My son has been at AKI for over a year and this has been the best after school experience for us. The senseis are amazing. This school provides the type of differentiated attention that is good for the kids . They are flexible and understanding and it feels like a small family. I recommend this 100% if you want your kid to have a good time while learning discipline and good values. Also they have 2 pizza nights a year that are a blast for kids and parents alike read more

I highly recommend AKI to everyone! I've been putting my little one in after school activities but I have never seen him genuinely thrilled to go to his sessions until now. The staff is very hands on and makes it a point to recognize every child's strength. It builds their confidence and teaches them very important values. In the little time my son has been there, I've seen him become more confident, speak up, and able to focus for longer periods of time. read more

When searching for karate place, I stumbled upon this karate class in my Publix shopping center. From the moment I walked in, it was very personable and family oriented. Sensei Lipsky and the rest of the AKI karate family are amazing! We brag, (yes brag) about what an amazing karate school our kids are in. The instructors all promote a strong sense of discipline and respect while being compassionate to the level of age of each kid/student. Highly recommend AKI!! You'll be part of the family quick. read more

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I can't say enough great things about this karate studio. From the moment we enrolled our kids, we knew we had found something special. The instructors are incredibly skilled, patient, and truly care about each student's progress, both in martial arts and personal growth. My kids have not only gained strength and discipline, but also confidence. My son needs constant redirection, the coaches continuously redirect him, and are incredibly patient with him (which I am eternally grateful for as he is improving with each class). This is an environment that although is very structured, is accepting of all the different needs of the kids they coach. It's been such a wonderful experience for my family, and I highly recommend this studio to anyone looking for a place that fosters both skill development and character building. Thank you to all the Coaches and Regina for being a motivating part of our children's lives! read more

American Karate Institute - Karate Near Me - Miami, Florida

We are very grateful that a friend recommended this school to us, my son Wider loves going to class every day. His teachers have been an important pillar in helping him gain confidence in himself and every day he is more excited about what he is learning. read more

Excellent instructors. The students are well trained and promotions in ranks and belts are not easy, you have to work hard to demonstrate proficiency before your new belt is given to you. I highly recommend the American Karate Institute to everyone who's interested in discipline and self defense skills for your children. read more

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This place is absolutely amazing! I can't begin to describe how their teachings have helped my child. They are always open to conversation, the sensei's and owners are extremely polite, and the children are always enjoying themselves while learning important skills. They also have events that allow the parents to participate. All in all, I highly recommend their establishment. read more

Enrolling my son in AKI was the best thing I could have done. I was recommended to AKI by a number of different people. It is a great institution and all it stands for as well. My son loves attending class each and every time. He looks forward to leveling up. He has gained so much confidence and self worth from his sessions/lessons. Proud to be a part of the AKI Family. Thank you for all you guys instill into our kids. -The Collazo Family read more

The best kids program in Miami. My daughter absolutely loves it. The teachers are amazing. They truly know how to work with kids. Cannot recommend them enough. 5 stars read more

So glad we found and signed up with AKI!! My son, Isaiah, loves going! They are all great with kids! I definitely recommend them to anyone looking to put their kids in karate. :) read more

I'm not usually one to write reviews, but honestly AKI deserves all the praise. 5 stars is an understatement for the quality of the training they provide. My son has been with them for almost 2 years now and we could not be happier with his progress, confidence and all the great values they teach him at AKI. All the instructors are awesome and patiently teach kids not only techniques, but also important values, which as a parent, it is incredibly rewarding to watch. Master Lipsky is just the best at what he does. He is, simply put, the best children instructor you'll ever meet. My son looks forward to karate classes and has learned to not give up (one of Master Lipsky favorite motto). If you want a place where your kid will feel at home and will learned from great instructors, I recommend you look no further and give them a try, you will fall in love from day 1 and you will start your happy journey with the AKI family. read more

This school is amazing. Sensei Lipsky is great working with the kids. The classes are fun and promote positivity, encouragement, and respect. They take the time to make sure students have the correct form and technique. They also host family picnics and events throughout the year. Family atmosphere I highly recommend AKI. read more

My son has been there for about a month, and so far we love it. They are very well organized and the instructors are great.

This is is the worse place in Kendall to take your kida for Karate. the over price. They charge money for everything and you have to buy from them even is cheaper the same on Amazon. If your son change belt they never inform they have to go a different schedule class. super disorganize. over crowded. no space for the kids to practice. different staff all the time. Not sure if they run criminal records to this new people all the time to work with kids. read more

Two of our three kids (boy and girl) attended American Karate Institute. We decided on this institute based on their professionalism, organization and technique. Sensei Lipsky is an absolutely fantastic teacher- extremely engaging with the kids. The rest of the staff are also great and each class is usually supported by at least two or three of them. Our kids learned discipline, confidence and self defense during their time here. Both of them no longer attend, but we feel the two years they spent there were well worth it. Cost is a bit higher compared to some other places we visited, but we felt it was reflected in the quality of instruction given. We have a small toddler who we will consider placing back in to AKI once he's ready. read more

Love love love this place. Entire staff is professional. They have a very well organized system. Classes are dynamic, different every week and they have enough instructors to ensure the kids get corrections or assistance as needed. My son has been coming to AKI for a year and a have. Its the longest he's been committed to a sport and he absolutely loves it. read more

I started my mma journey around 5 years ago at this school. This is an amazing school for your kids and even for yourself. The staff is amazing and very kind. They take care and make sure every kid gets attention and they make sure that any doubt they have when it comes to the techniques. They also have tons of activities for the kids all year round. It is truly an amazing place !! 10/10 read more

This school is phenomenal. Not only are they great with my daughter and teaching there students self defense but they give the kids the foundation to excel and they also respect and are conscious of the threat covid is. So they take every step and precaution to keep us all safe. Hands down this jui-jitsu school is the best. read more

I am absolutely thrilled with American Karate my daughter Abigail is so confident , happy and is excited every time we go . The first time she walked inside she was so shy and hid behind me and cried the first class . Now two months in she walks in with confidence greeting Mr. And Mrs. G when she comes is and is no longer hiding but standing with confidence and pride in who she is . Even our family and friends have seen the improvement in how she is more confident and has an outgoing personality. She loves it so much that we signed her up for two years . Absolutely love the instructors and the environment the quality is unmatchable! read more

My son has been in the school for 6 years. AKI is amazing. Positive atmosphere as well as discipline and structure. Highly recommended.

When your smallest ninja warrior says, "Mañana hay karate? Yo quiero ir. Quiero mis color tips! ", you know you are going to the right place. Thanks for having a system that is clear cut and easy to navigate for both the children and parents. More importantly, thanks for making it fun! read more

My son is 22 and he attended AKI for many years and we loved it. Now my daughter who is 9 has begun her martial arts classes. I can't be more happy! the teachers are amazing! they were amazing back with my son and they are still amazing! I am so happy to be back again! read more

This place is amazing! They have so many instructors present during the class that each student receives attention. My daughter has shown such improvement in her attitude and confidence since she began classes that I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking to put their little one in karate! read more

We highly recommend AKI for many reasons including the positivity of their instructors, important skills they teach children, and the engagement they bring for the kids and families. Their dedication and passion for what they do is evident in every class. read more

I absolutely adore this place! My son started a few months ago in their "little eagles" program and he loves it! The location is a little out of our way, but it is so worth it. This is the best karate institute you will find in Miami. I love watching the interaction between the instructors and the kids. You can see how much passion and dedication they have in what they teach. Your kids will learn discipline, respect and so much more. I cannot wait to see how much more my son will evolve here! read more

I am extremely disappointed with this place! My family is one of the many affected by COVID-19 and these people dared to take our money, while the institute is closed for an indefinite amount of time and kids are not receiving classes. My son's membership fee was automatically withdrawn the first week of March, soon after AKl closed due to the pandemic, I did not request a refund for March even though I paid for a whole month and didn't receive the services. To my surprise, on April they withdrew from my bank the full membership fee. I assumed it was a mistake and contacted the owner Mrs.Gonzales, I politely requested a refund and further explained to her that I was directly affected by the pandemic and our family could not afford to spent almost $200, especially for services not being received. Mrs. Gonzalez denied my request and instead offered to extended the membership an additional month at the end of the agreement term. I advised her that would not help with the current financial situation and reminded her we're a military family and we might be relocated by that time. Mrs. Gonzalez reaffirmed she would not give me back my money and suggested I cancel my son's membership.. So, all the money spent on the uniform, gear, and belts was practically thrown in the trash. But most importantly, my son's belt progress and dedication to the program meant nothing, he now has to start from 0 at new academy. read more

Just wanted to give an update on the experience we have had with American Karate Institute. My daughter has now been involved with AKI for about 3 months. The transformation I have seen in her is nothing short of a miracle. She started the program as a very shy person who was unsure of herself and who would get frustrated and give up when things got tough. The person she is today is the complete opposite. She has become very open, outgoing and, most importantly, very respectful. She loves her instructors. No matter now tired she is from school, she still wants to go to Karate and make us and her instructors proud. The instructors are AMAZING. They are true role models in my child's life. Many years ago, I was blessed to be in her same position being a student of American Karate Institute. It changed my life forever. I am so blessed that those who was able to change my life, are the same instructors who are guiding my daughter onto the same path of success. I want to personally thank all the staff at AKI for the amazing job they do. The lessons they teach goes way beyond techniques in martial arts. They also teach the students and the parents the spirituality behind martial arts and how to become a better person. read more

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Great place for your children to learn outside of the house about respect, discipline and all the fundamentals of being a positive roll model in life. Being a parent and teaching these fundamentals is one thing, but to have it reinforced by Aki has been an amazing experience for my children over the last 10 years. You won't find more caring and dedicated Staff and owners anywhere in Miami! Thank you AKI Miami for your years of dedication to our children! Jeremy S read more

I am very blessed that I found AKI. As a parent, you never want your child to be bullied. In AKI your child will learn how to self defense and boost self esteem. Everyone that works at AKI are caring and extremely knowledgable. Master Angel is inspiring with his words of wisdom and I praise him for his amazing program. I am confident that my boys will not get bullied and that is priceless! read more

My son has been enrolled at AKI for 4.5 years, he is now close to 9 years old and I cant begin to tell everyone how lucky we are to have found this great Mixed Martial Arts School. Where do I begin..... ALL of the instructors (senseis) are great they have taught my son, and im sure other hundred kids to walk tall, to have amazing self confidence, discipline, to listen and to NEVER GIVE UP! Other than just Karate they are taught Boxing, Judo, Jiu Jitsu, Wrestling and Grappling. Their scheduling is great and flexible enough for working parents to take their kids to class. I would recommender to anyone that is looking for a martial arts school for their kids. read more

We all should live for kids! We live for our son Alessandro. We will go to end of the Earth to give our precious boy the best. For almost 2 years, we did just that, more my wife did. We used to live in Brickell Key. After checking numerous Martial Arts schools in the Brickell area, so many things were missing, from Discipline, True Leaders, Energy, Respect, Passion from the Instructors... As soon as, I showed my wife a Youtube video. The explosiveness, hard-core energy, respect in that video sold us. The instructors bio are amazing: Master Lipsky started off at age of 12, Sensei Lazo since he was 8, Assistant Parea 8, Assistant Solis 4 years old, and of course the owners son Ulysses. There is absolutely no other school with that kind of loyalty and commitment. For about 2 years, we drove our son 45 miles in Miami traffic round trip 3 times a week almost 5 years ago. One of the best decisions we ever made for our son. Our son was bullied by one of his friends when he was 4, that quickly ended. Alessandro is now 9 years old, he has become a very positive, confident, courageous little man. All of this has reflected in his academic work as well, Straight A's. This school has it all. Not only do ALL of the instructors demand respect, but they always show each and every child respect. No other school has philosophies such as this one: Based on the founders of martial arts, Samurai. Samurai's Moral Conduct is represented in AKI's teachings daily: Honesty, Integrity, Politeness, Loyalty, Compassion, Courage and Justice. However, I ask all of you parents reading this, please show your precious cargo respect as well. When you take your child to the classes, please put the iPhones down, don't be texting while your child will be constantly looking for your encouragement, approval and love. It's sad to see the kid's faces when they look over to their parents and they are too busy looking down at their phones. Trust us, this will be one of the BEST INVESTMENTS you will give your child. read more

What can I say? This place has been part of our family for the last three years. Good and wise teachers, family-owned & operated (and the entire family can kick your butt). Well-rounded MMA program for all ages. Highly recommended. read more

They never showed my daughter respect especially being the first female to receive her black belt. They never recorded my daughter on her graduation day, they only recorded when one of the black belts earned his second degree, but never chose to record my daughters accomplishment and evidence that she also earned her black belt, which took close to 7 years to accomplish. She got disrespected verbally and physically by the one of the black junior students and they favored his actions. They never made him apologize nor did they care to find a way to solve the problem. Mr & Mrs G did nothing to represent my daughter and the issues that occurred. And with the movements that go on like the "MeToo" movement, you would think that in a dojo, with "morales", the girls/ women would be respected more and show young boys"men" how to respect women . Moreover, even Mrs. G, a women herself hadn't shown any sympathy or remorse for my daughter during the situations. Don't let their affirmation fool you. Their main concern is money, money and more money! Trust me, cause we were not the only ones/ that felt this way towards this school. There are other families that spent lots of money, time and commitment and they show no love at the end only attitude because of the money!! I'm just the first to speak up!Facts, their SON never passed the black belt test like all the others. Ask if they got video of him testing for the black belt. I know cause I was there. If I would've shown their true colors, the school would kick me out because I'm standing for knowing what is right especially for my young woman, my daughter! Last thing, they take one month vacation on your contract throughout the year and the prices are a lot more expensive. They say, the increase is for paying for black belt instructors. But the instructors end up leaving and the price does compensate the change. More money more money. Money is taking over the MORALE! read more

What you see on their website is exactly what you get in their school. This location and its instructors provide the perfect blend of fun, technique, motivation, and life skills. This martial arts school may not be the cheapest around but you definitely get what you pay for - and they are worth every penny. read more

Great place. My daughter loves going and the staff seems friendly and kind. I would def recommend

Remember when Mr Miyagi said karate here? Well I say karate not at AKI. This school is sooooooo lucky sensei Darryl is an amazing and wonderful instructor , very patient with the kids , encourages them, and makes sure all the students are acknowledged on their good work. However, the owners ooooooh not so happy, they leave a little bit of a bad taste in your mouth. Where do I begin ....... While your little karate kid is kicking away you will sit in an undersized room hoping to catch a view of your child. You are only allowed to sit inside where the mat is if your child is getting tips or a new belt. Every time there is a new belt you have to pay a fee of like 50$. The owner wanted us to enroll our son for a year and pay the entire year all at once. I took 3 of my sons friends which they all enrolled in the school and only got one free shirt! at least a discount of their pricey uniform or registration fee would have been nice. They have a 2 week trial period for all the new comers so i suggest you do this if your child has never taken karate before. They need more chairs or a bigger waiting room. I do like their website, here you can find class schedules, how many classes your child attended, if you owe them any fees, and it will even remind you if the karate kid is getting a new belt. read more

I enrolled both my girls (8 & 13) back in March for two different reasons. My youngest needed more physical activity and the my oldest needed to build her self confidence and to learn how to combat bullying. The change in them is so noticeable after several months. I'm glad I found this school through yelp read more

My daughter has learned self defense techniques which will serve her well. They are very supportive and nurturing of their students and highly motivate them! Love them!! read more

Best martial arts school in Miami. School has been open for 35 years. The instructors are nurturing but firm with the little ones. The curriculum encompasses several fighting styles which makes the students much more well rounded fighters. I love that they don't give away belts. The students must truly exhibit proficiency and mastery in order to advance in belt levels. My 4 year old will definitely be a long time student at AKI! read more

This karate school is amazing. They have the best instructors. My daughter has been a student for about a year now and I have seen a change for the better in her. I would def recommend to anyone in the area. read more