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Paresh Martial Arts
Categories: Active Life Fitness & Instruction Yoga Active Life Fitness & Instruction Martial Arts Yoga, Martial Arts [Edit]
477 Irving St(between 5th Ave & 6th Ave)
San Francisco, CA 94122
Neighborhood: Inner Sunset
(415) 665-5511
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 8 am - 11:30 pm
Tue, Thu 6:30 am - 7:30 am
Sat 9:30 am - 11:30 am
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
ERICA E. said: "Okay, so I live around the corner, so yeah i got often....not because I'm an exercise nut (well, yes). If it wasn't for that, I'd go elsewhere for my workout. They have what you need, cardio, machines, and classes. Lack on the space…" read more »
26 reviews for Paresh Martial Arts
26 reviews in English
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Review from Alla B.
South San Francisco, CA
1/9/2012
I just had my first yoga class here and I am blown away. It was the best yoga class I had since I was in college. Since then I took advantage of the (free) yoga classes offered at Hastings, my former law school. The lady there was very obnoxious and would call you out if you didn't go to class regularly and couldn't do the movements quite as well. She was also really into tricks: handstands, having you stand on your hands like a frog. Not why I do yoga.
This place is fantastic. There's soothing music in the background, dim relaxing lighting, and I loved the instructor I had this Monday evening. She has a very soothing voice and goes around the room gently correcting everyone and molding their body into the perfect pose. I loved the individualized attention in spite of the group setting, that she actually came up to me and physically corrected my poses, and that she seems to be very patient with each student. My favorite part was the stretching towards the last 15 minutes. I will definitely be back. -
Review from Lorraine B.
San Francisco, CA
2/6/2012
If I could give Paresh 10 stars I would. Kristina Ohlson is a gifted instructor who does an amazing job training and mentoring groups of children from 2-14. She rules her dojo with equal parts of humor, kindness and discipline. She can transform a shy child or a bouncy one into a disciplined confident student. My son has grown more from his study of martial arts than I had ever hoped. Not only that but Ms. Ohlson is devoted to the neighborhood and the studio participates as a partner in the street fair and other events and offers regular movie nights as a way for parents to have a night out while the kids get to socialize, play karate games and eat pizza. Paresh is one of the reasons the Inner Sunset is such a great place to live.
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Review from Deirdre P.
San Francisco, CA
4/9/2011
After being mildly traumatized by a czar-like yoga instructor I had way back in college, I was reluctant to start up yoga again, especially in a city like San Francisco where everyone and their mother totes around posh yoga mats in their own bedazzled carrying cases.
One night, as the N-Judah was moseying down Irving, I noticed that Paresh Martial Arts was offering 3 yoga classes for only $20 (what a deal!!) and I had been looking for a new way to spice up my workout routine. (Running around Golden Gate Park is only so much fun...) I decided that if I hated the first class, it was only $20, so why not?
I LOVED IT! Kristen is an awesome instructor. She's super friendly, knowledgeable and oh-so-flexible - like you'd expect a yoga instructor to be. She's great about telling you individually what you should be doing to improve your poses (not like calling you out in the middle of class like my former instructor, but in that nice, caring sort of way). Anyway I've been going to classes here ever since and can already see the definition in my arms and abs. The classes are all different, so we're not doing the same poses each week, and they're small, so you're not tripping over your classmates.
i've also been to a few classes with Cecille, who is also great. She teaches yoga classes in the AM, which can be great if you want to get a start on your day. Her classes are also invigorating and challenging.
Finally, I must give a shout-out to Peter's Community Donation-based Restorative yoga classes on Sunday evenings! Peter just oozes zen. He is very passionate about restorative yoga and can tell you all about the rationale for the different poses. And, after every restorative class with him, I sleep LIKE A BABY. It's awesome. And, the classes are donation-based - does it get much better? :) -
Review from D E A.
San Francisco, CA
5/16/2011
We tried out Paresh for the shallowest of reasons: (a) we could walk there from home, (b) good reviews on Yelp, (c) son badgering us endlessly about taking martial arts and trying out "kung fu" moves on toddler sister. We figured at the rate we were going either he was going to kill her or we were going to kill him, or maybe both.
Given our motivations, we did not deserve to end up in such a great environment, but we did. The Paresh classes have been fantastic. Extra bonus points go to the instructors for reinforcing the message that kicking and punching is for the dojang only. So our son is now trying to teach his sister different stances instead of inadvertently beating her up.
Ms. Ohlson is amazing with the kids. My sense is that martial arts programs for little kids tend to draw what you might call a non-random sample. They all have ants in their pants. They are fizzy. Based on conversations with parents of my son's kindergarten classmates alone, I would say that we're all trying martial arts for a reason, and that is the hope that some of our kids' energy can be redirected without the use of prescription medication. This makes for a challenging teaching environment. It is very, very impressive to watch Ms. Ohlson (et al) take these kids in stride and lead them to want to learn.
Finally, they have a program to bail you out when your kid's toddler sibling demands to go as well--on Saturday mornings they offer a family class for 2 and 3 year olds with their parents. I wouldn't say that our daughter is learning martial arts, exactly (then again, how would I know?) but she's having fun crawling through tunnels, running and jumping, and yelling while waving her arms around. So we're all happy. -
Review from Celeste R.
San Francisco, CA
4/14/2011
I'd been wanting to get back on the yoga train for awhile and had been poking around the Inner Sunset hood when I came across Paresh Martial Arts. I'm so glad that I found them! I had my first class with Cecille and she is really great. Her class is challenging and invigorating, but also mellow and centering. I like the relaxed feel of the studio and the instructor and I will definitely be back! I also believe they are slightly less expensive than other yoga classes in the area and with the 3 classes for $20 intro deal, you can't go wrong.
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Review from Eric K.
San Francisco, CA
8/20/2010 1 Check-in Here
I was looking for a new yoga teacher and happened to notice that Paresh Martial Arts was offering yoga classes and I thought that was interesting so I went to their website and booked an appointment to check them and when I went in I met the awesome Clint Kapp. Clint is a great teacher who you can easily connect with and I just felt a really strong aura of peace around him. I'm not a hippy dippy type that goes around hugging people, but it was just a little eerie how I could feel his presence and calmness.
This is a great place to go if you need to relieve some stress and Clint is the best teacher I've met and I'll be going back again and again. -
Review from E M.
San Francisco, CA
9/14/2009
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Kristen's yoga class here! She is a great teacher... after trying Yoga Tree one week recently when she took a rare week off, my gratitude was redoubled for her attentive, safe class that leaves you feeling spent and relaxed, all at once.
Hard to imagine ever going to one of the large classes in the studios. This class is perfect! -
Review from Grant M.
San Francisco, CA
8/16/2010 40 Check-ins Here
Paresh is a great martial arts studio. I train with Ms. Ohlson in the adult class. I have also observed some of her other classes and she is fantastic with children and a great inspiration to all her students.
I also participate in Justin's Core Synergy class on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. He is good at pushing you to the edge and beyond.
I am in the best shape of my life thanks to Paresh and its instructors. -
Review from rob k.
San Francisco, CA
10/1/2007
Kung fu AND yoga! What more could you ask for?
I took a yoga class here with Kristen Chew - what a calming, attentive presence! The class was very thorough and well thought out. Carefully attention to form but the class still flowed well.
Afterwards there was an open Wing Chun Kung Fu practice for practitioners from any school...a great combination!
Highly recommended! -
Review from Judith S.
San Francisco, CA
10/30/2007
Here is the official first parent review of this place, because I bring my daughter here, don't go myself (though I'm glad to hear the adult classes are good too, if I ever had the time).
We live a few blocks from here, so decided to check it out when it opened. I have 2 girls and have always wanted my kids to take karate. Despite the 2 night/week class schedule (which is DRAINING) and the late night (class for my daughter runs until 630pm which makes bedtime even LATER), I LOVE this place. Kristina, the owner (and instructor of my daugher's class) is awesome. She's energetic, warm, great with kids and seems to really know her karate (I mean, she's a black belt and all). She just threw a halloween party and it was amazing, the kids did a little demo and had a great time. I feel like this is a real find that we got to be a part of from the ground up. -
Review from Daniel G.
San Francisco, CA
9/17/2010
I am taking the early morning yoga class with Clint and I love it. The studio is a nice, clean, place to practice yoga. Clint is a great yoga instructor, taking extra time to help each student individually. His classes are usually small, so it's like having a private Yoga teacher! He is very much interested in helping students with their goals. Highly recommended.
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Review from Anthony H.
San Francisco, CA
1/11/2011
i have only one regret writing this review: that Yelp does not allow me to give more than 5 stars!
My son has been attending classes with Ms. Ohlson for almost 4 months now and neither him nor I could be happier. Ms. Ohlson is extremely tough with very high standards of conduct and form. She is also absolutely fair and exerts her leadership with a level of grace, humor, respect, and compassion that inspires her students to do their best and that has earned her the absolute trust of both my son and myself. He is enjoying his lessons so much that he has asked for (and gotten) extra lessons each week.
My fiancee has been so impressed by what she has seen at Paresh that she too has begun training with Ms. Ohlson and I am getting ready to follow suit myself.
Those who are eager and willing to put in the effort and hard work needed to master the art of Tang Soo Do will find no better instructor than Ms. Ohlson, period. -
Review from Jeanine J.
San Francisco, CA
8/20/2010
I have generally stayed away from yoga because I find it so difficult to find instructors who I can connect with and when I do, their class sizes are overwhelmingly crowded. No more. Clint is new to the studio, a wonderful hands-on instructor, and his class sizes can not get any smaller (I lucked out and was the only one today!). Find Clint. Go to his classes. This is the best kept secret in the Sunset.
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Review from Meredith S.
San Francisco, CA
11/1/2009
Ms. Ohlson is an amazing teacher. My son loves her class and he's always begging to go. My son knows many words in Korean because of her. She inspires a love of movement, physical fitness and martial arts. She does not teach violence instead she offers kids with creative ways to always act peacefully in the world. Her classes are rich, fun and exciting for parents and students alike.
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Review from Katy T.
San Francisco, CA
8/26/2008
Review for ADULT PILATES CLASS - definitely worth getting out of bed for.
I take Pilates with Joe on Tues and Thurs mornings. It's 6:30 am so I skip out more than I should, especially because no matter how tired I am I always feel better after going. The class is really small which is nice. Joe is super laid back and fun. He makes sure you are doing all the exercises properly and is really helpful. It's actually a really good time - even for working out at 6:30 in the morning
UPDATE: Sadly Joe passed away unexpectedly last month. It's so sad. Not sure about the other adult classes but it might be to sad to go back. -
Review from Christy B.
Pacifica, CA
3/14/2008
Fantastic!
I don't know about the adult classes, but classes for a 6 year shy boy are fabulous!
Kristina is a phenomenal instructor. Besides knowing her stuff karate wise, she knows kids. She blends just the right, age appropriate, amount of fun, discipline, and respect to make this an experience that is both good and good for you!
Kudos to you Kristina! -
Review from Becky U.
San Francisco, CA
9/14/2010
Walking in off the street to one of Clint's yoga classes, you feel at instantly at home in the warm, inviting setting he creates. With curtains drawn, heat going, incense burning and soothing music playing, the space is seamlessly transformed from a martial arts studio into a top notch yoga studio. After Clint welcomes you with open arms, he expertly guides you from pose to pose, urging you to explore more deeply within yourself as you go. The overall effect is relaxing, calming and enlightening. If your goal is to breathe hard, sweat buckets and jump from pose to pose, you might not get what you're looking for. But if you want an uplifting, spiritual, peaceful experience, Clint is the teacher for you. Highly recommended.
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Review from Lana K.
San Francisco, CA
4/12/2011
My daughter has been training with Ms. Ohlson for almost two years now and she absolutely loves it. Ms. Ohlson is awesome. I would higly reccomend this place for kids and adults.
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Review from Alice M.
San Francisco, CA
1/3/2008
If you are looking for a place for your child to take Karate (Tang Soo Do Korean style karate, that is), then you can't go wrong with Kick Start. My 3.5 year old daughter begged us to put her in karate class. We were thrilled when Kick Start opened and were are even more thrilled now that our daughter attends 2 x week. Kristin, the owner and instructor, is amazing with the kids. I don't know how she gets half a dozen plus 3-5 year olds to stand in a line but they do it. And, big bonus to busy parents: Kristin sends the parents away so you get 45 minutes to troll around the inner sunset. I usually end up drinking a beer at the Fireside.
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Review from Kendra T.
San Francisco, CA
7/13/2009
Kristina O. is a natural teacher. She encourages kids, while imparting discipline and training. She is a great mentor and leads kids of all ages through the training, gently, but firmly. She is quick to laugh and joke around with the kids and they love her! The kids are challenged but never beyond their personal limits. They are given much love and encouragement!
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Review from John S.
San Francisco, CA
6/16/2010
Our six-year-old daughter has been taking weekly classes here ever since she made me pull the trailer bike over to the sidewalk so she could watch an adult class, her little face pressed to the window. I continue to be stunned at Ms. Ohlson's ability to keep a herd of children focused, while simultaneously providing individual attention and encouragement; disciplined, yet low-key and effervescently (and contagiously) upbeat, even funny. I would recommend this studio in the highest possible terms to any parent.
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Review from Kelly R.
San Francisco, CA
9/30/2008
My son has been taking karate at Kickstart with Kristina Ohlson for almost a year. He LOVES "Ms. Ohslon," and LOVES her "Little Ninjas" class! I have never written a review before but am so thrilled with her classes I feel compelled to share with other parents!
Ms. Ohlson is warm, fun, energetic and very good with toddlers (age 2-4 in my sons class). My little guy loves his karate uniform and she gives stripes on their belt for achieving certain milestones (bowing, counting to 10 in korean, learning certain moves, etc.) It is very rewarding and my son is wildly excited and proud when he earns a new stripe!
I feel that the classes have really helped my spirited child in many ways. Most importantly, he has a blast! He has learned to be a very good listener, and definitely learned to focus and obey more (any parents dream!) It has also been his first chance to work towards a goal and I have been shocked how motivated he is to acheive new things, and then how much pride he has in himself once he does so! I think it is a great confidence builder for any toddler! -
Review from Martha E.
San Francisco, CA
11/12/2010
Clint does a nice mix of classic stretching and more complicated yoga poses. I really like the padded martial arts floor. The classes are small and not crowded. I am a big fan of the cool, clubby music in the background. When you are really in the zone, you don't even hear the N Judah go by. The Sunday night chill out is an added plus, a nice way to prepare for the week and/or recover from a long run or any weekend warrior events you have done.
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Review from Tara U.
San Francisco, CA
4/10/2008
We love Kick Start! My son (3 1/2) is learning karate of the Tang Soo Do Korean variation. It's amazing. Kristina is phenomenal with the kids. She knows how to get them focused. The kids aren't just running around - they are progressing. I am happy with the location and the weekly schedule. Signing up w/Kick Start was a great decision.
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Review from Julie B.
San Francisco, CA
3/2/2009
Kristina Ohlson is great with kids and adults alike. We first signed up our rowdy 2.5 year old and she did a great job channeling his energy. Later when his schedule changed, we switched to the family class on Saturday mornings. It is great to be together as a family, be active and have fun.
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Review from k p.
San Francisco, CA
4/24/2009
My daughter has been taking Tang Soo Do lessons at Kick Start for 1 1/2 years, and we both love it! Ms. Ohlson's energy with the children is high and positive, and classes are always fun. I have observed the children mature in their respect, focus, balance, and skill. I have recommended Kick Start to several of friends, and I will continue to do so. My daughter's experience with Ms. Ohlson and Kick Start has had a tremendously important impact on her growth.
