Beyond Karate: More Than a Martial Arts School in Santa Monica, CA

Beyond Karate Introduce

In the vibrant coastal city of Santa Monica, California, Beyond Karate stands as a unique and inspiring community center that goes far beyond traditional martial arts instruction. Led by the exceptional Sensei Mallica, this women-owned business has cultivated a supportive and inclusive environment where students of all ages and abilities can thrive. Beyond simply teaching self-defense techniques, the school focuses on the holistic growth of each individual, helping them develop emotional resilience, confidence, and essential life skills. It's a place where discipline is taught with immense care, and where the community truly feels like a family. For residents of Santa Monica and the wider West Los Angeles area, Beyond Karate offers a rare combination of expert physical training and profound personal development, making it an invaluable local resource.

The dedication of Sensei Mallica is a recurring theme among those who have experienced her teaching. Her ability to connect with students, especially children, is described as incredible. She nurtures them from the inside out, providing a safe space for them to be challenged, supported, and cared for. The staff is equally praised for being well-trained, welcoming, and caring, which contributes to the contagious, positive energy that permeates the center. Beyond Karate is not just a place to learn karate; it's a hub for character development and skill-building that impacts students' lives outside of the dojo. This commitment to the overall well-being of the students is what truly sets it apart from other martial arts schools in the region. The school's mission is to empower growth, self-esteem, and confidence, making it a powerful force for good in the local community.

Beyond Karate is conveniently located at 2358 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405, USA. This prime location in Santa Monica makes it highly accessible for residents of the city and neighboring communities in West Los Angeles. The facility is situated on Pico Boulevard, a major thoroughfare, which ensures ease of access for anyone traveling by car. A significant advantage for a busy urban area like Santa Monica is the availability of free parking. The center offers a free parking lot and free street parking, as well as paid street parking options, providing flexible choices for visitors. This is a considerable benefit for families and individuals, eliminating the stress of finding a spot before a class or camp.

In addition to its convenient location and parking options, Beyond Karate is highly committed to accessibility for all. The facility features a wheelchair-accessible entrance, a wheelchair-accessible parking lot, and a wheelchair-accessible restroom. Furthermore, the center has a gender-neutral restroom and proudly identifies as LGBTQ+ friendly and a transgender safe space. This deliberate effort to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone makes it a truly unique and special place within the California community. The requirement for an appointment ensures a personalized experience for new visitors, allowing the staff to dedicate their full attention to each person's needs. The combination of a central location, easy accessibility, and an inclusive ethos makes Beyond Karate a practical and appealing choice for the diverse population of Los Angeles.

Services Offered:

Traditional Karate: The core of the curriculum, offering structured physical training and a complete martial arts curriculum.
Adult Classes: Specialized classes for adults, focusing on fitness, skill development, and self-defense techniques.
Kids' Classes: Tailored programs that use traditional karate to teach discipline, confidence, and valuable life skills to children.
Tutoring: The school offers tutoring services, recognizing the connection between mental and physical discipline.
Life Skills Training: A unique offering that provides students with the tools to develop emotional resilience, communication, and other essential skills for daily life.
Self-Defense Programs: Classes and workshops focused on self-defense techniques for individuals and groups, including a specialized Women’s Self-Defense Class.
Special Needs Program: The school has a dedicated program and instructors with expertise in providing individualized instruction for students with special needs, ensuring that everyone can participate and succeed.
Camps: Beyond Karate hosts a variety of seasonal camps, including Spring, Summer, and Winter camps, which offer engaging and fun activities for kids.
Private and Semi-Private Instruction: For those seeking more focused training, the school offers one-on-one and small-group sessions.

Features and Highlights:

Exceptional Instruction: Sensei Mallica and her staff are consistently praised for their deep care for students, professionalism, and ability to foster growth both in and out of the dojo.
Women-Owned Business: The school proudly identifies as women-owned, contributing to the diversity and leadership within the local business community.
Inclusive and Safe Space: The business is a welcoming environment for the LGBTQ+ community and is a designated transgender safe space, with gender-neutral restrooms.
Holistic Development: Beyond just physical techniques, the curriculum focuses on life skills training, confidence building, and emotional resilience.
Family-Friendly Atmosphere: The school offers family discounts and a supportive community vibe, making it a great place for parents and children to train together.
Convenient Parking: With free parking lots and free street parking options, accessibility is made easy for all visitors.
Personalized Attention: Appointments are required to ensure that each student receives individualized instruction and care, reflecting the school's commitment to quality over quantity.

Contact Information:

Address: 2358 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405, USA

Phone: (310) 896-8461

What is worth choosing this community center?

For Californians seeking a community center that is truly invested in the well-being of its members, Beyond Karate in Santa Monica is an exceptional choice. The key reason to choose this place is its unwavering commitment to holistic development, a philosophy that sets it apart from other martial arts schools. As one satisfied customer shared, Sensei Mallica's dedication goes beyond teaching kicks and punches; she helps students, particularly children, develop emotional resilience and confidence. This focus on life skills is what makes the experience so impactful and lasting. The school's unique ability to serve a diverse community, including a special needs program and a clear commitment to being an LGBTQ+ friendly space, demonstrates a level of inclusivity that is both rare and commendable. The professionalism and genuine care of the staff, as highlighted by a parent who found it to be the "best camp" for her daughter, create an environment where children and adults alike can feel safe, supported, and encouraged to be their best selves. The convenience of a central location with ample free parking and the option for individualized instruction further enhance the value. In a competitive market like Los Angeles, Beyond Karate distinguishes itself not just as a martial arts school, but as a true community hub where personal growth is the highest priority. It is a place where every individual is met with compassion and given the tools to thrive, making it a top-tier choice for any family or individual in the region.

Beyond Karate Services

Martial Arts School
Karate
Adult Classes
Creative Workshops
Individualized Instruction
Karate Classes
Kids Classes
Life Skills Services
Life Skills Training
Martial Arts Curriculum
Physical Training
Private and Semi Private instruction
Self - Defense Techniques
Self-Defense Programs
Skills Training
Special Needs Program
Specialized Services
Spring Camp
Summer Camp
Traditional Karate
Tutoring
Winter Camp
Women’s Self-Defense Class

Beyond Karate Details

From the business
Identifies as women-owned

Service options
Onsite services

Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible entrance
Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Wheelchair accessible restroom

Amenities
Gender-neutral restroom
Restroom

Crowd
LGBTQ+ friendly
Transgender safespace

Planning
Appointment required

Payments
Credit cards

Children
Family discount

Parking
Free parking lot
Free street parking
Paid street parking

Beyond Karate Photos

Beyond Karate Location

Beyond Karate

California Los Angeles County Santa Monica Sunset Park Pico Boulevard

2358 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405, USA

Beyond Karate Reviews

An average rating of ★3.9 from 8 user reviews.

sonskillssenseicamperssummerconfidence

★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1

Exceptional Karate Instruction with Sensei Mallica!I absolutely love Sensei Mallica! I first met her around 10 years ago when my son, Gavin, was just 5 years old. We were at a karate dojo where she taught, and from the very beginning, I could see how deeply she cares about her students—not just their karate skills but their overall growth as individuals.Sensei Mallica goes beyond teaching techniques. She nurtures her students inside and out, helping them develop emotional resilience, discipline, and confidence. She has an incredible ability to connect with kids and truly understands their needs, something I have rarely seen in any other instructor in any discipline.If you’re looking for a place where your child will be supported, challenged, and cared for, Beyond Karate with Sensei Mallica is the perfect choice. I highly recommend it to any parent who wants their child to learn more than just martial arts—to grow in character, confidence, and strength.
February 20 · Emily Lin
This is by far the best camp I found in the Santa Monica/West LA location. My daughter is not easily convinced and much rather stay with me than joining any camp. I have been working on finding one that at least will be somewhat good enough but Mallica is just amazing at she does. She's bubbly and excited about greeting her campers, it's almost contagious. Her staff is well trained, welcoming and caring. I feel good about dropping my daughter off for the day and get her back tired and with a big smile!
October 14 · L S
****THEY LOST MY SPECIAL NEEDS SON ON SANTA MONICA BEACH ****If I could give this place no stars, I would. Mallica, the owner, approached my family at the park and recruited us to join her summer camp. She asked us to push our service coordinator at the Regional Center get them added to the list of approved vendors (which we did). My son did 1 year of summer camp with beyond karate and one session of winter camp, so they knew my son’s tendencies and needs. Flash forward to summer of 2023, his second summer with the camp, we receive an email saying that the campers were going to be walking to the beach from the park (about a 10 minute walk). They noted that if they thought that a child wasn’t a good fit for such an outing, that child would stay at the park with the other counselors. We received another email stating that in order to prevent any incidents, the camp would be split into two groups, allowing for smaller groups of kids to be at the beach at one time. The day of the field trip, I received a phone call from the Santa Monica Police Department stating that an officer had my nine-year-old son at the beach. He noted that my son was found lost, crying and wondering around looking for his summer camp. He was shirtless, with no identifying information on him (no lanyard, bracelet, or camp T-shirt on). He had on swim trunks and a backpack. Thankfully, despite being autistic, my son is verbal and was able to tell a stranger that he was lost and provide that person with my phone number. The kind person who found him opted to call the police so that they could help with reunification. After I spoke to the officer and asked him to meet me at the police station so that I could pick up my son, I called every number available for beyond karate, including the cell phone of the owner and no one answered. The camp had not notified me that my son had been missing for over a half an hour. I finally got a hold of someone in the administrative office and only then did Mallica call me back with a misconstrued story about what happened. They attempted to say that my son eloped, which is not an issue that he has. My son has told the same story consistently to the people who found him, the police, and myself. He very clearly explained that he was walking at the back of the line with no adults beside or behind him, and got separated from the group These people are ill equipped to deal with any children, let alone special needs children. This camp is getting $1000 per week from the regional center to cater to special-needs kids and cannot even keep track of them. The bottom line is they were completely negligent, had no buddy system, in place and took several days to get their story straight about what allegedly happened and submit a report to the regional center and to myself. This camp is taking advantage of the special needs community and should be shut down immediately for the safety of the children. They do not have the skill set to manage or staff to manage children and keep them safe. I strongly advise that you consider the risks before you send your child to this camp. They are simply in this business to make money and do not care about the kids whatsoever.
February 09 · Shelby Brady
Sending my son to this camp was by far the worst parenting mistake I’ve made thus far. My six year old son was repeatedly bit by a nine-year-old all over his body until he finally bit the child back after over a week of it happening. I pulled him from camp when he wet his pants out of fear, or being ignored(my son has been toilet trained for over 2 years, without accidents). There is not enough supervision for these children. Now my son who never bit anyone before has learned that it is OK to bite and I’ve been called twice by his school that he’s bit other children. This entire experience completely ruined the idea of camp for us, and now it seems I need to seek out help to solve the trauma that was experienced at Beyond Karate camp. One of the counselors was supposed to reach out to me explaining what had happened but never did, and frankly there is no explanation good enough anyway.
September 15 · Lisa Vogel
Sensei Mallica and the staff are great. My son loves spending summers in her camp program and we can’t begin to tell you the skills he has learned to become independent. We have watched his confidence grow and are so thankful.
September 28 · Timothy Holt