Kaizen Dojo has provided my family martial arts training and fitness in this social distancing era. From the Dojo to online classes, Sensei William Ford has proven to be outstanding and committed to providing professional training to adults and children alike.

I’ve attended a few of Sensei Ford’s Adult Self Defense Classes in the past and I’m looking forward to attending more. He teaches you from the psychology of self defense to escapes to physical combat. He teaches you easy to learn tools that you can apply to your daily life that make all the difference. It has definitely impacted my life for the better.

Kaizen dojo and Sensei William Ford are the absolute best! My oldest son started going there as a very shy boy and was very hesitant to even start. Sensei Ford was very compassionate and understanding and told us not to worry and he can come and observe the classes until he feels ready; until then, not to worry. Fast forward three years, and my young man now has a lot of confidence, is respectful and listens well, and has earned his tiger stripe (orange and black) belt, in part due to this wonderful Sensei. Sensei Ford is an excellent teacher in not just martial arts, but also important life lessons, and is a great instructor and role model for the community. He is engaging, listens to and cares for his students, while maintaining discipline and making sure the kids always get a good lesson and workout at the same time.Since then, our middle boy has started karate right before the pandemic, however even through the shut down order is still able to participate though Senseis innovative Zoom virtual classes. Whoever thought karate could still be so fun and comprehensive from home? Even with the reopening of businesses, Sensei is going double time and providing a safe, socially distant reopening with the proper social guidelines, while still offering the online zoom classes for those who are hesitant due to COVID concerns. Just shows another facet of his dedication and consideration for others.All in all, please support this great dojo and asset to the community! Sensei Ford, Sensei Rich, Sensei Alvin, Miss Kylie, and everyone there are excellent! Five stars all around!

Kaizen DOJO The Best In Martial Arts Education in LA Stop in and Train With Sensei Ford and His Team Today

My son Max has been going to Kaizen for about 4 years.  We love Sensei Ford.  Sensei Ford has a very different teaching style.  He would teach the kids to protect themselves, dodge, run away.  Unlike many other dojos Ive visited.  Many dojos I see black belt kid running around,  but when you face a LARGE ENEMY, you might not win. (For example 8 yr old black belt vs 20 yr old punk)  Sensei Ford teaches them little by little, gives them confidence and we really see Max grew.  Also, this is a safe heaven, Sensei Ford will not force anything that kids do not want.  But he will teach the kids to discipline themselves.  He is training the good to be better, better to be the best, best to be great.  Our family respects his teaching style and appreciate Sensei Ford very much.

I cannot speak for the training itself as I have not trained here yet, but I am completely amazed by the professionalism and courtesy the owner has displayed during recent correspondence. The level of customer service speaks volumes.

Went to a wonderful self defense class for ages 12 & up with my husband and our 12 year-old twins & it was great!!

Sensei Ford is an amazing instructor. I would recommend this dojo to anyone! My daughter has been attending for 4 years and Im extremely impressed.

*Update*My son was recently having serious issues with another boy at his school who was bullying him. He was getting tackled, thrown to the ground, body checked, called names, etc... As soon as I made Sensei Ford aware of the situation, he went above and beyond to help us. He emailed useful information on how to handle bullying situations and had me bring my son in to see him before dojo hours to work with him. He worked one on one with my son in various physical altercation scenarios to best help him defend himself, as well as what to say, and gave advice on how to emotionally think about the situation. He had him come in early to do this a few times until my son felt confident enough on his own. Sensei Ford has checked in often to see how it has been going. His advice and physical coaching were phenomenal and it worked! My son implemented what he learned for a few days and the boy is now leaving him alone. I really cant say enough about about the support Sensei has provided us. Not only did he give my son the tools and confidence to handle situations like this, but he also helped me in better handling these and also future situations that my son or any child might encounter.OriginalI have observed several different karate studios in different cities. Kaizen Dojo is the best one I have seen. Both Sensei Ford and Sensei Rich are great teachers and have a wonderful rapport with children. My 6 year old son has been attending classes with Sensei Ford for a year and a half and my 4 year old daughter started 3 months ago. Sensei Ford is kind, patient, and funny! He has a positive teaching style that encourages respect, discipline, and fun. He modifies his instruction to meet the age level and/or individual needs of his students and also applies the techniques and skills he teaches to real life situations. There are quite a few martial arts studios within 5 to 10 minutes of my house. I drive 40+ minutes round trip 3 times a week so my children can learn from Sensei Ford. He is that good.

I think everything has already been said. Sensei Ford is the best teacher my daughter has ever had. He is engaging, patient, kind, and respectful of the kids. Highly recommend this dojo!

Sensei Ford is an amazing teacher with so much experience as a Karate instructor. He is very charismatic, funny, and knowledgeable. Ever since I began practicing Karate with him more than 4 years ago, I was taught the fundamentals of what defines a martial art, as well as learn basic and advanced techniques of self-defense. Not only does he teach Karate, but Sensei Ford allows us to participate in a variety of events, whether it be Karate demonstrations or volunteering at the JCI carnival, thus also helping build our social connections and character. Im grateful for having him as my Sensei!

I have been a student of the Kaizen Dojo for over five years now, and I can honestly say that deciding to train here was one of the best decisions I have ever made. From day one, head instructor, Sensei William Christopher Ford, and the other incredible instructors have all created a wonderful learning environment that encourages continual improvement and personal safety. This dojo not only offers classes in the primary style of karate taught, known as Shorin Ryu Karate, but also classes in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Kali.Sensei Ford is fantastic with children! All of the instructors at the Kaizen Dojo take part in teaching students to be safer and more confident, and are extremely patient, kind, and generous with their knowledge. Sensei Ford, along with martial arts, also teaches his students the importance of giving back and paying forward – as he has brought the community together on multiple occasions to support organizations and causes including St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, as well as local food and toy drives. Whether you are looking for a place to study martial arts, learn self defense, or even just get some exercise and have some fun, Kaizen Dojo is definitely a worthwhile location to check out for children, teens, and adults!

6 months ago, I was looking for an activity that would be both educational and fun for my 6 year old daughter and 8 year old son.I came across Sensei William Fords Kaizen Dojo in Torrance.I really appreciate Sensei Fords organic style of teaching, which is down to earth, caring and warm.Hes very good at capturing all the childrens attention (with humor and subtle firmness), while still taking time to talk to each child one on one.He also understands that each child learns at a different pace and caters to different needs, while keeping the class on point throughout each lesson.You can see and feel the genuine desire (from all of the instructors at Kaizen Dojo) to teach the children the discipline of karate, as well as making the learning experience fun, engaging and educational.I would highly recommend Kaizen Dojo and Sensei William Ford to anyone seeking to have their children involved in the martial arts. It helps them to focus, teaches them discipline, and builds their confidence that will carry over into their everyday life.

Sensei Ford is a fantastic teacher! My 9 year old son has a disability and generally does not do well in a class setting but enjoys going to Kaizen Dojo. Sensei Ford is extremely patient and has a fun and positive yet firm teaching style that my son takes well to. He encourages my son to do his best even if its not at the level of his peers.I highly recommend Sensei Ford and Kaizen Dojo!

My 7 yr old daughter and 4 yr old son both attend Kaizen Dojo. They absolutely love doing their karate. Sensei Ford and his assistants Sensei Jade, Senpai, and several higher belted students that help out have unimaginable patience with the kids. I truly dont know how they do it. The kids learn so much and not just how to kick or punch. Sensei Ford makes a point of teaching life lessons like how to do a proper hand shake to the importance of using good manners and being respectful. We hope to spend many years here through our childrens karate journey.

I have known Sensei William Ford since 1995. At that time he was already a 3rd degree black belt in Shorin-ryu karate. We trained together and he also had some students that he taught privately. I recently visited Kaizen dojo to see how Sensei William Fords classes were going.I am happy to say that Sensei Ford is now a 5th degree black belt in Shorin-Ryu and attends annual seminars in differnt martial arts disiplines to broaden his knowledge base. He is open to all displines in martial arts and welcomes anyone that is willing to learn. He has a lot of karate kids that absolutely love coming to class! The parents are happy with their childs progress and some of them even consider taking classes themselves.The people here are friendly and helpful. This is an Ohana dojo, with a very family oriented focus. Students are members of the same family or become close to their peers assimilating a family unit. Training is fun and challenging for all ages and levels.Definitely a 5-star activity for the entire family!

Ive had the pleasure of dropping in and out of Kaizen Dojos classes run by Sensei Ford, and recently my own friend Sensei Anthony. I heard about Kaizen Dojo through Sensei Anthony as we were good college buddies when I travel down to visit him from time to time I always try my best to attend a Kaizen Dojo class!Kaizen Dojo has an extremely welcoming and open environment, I always enjoy attending class and Sensei Ford has always been very welcoming! I actually train in a separate style from the Kobayashi Shorin-Ryu that Sensei Ford has extensive knowledge of, as a Matsubayashi Shorin-Ryu practitioner its always interesting to see the variation and differences between the two styles. Thankfully Sensei Ford has an open mind and can appreciate the differences of many martial arts styles, at the end of the day there is always something to be learnt from any martial art!I really enjoy the atmosphere of the dojo, whether youre a child or an adult there is always a class available to you and a sensei willing to teach you. I can not stress this enough: if you train at Kaizen Dojo you are truly lucky to be blessed with great knowledge, and great hours! Im always envious of the regulars at the dojo, trust me having access to high quality karate instruction and knowledge 6 days a week is something to be truly envious of!I highly recommend this dojo and if youve practiced a different style of martial arts dont shy away! Give a class a whirl and see for yourself if its a good fit for you, your child, your sibling, your friend, or anyone! Trust me, I doubt you will be disappointed; if anything youll walk away feeling empowered and motivated to start training!

Since moving to Southern California, I have been attending this dojo for the past two years. I have to say that out of my 10+ years of training in martial arts at many locations and styles, this has to be one of the best dojos. The instructor, Sensei William Christopher Ford is an amazing teacher. He is excellent with both children and adults.Sensei Ford has extensive knowledge of Shorin-Ryu and karate history. Karate classes include learning kihon (basics), kata (forms), kobudo (weapons), and much more. Kaizen Dojo also offers other classes such as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu which is absolutely amazing too. The atmosphere is very peaceful and filled with great people.I actually lived all the way in West Los Angeles and drove down to Kaizen Dojo every week to train with Sensei Ford. The trip was always worth it and I always looked forward to classes. I highly recommend this dojo whether its for your child or for yourself. Whether youre a beginner or veteran, Kaizen Dojo will surely impress you.

Kaizen Dojo is a great place to learn the discipline of the martial arts. Sensei Ford has over 40 plus of experience. He has a very humble and self depreciating way of teaching his vast knowledge of the martial arts. He gives equal support to students who are quick learners as well as students who need more time to pick up the various skills that are being taught.Along with Sensei Ford, Sensei Anthony and Senpai Rich also are excellent instructors and provide a pleasant way of helping the students out.There is a family like atmosphere at the dojo. The students are there to support each other. Students are taught the value of teamwork when performing the drills that are being taught.In addition to teaching karate, the dojo offers yoga classes taught by Yvette Hamaya who also provides great instruction to those interested in yoga.I highly recommend Kaizen Dojo to all levels of students interested in practicing karate as well as those that practice yoga.

I began my training under the late Sensei Richard Rabago in 1982. I was 12 years old at the time. At the Dojo I met Sensei William Christopher Ford, a young man and already a talented Martial Artist who was seasoned beyond his years. The best Black Belt Ive seen, training under the honorable Sensei Rabago. I was constantly amazed of his skills. Sensei William trained hard and taught with patience and wisdom. Having the ability to be kind and compassionate, then competitive when the time came to take it to the mat. I trained hard and loved my Karate family. I always say Sensei Rabago and Sensei Ford helped mold a young girl into a strong and proud woman, from the training and lessons I learned in the Dojo. I regret not thanking Sensei Rabago enough for what he did for me, I will take this opportunity to properly thank you Sensei Ford...thank you Sensei, your humble student

A word of warning: this review is a long one! There wasnt a short way for me to write down all the details about what a great experience weve had so far at Kaizen Dojo, so here we go...My 4-year old son has been taking karate classes at Kaizen Dojo for the last 9 months. Sensei Ford and his team of instructors are very good with the kids. They are patient and really know how to run each class so that the kids get a good balance of learning/practice coupled along with fun (and lots of laughter for everyone).A typical class consists of warm-up, various drills and then each child practices the katas (forms) that they are currently learning... and if theyre persistent enough in asking, the kids might be lucky enough to enjoy 1 to 2 games of dodge ball afterwards! Throughout the class, the instructors constantly give constructive feedback. Sensei Ford and his instructors genuinely care for the kids and their progress. They create a safe and fun environment for everyone. On the days when it seems that the kids are bouncing off the walls and have unlimited energy, Sensei Ford and Sempai Rich have a way with harnessing that extra energy and getting the kids to focus on improving their katas and skills.Heres some color on our familys story at Kaizen Dojo. Six months ago during our first visit to the dojo, my son was extremely shy and refused to participate even though he was warmly welcomed by the instructors and students. My first impression of the dojo was that it was clean and well kept. The students were well behaved and seemed to really have fun during class, and on top of that, Sensei Ford was very friendly and easygoing, never once making me feel obligated to make a decision right away on whether to sign up for lessons. He encouraged me to bring my son back several times so that we could assess whether this would be the right fit for him.Knowing in my heart that my son would have fun (if only he could come out of his shell), I brought him back consistently 2-3 times a week in hopes that he would start to participate. In the beginning, it was like pulling teeth and there were days when I would go home thinking, Maybe hes not ready for karate classes. Sensei Ford patiently and diligently worked on gaining my sons trust by inviting him to join the class whenever he felt that he was ready (there was no pressure and Sensei Ford was very encouraging). During that month, my son began to get on the mat more often and join the class during drills. It finally came to the point where he stayed on the mat for the entire duration of the class (and actually enjoyed it)! As a parent, it was such a great feeling to see this and get confirmation that all of the time I spent bringing my son back to karate was not wasted. Fast forward to 5 months later, my son is really enjoying karate, has made so many new friends and has become more confident. In June, he was promoted to yellow belt and it was such a rewarding experience to see him accomplish this!In my opinion, there are so many positive aspects related to learning martial arts. Its a given that youll learn self-defense and gain self-confidence. There are other things that youll learn that are less obvious but equally important like discipline, self-respect, comradery and humility. If you are looking for a safe, fun and supportive environment where your child will be able to learn all of this stuff, then please give Kaizen Dojo a try!