United States Karate Academy

My grandson was the first student to sign up at their new location in Eastlake. I like the fact that this school allows children who are not yet potty trained to attend their classes. My grandson is just two years old, and he’s in the Diaper Dragons group classes, designed for children under the age of three.
I can’t say enough good things about USKA. They are super nice, and they’re excellent with kids! They recently had a Halloween party for the kids and their families. They had a very nice turnout, and you should’ve seen the smiles on the children’s faces!
I like the fact that I’ve actually seen my grandson learn many things, thanks to the patience of his instructor. They offer first lessons free, so you have nothing to lose by trying one of their classes.
I definitely recommend their new Eastlake location in Chula Vista. It’s a lot of fun! Thank you.

We came for a family birthday party yesterday and had a blast! The facility has it’s own parking, so don’t worry about finding it from the busy street. The staff is well trained and works with all ages of kids and adults, making them feel comfortable and informed. The facility is clean and has two restrooms. There’s an area for parents and family to sit while the kids are with their instructor. They prefer that you wear sandals as no shoes are allowed on the mats. For a birthday party, we even got to do a Samarium cake-​cutting ceremony! What kid doesn’t like that? Would recommend it to friends!

When I walked in I did not know what to expect because I had never taken any martial arts classes. I was honestly blown away by this studio. The class great and the staff and owner, Sal Convento, were so nice! I would definitely recommend this studio to everyone and, if I had kids, I would definitely love to bring them here!

I had a mixed experience at USKA. I will say that all of the instructors and staff are super friendly and helpful and the facility is very nice. However I feel that their pricing is pretty steep for what you get, and the requirement to sign a contract kind of sucks.
The fees are around $ 150/​mo and that only includes two classes per week. If you want to train more often, get any private instruction, or attend any supplemental fitness classes, it’s at an added cost. A lot of schools’ fees include some private training sessions, usually one or two prior to joining group classes and one or two per month to ensure you stay on pace. I think this would have been really useful, especially as a new student, and would add some value to the membership fee.
You will be required to sign a year contract, which is beneficial to the school… not so much for the students. I generally feel that if you want to keep people coming back, it should be based on the merits of the school and quality of instruction, not by trapping people into a contract. But, hey, I guess you know what you’re signing up for before you hand over your credit card number.

I have two children enrolled in this academy. They have been participating for 6 months and they thoroughly love it. Not only are they having fun, but they’re being positively influenced at the same time. Last year my 7 year old was having great difficulty concentrating in school, and his teacher and I were considering the possibility of holding him back a year. In the last several months his concentration has improved and he is doing much better in school. I credit the discipline and great instruction provided at the karate academy and I am grateful to them keeping their students accountable for their actions not only in class but out in the world as well. It’s a great community for a child to grow and learn.

Drop in any evening or Saturday morning and you’ll find dozens of yelling, kicking kids learning the art and discipline of the Martial Art known as Tang Soo Do. And if you’re a parent, this can be pretty exciting — finally, a safe, clean, beautiful facility with remarkably skilled instructors who want our kids to «be their best».
My kids, however, are now young adults — and so I asked myself if there was anything here for me, last year when I ventured in the studio. The answer, I’ve discovered, is a resounding «yes!» The team here is as good at catering to the needs of adults as they are to kids. Whether your goal is learning the discipline of mastering a martial art, improved flexibility and cardiovascular health — or simply an athletic/​social activity that is a little «out there» — USKA might just meet your needs.

Let me start by saying that I was super excited to get my son into karate. He’s been talking about trying it for a long time. We drove by this place a few times and it looked nice. We went for the first time and it was fun and the staff was super nice so we signed up for the 99 dollar intro where you get 8 sessions to feel it out. I believe it was the 2^nd time we went that we were approached by the owner both that time and the next time we went in as well. He gave us the exact same spiel about signing up for the year as if he didnt remember giving us the same talk two days before He spoke down to both my husband and I. I wont go into a rant about exactly what was said but he came off as arrogant and very money minded. My husband even asked if he could wait to speak to him about signing up AGAIN during the second talk until after watching my sons first sparring match. To which he replied that they could go talk on the side so my husband could watch him while talking. As if anyone could focus while hearing the same spiel. It was very rude. it would have been simple to say «okay sir, find me when you have time to talk» It’s unfortunate that one person can rub you the wrong way and it ruins the whole experience because the instructors are such nice & patient guys. I really do like everything about this place except the person who runs it. I wish I didnt have that encounter with the owner because I’d give any of the other people my time & business any day. I hope for their sake he doesn’t act that way with everybody! I do not regret doing the trial because we figured out my son is very interested in practicing martial arts but it will just have to be elsewhere.

Our girls did a week of summer camp here via a CircleBuzz coupon — my younger daughter (8) was excited about it. Our older daughter (9) was not; she even told her instructor she did not want to be there, and was bored. Well, he turned her around. As he told us at the end of the week, «she likes to hit and kick.» Trust me; I live with these girls; I already know that.
We signed them up for a special 8-​course session for $ 99, and now we have signed up for the 1-​year, 2-​session/​week program. I’ll update my review if things change, but so far, we’re very happy with the program, the organization, the instructors, and everything. I’m actually quite surprised, but I’m hopeful that they stick with this, and that it will be a very positive experience for them.

Best studio for learning self defense skills! I don’t have any kids but I am a young woman so I decided it would be great to know some self defense moves. The class was very informative and the instructors were so professional and skilled. I would highly recommend this studio to anyone looking to help protect themselves (and get a great workout in the process).

I write this review from the perspective of an adult who tried the classes for herself (no children).
I tried this studio after buying a package via Facebook. The staff are very knowledgeable and friendly. Very patient! Classes are small, which provides for excellent one on one instruction. I never felt «out of the loop.» I particularly thank Mr. Bernal for that.
If you are an adult and are hesitant because your idea of «adult» may be different than the studio’s idea of «adult» don’t worry. Adult classes are 13 and up, but there were actual ADULTS in those classes. I am 26 and there were a few people my age and older in those beginning classes.
The studio is very clean. Although, there is no air conditioning because it is an older building. The studio keeps fans, but it can get a bit warm. Not smelly, though.
The reason why I gave this studio 4 out of 5 stars is because there are not a wide range of classes to allow flexibility for working adults. It also receives 4 out of 5 stars because it was like pulling teeth to get a schedule or price list from the studio (you may notice this information is not provided on the USKA website). Additionally, I was not fond of the business manager. During my last class I asked him what makes USKA special compared to other Karate Studios who may offer cheaper packages? He tensed up and responded that it was «up to me to decide» and then stated that there were «plenty of people who were willing to pay the tuition they offered and if I did not want to pay that much then another studio would be a better fit for me.» That defensive response did not sit well with me.
I finally obtained a brochure with the schedule and a print out of pricing. Because the website fails to provide this information, I will copy and paste that information below:
Weekly Schedule:
M/​W/​F — KICKBOXING (13+) 10 a.m. — 10:45 a.m.
T — ADULT CLASS (white belt & up/​13 +) 11 a.m. — 11:45 a.m.
M — CHO DAN BO/​BLACK BELT (13+) 7 p.m. — 8 p.m.
M/​T/​W/​Th — ADULT CLASS (white belt & up/​13 +) 6:15 p.m. — 7 p.m.
T/​W/​Th — ADULT CLASS (brown & up/​13+) 7 p.m. — 7:45 p.m.
T/​Th — SILVER DRAGONS (50 +) 10 a.m. — 10:45 a.m.
F — INSTRUCTOR TRAINING 4 p.m. — 5 p.m.
F –LEADERSHIP/​DEMO CLASS TEAM 5 p.m. — 6:30 p.m.
S — ADULT CLASS (white belt & up/​13 +) 11:15 a.m. — 12 p.m.
Basic Enrollment:
Option A: Paid in Full (20% discount)
— Save $ 397.40
— Total Tuition: $ 1,590
Option B: (10% Discount)
— Save: $ 198.70
— Down Payment: $ 399
— 12 Monthly Payments: $ 115.78
— Total Tuition: $ 1,788.36
Option C: (5% Discount)
–Save: $ 99.35
— Down Payment: $ 299
— 12 Monthly Payments: $ 132.39
— Total Tuition: $ 1,887.68
Option D: (0% Discount)
— Save: $ 0
— Down Payment: $ 199
— 12 Monthly Payments: $ 149
— Total Tuition: $ 1,987

Fantastic studio! I started training at USKA 3 and a half years ago, and I can honestly say it’s made a powerful impact on all aspects of my life. The program is very goal oriented which matches my personality. The instructors provide top quality instruction and live fantastic examples of true martial artists. I’ve gained confidence under pressure and within conflict in other areas of my life as I trained within those scenarios within the dojang and within competition. I’ve felt and seen my body strengthen, sculpt and learn new skills. Wholeheartedly, I can say this is the best studio!

This studio is like NO OTHER in San Diego!
Not only do my two kids train here, I ALSO train here. I would have never even considered it if it hadn’t been for the great energy I felt from my classmates who made me feel very comfortable at the start, Mr. Sal Convento’s love of what he does and his commitment to his students, and the encouragement I feel each time I go to class from him and the other instructors.
Our dojang is not another karate studio, it is a community. We have all kinds of events to stay connected like monthly movie nights for the kids, beach parties, holiday parties and various get togethers.
Don’t think for a minute that you are too old to join because that is what I thought and joining is the best thing I’ve ever done for myself. I’m more confident, have lost weight and toned up, AND have a new core group of friends.
Tell them that Lisa Catlin sent you!

What an asset to the Community! I met the instructors Mr. Sal Convento and Mr. Tom Yahner at the studio. These guys run a positive, family friendly academy. The studio is fully furnished with a million dollar view of the San Diego harbor! From beginner classes to boot camps, they offer training for all levels. Every member I have talked to is ecstatic with their membership, and they are always getting involved in upcoming tournaments.
If you are looking to add something positive into your life and the lives of your family, come by and checkout my friends at the US Karate Academy.

US Karate Academy is by far the most professional Martial Arts gym in the greater San Diego area. I have personally known Sal Convento, the Chief Instructor, for over 15 years. His personal dedication and discipline are imparted on each and every student, imbuing them with the highest ideals of the Martial Arts and the principles of Tang Soo Do.