Looking for a NO-BS dojo in LA. Need help.

**GrouchofHokuto** · Posted On: 8/26/2011 4:04pm

Hi.

I've recently started my quest to find some martial arts schools in which the instructors are not gonna BS me with payment plans and ways of instructions.

Here is an overview of some schools that are close to my home in Cali. I was wondering if any of these are potential McDojos:

==10th Planet Jiujitsu, Burbank (Muay Thai)==

$85/month for Muay Thai
Very rigid cardio and conditioning exercises
Anyone can spar
Payment agreement as "alternate" to contract

Instructors:

TK Munoz- focuses mainly on hard conditioning and sparring
Charlene Barretto - patiently breaks techniques down to simpler systems

==Victory Dojo, Burbank (Kyokushin Karate)==

$80/month
Contracts - vary (3 months trial, monthly, & annual plan)
$10 per trial session
Belt tests every 3 months; no price indicated
As rank goes up, standard goes up (i.e. Orange belt - 20 push-ups, sparring - basic 30 seconds x 1 to 3 rounds)
Big emphasis on overall technique (i.e. footwork, kata, etc.)
Coach Dan - "7 years to get a black belt"
Optional Zumba and Boot Camp Classes besides Kyokushin
Optional Weight classes - $20 discount on top of monthly karate lessons
Half of adult class comprises of teenagers, 14-17 (yellow and orange belts mostly); adults are yellow, green, and blue belts
Students not tournament eligible until orange belt

==Ken Nagayama Martial Arts, Burbank (Motobu-Ryu Karate, TKD, Aikido, Kendo, Judo)==

3 month Trial Program for $265
Introductory Program - $39, 1 private and 1 group session, free gi
Belt tests range from $40-$150

**kdawgious** · Posted On: 9/21/2011 4:47pm

I don't know if this will help or not, or really contribute to your search, but I saw that you had Shotokan listed under your styles. There's a top notch Shotokan program at UC Riverside operating under the American JKA. The two instructors there are fantastic karate-ka and great fighters. Here's a link to a video of one of them:

Even if Riverside is a bit far for you, I'm sure they can recommend a solid dojo/school in LA if you're interested in Shotokan at all.

**NeilG** · Posted On: 9/21/2011 5:00pm

Nagayama looks iffy to me, another guy with his own hodge-podge system. Not sure why you are posting in the JMA forum if you are looking at Muay Thai and eclectics.

**shinbushi** · Posted On: 9/21/2011 5:28pm

since you are in L.A. : I would recommend 10th Planet, or
If you are in West L.A. I would recommend the following:

http://www.sawtellejudodojo.com/ (I go there)
http://www.robotfitness.com

If you are near Alhambra or Montebello I would recommend http://selvabjj.com/

**GrouchofHokuto** · Posted On: 10/11/2011 4:57pm

Thanks for the help, everyone. As a matter of fact, I have finally found a fantastic place to establish a sound foundation on self defense. It's called Valley Martial Arts Center, located at North Hollywood. Instructors over there teach Shotokan and Brazilian JiuJitsu for a combined monthly fee of $85 (no contracts, anyone can get out anytime). Karate and BJJ gi cost $40 each, and belt testing fee for karate is $30. There is no belt test for BJJ. The instructors just give the students the belt whenever they feel the students deserve the belt for it takes longer to advance in BJJ.

Here is the link:

http://www.valleymac.com/