LA Do San Taekwondo | 엘에이 도산 태권도

This is a great gym! I've been coming here for 4 months, and I can honestly say it has changed my life for the better. I started here as an adult student, 30+ years old, and even though that's somewhat rare for this gym, I've felt as welcomed as any other student. The instructors do a great job teaching Taekwondo and Boxing (I've taken both classes). Master O is the main instructor for both disciplines, and he's both an engaging instructor and a skilled martial artist. He provides the perfect model for students to follow and patiently helps them improve their form. The classes involve both group exercises as well as individualized practice and coaching. In addition to Master O, other instructors are present to provide more individualized guidance to students. If you regularly attend classes you will certainly improve your fitness, discipline, and self-defense. This gym is special for other reasons too. I remember one time I arrived early for the adult class, and I heard the owner of the gym, Master Peter, speaking to the children in the youth class. He was telling them the importance of self-control and delayed gratification. He used the example of drinking coca-cola, "It tastes good now, but it's bad for you in the long-term. Drink water instead." He gently encouraged a few students to lose weight, joking with them about it. Seeing those interactions, I realized this gym has a valuable "third space" quality, somewhere other than home and school/work where people can experience a different kind of community, one based on a shared interest, self-improvement, teaching, and learning. This type of space is particularly important for kids in our neighborhood of Koreatown, which has a somewhat rough street life. I think part of the reason that this gym is so resilient and so rooted in its values is that it remains authentically Korean. In the middle of Koreatown, with many instructors who have practiced Taekwondo in Korea, this is probably one of the most authentic Taekwondo gyms anywhere outside of Korea. Edit: After writing the review above, I read some other reviews of this gym. A few complain about the owner being "rude" or lacking "customer service" skills. In truth, this place shouldn't be compared to a regular "business." It's more like a school, meaning people who go there aren't really "customers," they're students, or parents of students. The owner is qualified not by being an entrepreneur and his salesmanship skills, but by being a grandmaster at Taekwondo. So no, the owner is not going to push classes on you like a used care salesman. He's going to tell you to come and see a class to see if it's something you really want to do, then do a first month at a discount to try it out, then you can sign up for a longer term if you enjoy it. This is not a McDojo where the owner is trying to sell as many belts as he can; it's a true school where the owner takes pride in his students and wants them to be as best as they can be.

So far we are happy with the training and dedication of the classes, my two boys are getting better and enjoying more fun of Karate then their tablet or video games, Master Kim and he’s staff are honest and they really do enjoy working with kids very happy and always have a smile on he’s face thank you we hope we can continue with these journey together and teach our kids self defense and some good discipline.

The Do San Taekwondo Gym is a very nice and professional gym. The owner is being misunderstood as the Taekwondo Gym is a house of discipline and order where one is to stay focused. My little brother goes to this school and is a red belt.Also the plaza is a public area and it is recommended that you drop off your child at taekwondo gym as the instructors will be able to teach them.You need to go in person to talk about registration and becoming a member of the gym.

Where should I start from.. ever since I joined this family things have changed for me in general. From being at home all the time to practicing martial arts 24/7. I encourage anyone who is interested in learning new things that can benefit you in the future. We learn different types of skills. Mainly strength,speed, and discipline. Masters are very nice. They try their best to explain and help you as much as they can. I recommend this place to any adults or kids out there!

My son and daughter have been learning taekwondo here for about 4 years, and they love it. The Grand Master here may seem rude at first, but when you meet him and talk to him, you’ll find that he is a warm-hearted person who loves children. He remembers each child’s name and tries to help them with their individual needs. If a child is talented or follows instructions well, the Grand Master gives them extra training to help them improve. He himself represented Korea at the World Olympic Games, has coaching staff experience with the U.S. National Team, and is now the Vice President of the U.S. Taekwondo Association, a position appointed by Kukkiwon in Korea. Based on his experience and his own talents, I am honored that he is passing on his knowledge to our children.