If there was an option for a negative star it would still be too much for the scam the Headquarters of this place pulls. I travel for work and was visiting the Florida area so instead of doing recurring payments, I paid cash for my first month and decided a month to month option provided the most flexibility. The instructor was very skilled in her art but after attending 4 classes, I left Florida for health reasons and never returned back to the school but got a bill for 2 months of service. When I emailed Headquarters to explain my situation and tell them I been stopped going they basically told me they dont care about that and if they cancel my contract it would be from the date we spoke meaning they are going to charge me for an additional month in between. One of the students in the class was having the same issues as me one day in class and was told HQ handles the money. If you are reading this, please save yourself the headache....

Great Instructors! Awesome Programs! The facility is large and very nice. The staff is great and very knowledgable. I highly recommend to anyone looking to start martial arts, as well as to all instructor looking for additional training. I was just there for great training. The training was perhaps some of the best I have had in my martial arts career. Thanks to Chief Master Clark and his staff for their training and example that they set for the martial arts world.

The Masters Gathering Seminar was the best, most professionally run seminar I have attended. Nothing was left to chance. Everything from scheduling, structure, organization, cleanliness and the quality of teaching can all be summed up to one word: PROFESSIONALISM!!Obviously others have felt the same. After the first set of classes - it was clear that the bar is set high - providing an example for all of us to reference as we thought about how we would either bring or change the structure in our schools.If there has to be only seminar a year that I could attend - it would be with Chief Master Clark in Jacksonville.

If you have never gone to a certification with them or listen to Grand Master Clark speak it is a very humbling experience. The wealth of knowledge in that building just wow!

There is no better place to learn martial arts in Florida! The facilities are top notch, a step above anything else out there. The instructors and staff are extremely talented and capable. Everything is run with such precision, nothing is done half way, nothing is left half taught. You can be assured that when you are done with a class, you have learned everything you possibly can, and youll be hungry for next time. This is a school you could spend your entire life in and still be loving every minute. The professionalism and excellence of this school is perfect, and you will love every minute of training with everyone.

The seminar was one of the best seminars I have ever attended in 25 years. The staff did an amazing job from the moment I arrived through the time I left. I was proud to be a part of so many masters training in one building all at the same time. It was clear to me that all of my associate Masters and school owners all had the same thing in common. We want our schools to continue to offer the best and the most state of the art in learning martial arts. Thank you again Master Clark and all of your staff members.Senior Master David Berry

My son started with Karate America in 2001. Yes, I spent a lot of money, and I would do it again. There were times he wanted to quit but I would not allow him to. I watched so many parents sign contracts expecting their kid to become great over night and then when they didnt, get mad and want out of their contract. They usually are spoiled brats whose parents cater to their every whim, thought their kid would look cute in a karate uniform. If you truly want your child to get excellent training, and learn discipline and self control, you need to give it time and not allow them to whine and quit.

Amazing place and staff

The Staff at Chief Master Clarks Karate America is top rate. They went out of their way to make all of us feel comfortable while training at the Warriors Gathering. I cant wait for the next level of training. Thank you !!!

SCAM!!!Please be aware of this company . My special needs kid tried them for 2 days and he did not like it. We asked them to cancel the membership and they said it is done. The next month they email us saying they charged us for this month and that they will continue charging us. We cpntacted the local place but they reffered us to a phone number that no one answers and a corporate gmail. What a joke!

After our 5-year-old attended Karate America Neptune Beach for 10 months, his instructor ABRUPTLY DISAPPEARED. We received no communication from the school or Karate America Headquarters (in fact...3 weeks later, we still have not received an official explanation regarding his departure). One day we showed up for training and the door was locked, the lights were off, and another parent drove up to tell us that class was cancelled that day. We never saw the instructor again after that.We tried 4 classes with new instructors (different each time) and our child left crying each time. We talked through the challenge but after 4 negative experiences and a total lack of consistency, we decide as a family that we were done with karate.I contacted Karate America Headquarters to notify them of our cancellation and they informed me that we were still bound by the 30 days notice in our contract. I asked them if they felt that was fair considering the fact that we were given ZERO notice that the head instructor was leaving. Her response was that the school was given less than 2 weeks notice and that there was nothing they could do about it. When I asked why, if they knew 2 weeks before he was leaving, that they didnt tell anyone....she said she assumed he had told his classes on his own. My guess is that they feared a mass cancellation of memberships so they kept it a secret for as long as possible until they could reach the next billing cycle.Her attempt at a compromise was to let my son continue to attend for a month and then cancel his membership...which I told her was the same thing as holding me to a 30 day cancellation.Its just so disappointing that after paying almost $2,000 for memberships and uniforms and equipment that we dont get a phone call, an email, or even a mass text about major changes in the school. And then, instead of doing the right thing and letting students opt out...they hide behind a contract to suck an extra $149 out of parents who bought into the system that would ultimately fail them.

I paid for a year in advance for my son. However, he is unable to continue attending, so I spoke to the local Karate America Studio he goes to about a refund. They directed me to corporate HQ in Jacksonville. I called and emailed them about refunding me for the few months that he has left and they refused to do anything saying they do not refund memberships and gave me reasons that were never disclosed when I signed my son up last year. This is after spending the last four years or so giving them around $2,000+ a year for my sons classes. Apparently, the owner is not rich enough that he has to steal his customers money in this way. After their email response, I called back but nobody would answer. Atrocious business practices after they charge so much for classes and equipment and I was a loyal customer for years.

We came prepared to hang with the best people on the planet and we were rewarded with high intensity, spectacular planning, gracious hospitality and world class everything! Thanks to Master Clark and his great instructional staff and admin support for all you did for us that week-end and all you do!

Everything is fantastic until something happens and you can’t attend. They will charge you and charge you and charge you and there is no way to cancel. A royal pain. DO NOT SIGN A CONTRACT WITH THE KARaTE AMERICA AT 2771 MONUMENT RD JACKSONVILLE FL 32225. I hope you read this before it’s too late. Always do your research, there are other reviews out there i wish I saw before I signed. This is only my experience with this location. I believe they are all individually owned. I don’t know if it is the same contract for all.

I started the kickboxing classes last week because I actually love the art of it. My son does TKD at their monument location so I wanted to check it out. Paola C is such an amazing instructor. From my experience, my stepdaughter joined the Krav Maga classes with Instructor C and absolutely loves it. A nice bonus is that I can bring my toddler with me and shes not getting in the way. It is a nice family friendly environment to learn.

SCAM. I bought a Groupon for each of my children for 16 classes at $30 each. I knew Id have to buy the uniforms and was OK with that but when I went to the studio I was not given that option but rather had a choice between 2 sums both equal to my car payment. I signed up because I thought I could make it work; I cant. When I brought this to the attention of the Master, he yelled at me across the lobby full of parents. Embarrassing. It took me several tries to get in contact with the headquarters for cancellation and because of this I am now in debt for another month I cannot pay but after speaking with the board of directors I can pay an additional fee to cancel. My total is now thus; groupon 60 + deposit 112 + monthly 278 + cancellation 150 = $600 for my children to take not even the full 16 classes. The worst part is that my children love the class but it is a ripoff for a single parent like me who brings home $1500/month.

I have done a few Warrior X Fit classes, 2 of their boot camps, as well as training in Krav Maga and Fight Club and always leave feeling better than when I came. Mr And Mrs Alfaro are amazing instructors and I look forward to my next training with them.

I began in 1982 and attended up to 1985, Martial Arts training have come along way since then and even back in my day Master Clark was one of the first to implement cutting edge technology to enhance the training and learning of his students. To this day he provides everything you could want or ask for and has created the means to do it but having said that it is important to realize that everyone is unique in their abilities and developing skills does take time. This is up to each individual and practice(home and /or at the schools) and attitude is what will advance one in their career regardless if your a professional or a novice. Regardless if your pursuit it as a sport, interested in self defense or just moving up the belt ranks. It is up to you or your kid to apply what is taught and not all material will come easy or be within ones ability. Like any sport or physical activity this is true regardless if it martial arts, or dance, or who your instructor is or who they affiliated with. The ATA is a good organization and Master Clark has been involved with several aspects of Sport Karate even outside of his school and ATA organizational duties. He has invited some legendary (nonTaekwando) figures of the sport to come teach seminars in his schools. I am pleased that I was able to do my training with Master Clark at the start and it served me well even when I trained with others in other martial art styles and with other organizations. I recommended his schools highly!

What is cool to watch is a good scrap between one of the husband and wife instructor teams in an all goes until one hollers I QUIT ! ! ! !

My special needs child attended one if their locations. They treated him terribly left him behind and called him special needs in front of the other kids and embarrassed him then when we froze our account to decide if we would keep the account they told us they dont have to freeze it and charged us anyways.

Fantastic Training at the Masters Gathering ! Loved it ! Will definitely come back.

I travel a few times a year all the way from East Moline, IL to Jacksonville, FL to train in both Krav Maga and Taekwondo and I have never had a wasted trip. All the instructors and Master Instructors are very professional and friendly and always willing to assist you. The training is tough and you leave feeling like you learned and accomplished something every time. I will continue my training with this group of people for many years to come. Not only have I personally grown in my martial arts career, my staff has grown, my students have benefited and my business is thriving. Worth every drop of sweat and every dollar I have ever spent.

Worst karate academy ever the headquarters staff is very rude and nasty don’t care about clients concerns and are very misleading will never recommend to anyone terrible service is more like an overpriced daycare... smh

Money hungry company they dont care about your childs improvement. Dont waste your money with this company

I take classes at K.A. Ponte Vedra, where Master and Mrs Gimenez are both incredible instructors. The other instructors are excellent as well, and Mr Majeski is especially good with the kids. The kickboxing classes are fun and a great workout also. Take some classes - they often have deals where you can go for a couple of months for like $2 per class - very low cost. Then, read the contract before signing, and decide if its for you. If you put your mind and body into it, you will not regret nor quit until youve reached your goal.

Driven to help make a difference!

Great place.