Outstanding experience!!! Very respectful and family oriented setting. The classes provide a good foundation for discipline on top of a great routine work out. As a mom with no previous martial arts experience I have found Tang Soo Do of Santa Fe to be the perfect solution for keeping my three children busy after school while maintaining my own desire to stay active. This is all a bonus on top of the great training in self defense we are receiving. Master Meyers provides a safe and respectful environment to train, backed by many years of experience, his wisdom and integrity always comes through in each class.

I began training with Master Meyer 15 years ago during my Sophomore year at Capital High in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I cant recall if it was my idea or my mothers, but either way it was one of the best decisions of my life. Not only is Master Meyer a fantastic martial artist, but he leads a studio that is talented, diverse and supportive. Ive since trained at schools throughout the US, Germany and Southeast Asia and have yet to find a studio of the same caliber. Whatever your age, whatever your experience, you owe it to yourself to give Tang Soo Do of Santa Fe a try. Tang Soo!

Ive been a student of TSDSF for more than 10 years and I love being part of this school. Master Meyer is an incredible martial artist who is both inspiring and approachable. We are a welcoming school of traditional martial artists who like to practice forms, dissect techniques, perfect kicking and have a laugh or two while were at it. I hope to be training here for another 10, 20, 30+ years!

I highly recommend this small, friendly karate school. I began attending classes with TSD of Santa Fe a few months after my kids started. While they eventually moved on to other things, I continued---for eight years, and counting. Tang Soo Do is now an integral part of my life. When I enter the dojang, I leave behind my everyday troubles and focus on practicing an ancient martial art that greatly improves both body and mind; in fact, it keeps me feeling young in middle age. Master Meyer is an excellent teacher, challenging students to perform their individual best while mastering a large body of knowledge. Class time includes the teaching of basic movements like blocks, kicks and strikes, both empty-handed and weapons forms, free sparring, self-defense techniques, and so on. TSD of Santa Fe is unique in that all levels and ages of students train together in a family-like atmosphere, encouraging and supporting one another. Prospective students are always welcome to come and try out a class or simply observe.

I have been involved with Martial Arts for over twenty years. When I moved to Santa Fe, a decade ago, I wanted to find a school which was rooted in a traditional Asian approach to mind body awareness as well as free of some of the less desirable exaggerated machismo found in more “American” mixed martial arts styles. I tried a few schools in Santa Fe before meeting Master Richard Meyer and his Tang Soo Do of Santa Fe school. I had studied traditional Japanese Karate, and was not at all familiar with Korean style Tang So Do. (Most folks think of Tae Kwon Do, when they think about Korean styles – Tang Soo Do predates that in its development). What I found resonated with me. Tang Soo Do has some similarities to many traditional Okinawan Karate styles – though some of the movements are less “snappy which in my opinion, is much healthier for your adult joints. I also found some of the Korean forms or “Hyungs” are very similar to traditional Japanese “Katas” . Anyone coming from Japanese Karate my recognize some moves.I also appreciate that Master Meyer is not only a master in martial arts, he is also master potter and ceramic artist and presents martial arts training from a deeply intuitive place – from the perspective of one who is extremely aware of how one’s movement affects an outcome. This is something unique about our school.While we do have traditional ranking, found in martial arts schools, our school is not that obsessed with “belt color” and rapid ascension to “Black Belt”. This idea to be particularly American and somewhat intimidating if not a distraction from the real inner development one might come to enjoy in learning to move and exercising in a different way. Advancement is not withheld, but it is not given away too freely either. It really is up to you to internalize and develop yourself to go to the next level.Nor are we are not “Ra Ra” and “Gung Ho”. Nope, no “Kobra Kai” here. If your objective is ego driven and you want to be a ripped video game cage fighter character or cast in a spy / action film, please, THIS IS NOT THE SCHOOL for you.If your objective is to be more whole, fit, self-confident and have greater self-awareness, while learning to defend yourself, your will find kindred spirits at Tang Soo of Santa Fe. Each class begins and ends with meditative contemplation.We do spar (Martial Arts Boxing), but with the utmost self-control and safety. It is entirely optional. No one is going to knock you out. I think often, some people (especially women) become intimidated by this Best culture image of a dojo where folks are pummeling each other. This is not the case with us. You start from where you are and there is no militant growl.Martial Arts is a lifelong sport.You will learn how to move in a different way whether you are a teenager or well into middle age. You will be surprised with where several months of training will take you physically and mentally.Our school (Korean word is “Dojang”) has a very balanced mixture of men and women and young families. We treat each other with respect and dignity and operate more like a community, which is great. It also reasonable.I practice with my school age son, and I believe it had been a great benefit for us to have a shared interest and activity like this. Our goals with martial arts may be different based on where we are in life, but it is wonderful to be able to do this together.I encourage anyone who is curious about martial arts training – whether he or she is a young adult, has children who may want to try it, or even if you are a middle aged adult looking for a great way to get in shape – to come try a month at our school. You may find the school you have been looking for in Santa Fe.M.E. – Tang So Do Santa Fe Student.