About
James Martial Arts Academy offers age-specific martial arts classes, including Preschool Martial Arts, Kids Martial Arts, Pre-Teen Martial Arts, Teen Martial Arts, and Adult Martial Arts. Students train in Karate, Self-Defense, Kajukenbo, Kosho-Ryu Kenpo, Kickboxing, and Kung-Fu. The academy also offers Women's Self-Defense classes with small class sizes and a supportive all-women environment, and parents can observe classes from a viewing area.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
• Price: $0 first week; free trial classes are completely free with no obligation
James Martial Arts Academy is a family-owned martial arts school and is not a franchise, with six programs offered for ages 3 through adult. Belt promotions are earned, never given, and every belt promotion, class curriculum, and student's progress is personally overseen by Sigung Darryl James. For the first class, students are asked to wear comfortable workout clothes such as a t-shirt with sweatpants or athletic shorts, and the academy provides everything needed for the trial class, with no equipment needed for the free first week.
James Martial Arts Academy was founded in El Cajon, California in 2010 and has been led and built there for over 14 years, with 36 years of active training under Sigung James. The program states that it transforms good people into confident protectors through traditional martial arts training, builds unshakeable character, physical strength, and mental toughness, and creates a supportive family atmosphere, with students developing the skills and courage to defend what matters most, strengthening families and the El Cajon community. The academy serves families throughout East County San Diego, including El Cajon, La Mesa, Santee, Lakeside, Spring Valley, Rancho San Diego, and Lemon Grove.
Sigung Darryl James is the Founder and Chief Instructor of James Martial Arts Academy and has trained across four martial arts for 36 continuous years. He holds a 6th-degree Black Belt in Kajukenbo, a 3rd-degree Black Belt in Kosho-Ryu Japanese Martial Arts, and a 1st-degree Black Belt in Kickboxing, and he trained in Kung-Fu under Sr. Grand Master Tony Bowles. His Kajukenbo 6th degree was earned through demonstrated mastery, not time served, and he leads as one chief instructor with two lineages in Kajukenbo and Kosho-Ryu Kempo.
James Martial Arts Academy is a USA Black Belt Hall of Fame inductee and is known as San Diego's Best Karate and Self-Defense Program. It has 75+ five-star reviews from El Cajon families and is trusted by 500+ families across East County San Diego, with the average student staying for more than three years.
Parents have shared that the instructor is warm and welcoming while teaching kids how to defend themselves, and that their children love the classes. Other parents report that the kids have fun while learning, and that the instructor knows how to talk to them in a way they understand. Additional parent feedback describes James Martial Arts Academy as one of the best decisions they have made for their kids, noting confidence, respect, determination, and describing Sifu Darryl as an incredible mentor.
Last updated June 27, 2026.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
• Price: $0 first week; free trial classes are completely free with no obligation
James Martial Arts Academy is a family-owned martial arts school and is not a franchise, with six programs offered for ages 3 through adult. Belt promotions are earned, never given, and every belt promotion, class curriculum, and student's progress is personally overseen by Sigung Darryl James. For the first class, students are asked to wear comfortable workout clothes such as a t-shirt with sweatpants or athletic shorts, and the academy provides everything needed for the trial class, with no equipment needed for the free first week.
James Martial Arts Academy was founded in El Cajon, California in 2010 and has been led and built there for over 14 years, with 36 years of active training under Sigung James. The program states that it transforms good people into confident protectors through traditional martial arts training, builds unshakeable character, physical strength, and mental toughness, and creates a supportive family atmosphere, with students developing the skills and courage to defend what matters most, strengthening families and the El Cajon community. The academy serves families throughout East County San Diego, including El Cajon, La Mesa, Santee, Lakeside, Spring Valley, Rancho San Diego, and Lemon Grove.
Sigung Darryl James is the Founder and Chief Instructor of James Martial Arts Academy and has trained across four martial arts for 36 continuous years. He holds a 6th-degree Black Belt in Kajukenbo, a 3rd-degree Black Belt in Kosho-Ryu Japanese Martial Arts, and a 1st-degree Black Belt in Kickboxing, and he trained in Kung-Fu under Sr. Grand Master Tony Bowles. His Kajukenbo 6th degree was earned through demonstrated mastery, not time served, and he leads as one chief instructor with two lineages in Kajukenbo and Kosho-Ryu Kempo.
James Martial Arts Academy is a USA Black Belt Hall of Fame inductee and is known as San Diego's Best Karate and Self-Defense Program. It has 75+ five-star reviews from El Cajon families and is trusted by 500+ families across East County San Diego, with the average student staying for more than three years.
Parents have shared that the instructor is warm and welcoming while teaching kids how to defend themselves, and that their children love the classes. Other parents report that the kids have fun while learning, and that the instructor knows how to talk to them in a way they understand. Additional parent feedback describes James Martial Arts Academy as one of the best decisions they have made for their kids, noting confidence, respect, determination, and describing Sifu Darryl as an incredible mentor.
Last updated June 27, 2026.
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