Awesome guy. Very patient and kind. Very safe. I have worked with him in the past. He definitely…read moreknows his stuff. Plenty of stories and he loves a good joke. 8 degree better than awesome

Master Batiste was incredibly patient and attentive to my son with Down Syndrome. He benefitted…read moregreatly from the discipline, physical fitness and instruction. His self-esteem skyrocketed!

This is a legitimate Shotokan Karate school. If you are looking for Taekwondo after school care you…read morewon't find it here. I am a brown belt and have trained around the world and have trained here many times. Kata techniques are well instructed here and some sparring techniques on Saturdays. The instructor is the highest ranked on the East Coast and is very fun and entertaining classes but still very effective and serious when needed. This is the only "real" Karate studio in Northern Virginia. They follow the true tradition of Gichin Funakoshi, the father of Japanese Karate. Oss!

My husband and son attend karate classes at this Dojo. The…read moreAdult and Child class is a wonderful chance for them to do something together that they enjoy so much. The sensei here is very knowledgeble and patient with all the students, especially the younger set. But he also pushes them. We've especially seen my son's confidence flourish and I'm convinced it's because of his success in karate at this Dojo. Know that it's a bare bones gym - there's no afterschool programs, childcare but if you're looking for serious karate instruction this is a good program.

Please look into other gyms!! They're not worth it. Communication is horrible, they have too many…read morechildren in one class and it's challenging for your child to get the necessary attention needed. Also, they will take money even if your membership is cancelled and not refund you for it! I HIGHLY recommend looking elsewhere and putting your money into establishments that are worth it.

Just hosted our 5year-olds bday here, today, and I would DEFINITELY do it again for the following…read morereasons: 1) budget friendly--you'd be hard-pressed to find a better deal in this area @ an indoor play-space 2) we had the whole facility to ourselves 3) throughout our entire process, every staff Member was professional, helpful, friendly & communicated effectively w/o exception even w/our last minute questions 4) short drive from our home (Capitol Hill/Navy Yard) 5) ease of parking & general access to place @The Little Gym Proprietor & Staff--keep doing what you're doing! This picky D.C. mama was thoroughly pleased. THANK YOU.

When my kids finally expressed interest in taking taekwondo, we checked out 4 schools and had a…read morelist of criteria: good teachers and classes, clean, good philosophy, and not a black belt diploma mill as most schools are. We found all of that and more in DCSDKA. The teachers and classes are great. The kids not only learn taekwondo but also Krav Maga self-defense, and how to be safe in everyday situations, especially for little kids. The school fosters respect, responsibility and camaraderie and my children have found lots of good friends in the school. I'm very particular about what school they go to since I have experience in taekwondo, and I highly recommend this school.

GrandMaster Sensei Carol Middleton is a world-class martial artist. I get chills when I see her…read moreskills in action. As a student, I love that the dojo is a welcoming and friendly atmosphere, that the values of respect, responsibility and leadership are taught and displayed by the instructors and students and I am thankful for the the precision of training I get. DC residents are lucky to have this incredible resource at their fingertips. I hope others will take advantage of these classes, whether they are looking for self-defense, fitness, social opportunities or just wanting to learn a valuable new skill.

In my opinion, Ahmad Ali Mazhari is a great karate instructor, but if one were truly aware of his…read moreother negative qualities, that person would have to be insane to become or remain his student. I studied for many years under Mr. Mazhari, and for the bulk of that time, I believed him to be a wise, trustworthy mentor of the highest order. In the end however, it became clear that this opinion of him was based solely on his ability to manipulate me and others to suit his own needs. In my opinion, involvement with him is akin to being in a cult; he intentionally increases his influence in people's lives over time until it extends well outside the dojo, and when the influence reaches that point, if you dare question him, you are immediately treated as though you were his mortal enemy.Based on my years of experience with him, the man is a selfish, duplicitous, hypocritical megalomaniac who cares about nothing so much as exerting control over the lives of people around him. Involve yourself with him if you must, but don't say nobody warned you. He is so hypocrite that he gave himself 7th and 8th Dan in less than 4 years.

From the owner: Dedicated to teaching the true art and spirit of Shotokan karate. Established in 1982, SKC NOVA is…read morethe oldest Shotokan karate dojo in Northern Virginia.

I've only taken one class here and have been meaning to wrote a review. I am surprised to be the…read morefirst reviewer, as the class was very good. As a novice, I learned a lot and felt it was a very good introduction to martial arts for me. The instructor was very good and seemed to really know his stuff. I can't recall his name though and I am not sure how many instructors there are. I don't think Karate is for me, but the class was a good experience for trying something new. If I were to continue, I'd definitely do it here.