Laird’s Academy of Martial Arts

Laird’s is awesome instructor mike is the owner is awesome with the kids as is the rest of the staff, both of my kids love coming to lairds academy to learn their next punch or kick, parking can suck on Wednesdays because of the farmers market but other than Wednesdays it’s a breeze to find parking close by. The price is comparable to other places so the friendly ness of mike roger and the rest of the staff are what sold the deal for me and my clan.

I work at a local middle school where Mike Laird teaches an arts academy class. I cannot begin to express how much his program has meant to our school over the past few years. He has brought the beauty of martial arts to kids who may not have been able to afford them otherwise, and his patience and level of respect for each of his students is truly his greatest gift. I myself have done extensive self defense courses in the US military, and I know when I see a gifted instructor. As a new father, I cannot wait for my son to be old enough to join Mike’s academy.
If you are looking for a wonderful mentor for your son OR daughter, looking for a person who is going to give your child self esteem and personal pride, and self control and discipline in an extremely positive form, look no further than Lairds Academy. I trust Mike with my students extensively, and the students who enter his program ALWAYS come out better than when they went in.

My son (7 yrs.) has been attending classes at Laird’s Academy of Martial Arts since December of last year. He consistently gets satisfaction out of going to class. Occasionally, he says he doesn’t feel like going (wd rather play video games?), but goes anyway and reports that he’s glad he did. The owner/​master teacher Mike Laird is kind but firm with kids and offers his detailed wealth of knowledge on martial arts techniques in a spirit of helpful generosity. He differentiates instruction so that little kids in Little Dragons get the moves taught to them in smaller digestible bits – while older and more advanced students get bigger «bites.»
Mike and the younger teachers he works with emphasize discipline, respect, persistence, patience, and being a gracious and flexible competitor. The overarching focus: improve a little bit every day. Teachers keep hour-​long classes lively by subdividing time into several activities (each reinforcing a particular skill). Each class starts with warm-​up and stretching.
While my son gets a sense of satisfaction from advancing from one belt-​level to next and mastering forms, punching, kicking, and so on – I really appreciate seeing him display great character traits such as persistence, patience, politeness, respect, and confidence.
Logistics: the class schedule is very flexible. With about three classes offered every weekday afternoon, it was easier than I thought to fit in martial arts after school and work. At most scheduled classes black belts and white belts (and every level in between) can be accommodated.

Laird’s Academy is a family’s treasure in Santa Cruz. Instructor Mike (owner) and his well-​trained staff are incredibly friendly, inclusive and helpful. Regardless of a student’s athleticism or motivation, the classes are centered on respect, self-​control and patience. This academy is not about machismo or toughness. It is about being a part of a team where everyone’s learning and growth is important. Students will learn the values of politeness and fairplay. The classes are instructive, hands-​on with plenty of time for fun and humor.
We brought our oldest to Laird’s Little Dragons program (4 to 6 y. o) to prepare him for the formalities of kindergarten. It was very successful and well worth the time. If your child is looking to overcome a difficult to developmental stage or YOU are looking to change things up, you cannot go wrong by checking out Laird’s on Walnut.
Their classes are convenient and well-​structured. They have great introductory programs for any new students. Open to all ages and abilities.

I’ve been a student at Lairds Academy of Martial Arts for 5 years and I don’t ever see this changing. Let me be clear. Martial arts isn’t about learning to beat someone up. It’s not about violence, or machoism, or being a tough guy. It’s all about respect, patience, love and humility.
I decided to try martial arts when the treadmill at the gym became way too boring. I was greeted by Mike Laird, the owner of Lairds Academy of Martial Arts and immediately felt comfortable because he took the time to find out about me and what I wanted my experience to be like. I quickly learned that this adventure was not only going to be physically challenging (I was 41 at the time) but also mentally challenging which is exactly what I was looking for.
The physical conditioning is amazing. You learn to move your lower body in the form of kicks and there is no better way of getting your cardio flowing than with stationary or combination kicking. You combine that with upper body arm movements and together, you have a full body workout.
The fun doesn’t stop there… next you become mentally challenged with remembering certain choreographed movements called forms, and certain joint locks called hand techniques. You know the old saying, «if you don’t use it, you loose it»? I think that’s applicable to memorization and going to Lairds has tuned my mental facilities just as much as it’s tuned my body (I lost 12 lbs in about three months).
This is a family friendly environment with excellent instructors who work with you at whatever level you may be. All ages and all levels are welcomed so I encourage anyone who reads this to try it out!

My son has been attending Laird’s since summer 2012. The team of instructors are fantastic. Whether it is Roger, Jordan, or the owner Mike, we always walk away feeling honored and respected. My son has improved in so many ways. He has become much stronger, aware of his body and balance, tone and words, and how to practice respect toward himself and all others. Classes teach that personal growth expands far beyond self-​control and athleticism. My son is 6 and has learned to continuously challenge himself both in and outside of the dojo. He is developing the awareness that life is not about winning but about integrity, honor, doing your best and confronting your fears. The skills my son learns in class leave him physically exhausted and when at home, he practices the commitment and respect taught at Lairds. Tournaments have shown him what it feels like to be part of a supportive team, how to overcome anxiety, how to focus, and that Korean Martial Arts is an incredibly powerful yet graceful art form and tool for self-​protection. I can’t forget to leave out the fact that classes are fun and engaging. There is never a dull moment or a lack of energy. I encourage everyone, all ages, to come by Lairds and take part in a class. You will be so glad you came.