a fun atmosphere, not welcoming and the other instructors look miserable. The vibe is not a good one. My son had two months to go, I couldn’t bear sitting in that place and forcing my son to go again. And to top it off they would not give a refund, which the contract clearly states I should get one, but not worth the battle. Honestly though I’m just happy to not step foot in this place again. I give it one star because the place is clean
and organized. Other than that not worth it. Go somewhere lively, with good energy and will actually train all children and not charge for belts!

There are so many things I like about Pacific Martial that I don’t know where to start. I was looking for a place where I could do martial arts together with my son, you know, the real thing, not just some «karate babysitting». Low and behold, when I took my husband to show him the place where I wanted to sign up, my husband was really interested, and the whole family signed up! So glad I have found something that my husband likes, too. The style that is practiced there, Washin Ryu, translates to «style in harmony with nature», and the name is appealing to me. The students have a sense of community and we are taught to give everyone a sense of dignity and worth, assist new students, and treat all people with respect and tolerance, yet we learn to kick and punch, should anyone dare to attack. I could go on and on about the positives: self defense, cardio, body toning, community, manners and discipline. Just do yourself a favor and get your behind over there. You will not regret it.

After my meeting with my vendors, my client friend decided that he would take me, nope, not take me. He just mentioned to me that he would be attending a Ribbon Cutting ceremony, which I invited myself. Jason was very sweet and accommodating to the visitors that showed support.
The kids were super adorable in their gee (spelling?). Since this is for the ceremony, I really speak on the programs that they offer. Although, I did see very pleasing smiles from the parents. I read the brochure that says they have a toddler program and I did over hear the mothers talking amongst themselves about the way Jason is very intuitive and hands-​on with his students. That would make any parent want to leave their child with him for an hour so they can walk next door to either get an iced coffee or pastry from Lemon Poppy, finish their laundry or get a massage next door. I say, let’s do it ALL and have Jason teach your child (ren) a few moves or two! It’ll be worth it in the end.

They have a fantastic program for toddlers. Our 3 year old son maxwell looks forward to every class and comes home learning something new. Mr. And Mrs. Knight are both amazing with the children and provide a very focused and interactive class which can be challenging for most toddlers. Absolute 5 star company and worth giving a shot if you want to teach your toddler how to focus through positive reinforcement.

Our 5 year old son has been attending Pacific Martial Arts for about 2 months now. He totally Loves it ! His instructor Mr. Knight is an amazing teacher. Mr knight is great with the kids (Mini Ninjas) in his class. He teaches with a perfect blend of structure, discipline & respect, while making it fun and interesting for the kids. Our son has begun to understand not only Karate techniques, but the philosophy and history of what Karate is. We really can not say enough about how happy we are to have found PMA and Mr Knight. It’s been a truly great experience for the whole family.

There are a few things I have done for my boys that felt like true lifelong gifts and the gift of Karate at PMA with Mr. Knight is at the top of that very short list. I realized quickly after we joined (5 yo — Mini Ninja and 7 yo — Ninja) that our lives were forever changed– both for them as individuals and for our family unit as well. It’s hard to describe the gift that Mr. Knight has with children and the daily golden nuggets (life lessons) that he shares with his students. I was wary of Karate (or any Martial Arts), but what is happening inside THIS dojo is something truly special and unique.
Both my boys are LOVING their «Ninja» class (it’s actually Karate-​Do).
«Do» in Japanese means «character building»… and Jason Knight is the master of bringing it to focus every lesson. It’s been particularly wonderful for my boys in their relationship with each other as this style of Karate involves NO contact… ever… Karate is self defense only, according to Mr. Knight.
Jason Knight has his masters in Marriage and Family Counseling. He wrote this article:
… His background is evident in the way he works with the children. He has skills that reach far beyond my wildest dreams and then some! He brings out the best in every student and every student in that class strives to be their best. He has high expectations but makes it possible for each child to achieve success. His praise is meaningful and specific and he always finds something positive to say to each student at the end of class — even to the students who still lack focus and struggle with maintaining good behavior for the duration of the class. In a very short time, i have seen these struggling students turn into successful students. This man is changing lives!
One story I want to share is a demonstration of one of Mr. Knights golden nuggets:
My boys had a class right before PMA’s Grand Opening party. Mrs. Knight arrived at the dojo with a car full of drinks for the party. Mr. Knight stopped the lesson, had the boys put on their shoes, walked them out to Mrs. Knight’s car, introduced them to Mrs. Knight (demonstrating proper etiquette — which means so much more coming from him than me!!) and showed them how to offer help. After my boys brought in the drinks, they were asked to go back out to make sure Mrs. Knight didn’t need any further assistance, then they came back in, took their shoes off and went back to their lesson.
This dojo doesn’t just teach karate, it supports the teaching that we as parents try to provide our children on how to be good citizens & decent humans. It teaches them how to be respectful to all people, how to work as a team, how to support & praise others and not be boastful of personal achievements. It reinforces being thoughtful, mindful and aware of those around us. It teaches us to be our best and by doing so, we can achieve anything we strive for. What more could you ask for in one class?!

My son had his first class today (mini Ninja) and absolutely loved it. Mr Knight teaches in a way that makes it fun Great atmosphere and tons of patience on Mr Knights part. I highly recommend Pacific Martial Arts to anyone that has a younger child and thinking about karate classes.

I’ve been attending classes at PMA Los Angeles since July, and I really like it here. It’s a very traditional dojo, which means that there’s a lot of focus on manners and discipline as well as learning the different techniques, but Mr. Knight manages to make it fun while still pushing us to do better.
You definitely get the opportunity to explore different facets of self-​defense, while learning the core martial art as well. The tuition is reasonable and you can attend unlimited classes and also get access to tournaments and special camps, which is pretty cool. This isn’t just some random place you go to down the street to learn a couple moves and show off. This is where you go if you’re serious about martial arts and want to make it a part of your life. So if that’s what you’re looking for, then I highly recommend PMA LA. :)

Our 5-​year old son has been attending (Mini Ninja) classes at Pacific Martial Arts in Glassell Park for over 6 months. We brought him in for an initial meeting and assessment with the owner/​instructor Mr. Knight and signed him up on-​the-​spot and have been very happy here. Prior to this, we’d been driving to the valley for our son to take classes elsewhere; we’d not found a place nearby for kids that was a good fit till this place.
Some reasons that we are fans of Pacific Martial Arts:
— Our son is always excited to attend his mini ninja classes.
— He gets a fun and physical workout each session.
— Karate is such a wonderful way for our son to work on his focus and listening skills.
— Our mini ninja is proud to demonstrate that he can now count in Japanese.
— The colored stripe tape system for the white belt mini ninjas is a good motivator, and he is looking forward to the next level (ninjas — age 6 – 9) where he can begin earning belts through tests.
— The lessons he is learning here are lifelong skills.
— The instructor (Mr. Knight) has a gentle approach, is great with the kids, and the kids respond well to his manner.
— Occasionally a sempi (older karate-​do student) assists in the class; the younger students seem to really enjoy having this additional role model to look up to and emulate. In fact, my son aspires to be a sempi (and eventually black belt) one day.
— It is a great place for the karate-​do kids and parents to connect.

My 4-​year old daughter has been enrolled in the Mini Ninja class for almost 6 months. She at first reluctantly went only to be with her best friend but now she is excited to go and is even showing her baby brother some of her «moves» at home (monkey blocks are her favorite!). The thing that stands out to me is that I’ve noticed how her participation in the Mini Ninja class has actually helped build her discipline and in particular her listening skills. She is now much more attentive when she’s in some of her other classes and at school. The classes are fun for the kids but I really think they have been great in laying a foundation of self awareness and discipline for all aspects of her growth and development.
The classes have also become a great connecting point for parents as well AND for students who have younger siblings, there is a nice fenced area for the little ones to safely romp around while we wait for the class the end. All in all, it’s been a great experience!