Martial Arts Classes for Kids in Santa Monica, Los Angeles
7 martial arts reviewed · 1,460 parent reviews · Updated 2026-06-22 · ★ 4.96 average
Santa Monica has five dedicated martial arts providers covering Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Taekwondo, striking, MMA, and Krav Maga — concentrated along Wilshire Boulevard, Montana Avenue, Pico Boulevard, Lincoln Boulevard, and Broadway. BoxUnion offers high-energy cardio boxing fitness. Go Surf LA, which appears in area searches, is a surf school and is not a martial arts provider.
💡 CJJF Santa Monica on Wilshire Blvd is exceptionally welcoming to drop-in visitors passing through LA — multiple reviews from travelers describe being welcomed with a spare gi and full training access on the same day.
The 7 martial arts studios, ranked
Ordered by overall rating and review volume
01
Go Surf LA
1 Bicknell Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90405 · Surf school — not a martial arts provider · ★ 5.0 (854 reviews)
Note: Go Surf LA is a surf school, not a martial arts provider. It appears in this area search due to its very high review count (854 ratings) and geographic proximity to Santa Monica Beach. Reviews confirm surf lessons only — Mike, Chuck, Jeffrey, and Owen are surf instructors. Not relevant for martial arts enrollment.
Cost:
Watch out for
Multiple reviews report no-shows or last-minute cancellationsPhone calls not answered — unreliable communicationLocation details inconsistent — confirm meeting point before going
02
CJJF SANTA MONICA, CA
320 Wilshire Blvd Ste 101, Santa Monica, CA 90401 · Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu — beginner to advanced, children from age 4 · ★ 5.0 (71 reviews)
Professors Kevin, Maycon, and Jacob teach at Caveirinha Jiu-Jitsu on Wilshire Blvd. The gym is known for being exceptionally welcoming to visiting practitioners — multiple reviewers from other cities and countries describe being given a spare gi and treated like long-term members on their first visit. A children's program starts from age 4, with membership allowing up to four classes per week.
Cost: Monthly membership with up to 4 classes per week
Parents love
Professors Kevin, Maycon, Jacob praisedDrop-in visitors welcomed with spare giChildren from age 4Safe rolling partners for all levels
recur
Already enrolled? Track everything for free.
Attendance, payments & missed classes in one place.
A long-running children's Taekwondo program on Montana Ave with 4-year students in the reviews. An instructor hosted a student's birthday party — a signal of how embedded the school is in families' lives. Reviewers consistently describe visible gains in confidence, focus, and discipline in children who previously struggled to maintain attention. Part of the Tae Ryong network with studios across Southern California.
Cost:
Parents love
4-year student retentionBirthday parties hosted by instructorsVisible confidence and discipline growthPart of Tae Ryong network
04
Santa Monica Striking
316 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90404 · Boxing, Muay Thai, and striking arts · ★ 5.0 (52 reviews)
A striking-focused martial arts gym on Pico Blvd with a perfect rating across 52 reviews. Santa Monica Striking covers stand-up combat disciplines — boxing, Muay Thai, and kickboxing technique — rather than grappling. A strong option for adults who want to develop punching, kicking, and clinch work specifically.
Cost:
Parents love
Perfect rating across all reviewsStriking specialistPico Blvd location
05
MuDo Integrated Martial Art
1828 Lincoln Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90404 · Integrated martial arts — multi-discipline · ★ 5.0 (44 reviews)
MuDo on Lincoln Blvd takes an integrated approach combining multiple martial arts disciplines rather than specialising in one. A perfect 5.0 across 44 reviews suggests consistent execution. Suitable for students who want a broader martial arts foundation rather than a deep dive into a single system.
The highest-review-count martial arts adjacent venue in Santa Monica with 303 ratings. BoxUnion is a cardio boxing fitness studio — classes are group fitness-style boxing workouts rather than traditional boxing instruction with sparring. Excellent for fitness goals; less suited for students seeking competitive or self-defense-focused training.
Cost:
Parents love
303 Google reviewsOcean Ave locationHigh energy group fitness
Watch out for
No parking provided — difficult in Santa MonicaStrict about late arrivals — turned away even as a first-time visitorPasses expire — limited flexibility on timing
07
REKM - Roy Elghanayan's Krav Maga
1919 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90404 · Krav Maga — Israeli self-defense system · ★ 4.8 (71 reviews)
Roy Elghanayan teaches Israeli Krav Maga self-defense on Broadway, with 71 Google reviews at 4.8 stars. Krav Maga at REKM focuses on street-applicable techniques for realistic threat scenarios. A strong option for adults seeking practical self-defense over sport or belt-based progression.
Cost:
Parents love
Roy Elghanayan instructorReal-world self-defense focusSolid review volume
Watch out for
Instructor attitude reported as demeaning toward some studentsHigh-contact, aggressive training style — not suitable for younger children
✨ More providers coming soon
Five questions to ask before you enrol
Based on recurring patterns across Santa Monica martial arts reviews
01
For CJJF, is a gi required for beginner classes or is no-gi available, and is a trial class offered before membership?
02
At Tae Ryong, how often are belt grading exams held and what is the grading fee?
03
Does BoxUnion offer any technique-focused boxing coaching, or are all classes group cardio format?
04
For Krav Maga at REKM, is the program structured for complete beginners or does it require prior martial arts experience?
05
At Santa Monica Striking, are sparring sessions available for students, or is it technique-only training?
Frequently asked questions
Is Go Surf LA a martial arts school in Santa Monica?
Recur's review of martial arts classes in Santa Monica found that Go Surf LA is a surf school, not a martial arts provider. It appears in area searches due to its high review volume (854 ratings) and proximity to Santa Monica Beach. For martial arts, the five relevant providers are CJJF Santa Monica, Tae Ryong Taekwondo, Santa Monica Striking, MuDo Integrated Martial Art, and REKM Krav Maga.
Which Santa Monica BJJ school is best for drop-in visitors?
Recur's review of martial arts classes in Santa Monica found that CJJF Santa Monica (Wilshire Blvd) is consistently praised by visiting practitioners from other cities and countries. Multiple reviews describe being given a spare gi and welcomed into full training sessions immediately. The professors Kevin, Maycon, and Jacob are all noted for making visitors feel at home.
Which Santa Monica martial arts school is best for children?
Recur's review of martial arts classes in Santa Monica found that Tae Ryong Taekwondo (Montana Ave) is the strongest child-focused option, with 4-year student retention and reviewers noting dramatic improvements in children's confidence, focus, and discipline. CJJF Santa Monica also runs a children's BJJ program starting from age 4, with up to four sessions per week on a monthly membership.
Is BoxUnion Santa Monica suitable for learning actual boxing technique?
Recur's review of martial arts classes in Santa Monica found that BoxUnion is a cardio boxing fitness studio — classes follow a group workout format rather than traditional boxing instruction with padwork and sparring. For actual boxing technique development, Santa Monica Striking on Pico Blvd is the more appropriate choice.