I cannot recommend Versus Jiu-Jitsu enough. Professor Rodrigo gives clear and explicit instructions…read moreand ensures all students understand each position before moving on. I have been training at Versus for over a year now and have seen such a progression in my jiu-jitsu and my all-around fitness level. In addition, Versus attracts a great group of students from a wide variety of backgrounds where everyone feels welcome. I particularly love the early bird classes.

My 10 yo daughter has been attending Versus Jiu Jitsu for about two months. She was very…read moreintimidated at first, but Rodrigo made her feel at home. The other kids have been very welcoming. The higher ranked belts know to take it easy on the lower ranks. Professor Rodrigo's style is a great combination of nurturing and demanding. He expects respect and teaches the kids to be respectful while teaching Jiu jitsu. My daughter has grappled with both boys and girls and is gaining so much confidence from it. Can't say enough good things. The price is reasonable as well!!!

Sadly, I was never able to experience an actual class at American Martial Arts, and it was a…read moretremendous disappointment to say the least. I was so excited about attending my first class, as my life is so incredibly busy and I was thrilled to think that I had potentially found a wonderful place to relax. My first class was setup by Kerri, who was an employee at American Martial Arts. We had been in contact for months, but my schedule was so busy that I simply didn't have time to connect. When I realized that there was finally an opening in my otherwise hectic schedule, I immediately reached out to Kerri. We were able to schedule a class, and I was beyond excited. On the day of the class, I nervously entered their facility and was immediately impressed by the size. There was a lot of activity all around, but I found what I thought to be the Reception desk and waited while the woman behind the desk finished with a group that was there. I observed a upbeat and friendly conversation amongst them, and waited patiently for them to finish. Once done, I stepped up to a smiling woman who, upon seeing me, suddenly looked surprised, if not shocked. I was a bit thrown off by her sudden change in demeanor, with her smile completely leaving her face and that smile becoming what could best be described as a scowl. The energy in that space and in that moment became negative and unbalanced, in a way that was uncomfortable. What came next should not have surprised me as the woman's facial expressions were absolutely leading up to it. The now "smile-less" woman looked at me and said "do you need something"? No hello, no niceties, just "do you need something"? I barely knew how to respond, but one thing was abundantly clear, this wasn't a place where I was welcome and I felt an overwhelming need to leave immediately. I attempted to respond with a full sentence, but I was too taken aback to even think, I asked the woman if she could please let Kerri know that I had stopped by, as I had absolutely no intention of spending even another minute there. I then began to leave, but of course this exchange would not be complete without the requisite sarcasm that is to be expected from someone who greets a potential customer in such a manner. No surprise here. When I went home and told my husband what happened, he calmly and quietly explained that I did the right thing by leaving immediately. He said "babe, that wasn't a place for you, and that woman at the front desk was making sure you understood that you were not welcome.". Of course I understood exactly what he meant, but it still saddens me to my very core that people of color are not always welcome. I never, ever, ever pull the race card, but something went very wrong at this place of business, and that woman seeing my face in person ignited it. There was no hiding her contempt and obvious disdain for me, she didn't even try, and I am guessing that she behaves this way because someone has set the tone for that behavior within this place of business.

Excellent Martial Arts school. My son loves it. We were…read morereferred by a school friend and never looked back. It is a family run business and all classes are run by family members . Each instructor excels in teaching techniques and also respect and values.They show dedication and passion. There are varied class times to fit most schedules. The school manages to maintains very reasonable tuition costs. Also worth mentioning they are very active in the community and annually put together Thanksgiving dinners for those in need once again teaching kids the importance of helping people.

Bay State Taekwondo is everything I was looking for and somethings I didn't know I could ask for…read more Master Alves and Master C show such compassion and interest in the children they teach Taekwondo, while also instilling discipline, respect, and self control. My daughter has been a student since she was 4 and is testing next week for her High Yellow belt. All of this makes the academy the perfect choice, but then on top of that is the flexibility and understanding that make Bay State stand out. The classes are offered five days a week at the same time each day, and students can come to any two classes per week. So, this week Monday and Wednesday were easiest for my family, but next week could be Tuesday Thursday. With little kids, this is SUCH a huge benefit. I can assure you if you are looking for a Taekwondo academy in the Wayland, Framingham, Natick area, you won't beat Baystate.

My 7 year old son has been attending Baystate Taekwondo Academy for the past 2 years. He loves it…read moreand we are very happy and impressed with his accomplishments. At Baystate instructors are very cool Master C and Master Alves make the class very fun. We are very pleased our son has been able to manage stress, concentration and focus. I defenetely recommend Baystate Taekwondo Academy. Sincerely, Ketty Souza

Sensei Paul Belle Isle is an excellent instructor of Shindo Jinen Ryu Karate. I attended his class…read morefor a little over a year and can easily attest that his approach to instructing and teaching this style of Karate makes it easy to understand yet keeps it challenging as it should be. He doesn't just "hand out" belts like some other dojos nor does he allow the students to forget the very basics. For every belt you earn, you can honestly say you know everything you are required to know up to that point. Sensei Paul makes the student understand the purpose of each movement in Shindo Jinen Ryu and with the typically smaller sized classes, he has time to teach one on one if need be. Sensei Paul truly has a love for Karate and a passion for teaching. I highly recommend this class to anyone.

I started taking classes here a few months ago after my (fit) wife gave me karate lessons for…read moreChristmas. Hmmm....Was she inspired by Michelle Obama who gave gym clothes to the President? Anyway, I happily accepted the gift because I was already wondering how to add more variety to my daily fitness routine, which consists of bending, stretching, and balancing exercises along with weights and cardio (I am lucky to have the equipment and space in my home to do this). I was also hoping that by participating in a group exercise, I will not have the monotony of working out alone (listening to the Morning Edition) at least twice a week. Well, despite the fact that I had never taken marital arts lessons before and other than tidbits gathered from watching Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan movies, I hardly knew anything, I found that at the end of the day, karate is yet another way to improve fitness. Obviously, it was a little intimidating to join a class with that level of ignorance, but I found the instructor to be supportive and patient. Over several weeks, I have learned a few stances and kicks, and feel much more confident about being able to defend myself in the future. Now, yet again, maybe it was my ignorance, but I did not expect that we will be doing a lot of other exercises to warm up and to improve our fitness levels in addition to actual karate techniques. So that has been a blessing for me because I am realizing that by doing these additional exercises I am exercising each and every muscle in my body. Let me add that karate can be learned at any age and I am aware of instructors who are in their 70s and 80s. That is yet another plus because this is a fitness activity that I can envision doing the rest of my life. Taking on karate classes as I am approaching my 50th birthday was a step outside my comfort zone of fitness, but it has been fun because the classes are designed to be slow-paced and focused more on getting it right than on speed.

Attended two months of adult classes here, after signing up for one free month of lessons at…read moreNorwood Day. First of all, karate teachers don't come any better than Craig! You and your family can feel confident that you will be educated by a respectful, caring, and knowledgeable teacher. The adult class sizes are small and friendly, new members are always joining, but there's a core group that has been attending for almost 10 years. Loyalty is always a good thing in my book! If I had the time in my schedule I would have stayed longer! Thanks, Craig!

Instruction at Craig Lowe' Kenpo is spot on! It includes skills and meditation. Great for…read moreself-discipline and exercise.

My son really enjoys the learning at this center. Master Yang and the team are very professional…read moreand my son has learned a lot and built a lot of confidence.

Great school, Master Yang and the team are very attentive and I love coming here! They always make…read moresure to make class enjoyable while still being educational and pushing us physically

Thinking of having your kids (of any age) join karate? Well this is the place to go!!…read moreThis is a perfectly run program. Personal Best does a great job on teaching the kids self defense and life lessons. Along with a very good offense & defensive tactical program they teach the kids about honesty, integrity, giving back to others, how to handle bullying, etc. Personal Best also holds events like charity 5k runs, giving out Thanksgiving meals and so on. It really is a very impressive program and if your an adult looking to get into karate or just get in shape, this place is great for that too. In addition, Personal Best has started a Jiu Jitsu program! I feel this is a great skill for women to learn!! It will teach you how to defend yourself with a strong person on the ground on top of you. Check this place out and their other locations!

My boys have been coming to PBK for over 5 years and the benefits get more obvious every day…read more They've learned confidence, self control, discipline and the value of hard work. They even notice how it helps them in other sports, like baseball and football. In addition to the general health and fitness benefits, the instructors make it even better. They make it a point to not only know the kids, but to know ABOUT the kids. I cannot recommend PBK enough!

I've been training taekwondo on and off for 15yrs, at 4 different schools. I'm now just one belt…read moreshy of black. In February 2013 I started training at Framingham Taekwondo under Master Roman de Sousa. Where do I begin? He's incredibly experienced as an athlete, an instructor, and a school owner. He is excellent at judging people's skills right off the bat, and customizing amazing, uplifting classes that challenge everyone, regardless of their level. Want to train for self defense? a fun, challenging workout? to compete? This school delivers, whatever your personal goals may be. As far as the students go, they've quickly become my friends. It's not every day you can walk into a gym or martial arts school and feel instantly welcomed. The camaraderie here is real, and everyone wants you to succeed, and you can't help but join right in, and feel the same towards everyone else. The assistant instructors are super nice, patient, and eager to help before or after class, and they are excellent at teaching the kids as well. There is plenty of parking, two training floors, changing rooms, bathroom, a waiting/viewing area, and the school is exceptionally clean at all times. I train Monday through Thursday and it's truly the highlight of my evenings. No need to look any further, check out Framingham Taekwondo!

Master Roman is an amazing instructor!!!!! class is alway fun and up beat. i have been training…read morewith Master Roman for about 13 years and he have coach me through 3 major fight and i won gold on all three. Framingham taekwondo is not just a martial arts school, it is also a family!!! the minute you walk through the door you will be treated like one of us. i love framingham tkd