Sanford’s Martial Arts

Taking my POST certified defensive tactics courses here and the facility and staff are amazing

This is an awesome place! Rod Sanford and son Sean Sanford run a family friendly, positive, well-​rounded dojo. All of the instructors are patient, understanding, and great role models. I am so glad that we found this treasure. Come check it out and see for yourself.

Surprised to see only glowing reviews on here. Daughter been going for several years & is serious about martial arts. I find the leadership somewhat flaky and inconsistent — several of he best teachers left during our time and it feels like the remainder mediocre. One teacher for some reason puts kids on the bench as a time out if she feels like they are not listening which goes against their whole philosophy of respect; if the kids are so unmanageable perhaps they should leave the dojo; no other teacher seems to use that tactic — confusing. There are also many times I wonder why certain people are promoted to the next belt. There is also a huge push to pull in new students and you really feel that with the constant friends days with cheap treats offered as a reward for bringing a potential new customer, kids get «raffle tickets» if they bring friends etc etc. Just feels kind of yucky, you’d think they could manage marketing without involving the kids. We’re sticking w it as our daughter is quite advanced and committed to this practice; hope to move to Mr. Wakefield’s dojo over the hill which is more rigorous and focused.

I can’t say enough good things about this place, everyone involved is professional, courteous and enthusiastic about what they do. My son is only 5 and so I wasn’t sure he had the focus needed for karate. The awesome instructors quickly figured out how to engage him and he keep him on task, being both firm and kind. They give wonderful «mat chats» at the end of each session on things like safety, respect, authority etc. I very much appreciate the way they manage to give each child individual attention even in a group class setting. Miraculously, they know every child’s name and they all get one on one attention. I couldn’t be more pleased, great program, wonderful staff, a spotlessly clean setting and a great overall experience for our family. We will definitely keep coming back and refer all our friends. My son begs to go and says he LOVES karate and that it is AWESOME just about every day!
Oh and they also offer an incredibly accommodating flex type schedule that allows your child to attend 2 x a week on any day of the week the class is offered. A HUGE plus for busy parents managing multiple kids!

We had heard great things about this studio for years from friends and school mates but my son wasn’t ready to start until this year, at age 9. Now he loves it so much he’s disappointed if we have to miss a class. He loves the studio, the instructors and all the rituals and traditions.
We love that he is learning discipline, respect, and most of all patience. We love that they include self-​defense techniques as part of the curriculum so he is also learning how to avoid conflict and get himself out of any dangerous situation that might come up.
We highly recommend this studio.

Our home away from home! Our family has participated at the dojo for three years now.
I appreciate the value system instilled from the exceptionally talented & personable sensei’s (teachers). All who teach do so from the heart and lead by example. This dojo runs like a well oiled machine.

I have studied the Martial Arts at Rod Sandford’s Martial Arts for 10 years and was an instructor there for many years. What I love about the dojo is that there is something for everybody. From the easygoing student who is looking for a new workout to the hardcore martial artist you will find what you are looking for here. I personally started when I was 12 and grew up training in the Dojo. It build the foundation for the rest of my life.
What makes this a fantastic dojo is that there are classes for every age group with specialty classes weekly. They have an outstanding children’s program that starts out with 4 year olds and help them develop their motor and memory skills. They can then promote up to the basic children’s classes that start at age 6 which continues to develop physical skills and also life characteristic skills. The dojo promotes such characteristics as honesty, integrity, patience, respect all characteristics that develop children and adults into well respected and accomplished citizens.
For teenagers it provides a place where you can meet friends along with developing all the skills and characteristics listed above. Another great part of training and progressing in this dojo is the opportunity for teenagers to become assistant instructors where learn how to teach and give back to the younger students of the dojo. This builds strong characteristics in leadership and communication.
Adults have the opportunity to train with others from their late teens to well into their 70s. The dojo promotes an environment that does not isolate beginners and has advanced student strive to help and challenge beginners to their respected levels. Along with a very open scheduling system all student are able to pick classes that work with their schedule that are available 6 days a week with mornings and nights.
The most important part of our dojo is that it is a family. Every student, instructor and family member is there to help one another. What I feel is special is how many times I have seen parents and their children both sign up in the martial arts and train allowing them to share a common ground with one another.

I have practiced and instructed Shorinji Ryu Karate under the patient guidance of Sensei Rod Sanford and his son, Head Instructor Sean Sanford for about 12 years. Their Dojo includes two large padded-​floor rooms, a large office, and separate men’s and women’s locker rooms and bathrooms. Martial arts instruction is offered in Traditional Karate, Tai Chi, Aiki (Japanese) Jujitsu, and Traditional Weaponry.
Classes are offered Monday through Saturday with class times ranging from morning to afternoon to evening. The schedule includes separate classes for Pre-​Karate (age 4 – 6), Youth Basis, Youth Advanced, Adult Basis and Intermediate, and Adult Advanced, as well as separate Tai Chi classes several days a week. Each class is taught by a Head Instructor and 2 – 3 other trained black belt instructors, so individual attention is added to group instruction and practice.
Sensei Sanford is also a nationally respected instructor in Law Enforcement Defensive Tactics and has provided invaluable training in self-​defense to numerous police academy instructors and police officers throughout the state of California and elsewhere. The Dojo is located in the middle of Soquel Village with plenty of parking.