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Defense Arts Center
5 ★★★★★ 21 Google reviews · Karate dojo in Upland, California
Affiliated dojo — reviews and the dojo's own info point to a recognized Karate style organization or franchise (think Shotokan/JKA, Kyokushin, Goju-Ryu, Isshinryu, Tiger Schulmann's or Villari's). If lineage matters to you, ask which style and organization the dojo belongs to, and under whom the head sensei earned their black belt.
Plan your first class
- Membership memberships around $100/mo — many dojos also offer a discounted first month and family plans, so ask about new-student rates
- Beginner-friendly all levels welcome, including total beginners — you don't need to be fit or have any experience to start
- Kids & youth classes kids and youth Karate classes (ages 7–12) — built around discipline, focus, and confidence
- Private lessons private, one-on-one instruction available — a focused way to start or to work around a busy schedule; ask about availability and rates
- Weapons / kobudo traditional weapons (kobudo) classes — kata with the bo, sai, and nunchaku, taught with control and discipline
- Adult classes adult Karate classes — training built for grown-ups, from fitness and fundamentals to kumite (sparring) at your own pace
- Competition team a competition team for students who want to test themselves at kumite tournaments
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule defense-arts-center.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 951-204-0341
Hours
| Monday | 5–9 pm |
| Tuesday | 5–9 pm |
| Wednesday | 5–9 pm |
| Thursday | 5–9 pm |
| Friday | 5–9 pm |
| Saturday | 8 am–3 pm |
| Sunday | 10 am–3 pm |
The classes they run
“My son has been going to DAC for a year now and it's been a great experience for him.”
“His karate program teaches kihon (basic moves), kata (forms) and kumite (sparring), as well as self-defense movements.”
“His karate program teaches kihon (basic moves), kata (forms) and kumite (sparring), as well as self-defense movements.”
“His karate program teaches kihon (basic moves), kata (forms) and kumite (sparring), as well as self-defense movements.”
“The first time I walked in Ty greeted me and my Dad and we spoke for about an hour.”
Other martial arts here
“His karate program teaches kihon (basic moves), kata (forms) and kumite (sparring), as well as self-defense movements.”
What students say
“Friendly staff and instructors, comfortable welcoming atmosphere, everything is kept very clean and the rooms are simply beautiful!”
“Thus, any progress a karateka makes (symbolized by the awarding of a belt) is real and earned; this is something my family and I value very much.”
“The instructors are really supportive and helpful, they each know very well the techniques they are teaching and how to work out a person's pace.”
“His karate program teaches kihon (basic moves), kata (forms) and kumite (sparring), as well as self-defense movements.”
“Defense Arts Center is the place to go if you are interested in learning or having your child learn authentic, traditional Japanese Karate.”
“Sensei Ty Aponte and Sensei David Blair are particularly top notch and highly respected in the Karate community, along with many other excellent instructors.”
From the reviews
One of the best thing I've done in the recent years is signing up for Karate at Defense Arts Center in Upland. The journey has been wonderful. I get to be trained under some of the best and most dedicated teachers in this area.
My son, Alexander, has been attending this Dojo since 2017. He came with some karate experience, but the rigor and instruction at Defense Arts Center by so many of the instructors was so much more than he had experienced before.
Sensei Ty Aponte is one of the most kind and caring people I've ever met. USKL is an amazing place with an amazing and long history.
Friendly staff and instructors, comfortable welcoming atmosphere, everything is kept very clean and the rooms are simply beautiful!
New to Karate? Start at Defense Arts Center
Defense Arts Center comes up as a beginner-friendly dojo — noted on their own site. If you've never thrown a punch or set foot in a dojo, that's exactly who a good beginners program is for. A few things worth knowing before your first week. First, you don't need to be fit or flexible to start — you get in shape by training, not before it, and the sensei scales the intensity to you. Second, you won't be thrown into hard sparring — reputable dojos build fundamentals (stances, blocks, punches, and kicks) for weeks, and kumite (sparring) eases in gradually, with pads and control. Third, all levels and ages really are welcome — ask about a dedicated beginners or fundamentals class time so your first session is alongside others who are also starting out. Most dojos are happy to let you watch or try a class first, so reach out before you commit.
Your first Karate class at Defense Arts Center
Nervous about walking into a Karate dojo for the first time? Almost everyone is, and a good sensei expects beginners to come through the door. Here's what to know. What to expect: a typical first class is a warm-up, then drilling basic stances, blocks, punches, and kicks — not hard sparring. Step to the side whenever you need to; no one will bat an eye. What to wear: athletic wear you can move in (or a gi if you have one); you'll train barefoot. What to bring: water, and a mouthguard if you have one — many dojos lend a loaner gi for a first class, so it's worth asking when you call. As you keep training you'll add your own gi and the belt your dojo awards you. Kumite (sparring) eases in gradually, once your fundamentals are solid. Arrive 10–15 minutes early to sign a waiver and meet the sensei. It gets easier fast — most people feel far more at home by their third class.
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