Once upon a time, in the sunny, golden state of California, where palm trees sway and waves are surfers' playgrounds, there existed a secret clan of children. No, they were not ordinary children, they were the California Hapkido Kids! These sprightly kids spent their days not just in skateboarding, surfing or munching tacos, but in the ancient Korean martial art of Hapkido. Our story centers around the most mischievous of them all, a lad by the name of Chuckling Charlie. Charlie, surprisingly, wasn't the biggest or the strongest, but he was the fastest, and oh boy, he had a laughter that could echo all across the Pacific. He was as swift as a cheetah, agile as a gazelle, and he could perform a tornado kick faster than you could say "Hollywood". But the funniest thing about him was that every time he'd land a perfect kick or dodge a punch, he'd let out a big chuckle, causing everyone around to erupt into laughter, even his opponents. Charlie and the Hapkido Kids were the embodiment of the California spirit, full of energy, diversity, and laughter. They could be found practicing their whirling kicks and punches on sunny beaches, amidst tall Redwoods, or even on the tops of the Sierra Nevada mountains. They practiced Hapkido, not to fight, but to learn discipline, respect, and to stand up for what's right, all while having barrels of fun. And every time Charlie's chuckle echoed across the land, everyone knew the California Hapkido Kids were in action.
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What began in a humble New York City apartment with just a single student, Spark, has since blossomed into an enriching program impacting thousands of children. Our unique educational approach combines the elements of art, yoga, meditation, and nature to create a holistic learning environment. This distinctive blend is what sets Spark apart, allowing us to reach and inspire a multitude of children in truly meaningful ways. With an array of offerings to accommodate various schedules and needs, Spark has something for everyone. Our services extend beyond the standard after school and weekend classes to include holiday and summer camps, birthday parties, portfolio preparation, private classes, and custom pods. We also welcome homeschool groups and are thrilled to announce the recent addition of a forest school program to our repertoire. You can find Spark on-site in various schools and at our main studio located in the Upper West Side. But we're not stopping there - we're also planning to expand to the Upper East Side and Brooklyn. For our families in Pennsylvania, we run the program from our family studio there. And if you're not in close proximity to any of our locations, don't worry. We offer in-home instruction and virtual options to ensure that Spark can reach you, no matter where you are. We invite you to explore all the ways you can experience Spark and look forward to helping bring our program to you.


The Stronghold in Point Loma/Ocean Beach is a family-owned and operated business that has been serving the San Diego community since 2007. Here, families can find high-quality Jiu Jitsu, Self-Defense and Fitness instruction in a nurturing and friendly environment. We are proud to offer our programs to those as young as age 3, so that everyone in the family can participate. The Stronghold is committed to helping families learn and grow together. We invite you to come and try out our classes for free. Sign up for your first class today and see why we have been a staple of the San Diego community for more than a decade. At The Stronghold, we believe that families should be able to enjoy learning and growing together. That’s why we offer a wide variety of Jiu Jitsu, Self-Defense and Fitness classes for all ages, starting at age 3. Our family-friendly environment makes it easy to learn something new and have a great time while doing it. If you’re looking for a place to learn and have fun with your family, The Stronghold is the perfect choice. Come and try out our classes for free and see why we have been a trusted source for quality instruction in the San Diego community since 2007. Sign up for your first class today and join the Stronghold family.


Located in Orange County, conveniently between the 55 and 405 freeway off of Red Hill Avenue, it’s the premier destination to learn combat and fitness arts. Experience the power of Kuk Sool, a martial art of the South Korean Special Forces (수색대대) and the royal bodyguards (궁중무술). Ancient Arts Dojang is the US headquarters for Kuk Sool Kwan Hapkido (국술관), and offers a comprehensive selection of skills ranging from striking and submissions to higher level techniques intended for self-defense, special forces or bodyguards. Ancient Arts is also a great place to experience the self-development and self-awareness that come with Kuk Sool. At Ancient Arts, you can also explore a variety of other classes and services, including Ju-jitsu, Taijiquan, Aikijutsu, Yoga, Personal Training, Acupuncture, Oriental Music and a Children’s Program. Conveniently located between the 55 and 405 freeway off of Red Hill Avenue in Orange County, Ancient Arts is the premier destination to learn combat and fitness arts.