About Us

Our Academy

The American Kenpo Jiu Jitsu Academy opened in 1990. For over two decades, The Center has been a training icon in the San Fernando Valley. Due to the strict adherence standards, Senior Master Tabatabai has promoted fewer than eighty students to the rank of Black Belt. There are many karate-ka, but the few who have trained under Senior Master Tabatabai are clearly recognizable. Our goal is to make you a great martial artist.

“Train your students to be better than yourself.”  - Senior Master Tabatabai

Our Mission

Is to enrich the lives of our students & their families with prime martial arts education and valuable life skills.

We share a community where healthy, supportive & value oriented families can come together and help each other to successfully reach their goals.

We envision a future where every student achieves their highest goals, live happy balanced lives and work hard to become the new leaders of our community, country and world.

Our Philosophy

Our members can learn with us Self Mastery Skills and the most effective combination of stand-up and ground Self Defense techniques, weapons training and physical fitness. Through our practical approach to self-defense, our students quickly become capable of defending themselves in virtually any situation.

About Mohamad Tabatabai

Mr. Tabatabai began his martial arts journey in 1978 at Sr. Grand Master Ed Parker’s West Los Angeles American Kenpo School. He was personally promoted to the rank of Master (5th Degree Black Belt) by American Kenpo’s creator, Sr. Grand Master Ed Parker. He currently holds the rank of 9th Degree Black Belt (Grand Master/Senior Master of the Art) in American Kenpo.
In addition to these amazing credentials, Mr. Tabatabai has been training at the Torrance Gracie Academy directly under Senior Masters Ryron and Rener Gracie, son of Grand Master Rorion Gracie. Mr. Tabatabai is a Gracie Combatives Certified Instructor.

Development of American Kenpo Jiu-Jitsu

Through his decades of intense study and dedication to American Kenpo, Senior Master Tabatabai became increasingly aware of a gap in the system: None of the techniques included defense if you were taken to the ground.

Tae Kwon Do Times Magazine School of the Month, January 2010

The Woodland Hills Martial Arts Center was awarded “School of the Month, January 2010” by Tae Kwon Do Times Magazine (Volume 30 No. 1/Issue Number 173, pgs. 36 & 37).