Great grassroots, community dojo with a big heart. Classes are small and fun. Lots of variety from kickboxing to grappling to self defence. Good learning, hard workouts, lots of laughs.. I also grew some abs. What more can you ask for?

This place has helped out our community immensely! A few years ago there was only one free women’s self defense class in town that I could find. It was held by APD and I wanted there to be more options for women. My friends Emily and Judith put on a benefit show and raised money to hold classes on self defense at the Shifting Sands Dojo. They were very accommodating to our budget and always welcoming to all levels and situations. They held the class weekly no matter how big or small the group of women that showed up was. This went on for a few years. Thank you to the instructors and especially Mike, you’re amazing and appreciated! We love this place!!!

A great school that welcomes people from all skill levels and backgrounds. With an emphasis on real life applications that foregoes the fluff of most traditional martial arts schools. So happy to have found this hidden gem

Fantastic Dojo! The instructors are amazing and diverse in their specializations, and the environment is very open and welcoming. There is a great instructor to member ratio and something for every level from beginner to advanced.

Response - What association are you accredited with. I would like to know.___Not an accredited school in any of the martial art disciples. The Instructor and owner explained that he was a Blackbelt in Hapkido. But had no basic knowledge or understanding of the art.

I worked out here for months and they do a great job at both technique and fitness.

Great family friendly environment. You really feel welcome there any time.

Amazing instructors, small class sizes (10-20), really friendly group.

When i first came at the dojo in 2013, my kickboxing moves were lousy and so my english, I was confused to switch from French boxing (savate), that ive been practicing before in France, to kickboxing. Michael (the main instructor) was patient and very friendly to me, he is an endless source of positive energy, i still learn a lot from him.

Ive put in over a years training at Shifting Sands and learned everything from combat Hapkido to kick boxing and jiu-jitsu.Michael is a great teacher and was especially patient with me since I had zero previous knowledge going into this.The dojo itself had evolved over the last couple years as they continue to upgrade the equipment and make changes to allow for more actual grappling and stand up practice.Beyond all of the above, it is a well kept, clean environment where you can get a great workout in while learning how to defend yourself. Great thing for everyone to know!

Shifting Sands Dojo is a gem of a dojo in Albuquerque. It is a facility tucked in between a pinata store and a barber shop, a facility that is equipped with punching bags, mats, boxing gloves, and everything anybody needs to begin training to be a NINJA. Or so our instructor tells us. You walk towards the dojo, heading east on Lead, nod hello to the people in the barber shop, step past the large sign outside the door that says DOJO, and catch your first glimpse of the interior. You see blue mats covering the floor, catch your reflection in the long mirrors to the right, and listen to the Chili Peppers, because that is likely what is playing. Then, if youre new, or even if youve been there for a year, a smiling face will greet you, the smiling face of a tall, lanky instructor in a gray tank. If youre new, hell smile widely and say, Hey, are you new? And if youre a veteran, hell say, Woah, way to skip Jujutsu on Tuesday! Either way, youll feel at ease because this is Mike, the head instructor at the dojo.Though the dojo is excellent in too many ways to count, it is Mike and the rest of the members at the dojo that make it what it is-a martial arts home away from home. I started at the dojo literally a few days ago and already feel lasting friendships being formed. Once you start at the dojo, well invite you to everything. Youll become part of our squad and grapple with us, box with us, and even go eat post-workout dinner at Bandidos with us. Its very different from the other martial arts gyms in Albuquerque, in which there are hundreds of people to a class and you rarely get one-on-one time with the instructor. At Shifting Sands, a great chunk of our class is very qualified and theyre constantly helping the amateurs like me.If youre not sold already, just come here for how cheap it is. 50 bucks a month for classes almost everyday of the week and TONS of one-on-one time with skilled martial artists. Shifting Sands is great if youre a beginner, if you just want to work out, or even if you want to get a black belt in Hapkido, because we can help you do that. Well punch each other, grapple with each other, eat with each other, laugh with each other, and together, become the best fighters that we can. So... check us out.