LOVE THIS PLACE!!!! My son has been studying karate here for the last 2 years and loves it. Sensai…read moreJames and Jaimie are dedicated and caring and have created a "second home" environment for the children who attend. In comparison to other schools I've seen, the skill and discipline that is taught here is top notch! You truly get the feeling that this husband and wife pair run this dojo for the love of the martial art and not to make money off of you as most other karate schools do. Sensai James is highly skilled and respected and has a stamina that is second to none, as he teaches all the classes himself from the first one in the morning to the last one some 8 hours later (with no break). All this and his energy and enthusiam never diminishes. He's even taught class while on crutches!!!! Both him and Sensai Jaimie want your child to succeed and aim to build confidence. It is no coincidence that most of the children who regularly attend are also great students as well. Belts attained here are internationally recognized and the competition team has competed and won medals on the local, national and international level. As a parent I just can't say enough great things about this place.

Kokoro is an Amazing place with an Awesome staff! My daughter has been attending Sensei James…read moreclasses for the past year. She absolutely loves it! Sensei James has incredible energy and has the kids totally engaged! The Sempai's, Senior Students, (I even learned Japanese!) are also, great! You can tell they had a good teacher! Sensei James and his Sempai's just hosted my daughters 8th Birthday Party! The Parents of the other kids said their kids couldn't stop raving how great it was. Most importantly, my daughter said it was the Best Party! If you're looking for a Dojo that teaches Respect, Discipline and Self Defense, you found the Right Place!!

I trained here for six months and I can firmly say: this is a special place, and ideal for anyone…read moreserious about learning Aikido. I eventually decided to stop training here because I felt like I never found myself clicking with the ways of Aikido itself (it is a very unique martial art. Every person is different, not everything is for everyone, and Aikido did not seem to be for me), therefore I wanted to do trials with different martial arts and find one that I connect with better. But that doesn't mean that I didn't recognize what a special place this is, and recognize how many other students truly had their lives enriched here. The fee is on a sliding scale (and I can't find any other martial art school that does that). For $50 a month, I was literally allowed to take two or three classes a day (if I had the time). Can't beat that. This place is very formal in practicing Japanese customs. The Sensei here, Ryugan Savoca, has been to Japan many times, and brought some of what he learned there back to this space in Brooklyn. It is decorated to make a beautiful setting. As soon as you start your first lesson, you truly feel yourself meeting another culture. Additionally, Sensei is constantly running events outside class time (dinners, trips, etc) to bring the students together as a community. He also frequently has guest Senseis from other dojos visiting New York doing lectures here about how they practice Aikido. During training, if Sensei sees you doing something wrong, he will immediately tell you in a firm way without embarrassing you. He is wise, observant, and patient. The classes here are mixed with both newer students and senior students (you can recognize the difference as seniors are given a robe to wear over their gi). If you're a new student having a hard time learning, Sensei will assign a senior student to instruct you one-on-one. All senior students were polite, clear and patient with me. I should warn: if you're expecting Aikido practice to be a light workout, then you're in for a surprise here. By the end of every lesson, I was literally dripping with sweat. Within two weeks of training here, people in my every day life were suddenly saying "Hey, you look like you're getting in better shape" without even knowing that I started Aikido. On a side note, I'll also mention that I have a neighbor who sends his son to the kid classes here, and his son loves it. He mentions how good the kids' instructor, Kate, is with children. It appears to me that Aikido is completely unlike any other martial art that I can find. It doesn't seem to work for everyone, but it works phenomenally for others. If you want to try it, then I can't recommend this place enough.

I've only just begun and am only four classes in, but as a beginner I can tell you that the Sensei…read moreis very patient and everyone jumps right in to show me proper technique and etiquette. There seems to be a general agreement that this is one of the most challenging dojos in the country. As Scott said, I finished my first class utterly exhausted, my pride beyond bruised. It's a great place to learn and while everybody is serious about Aikido there, they're super-friendly, too. A quick example: I was trying to make my way through a conditioning drill called the scorpion and I was going really slow. One of the more experienced students slowed down to finish with me and encourage me. It was like Forest Gump.

Professional, caring yet serious. Great role models. Dedicated teachers who bring out the best in…read moremy 8 yr old. He has gained confidence and skill to navigate the big world

I have been taking private lessons for a year. Steve has been a very patient teacher with me. We…read morebasically have a custom training program part karate/ part kickboxing. We train twice a week and I feel like I've made a lot of personal progress. I recommend highly.

AMA has the BEST children's karate program around! Mr. Dylan was my son's instructor from the time…read morehe was 3 years old until we moved when he was 5. He is patient, knowledgeable, creative, and all the children and parents absolutely love him! He provides classes that are appropriate for child development as they focus on coordination, balance, agility, and discipline which is needed in order to become a good martial artist. If you are thinking of enrolling your child in to a martial arts program, I highly recommend this one! You will not be disappointed!

I have been Shihan Sakai's student for 35 years. He is DEFINITELY the best instructor I've ever…read moretrained under.

This place is great, my son really likes going there. The instructor is extremely professional and…read morereally hands on. The prices are really reasonable, they will not try to scam you into spending money for unnecessary things like some other martial schools will. The place is clean and quiet- I like that a lot. I really recommend this kyokushin karate school.

I can't say enough about Brooklyn Brazilian Jiu Jitsu! My husband walked in there 5 years ago…read morelooking for something my son and he could do together. Since my son was 5 at the time they would obviously be in separate classes, but my husband liked the idea of place they could go together, a studio they could share. What it became was a second home! My husband started jiu jitsu, my son the tiny tigers program. They asked me to try boxing but I politely declined. After about a year of them asking and my husband and son having so much fun and getting really fit, I decided to give it a try! And to my surprise it was so much fun and a hell of a workout! Next thing I knew it was all three of us at the dojo on a Friday night and we were loving it. What is so awesome about this studio is the love and care the instructors put into teaching and creating a community. Suddenly we were all training with people from all walks of life and it felt so nice. The neighborhood I had known for years suddenly felt bigger and I felt so much more connected. In a city where we can tend to get used to keeping to ourselves, it was nice to feel part of something. Five years later, all I can say is things continue to get better! My brother in law just joined and my son has graduated to the basic jiu jitsu class. My son is now on the mat training with his Dad and his Uncle! There's something really special about that. This dojo is for everyone, young, old, in-between, just starting to work out or seasoned athletes. The reason it is for everyone, is because of the teachers. They teach with heart, compassion and discipline. The whole experience has brought my family closer and I recommend this studio for anyone who is looking for a workout that nourishes the body and soul. -Christine Nichols

I love Brooklyn BJJ. I have been coming for about a year and a half and this dojo and the amazing…read morecommunity they have built has really transformed me. I came in on a lark to try Muay Thai, at the behest of a friend. Guess who stuck around and is now also doing Jui Jitsu? The adult classes are diverse - young adults, parents, older folks. And many of the parents have children that take the youth classes (they're so fun to watch!). They do private classes if you're nervous to try it in a class. Even if you don't think you are into the martial arts, the nurturing, inclusive environment fostered by the instructors is truly something I look forward to at the end of the day. They shoot people texts if they haven't been in in awhile... you may find that annoying or pressuring, but I find that encouraging actually, especially since I can tell its sincere. Instructors are aware of your progress and are constantly helping you improve. And regardless of whether you want a black belt (they tell everyone they're on that journey to black belt once they start. I found that a little intimidating but it's so much fun that it's not something I think about so much. The journey is a helluva time) its a great workout - mix of cardio and strength for Muay Thai and Jui Jitsu, but for the latter, it mixes in a great mental workout too. As Professor Skyer says, it's never too late to start. I'm so glad I did. PS. I won't mince words, it's not cheap but its not more expensive than Equinox. But its the best investment in yourself, really. I'd rather spend those dollars on making myself stronger and healthier anyway. I'd drag more of my friends here if they lived closer!

Excellent school to learn self defense and karate. The…read moreinstruction is not limited to typical karate, there is a touch of judo in it, with holds and wristlocks, etc. The sensei, who is really a shihan/master. His knowledge is endless, as he is always coming up with new things to teach. He did not limit his studying and practice, therefore he has alot more to offer than most instructors. I highly recommend, but fitness is up to you.

Needless to say, karate - same as boxing - is an amazing stress relief. Moreover, it's an art with…read more2,000-year-long history which you will get to learn in the class. Shihan Bhinda is incredibly passionate about the art, and it translates through his teaching. He's a proponent of teaching several levels ahead and letting the students decide what they want to focus on - perfecting existing skills or trying new ones, or both. What's more he really senses the mood of every person in his class, and improvises accordingly. Bhinda cares about his students, and wants them to have a good time.