Sidekicks Martial Arts Academy
Sidekicks Martial Arts Academy, 2939 Alta View Drive #Q, Suite Q, San Diego, CA 92139
About
Sidekicks Martial Arts Academy offers Taekwondo, Karate classes, and martial arts training that includes balance drills and belt rank testing. Students train under a structure that includes the school tenets of Courtesy, Integrity, Self Control, Indomitable Spirit, and Perseverance leading to Victory, and they are trained in the principles of Martial Arts Excellence. Sidekicks Martial Arts Academy offers new students free classes for one week and is home to Grandmaster Orange and dozens of black belt students, with a focus on holistic martial arts training, academic excellence, family responsibility, and personal protection for children.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: Class options Monday–Friday, 4:30 pm–7:30 pm
Sidekicks Martial Arts Academy states its mission as “Teaching children and their families to live with honor, respect and discipline by developing and sustaining a lifelong practice of martial arts.” The academy describes its training space as a Dojang that is a space for growth and learning where all who are present respect and adhere to the sacredness of the space, and where parents, grandparents, and family members who enter become part of the learning experience. GMO insists that parents be present and pay attention to the class their kids are in, and the Sidekicks Orange School Emblem represents six belt colors, the Orange family name, six leaves on the palm trees for GMO being the sixth born child in his family, and American and Korean flags on either side of the ocean.
Grandmaster Maurice Orange (also referred to as GMO, Grandmaster Orange, Master Orange, and previously Sabum Orange) is the founder and Grandmaster Instructor of Sidekicks Martial Arts Academy. A Grandmaster Instructor at this academy has obtained the level of 8th degree black belt, and a Master Instructor has obtained the level of 6th degree black belt. GMO opened his first Taekwondo school in 1980, opened his first independent martial arts school (National City Taekwondo Center) in 1983, founded Sidekicks Martial Arts in 1989, and started Sidekicks Jamaica in 1985 with Jamaican instructors appointed to run Sidekicks Jamaica Dojang locations, which receive ongoing coaching and support from GMO. Sidekicks Dojang in Alta View Shopping Center has been in the same location for 29 years, and in 2020 it was GMO’s 40th year in the martial arts business; San Diego Sidekicks is described as one of Southern California’s longest running, same-location martial arts schools.
Sidekicks Martial Arts Academy notes that Sidekicks instructors and junior instructors are described as great at working with kids and expecting a lot from students, and that it is not a place to go if a family is not serious about committing to coming to class. Testimonials describe discipline mixed with fun, individualism mixed with teamwork, confidence building, and strength building, and describe Grandmaster Orange as strict yet a wonderful mentor who treats students like his own kids, is friendly and funny, and is strict on students’ form because he wants them to do it right. Multiple reviewers, including Vonetta Whittemore, Camilla Hedblad Gillespie, Jay Ruiz Jr., Maria Uriarte Solano, and Saul Solano Jr., have given 5-star reviews or recommendations in 2014, 2017, and 2018, and one parent reports that their son’s confidence level increased within two weeks and that the kids are taught good values and to work hard. Another testimonial states that the training received at Sidekicks was more than the student had hoped for and lists lessons about earning things through hard work, serving as a role model to children, practice, patience, generosity, and wanting to make the world a better place.
In its community involvement, Grandmaster Orange and his wife returned to Sharp Memorial Hospital to thank the healthcare workers who saved his life after a motorcycle accident, and GMO has a profile on the US Veteran Owned Business website. Sidekicks Jamaica has been open since 1985, and GMO resigned from the American Taekwondo Association (ATA) in 1990.
Last updated June 16, 2026.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: Class options Monday–Friday, 4:30 pm–7:30 pm
Sidekicks Martial Arts Academy states its mission as “Teaching children and their families to live with honor, respect and discipline by developing and sustaining a lifelong practice of martial arts.” The academy describes its training space as a Dojang that is a space for growth and learning where all who are present respect and adhere to the sacredness of the space, and where parents, grandparents, and family members who enter become part of the learning experience. GMO insists that parents be present and pay attention to the class their kids are in, and the Sidekicks Orange School Emblem represents six belt colors, the Orange family name, six leaves on the palm trees for GMO being the sixth born child in his family, and American and Korean flags on either side of the ocean.
Grandmaster Maurice Orange (also referred to as GMO, Grandmaster Orange, Master Orange, and previously Sabum Orange) is the founder and Grandmaster Instructor of Sidekicks Martial Arts Academy. A Grandmaster Instructor at this academy has obtained the level of 8th degree black belt, and a Master Instructor has obtained the level of 6th degree black belt. GMO opened his first Taekwondo school in 1980, opened his first independent martial arts school (National City Taekwondo Center) in 1983, founded Sidekicks Martial Arts in 1989, and started Sidekicks Jamaica in 1985 with Jamaican instructors appointed to run Sidekicks Jamaica Dojang locations, which receive ongoing coaching and support from GMO. Sidekicks Dojang in Alta View Shopping Center has been in the same location for 29 years, and in 2020 it was GMO’s 40th year in the martial arts business; San Diego Sidekicks is described as one of Southern California’s longest running, same-location martial arts schools.
Sidekicks Martial Arts Academy notes that Sidekicks instructors and junior instructors are described as great at working with kids and expecting a lot from students, and that it is not a place to go if a family is not serious about committing to coming to class. Testimonials describe discipline mixed with fun, individualism mixed with teamwork, confidence building, and strength building, and describe Grandmaster Orange as strict yet a wonderful mentor who treats students like his own kids, is friendly and funny, and is strict on students’ form because he wants them to do it right. Multiple reviewers, including Vonetta Whittemore, Camilla Hedblad Gillespie, Jay Ruiz Jr., Maria Uriarte Solano, and Saul Solano Jr., have given 5-star reviews or recommendations in 2014, 2017, and 2018, and one parent reports that their son’s confidence level increased within two weeks and that the kids are taught good values and to work hard. Another testimonial states that the training received at Sidekicks was more than the student had hoped for and lists lessons about earning things through hard work, serving as a role model to children, practice, patience, generosity, and wanting to make the world a better place.
In its community involvement, Grandmaster Orange and his wife returned to Sharp Memorial Hospital to thank the healthcare workers who saved his life after a motorcycle accident, and GMO has a profile on the US Veteran Owned Business website. Sidekicks Jamaica has been open since 1985, and GMO resigned from the American Taekwondo Association (ATA) in 1990.
Last updated June 16, 2026.
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