California Defense Academy

24831 Jefferson Ave Ste 112, Murrieta, CA 92562

5.0 (44 reviews)

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Our Kids Martial Arts, Karate and Krav Maga Fitness Classes programs are great choices for self defense, discipline and fitness. Learn more about our classes in Murrieta now!

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Shylo Fletcher

We love California Defense Academy! Wonderful instructors who take the time and energy to make fun plans for the kiddos. My son always enjoys going and learning new things in a safe and fun environment!

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Posted 1 year ago
Zack Leichty

Going to California Defense Academy to train not only teaches you techniques you can use in real life situations but the instructors teach you both mentally and physically. Going over why certain techniques would be used in certain situations, but they also try to teach you how to be a better person. Whether its going over goals or having a word of the month and really breaking down the thought process of what that means. Also attending at CDA you are part of a kick ass community (pun intended). CDA is also amazing for people young and old. When you train you are only expected to try your best and push yourself and don't have to do everything the same as the person next to you. I honestly cannot express into words how amazing this community is. What Ericka has built here is something insanely special and if you are on the fence you really need do yourself a favor and at least try out one class. I promise you will not regret it!

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 1 year ago
J K

Great classes. My kids and I both enjoy learning their teachers are friendly. Classes are professionally taught. Family and friends sports. Not just sports, but a stress relief course.

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Posted 1 year ago
Julie Berckart

My three kids look forward to this class every week. It builds them up and teaches them respect, self discipline, and the ability to defend themselves all in one. The teacher's are awesome!!!

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Posted 1 year ago
sharon sandhu

My kids have been attending for over a year now. Miss Erika is a very educated and skilled teacher. Her whole team is great! Kids have become more confident and love attending weekly :) def 10/10 would recommend!

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Posted 2 years ago
Berta Gonzalez

Nothing but fun and laughter I have watching my son grow with everyone new or seasoned in this place. My son very introverted has began to come out of his shell and it’s all thanks to this place and every single one that give that sense of belonging and direction. You won’t be disappointed. Great instructors💪🏼💪🏼

Instructors Atmosphere
Posted 2 years ago
Gunjani Patel-Oza

We have only been here for 3 months and just did our first exam and couldn’t be more satisfied. LOVE Ms Erica the founder and all the trainers here. It only only focuses on the physical fitness but also emotional/mental fitness. One of the most important thing for us to have fun and that’s what this class delivers. Thank you for being an awesome experience as a part of our child’s development.

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Posted 2 years ago
Victoria Nelson

Amazing first impression 🥰 I attended the women’s self defense class and it was as much fun as it was informative, Ericka and her team gave great hands-on feedback and also educated awareness. I would definitely go again!

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Posted 2 years ago
ted bellmyer

CDA is a great place to help your kids be more confident and always find a pathway to winning!! We have been attending for a couple months and the change in our son is amazing. He is gaining some much needed tools to cope with the world! They do so much for the families of their students. Keeping the parents involved is one of my favorite things that they do! Thank You CDA for being so awesome. Your teachers are great. Day 1 Giselle helped our son cope with his shyness and within a couple of classes he couldn’t wait to join his classmates. Keep up the good work! I would recommend CDA to anyone. And they have classes that start at 3 years old. Our friends daughter loves it and she is 3!

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Posted 2 years ago
Jay MSotelo

I love this place. My 3 year old started a few month ago and he loves it. The staff is super nice and friendly and they always have great events for kids and the parents. I definitely recommend!!

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Posted 2 years ago
KARI Dawn

Great place to go to for real life self defense. I love that they teach scenarios that you may actually find yourself in and rather than focus on individual techniques they focus on principle based training ensuring that you can defend yourself even if you find yourself in a situation that you’ve never seen before. Not only that but they cover all aspects of going home safe including: not getting yourself in that situations by deescalating, verbal boundaries, physical boundaries, exit strategies and more! For the kids they even cover topics such as describing a person, bully prevention and more. Would highly recommend to anyone looking to increase their ability to defend themselves or for a productive way to get in shape 100%!!

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Posted 2 years ago
Shantel Silva

I love CDA! Ms.Ericka helped me in so many ways ! Like motivating me to do my best and also helping me learn life skills. I love how everyone looks up to the CDA instructors and how they get everyone excited to do their class and come again !! Live, Love CDA!!!

Instructors Classes Atmosphere
Posted 2 years ago
Mayumi Amargo

Erica welcomed me in and set a good welcoming tone for my first trial class. Louis was a fantastic teacher who encouraged camaraderie and real life application that could be implemented the same day. I like how they incorporate the psychological aspect of fighting too!

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Posted 2 years ago
Eucharia

As a student California Defense Academy has helped me in about every field of my life. It's helped me build confidence, stay in shape, and taught me how to throw hands & go home safe.

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Posted 2 years ago
Rachel Pacheco

My kiddos always have a great class experience at CDA. They are always excited to go and learn new techniques in each of their classes. Ms. Ericka and all the teachers are great with the classes.

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Posted 2 years ago
Rafael Avila

Awesome place for kids/ teenagers/ adults to learn new skills and self defense.

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Posted 2 years ago
Robyn Bauer

Everyone at CDA is awesome, my kids have learn a so much and their confidence has skyrocketed.

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Posted 2 years ago
Sabrina Rodriguez

The instructors are fantastic and it's an incredibly welcoming and supportive environment. I highly recommend going here if you want to learn practical self defense.

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Posted 2 years ago
Asa Anderson

10/10 would recommend! Well rounded place to go for training for self defense, fitness and building your leadership skills. Love the family oriented environment!!

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Posted 2 years ago
Brenda Lofton

California Defense Academy has improved my life. As an older person I am better than I was. I am stronger and doing things I never thought I could thanks to the team at California Defense Academy. I hope to stick with them and earn my Black Belt as well as many other goals they have helped me already achieve.

Instructors Facility Classes Atmosphere
Posted 2 years ago
Kathleen Helbing

I have 3 kids who have spent years training with Ericka. There is no greater gift that you can give your child, than the gift of self defense. It’s a powerful combination to work on a skill set that may one day save their lives, right along side a focus on character development. If you want to instill values like confidence, integrity and resilience; they will be taught and reinforced, as the staff explore what these things are and how they fit in to their lives. Repetition is key with self defense because you want the movements to become automatic and instinctive. Ericka knows how to make that fun, which is why her students keep coming back. A couple of years ago, my girls and I were in Los Angeles to see an art exhibit when an erratic schizophrenic person came at us from nowhere. He was a foot away from one of my girls, screaming, cursing and threatening. The level of composure my girls demonstrated in that moment, puts a lump in my throat, even now. They were making themselves aware of their environment and making defensive plans in their heads. Fortunately, the man continued on his way. When we discussed the situation together afterwards, it was clear that their training was imbedded and their instincts were keen. That’s the gift that keeps on giving.

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Posted 2 years ago
Eddie Williams

Miss Erica and the team were always great

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Posted 2 years ago
TheJoyful Spirit

Ms. Ericka is exceptional! My kids have taken classes with her for over 4 years and have been so blessed because of it! She creates a professional yet fun and inviting atmosphere for the kids. There is a huge sense of community and friendship in the building always. From memorizing not just the many students names but all of the parents names as well along with siblings and in some cases even pets! My kids leave her class feeling empowered and tired! They get a quality work out in , learn something new or build on skills and are always looking forward to going back.

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Posted 2 years ago
Elaria Cabrera

My daughter is 7 and has been with CDA for a year now and still loves it. Ms. Ericka is an outstanding instructor. She teaches self defense but also so much more. She really motivates the kids and offers a sense of community within her classes. Have to give a shout out to her staff as well! Mr. Max, Ms. Giselle, Mr. C.J, Mr. Lewis and Mrs. Kristen, you guys rock.

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Posted 2 years ago
Ashley P

Every so often you find a teacher that is truly one of a kind. One that uplifts, encourages and pushes your kids to meet goals and that is Ericka! She is an incredible and kind teacher and shows her passion for teaching kids safety and defense in every class. We have tried several different styles of martial arts and love that the focus of Ericka’s lessons are getting home safe and self awareness and not mastering routines in sync. CDA has a sense of community that we love being apart of and appreciate how involved parents are encouraged to be in their child’s progress. Definitely 10/10!!!

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Posted 2 years ago
Becca Mejia

We tried several different places and different types of martial arts and honestly none of them even compare. The sense of community they provide is so strong and the level of encouragement and motivation is consistently high. Ericka is genuine and truly just wants the kids to be safe and know how to defend themselves. Her focus isn’t on rehearsed moves done in unison, but more on what’s effective and when to use it. The open schedule is another huge perk that makes attending classes easy to plan around, which otherwise can be hard with busy schedules. I’m a huge believer that raising kids takes a village. Ericka is an amazing role model and has quickly become a very important part of our village.

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Posted 2 years ago
Jonathan Hollingsworth

Absolutely a 10/10!!!! Highly recommend!!!! Our 3 year old son has been in the program for about 2 months now and we have witnessed tremendous growth from when he first started. We really appreciate that the program isn’t about strictly fighting because it incorporates teachings about how and when these techniques should be used in a fun and meaningful way for the kids. Instructors are very patient, kind and helpful but still know how to establish a structured environment in the midst of pure toddler chaos… it’s actually really impressive to watch. We are excited to see our son continue to develop through the program and grows to love it more than he already does. Thank you so much Mrs. Ericka and the rest of the team at the Academy 😊

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Posted 3 years ago
Karen DeMamiel

Erica is amazing. We learned so much

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Posted 3 years ago
C. M. Hellawell

Great environment and great lessons! Not only are the teachers well experienced in what they teach but they do an amazing job at keeping everything interactive and interesting. Definitely recommend to anyone looking to practice self defense or who just want to try something new :)

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Posted 3 years ago
David Alexander

CDA is a great program with great foundational methodologies! Ericka is an amazing instructor and all-around great person... 100% recommend CDA to anyone, any age, looking for a martial arts program.

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Posted 3 years ago
Elena Chavez

Both my kids love it! Ericka is a great instructor. She makes her classes fun for the kids while at the same time teaching them how to defend themselves. 10/10 will definitely recommend!

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Posted 3 years ago
john estrada

Ericka is a passionate, professional and very knowledgeable instructor. She creates a fun and inviting learning environment. She is intense yet fun to be around, as an instructor you can tell she cares about her students and how much she believes in what she’s teaching!

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Posted 3 years ago
Abbey Edwards

Erica taught an amazing self-defense class at our RADKidz Program! She engaged all of the kids and moms, while teaching them some true life skills they can use forever!

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Posted 3 years ago
Gisele Marino

Wow! What an amazing school! I first signed up for CDA before they had a physical location, and I was not disappointed when classes started up! Their approach to tying your training to real life scenarios leaves you with no doubt in your mind that you are learning something useful. They also break everything down by teaching you the foundations then using those fundamentals for learning complex defensive movements. It's a school for kids and adults alike. Highly recommend!

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Posted 3 years ago
Johnny J

Ericka and her staff are excellent instructors that help you grow regardless of the level that you are at. They offer a welcoming environment for newcomers and are great with children too. Whether you’re someone that is considering learning some basic self defense or someone who already has a bit of a background in it, this is the place for you.

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Posted 3 years ago
Charla Nira

Ericka is an instructor who cares for her students, created a family atmosphere and connects individually with all ages. I lost 80 pounds and gained tons of confidence working with her!

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Posted 3 years ago
Ernesto C

CDA is a great place to learn self-defense and get a great workout at the same time. Ericka has many years of experience working with kids, teenagers, and adults. I highly recommend coming down and trying out a class. You'll get to see how fun the classes are and how much you can learn.

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Posted 3 years ago
Michele Perez

Erika is an amazing instructor. She truly has passion in making sure you succeed. I can’t say enough about how amazing she truly is!

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Posted 3 years ago
Laurel Kingman

I have trained with Ericka for a couple of years and I am so happy to see her building her own studio! Ericka is phenomenal in her teaching, meticulous in training her students, while encouraging you to perform at your best. Ericka strives for building community within the community. She highly encourages everyone to reach out to one another after class to introduce themselves to get to know each other, and who they are training with. Friendships grow and become family within the self defense community. Ericka is a delight of a person to be around and I’m very grateful for her.

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Posted 3 years ago
Alex Arana

CDA is an amazing place to train self defense and get in a SUPER workout the process. I recommend this studio for sure!! The instructors are like family too. If you are looking for a place to learn self defense, workout, and build community- then this is a Great place to check out!

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Posted 3 years ago
ThisIs Me

Ms Erika is a quality instructor, life coach, and a true inspiration in life, family, and friendship. My husband, our two daughters and me, all trained with Ms. Erika for many years. Love her drive, her honesty, her character; she was, and still is, an excellent role model for our daughters growing up. She has helped shaped the young women they have developed into. I thank her for coming into our lives; it has been a blessing in so many ways.

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Posted 3 years ago
Daniel

What a great environment to learn practical hands-on self-defense with real world scenarios. Ericka teaches you to think strategically for situations that might actually take place in today's society. All the instructors here are welcoming, encouraging, and very professional with a firm understanding of martial arts and self-defense and make sure that every student learn the techniques correctly. I really like the positive environment and the comradery of this school, they really build your self-confidence and self-awareness. A must try so you can see for yourself how awesome this place really is!

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Posted 3 years ago
Chelle Chambliss

I enrolled my son in classes at California Defense Academy and I can not speak highly enough of this school. They offer a welcoming environment and knowledgeable instructors with a combination of martial arts backgrounds. They use real life situations and circumstances to teach practical self-defense while also actively working on character building. Ms Ericka and all the staff are engaging and make every student feel involved and my son is excited for every class!

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Posted 3 years ago
Jeric Sorrell

I believe that California Defense Academy has some of the top talent in the self defense world. Ericka is a world class instructor who is sharp, aggressive, articulate, and highly educated in the field of self defense. CDA is great for the experienced and inexperienced alike. They craft each instruction to match the skill level of their students and it's probably the most fun you can have burning calories and building muscle. My problem with many martial arts is that they simply are not practical on the streets. CDA is highly practical. They give real world scenarios that you COULD find yourself in. This training is made to keep you and your family safe.

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Posted 3 years ago