Valhalla Elite Training Center

My son has been at three other dojos without the success and support he gets from Mike Whitney!
Thank you!

Most likely one of the best places in California to train Krav Maga. I am a travelling Krav Maga Instructor from Europe and if I can recommend a Training facility in Santa Barbara or Ventura it would have to be Valhalla. The Instructor Mike is awesome and has a lot of experience.

I have been a member of Valhalla on and off for nearly 4 years. When I began my search for an affordable martial arts facility, Coach Mike was the first person to not only offer reasonable rates but was flexible with my financial situation. He was genuinely more concerned with my being able to attend his classes than making a quick buck. I have primarily participated in his women’s kickboxing classes although there are plenty of offerings for those with other martial arts interests. I love that the kickboxing classes aren’t like the cardio classes at other gyms where you’re punching and kicking air. There’s something satisfying about wearing gloves, making contact with bags, and acquiring skills. As a woman especially, it is challenging and empowering.
I have always felt welcome, even after taking a hiatus to have my son. I was very discouraged about fitness after his birth but once I finally committed to returning, it was like I never left. Coach allowed me to make modifications as necessary and go at my own pace during workouts. In fact, he allows me to bring my son when I work out so I can’t make excuses not to go to class. He encourages you to push yourself and makes sure you break a legit sweat.
It disheartens me to read some of the previous reviews as I have found Valhalla to be a flexible, family-​oriented facility with something for everyone. Coach Mike is honest and straightforward and those that say they had a negative experience with him were clearly disrespectful to begin with. Some folks just can’t handle others that are assertive and won’t be bullied. Isn’t that what martial arts instructors are supposed to model for their students? Regarding the kids classes… this is a martial arts facility. If you want your child to learn self-​discipline, respect authority, and master motor and social skills then Valhalla is the place for you. If you want someone that caters to your child’s every whim and tantrum, hire a nanny.
I highly recommend Valhalla to anyone interested, male or female, of all ages, shapes and sizes, and skill level. I love the classes. They are, dare I say it, FUN! I never leave without a good laugh and a good sweat. When my son is of age, I hope to have him join too. The first class or two is free so you can try it out before committing. Come on by and get your BODY BY MIKE!

Had nothing but a miserable experience with this organization. To start they billed are credit card on the wrong date after we requested over 10 times to have it billed on a certain date and they did not apologize. They acted like it was our fault even though it caused us a lot of problems due to their negligence. The whole place feels very un-​professional and my child says the instructor yells at him. During the belt ceremony they forgot to give our child his new belt and I was told we needed to remind them during the next class. Isn’t this what we are paying you for? Lastly we just wanted to leave the school and not be billed. We signed up for a year, but were just incredibly unhappy with the school and staff. They refuse to let us leave and say they are going to continue billing our credit card even though our son no longer goes to the classes. This place just leaves a terrible taste in my mouth, and I will let everyone I come across let know my feelings. I deal with children for a living, and talk to parents on a daily basis. They also hung up on me during our conversation, they just don’t know how to deal with people at all.

I’m a professional fitness trainer with over 8 national certifications and I’ve been training off and on in many martial arts styles since I was 8 years old.
I spent a lot of time with Valhalla and have to say they’re as good as it gets. The owner truly cares, the facility is massive and works for every type of person. I definitely recommend checking this place out. Especially if you’re looking for a great workout and REAL self-​defense. I often recommend my personal training clients to this facility for the additional fitness, training and confidence it builds.
As many studios are, they’re a bit like family after spending time there and it becomes pretty fun just to show up.

These guys are the best. A++++. If you are looking around, stop looking because this is the Gym for you. Top notch service and the Owner is one CLASSY guy!

I started taking the morning women’s kickboxing classes at Valhalla ETC almost a year and a half ago having had no previous martial arts training at all. I felt very welcomed and supported by the instructors and the gym community. The facility has everything I need. This is a great gym if you want personal attention and personalized fitness guidance. I participated in two of their body transformation challenges and gained significant muscle mass and dropped almost two pant sizes! The laid back atmosphere but motivating and knowledgeable instructors makes this a very pleasant and effective gym for all ages and skill levels.

This Gym is a First Class facility. The instructors are well versed in the major disciplines and they offer various classes for all skill levels. The environment in the Gym is extremely comfortable and relaxed. Everyone who trains here is supportive of one another, regardless of skill level. Without a doubt the best place to train MMA in SB

I toured this dojo Fall 2010, while helping out a friend who was interested in their adult programs. I have a background in three traditional martial arts, so that obviously influences my assessment.
I thought the facilities were diverse and clean. Perhaps a bit too diverse. I really couldn’t figure out what they were especially good at. So I recommended a look into the background of the leadership. It turned out that the competition statistics were heavily influenced by an organization that was self-​created. That’s a little like the fox guarding the henhouse IMHO. Anyway, it looked to me like this place is kind of focused on wrestling or grappling or some other kind of rules-​based «fighting». To all you parents out there: do you want your kids to learn to fight? Or is self defense more what you are looking for? If a fight is what you’re in the market for, this might be the place for you.
The facility is really big. They seem to use only about 50% of their space. Items in their pro shop seem to rattle around… Ordinarily I’d say roominess is a good thing. But the vibe I got was disorganization and lack of focus.
As far as suitability for a diverse cross section of society goes, it is my mere opinion that martial arts should be applicable to almost everybody, regardless of age or current physical fitness level. But this gym seems definitely to discourage all but those on their way to elite athleticism. Unless you plan to become a dojo rat, I don’t think you’ll get a lot of attention… Which leads me to the subject of attention, and respect.
I was introduced to their head instructor, Mike, who could not look me in the eye and pay attention long enough to promote his own academy. Maybe it is because he has a major ADD thing going on, or maybe he simply has no respect. If a business owner can’t respect me because I’m old enough to be his mother, then maybe he should recognize that my wallet is probably fatter than his, and he obviously needs some of that fat.
I’m not surprised to read about the episode mentioned in Sandy’s review. Edit: 12/​05/​2011, since I wrote this review originally, Sandy’s review had not been removed due to something about Unilocal’s content policy. Personally I didn’t see anything wrong with her comments. Since you can no longer read it, I’ll sum it up to say that, she witnessed Mike make a scene at a restaurant. Moving on: Respect (or the lack thereof) has it’s own karma. A prudent business man ought to know that it’s a small world and conduct either in or out of dojo walls, affects the bottom line.
Edit 01/​18/​2012
Noting the owner’s response: I am not a relative of any of this establishment’s present or former employees. I generally review restaurants fairly quickly but some businesses I make a note of, and review them when I can. The delay was noted within this review so that readers can assess for themselves the current relevancy of my information. It took me 2 years to review Todai Dojo Ninjutsu Academy in Moorpark, CA, and Christian Alvarez DC in Thousand Oaks. Neither complained about the delay or attempted to impeach my credibility.

Valhalla Elite Training Center has something for everyone, from serious martial artists, or adults just looking to get into shape, to parents looking for activities for their kids. They keep a fun, family atmosphere without compromising the integrity of the arts they teach. There are several very skilled instructors there teaching an array of striking, grappling, and weapons arts. Valhalla is a great place for anyone to get in shape and have some fun!