I've been going to this gym for over two years now, when Arcana was still Fit MMA under Craig…read moreBrown. What started out as an "oh-let's-try-out-muay-thai" through a 20-class Groupon has since grown to become an irreplaceable part of my routine and lifestyle. Since my first muay thai class, I have made significant gains in technique and cardiovascular endurance, as well as in confidence-building and anger management (this is true!). Kru Jamie and Kru Sean have been very helpful in giving me instruction and advice in my progression and growth, advising me to take my blue shorts and even convincing me to do an exhibition match even when I did not think I was ready. In periods of stagnancy, they have not hesitated to push me to challenges that have not only helped me overcome the "rut", but have also taken me to a deeper understanding and appreciation of the muay thai art. I have also since started practicing Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which is likewise an amazing program offered at this gym. Ron and Damien provide excellent instruction, with a dash of humor that helps keep the BJJ classes light in nature and quite enjoyable (but still a work out I assure you!). You seriously won't find a more stellar group of instructors and members anywhere else. From someone who doesn't have family in Ottawa, this gym has become somewhat of a second home to me. I could not be more grateful and I could not recommend it more!

Awesome work out and motivational instructors at Arcana. If you are looking for a work out and…read morelearn some kick ass ninja fighting skills, then look no further. I came here with the other yelpers and tried their introductory Mauy Thai class taught by Jamie. Special thanks for Jamie participating in the February Fit Club. The class was quite a work out. Jamie is a patient teacher and really helps his students understand the techniques that are shown. Not only does he demonstrate the techniques, he breaks them down and explains the importance of each movement. Arcana also has a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu program taught by an incredible BJJ black belt, Damien. I've known Damien from another gym and he's the real deal. One of the best in the city. The matted area is quite spacious. The gym was clean and well kept.

cela fait plus de 10 ans depuis que je m'entraîne avec maître Roody, c'est toujours un plaisir pour…read moremoi d'apprendre de lui. en plus d'être un ancien athlète de haut niveau sa technique d'entraîment est aussi efficace.

From the owner: We are the only internationally recognized original Taekwon-Do School in the nation capital of…read moreCanada. Ottawa Ontario. Our programs are affordable and accessible to everyone. We don’t teach Taekwon-Do for economic gain but for the welfare of our community.

If you are young, talented, and interested in competing, this is a great school. There are lots of…read moreopportunities to compete and lots of extra training to make you top notch. If you are anyone else, i.e. not young, not interested in competing, this is a terrible school. You are treated like a cash cow for the competitors. I was a member for over a year, not ONCE did an instructor correct a technique, adjust a stance, or give individual advice. Classes are run like machines. Everyone does the same thing at the same time with the instructor barely looking at the students. When the class is finished, the next one comes in so there are no opportunities to ask questions. The classes are physically demanding so you definitely get a good workout but if you are interested in being a better martial artist, forget it. If all you want is a workout, you are better off joining their cardio kick boxing class (which is very good). I've been a student in martial arts classes in Toronto, Ottawa, London (England), and San Francisco. I had high hopes for Douvris since they have a great competing reputation. However, my competing days are behind me and I was disappointed that at Douvris, the instructors would not look twice at me, despite my obvious enthusiasm and passion for martial arts. If you are a student of the martial arts and over 30, this is not the school for you.

I have been going to Douvris since the beginning of February, 2016. I signed up for the Total Body…read moreTraining program. This allowed me to attend up to 10 classes per week. The classes range from Power (boxing gloves and punching bag), Precision (team up with someone and practice sparring with boxing gloves), and Strength (exercise with weights and cardio). Each class is led by an enthusiastic and friendly instructor who know their routines. They inspire and motivate us, along with the great music playing in the background. At first, I was attending three classes per week. But, after a few months, I upped that to four classes per week. I am feeling fantastic! I have lost at least 2 inches on my waist and have gained 5 pounds. No, that isn't fat. :) Tomorrow, I am moving to Orleans, so I won't be going here anymore. I will miss it greatly. I thoroughly recommend this location if you are wanting to get in shape in a fun and entertaining way.

Coach Doug is a coach dedicated to putting 100% into teaching his students about martial arts,…read morediscipline and respect. He highlights safety both for each student as well as being aware of the safety of their teammates. I've attended both the Brazilian jiu-jitsu & Muay Thai classes and would highly recommend both to anyone looking for a new place to train or something new to try!

This is the best martial arts you can find in Ottawa, and maybe in all of Canada. Yes, it takes…read morediscipline, so if you are not ready, don't waste the trainers time. However, if you are willing to learn, be disciplined and respect the teachers, then you will be a true warrior, not only on the outside but also on the inside!

Would give 0 star if I could I drove across Ottawa from…read moreOrleans to try out sambo class, after being invited for a trial by Tina over the phone, it was a quick pleasant conversation with Tina, all she told me was to come to try out class next week. Then I met with Sean at the office the following week, he asked some personal info and what program am I interested, then asked me how would I like to pay $49.99 right now, debt or credit. I was very shocked that I have to pay for the trial when it wasn't mentioned over the phone. He also insisted on letting me take Muay Thai courses and buy the gloves when I specifically mentioned I'm interested only in sambo. I didn't do the purchase, Sean then told me if I think it's expensive I just can't afford the program, I just can't afford martial art. which was very disrespectful and unprofessional. Sean appeared to me to be a very greedy person, all he asked for was money, he did not show me the facility, did not show me the coach, asked me money first before anything else.

I keep finding myself back at N1 throughout the years, The staff has always been great, the…read moreinstructors will go over the drills in detail and will go around the class to point out and go over the specifics of the drill with you. I love the set up there, they have heavy bags through out the gym, there's a section of the gym where you can lift weights and a BJJ room. Been going there for years and there's a reason. The staff is fantastic and I have learned a lot there, the staff has been supportive in helping me reach my goals.

I trained at N1 for nearly a year before having to stop and it was a great experience. I walked…read moreinto the facility with no background in Muay Thai, or any other martial art experience except for a few karate lessons as a kid. By the time I left I'd learned a lot, met some great people, and found a new sport I love. The building is located in Little Italy and parking is limited to street parking or a large private lot that is right next door. The private lot charges $3 while street parking is free after 5:30. I found if I'd get there early I could get a spot on the street the majority of the time. The facility itself is very nice with two large rooms for classes, male and female locker rooms, showers, and a full size ring. For beginners they provide all equipment you need including gloves and pads but it might be worth buying a pair of wrist wraps when you sign up. The sign up procedure is very straight forward. Your first lesson is $20 and includes 20-30 minute one-on-one period with an instructor so you know the basics and can follow along with other level 1 students. After your first class, if you enjoyed it, you can pay month to month, or sign a six to twelve month contract. The longer contracts are cheaper on a per month basis and you get an additional discount if you prepay 6-12 months upfront. Plan on spending between $75 - $150 a month for unlimited Muay Thai, Boxing and BJJ classes depending on your contract length and any promotions they might have going on. All new students (that haven't studied Muay Thai elsewhere) start in level 1 and remain there for about 2-3 months until they have the fundamentals down and pass a proficiency check with the owner of the school. The classes themselves follow a basic pattern. You start off by skipping rope and doing situps for about 5-10 minutes followed by 5 minutes of shadow boxing. You shadow box in both a western and thai boxing stance and the Kru (instructor) will go around making corrections to your stance, punches, kicks, knees etc during this time. After the warm up is finish you'll pair up and do some various drills. Different instructors like to focus on different aspects which works great since you get to work on a variety of things on different days of the week. You general work in pairs doing various drills with thai and focus pads for 30 minutes. After that for the remaining 15 minutes you either do conditioning drills or maybe touch sparring. By the time class is over you'll be dripping with sweat and have a smile on your face. Class size varies widely and I couldn't figure out why. Some nights there might be 6 people others there might be 16. The instructors do a good job of keeping an eye on everyone regardless of size and they make sure to check in with you on just about every drill. When you're done level 1 classes you move on two level 2. Level 2 starts off the same way, skipping rope and occasionally shadow boxing but after that things start to change up. You are more likely to rotate partners throughout class and spar, or do complex drills. Everyone is expected to have a mouth guard, shin pads, and groin protector on for class as there is more contact between students than in the level 1 classes. While the level 1 classes were fun and did a great job of teaching the basic it was level 2 that i really loved. All of the instructors and fellow students are very helpful. There are no attitudes and everyone really wants everyone else to succeed and have fun. The instructors were all very approachable and willing to stay with students after class if you have any questions or need some help. They also offer private training, something I wish I'd taken advantage of when I was there. They also have Brazilian Ju Jiujitsu classes (gi and nogi) and western boxing. The BJJ classes were really fun but my enjoyment was hindered by my lack of flexibility. I'm sure it would have gotten easier had i gone to more than 10 classes but I was enjoying Muay Thai so much I always want to do that instead. The instructor, Pat, was really helpful in explaining the basics and since I was the only one in class with no previous grappling experience would often partner with me to help explain things better. Each class would include warm up, drills, and sparring and were always a good workout. They also have "competitive" muay thai classes specifically for people who want to enter amateur fights around Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto etc. I never attended any but from talking to people who did they focus much more on ring technique, and what to do in a bout. Most people who attend these classes also go to the level 2 or level 3 Muay Thai classes. Overall, I really enjoyed my time at N1, the instructors and fellow students were awesome and the quality of instruction was great. If I wasn't in and out of town so often these days I'd still be a member.

I never in my life would have thought I would be a butt-kicking, fierce lady who actually enjoys…read moreworking out, but this place, and my instructor Nick Denis, have actually changed my life. I started taking classes here a few months ago and have gone from a complete novice in Muay Thai Kickboxing to feeling confident, healthy, and able to defend myself. I take classes two times a week, and different packages are available. In addition to the MTKB class I also attend Nick's Fire and Ice class, which combines a half hour of intense conditioning work with 30 minutes of stretching/cool down poses. Nick is a retired UFC fighter and is fantastic at providing encouragement, support and pushing you to your limit. The classes are challenging, but many techniques can be done at your own pace and skill level. No matter what your level of fitness, you will feel welcomed and supported in this studio. Lal, the owner and traditional martial arts instructor is also a welcoming and encouraging instructor, and their energy really makes this place a great spot to work out. There are adult and children's classes (there's a summer class for kids going on right now!), and they currently have a beginners trial for $20. If you're looking for a fun and challenging workout, or have always wanted to try martial arts, I highly recommend this new studio.

The pros: - Good technique explanations…read more- Good studio - Great atmosphere - Less expensive than other martial art schools The cons: - Poor technique practice (most people in the gym are afraid of touching each other) - Classes are very short - (some) Black-belts have superiority complex, and treat newcomers disrespectfully. I've been told multiple times "don't stand there" or "got sit over there". This was done *during* class and no beforehand. - "McDojo" when it comes to belts. You have pay to get a belt with a stripe, belt with two stripes etc...

My husband, son and I have recently started taking Jiu Jitsu at Therien Jiu Jitsu And Kickboxing…read more We just finished our first week and couldn't have asked for a better experience. Everyone there has been so helpful and knowledgeable!