Baciarini's Martial Arts

Students at a seminar

Location

612 4th Street (the corner of 4th and E streets)

Hours

M W: 3:15pm-9pm, T Th: 3:45pm-9pm, F: 4:15pm-8pm

Phone

(530) 758-5431

Website

http://www.baciarinimartialarts.com

Owner(s)

Manoi Richard Baciarini

This martial arts dojo is dedicated to teaching Self Defense to people of all ages and walks of life. The open hand style taught is kajukembo, with a strong emphasis on kempo. The school teaches a balance of martial arts, ranging from basic stances, blocks, kicks, and punches, to katas (called pinions), defenses against punches and grabs, sparring, and more advanced techniques such as pressure points and grappling. At lower belt levels the emphasis on is on basic form and conditioning, although the instructors lace even the beginning classes with advanced material to encourage interest. Self discipline and control is integral to the school philosophy.
'lil Aaron's High Kick, Oct. 2008 Walk this way!

This karate school has a long history in Davis under its previous name, "Pallen's Martial Arts."

Until recently, the only weapon style taught at the school was a form of Philippine stick fighting that was created by Grandmaster Max Pallen, Sr. This style is called Senkotiros. Advanced material also included knife work, where the emphasis was on disarming attackers. When the school changed its name, the weapons curriculum expanded considerably, and now includes Okinawan/Japanese kamas, Chinese nunchaku (nunchucks), and the bo staff.

The classes are divided into beginning, intermediate, advanced, black belt classes, and sparring time slots. Children and adult classes are taught separately.
Many schools focus only on children's classes, but this school has a strong adult program.

The school’s chief instructor is Manoi Richard Baciarini. The school has a set of senior and certified instructors that are all first and second degree black belts. Extremely motivated students may earn the rank of assistant instructors before they earn their black belts, but this is rare. Advanced students are expected to help in helping the instructors teach classes, a system that benefits both the classes and helps build character in the student helpers.

The school has a student demo team that performs at public functions; notably at Arco Arena prior to Kings basketball games.

Belt tests are held periodically for students in the school who have demonstrated mastery over the materials appropriate for their belt level. These usually last one hour. Belt tests for the highest level belts (including black belt), last a few to several grueling days, and require several months of conditioning for most students to reach adequate physical condition.

They offer a free 2-week trial so you can see if it is for you.

Comments:

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2008-06-25 21:57:47   My son loves learning Karate here. He attends 4 days a week. His favorite is when he is helping in the children's beginner class. Totally recommended!!! —Aaron.Curtin

Update... I just enrolled my younger son. He, unlike his brother, took some time getting motivated about Martial Arts. His attention span just wasn't long enough to really appreciate the classes. I must say that Baciarini's has been very understanding to his needs and allowed him time to develop a love for the sport. We look forward to both of our son's continuing their training well beyond their Black Belt. I can think of no better motivator than a man who takes his love for something and devotes his time to grow it into a successful business. —Aaron.Curtin

2009-01-31 08:58:27   There was an earlier post about Mr. Baciarini not completing his community college education. Why was it removed? —justme

• 2009-02-11 19:46:14   The post regarding Mr. Baciarini was based upon hearsay from one person to another, and its accuracy was disputed. A "talk" page was set up early September 2008 to discuss this issue, and was retained for a while (you can see the edit log). Mr. Baciarini was contacted directly, interviewed, and it became clear that the post was based upon inaccurate information. Although the issue was resolved, the talk page was retained until 14 October. Sorry you didn't see it so you could see the careful discussion and resolution! —BarryRice
  

• 2009-03-04 17:06:44   What is Mr. Baciarini's formal education? —justcuriousPHD
  

2009-02-20 22:35:22   i've seen better, but not so bad. —psanchez

2009-04-04 13:56:04   I am very disppointed with this program because they got my kids excited about an introductory program and mislead me into a lengthy contract and the only results I saw were high monthly tuition and angry calls from their billing company.

My little children received little benefit, but the staff have taught them how to clap their hands and "hi five" adults real well. They don't learn what I expect from a martial arts program. —motherof2

2009-06-15 14:04:00   If you are contemplating signing a contract with Baciarini, I would highly recommend that you do an internet search on the words "Educational Funding Company complaints", Baciarini's difficult and pretty inflexible billing company from my experience.

You can be sure that, no matter what reassuring words anyone might say to you at the time you sign the contract, you'll be held to the absolute letter of the contract no matter what. From my experience they are cold when it comes to their money.

Note that the contract specifically says that none of its terms can be overridden verbally. It's clearly more important to this business to say whatever it takes to get someone to sign on the dotted line, than to conduct themselves with integrity...and this is a place that supposedly preaches about integrity to its students.

—KathleenK

2009-08-25 22:49:01   DO NOT GO TO THIS PLACE!!!

Listen people do some research. This place is a PERFECT example of a McDojo.

McDojo:

McDojos are schools that are run and owned for the purpose of making money. Typically you are able to get a black belt in less than 2-3 years, and you are usually guranteed success on the black belt test. These schools charge outrageous amounts of money, have extensive contracts, and are sometimes cult like.

These kids are getting ripped off. I Go talk to any legit Dojos and they will tell you. By definition a blackbelt could defeat any white belt. So if your 10 year old girl is a black belt and she cant beat up a 30 year old full grown man then you just got ripped off my friends. You will be wasting your money on this place. —Dozer

2009-08-25 23:41:18   First off... I have to say that I've never had a problem with billing from Bacarini's in the over 2 almost 3 years my kids have been going there. The one time they did make a mistake, they never forced the issue, and were very professional about everything (ie. not charging me until everything had been cleared on both sides, to make sure I wasn't double charged).

My children have learned exactly what I expect from this program, respect, self control, and discipline. These alone are worth my time and money, but as an added bonus, they have learned to be confident in themselves as well as practical self defense. This school is not a substitute for good parenting, on the contrary, it is a tool to be used by parents as a supplement to instill proper ideals and to provide guidelines to ensure your child is well rounded.

And as for a 10yr old girl (with a black belt) being able to beat up a 30yr old man... you're an idiot. That's not what I expect to happen at all. I expect the girl to be able put up more of a defense to help prevent things from escalating out of control.

But if you want a demonstration, I'd be happy to let my 8yr old son (Brown Belt), climb on the sparring mat with you any day. All I have to tell him is to let loose, and I GUARANTEE he'll tag you a few times before you know it. Do I expect him to beat you up, no, but he'll put up one hell of a fight & enjoy it too.

This being said, I stand by my original statements that this is a great school, and should be considered by anyone looking to further themselves or their children. —Aaron.Curtin

2009-08-27 22:15:50   The person who posts anonymously under the name “Dozer” makes the heady claim that Baciarini’s Martial Arts is a “McDojo.” Cute…but inaccurate. (Black belt under 2-3 years! Hah!)

How do I know that the school is not a “McDojo,” even though Baciarini’s Martial Arts is the only school I have trained at? Well, I offer this observation…

I have gone to a fair number of regional or national martial arts competitions (such as the Delta Smackdown or Golden Gate Nationals), competing in both traditional forms and sparring. I consistently won first and second place prizes in my divisions. My wife (also a black belt at Baciarini’s) has had a similar career, and even won Grand Champion in one of her sparring events!

Not bad for students from what “Dozer” would dismiss as a “McDojo.”

P.S. I’m not boastful by nature, so I apologize for my awards-flaunting. But it’s a good measure of the school’s quality instruction. —BarryRice

2009-10-07 08:55:11   I love this school. It is challenging, but encouraging. The owners are kind and professional. It is not for everyone, especially sparring, but even if you can't complete the entire black belt program it is a great benefit to learn the self-defense skills. —[Pallen's/Baciarini's student since 2005]