Our kid started out with the summer camp and now does aftercare. He loves it and so do we…read more 5 reasons we love Kenpo: 1) Sifu commands extreme respect from these kids bc he connects with the kids and lifts them up. 2) For the aftercare program, they pick the kids up from school!! A great convenience for us. 3) The kids not only learn karate, but discipline and responsibility: they clean the dojo together for instance. 4) The younger kids get to see the older kids lead classes. 5) Convenient location. Would highly recommend!

Austin Kenpo Karate ROCKS!!!…read more Sifu Schroeder is such a wonderful person & an excellent teacher. I enrolled my son just over a year ago & he absolutely loves it there. His confidence & self esteem has blossomed & I am amazed at his discipline. Sifu goes out of his way to develop close relationships with his students & their families. We love the school gatherings... pumpkin carving contests at Halloween & the Christmas party is always tons of fun. I have had the pleasure of working closely with Sifu in his after school program this year, helping out with the kids & website issues & I can tell you that the time & attention he gives to these kids after school is just unmatched in any program I have seen. He is definitely a wonderful role model & I would trust him 100% with my son in any situation... & that is not something I take lightly.

My son has been training at Ernie Reyes West Coast World Martial Arts since 2010. I joined him in…read more2011 after I turned 40. We are both now second degree black belts in the system. This studio and system has some unique advantages over others. As part of a national association led by Martial Arts Hall of Fame member Ernie Reyes Sr., the curriculum is very practical, constantly evolving and improving, and quality of both technique and teaching is closely managed. This is true all the way from the Little Dragon (5-8 year old program) through to the Mastery (4th and higher degree black belt.) While color belt tests are held at the studio in Austin, Black Belt tests are in California with all the other schools creating an event and life changing experience for testers. Imagine testing with 300 other candidates and the spectacle involved. Members of the studio feel like a family. It is a supportive, engaged and caring group. Instructors are focused on teaching correctly but understand that each student is different and adapt approaches to stretch and grow the individual. Classes are a good, whole body workout - and due to the breadth of the curriculum, it's never the same and certainly not boring. Citizenship and life skills are also part of the requirements. This studio produces well rounded, confident students with practical self defense skills.

We could not be happier with Ernie Reyes World Martial Arts. My wife found this place and suggested…read morewe put our child (Calian) into the school. Since doing so, we have seen a huge difference with our kid. He's already a great kid. But to have people other than the parents reinforce great values such as manners, integrity, discipline, moral values, etc. is an amazing thing, particularly in today's society. Kids become parent deaf, as we all know. And, obviously, he is learning to protect himself and gets exercise at the same time. Lastly, it's a community. You meet new people, great people and there are always things happening with the school that you can all participate in. Love this school. Can't wait to start myself.

We have had such a wonderful experience at Kuk Sool Won! From the very beginning, they made my…read morekids, ages 5 and 7, feel welcomed and comfortable. The instructors have created such a positive environment where children feel encouraged while also learning valuable life skills. The communication has been excellent, and I truly appreciate how they build strong relationships with both the kids and the parents. They are always approachable, supportive, and keep everyone informed. I also love that they are very clear about their expectations for the kids, which creates consistency and helps the children understand what is expected of them. One thing that really stood out to me was that the instructor took the time to ask what our top three goals were for enrolling our children. I shared that we wanted to help them develop focus, discipline, and confidence. It meant a lot that they asked because it showed they genuinely care about each child's individual growth and are committed to helping families achieve those goals. I highly recommend Kuk Sool Won to any family looking for a program that teaches martial arts while also building character, confidence, and respect in a welcoming and supportive environment.

Our son has attended Kuk Sool Won of Oak Hill for many years now, and it has been a pleasure to…read morewatch him grow under the tutelage of several skilled teachers. The owners Barbara and Tim King are both advanced practioners, and their love for the sport really comes through in their dedication to the students and Kuk Sool community. Like many martial arts programs, Kuk Sool involves a level of discipline and etiquette that can take younger students a while to embody, but kids are supported with clear expectations and gentle guidance. Overall I have found the school to be inclusive and accomodating to students with disabilities and varying skillsets. I highly recommend signing up for the free trial to see if it's a good fit for you and your family!

AKA is the best! Regardless of your age or skill level, Austin Karate Academy will welcome you with…read moreopen arms, and give you a heck of a workout! I've had to dig deep and push myself harder than I ever have before, and I've made a lot of great friends along the way. Especially as a young adult, there are a lot of distractions in life, but the instructors and students have helped me develop my focus and better myself as a person. Tang Soo!

We've had a fantastic experience at AKA. A neighbor has been going there for several years (she is…read morenow a black belt), so we knew they were good people. Signed my 8yo son up almost a year ago, and I joined a few months ago. The instructors are fantastic -- they really push and challenge the students, but in a very respectful way, never condescending. They will particularly challenge kids who are not listening or behaving respectfully, but again will do so in a respectful way. At the beginner level, it's mostly kids (I believe that's the case at most studios) with a handful of adults, but don't be fooled into thinking it's going to be easy! They do a great job of catering to a range of skill levels in the class. As someone in his mid-40s, I get a great workout and have increased my strength, flexibility, and stamina even in just a few months. The main instructor (a 3rd degree black belt) has an INCREDIBLE amount of energy and passion and really gets everyone fired up, and he knows every student by name, and greets them by name as they enter the studio. I highly recommend AKA, for kids and adults alike. It has been a great journey learning karate with my son and being able to practice together outside of class. Several of the adults there also have kids in the studio and they joined because they've seen the quality of the program over the years. Join AKA, you'll love it!

Journey martial arts is the best!!! My kids have been going for almost a year now and they…read moreabsolutely love it. Not only do they get a great workout but it's really helped with their focus, self discipline and overall confidence. Ms. McDonald is an amazing instructor that keeps the children engaged, motivated and excited. My kids have never had this much drive to compete, level up and just get better at their skills. I've been extremely impressed and can't say enough good things about Journey. I highly recommend Journey to anyone who is considering a martial arts place in northwest Austin!!

My girls LOVE Journey Martial Arts! They spend all their extra time practicing because they are…read moresuper motivated to move up to the next belt level.

(There is also a Kid's Kung Fu program now - at both school locations)…read more I enjoy the classes and the people and have made many new friends, including friends with the instructors and job leads. The instructors are great and come from a variety of martial arts backgrounds. They respect the students and instill confidence in your ability as a student to learn the style and as a student you have confidence in their ability to teach. Of the three styles I have taken Ving Tsun (Wing Chun) has proven to be the most fun and is at the same time challenging enough so that you can't get bored. The classes are usually a mix of starting with your forms (there are 2 for students) or punching exercises as a warm up and then moving into practicing what is required for your student grade by either working with students of the same grade or higher ranked students. You also get to practice the other stuff you have previously learned by working with the newer students and nearly everything has an application in the real world of defense. Do we not spar (unlike other styles, such as Tae Kwon Do), Ving Tsun is not a "sports" martial art, it is for self-defense, you defend yourself and stop the other person before they can hurt you (in the real world, not in class) so there is no gentle, safe way to spar (Google Wing Chun if you have doubts). There are also few forms; actually there are 3 empty hand forms, 1 wooden dummy form, and 2 weapon forms, and students only learn the first two forms until the end of the student grades. Not that there isn't plenty of stuff, do such as Chi Sao and Lat Sao, both of which require a partner and help built technique and reactions, while "teaching" your muscles how to react (check out Wikipedia for more information).

This is a fine martial arts studio that provides you just that, the ability to study a…read morewell-designed martial arts system meant for practical applications, not performance arts. You will build upon your reflexes and ability to deflect and deliver strikes with each passing class, and if you work hard, you will feel it. I've joined as a student of Sifu Jeff Webb, the head of the National Ving Tsung Organization, to learn as much as I can during the time I have remaining in Texas, before transferring to a student of his in the North who is now also a Sifu (instructor or master, I'm not quite sure really which term is most appropriate). Thus far I have learned a great deal, and observed the high level of skill possessed by each of his students ranked from low and high, with the higher ranked students also working as assistant instructors to provide valuable input and more skilled training partners to guide your development. I attend classes in both the North and South locations to experience a broader range of instructors and training partners to build upon my understanding more comprehensively. Classes consist of an initial period of taxing and difficult form practice that appears hella easy when done well, followed by exercises with a partner that exhibit and employ the techniques learned in the forms, generally taking up much of the class. Very straightforward, but not at all simple, with only heavy effort bringing about real improvement. Ving Tsung/Wing Chun, made famous by Bruce Lee and Ip Man, is a center-line striking style created by a woman for close-quarters combat that requires one to be relaxed excepting the points of impact, allowing strength to be overcome by angling and reaction time, making strength all the more powerful once the style is understood, something my boxing and other training is making difficult as I'm relatively rigid and tense, so this style is helping me to learn fluidity and to better employ my power at appropriate times rather than wasting energy when it isn't essential. Yoga oddly enough I approached as a strength and stamina-building exercise, so it has done little to improve my flexibility, just power and reaction time, as I am not zen enough apparently. The wing chun perspective I will transfer into my legal studies and eventual practice, as it is an expansive philosophy useful elsewhere in life that helps you not waste energy, and have the push-through when it counts. One of the key precepts of the system constructed by Sifu Webb is something to the effect of "If the way is open, move forward", something entirely in tone with the Norse ideology of the Vikings, and I appreciate this. The studio is absolutely worth checking out if you are serious about your training, and definitely is not a lunchtime cardio or high-flying acrobatic activity, it is a place to go to learn a fighting style with hard-working and committed fellow students and teachers that follows a logical progression and isn't going to waste your time.

Life Ki-Do has been a blessing to our family. We checked and tried multiple martial art places…read moreprior to them but it's the place where we will stick for years to come. We chose them because in addition to learning martial arts they teach discipline in a different way. They teach it through building confidence, mental strength and emotional awareness. To discipline is to educate and they take that seriously. We have tried all the Sensei's and we love them all, each one of them brings something new and different and never disappoint. We also have been to both locations and they are equally amazing. My son has been attending since he was 6 and I plan to sign up my daughter when sheii turns 3 years old. Additionally it's a place where you will find support as a parent, I cannot begin to thank them enough for helping me shape the personality of my kids.

Signed our Grandson up few week ago. Fantastic Ryker is…read moreenjoying Karate every day, look forward to next training

Mr Johnson and his employees have taught me more than just a way to defend myself, they've…read moreinstilled in me a passion. Thank you for always being approachable, kind, and patient.

I will admit, I was a little intimidated walking into my first Jiu Jitsu class. I had zero prior…read moremartial arts experience, and as a woman in my mid-40s, I felt a little out of place. But everyone was friendly and the atmosphere was fun and encouraging so I kept going back. I've been training for a little over a year now and I absolutely love it. It's not at all what I expected. Jiu Jitsu is equal parts physical and mental and allows me to clear my head and stay in the present moment like nothing I've ever experienced. It's like an amazing workout paired with a couple hours of meditation. There is an endless amount to learn which keeps it interesting. And while I didn't start because I wanted to learn self-defense, I walk with a little more confidence knowing I could defend myself in a real world situation if I ever needed to. There are lots of great instructors, each with their own unique teaching style. The head instructor, Richard Giberson, is a black belt under Relson Gracie. He is super talented, funny and truly wants to help his students learn and progress. If you're curious about Jiu Jitsu, I highly recommend coming to a class and checking it out. Great instructors, great group of students, and an all around awesome school. 6pm Wednesday is a "Fundamentals" class. It's only a hour and is geared toward beginners and people working on getting better at the basics!