United Studios of Selfdefense

My son has been attending USSD for almost a year after spending more than 4 years at another studio. We are really impressed with USSD, the instruction is excellent, everyone advances at their own speed & they are really good with kids. (At our old studio the whole class tested together & everyone passed regardless of skill / effort - one got the feeling that they only wanted to collect the testing fee). The private classes add a great deal and my son loves coming here. more

My 7 year old daughter has been attending the Studio City dojo for a little over 2 years and she just loves it! We looked into several studios before we signed up and I?m so glad we settled on this one.\r \r Senseis Enrique, Donnie and David are amazing, patient and kind teachers who get to know all their students individually. They tailor the program to each student?s individual needs, skills and abilities ensuring the students have truly mastered the material before advancing them through the ranks.\r \r The great thing about USSD is that they?re a large integrated network of studios which allows them to hold special events such as seminars, tournaments ? even tours to China!\r \r My only regret is that my other little girl isn?t old enough to start her ?ninja training? yet!\r Pros: Great staff - family environment! more

This is the first time I post here and I just HAD to due to the negative comments posted before me. My husband and I have been at USSD in Studio City for over 6 months now. Let me say that neither Sensei Enrique Gomez, nor Sensei Donnie Jeffcoat, are sexist nor have I ever been discriminated against for ANY reason. I trust my instructors and if I am held back from taking a test, I trust their judgement. When I do test for a new rank I am confident that I will look good and perform well. I go into it knowing that I'm prepared and they would not allow me to test otherwise. Being held back has NOTHING to do with gender, and all to do with proper execution of the required material. \r If you're looking to learn martial arts, lose weight, get in shape, meet great people and want to know some great instructors I HIGHLY recommend USSD in Studio City!! Great dojo!! Most importantly I'm having so much fun and it's great to actually do something with my work-aholic husband. -Jamie C. Pros: Parking, Great instruction, Fun, Rewarding more

I have two children attending private and group classes at USSD in Studio City, and I also attended classes until I was 8 months pregnant. My children are benefiting greatly from the instruction at the studio. My 1 year old daughter already stands at front position, kneels and kicks with a ""kei"". \r \r Sensei Enrique is very patient, professional and pushes the children and adults to do their best. His black belt fellow sensei helpers Donnie and Dave are also incredible. I can't wait to come back to pursue my fitness, mental awareness and agility challenges and see a great group of ninjas to spar.\r \r Good luck to all Studio City ninjas who are attending the December tournament. Pros: Great instruction, great group of people, location Cons: can't think of any more

My husband and daughter have been attending this dojo 2 and 3 years respectively. My husband studied another form of martial arts before joining USSD. He is very impress with Sensei Enrique teaching skills and knowledge of martial arts. We got our daughter involve in martial arts to help her with her focusing and self control. She is 4 ranks from a black belt and she could not have gotten this far without the hard work and dedication from Sensei Enrique and Sensei Donnie. BTW she is only 10 years old!! Any parents looking for a good self defense class for their sons and especially their daughters then this is the place to go. This dojo has great instructors, lots of kids attending and an all around good atmosphere. more

I've studied martial arts at a number of dojos and the instruction I have received at Studio City's United Studios of Self Defense is by far the best. Sensei Enrique and Sensei Donnie are talented, patient and enthusiastic instructors. As a smaller woman, I have greatly appreciated the extra attention I have received, tailoring techniques so that they are effective when performed by someone of my stature. Sensei Enrique goes the extra mile by holding seminars on Women's Self Defense, reviewing common grabs and attacks women experience and their counters. In addition to excellent instruction, the camaraderie keeps me motivated and looking forward to class. My Senseis are careful not to send me to test for my next rank until I am absolutely ready, which I appreciate, because it really is about skill and experience and not the color you're wearing. more

I've been going to U.S.S.D. in Studio City for the past 4 years and I can't say enough good things about it. I've always wanted to take self-defense classes but I'm not super-athletic and I figured it would be all tough guys and I'd feel completely out of place. However, Sensei Enrique does a great job of making all new-comers feel welcome, while continuously challenging more advanced students. And I was far from the only woman, by the way!\r \r There's a wonderful sense of community at U.S.S.D and I've made some great friends - some of whom are parents of children who take classes as well. They were so impressed with the work USSD was doing with their kids - helping them with focus and discipline - that they ended up taking classes themselves.\r \r I'm now a Brown Belt and plan to continue until I'm too old to walk. :) more

I have been a female student of United Studios for over four years, and am only one rank away from black belt. Sensei Enrique Gomez is an awesome instructor, and has helped boost my confidence by enabling me to empower myself. I am only five feet tall, and have always had the ""Chihuahua Syndrome"" and I used to shy away from people bigger than I am but now I don't feel so threatened. His group classes are always energetic, fun, and full of knowledge. Sensei Donnie is another black belt instructor who's also very encouraging. If you want to learn self defense in a safe and non-threatening environment then this is the place you should go! Pros: The instructors are awesome, there's plenty of free parking in the back, and the students are friendly more