KM2A Martial Arts & After School Program in Santa Clara CA

While I am appreciative of the care given to my child by the Kim’s and staff, parents need to consider their choice carefully. KM2A has a very particular style and character and your child may not flourish or be happy there. The Kims are first generation South Korean. And their methods very much mirror the educational system in South Korea, China, and other Asian countries: strict discipline, tradition, authoritarianism, conformity, and rote learning. These values are good as far as they go, but they also discourage creativity, open-​mindedness, critical thinking, innovation, the value of play, and individuality — the values of education in western cultures and the U.S. in particular. This is why all the great transformative innovations in the last 100 years in the sciences, technology, medicine and other areas, were born in the U.S., and many even right here in Santa Clara County (think of Steve Jobs)!
The South Koreans have innovated nothing comparable because they do not encourage originality and creativity. They are good at copying and manufacturing the innovations of others. My son is sweet, empathetic, and curious, and I have tried to encourage him to think critically and originally. As he spent more time at KM2A, he grew less happy and became miserable trying to fit into the narrow Asian paradigm.
My son had taken Tae Kwon Do at another school for a 1 ½ years and loved it. The teachers at that school enforced discipline but also made it fun. After all, these are small kids. He excelled there. Mr. Kim soon squashed his interest. My son would often complain about verbal abuse — Mr. Kim said «mean things to me.» Further inquiry revealed he said «you were not raised right.» No teacher has a right to say that to a nine year old kid, who happens to be a very good boy. I let it go because I understood the narrow cultural background of Mr. Kim.
When I came to pick up my son, there were a few occasions where I saw small kids, no older than six or seven, crying during or after the tae kwon do class because of something Mr. Kim did or said. After a time, my son dreaded going to the class. This should simply not be happening to kids. I really question whether Mr. Kim should be teaching children at all. I have noticed other reviews expressing the same concern, but for some reason they have disappeared, which is very curious indeed. Around the middle of the year Mr. Kim told my son he had to leave the class, because he was not obeying him, so he just read books and worked until pick up time. This was fine with me and I was very relieved, as was my son.
Santa Clara County says all day care facilities must have an outdoor play area. So to satisfy this law, the Kims just fenced off part of the asphalt parking lot and put a couple cheap plastic toys out there. My son said they never got to go out and play.
The instructional staff were pretty good and I appreciate their service to my son. But in general, the environment seemed rather cold, business driven, and without much heart or joy. In my view, and I am an educator myself, a child’s life should be full of joy, even in learning. If learning is fun, it will motivate and sustain them to become life long learners, and not regard it as a chore. Good luck with your decision!

My son went to the Preschool program from August 2013– August 2014 and I am so grateful he did. I have got to say that the KM2A Preschool program is one of the best. Before going to KM2A (at the age of 4) my son didn’t know how to read, but knew the basics… colors, numbers, alphabets, etc. By the time he left, he was full blown reading. and by reading I mean advanced level reading books for his age. Now in Kindergarten, he’s in the highest (advanced) literacy groups in his class.
Mrs. Rachel is great… Great with the kids and very good at getting them to listen to her (in a good, non-​imtimidating way). The hours are great, which are pretty much all day. They get a morning snack, lunch, and afternoon snack and a nap in between. The school supplies individual cubbies and sleeping cots for each child. They have outdoor playtime when wheather permits and occasionally took walks to the park down the block or across the street to the fountain for fresh air.
My son loved it there and made a lot of little friends along the way.
I highly recommend taking your little one to KM2A for Preschool! You will not regret it!

My son loves it there. Ms Rachel is great work him and all the other kids, and Master Kim is really patient yet thorough with the martial arts.

We been here since March 2014 and love it. Mainly because teacher Rachel. She has what it take to be a great preschool teacher. She is loving n caring. She structures her classroom very well. Each child knows what is expected of them.
Only down side to this school is there are no outside play structures. However, it is in the works to be build! Can’t wait to see the finish play area.