Let me start with this, I love Golden Dragon Defense and I LOVE Ms. Maria (owner, instructor,…read morebadass) We enrolled our son in the Tae Kwon Do program about a month ago. It's a monthly fee that gives him unlimited access to classes. He can go once a week or 4 times a week or anything in between. We started him off slow so that he could learn the rules and way around. Now he's up to 3/4 times a week. Tae Kwon Do is a group excursion, but everyone gets a lot of quality instructor time and everyone moves at their own pace (in terms of testing for belts). Sometimes classes will have 5+ people, sometimes they'll have 2, just depends on the day of the week. Ms. Maria is down to earth, friendly, quirky and funny. But make no mistake, she demands respect, instills a sense of responsibility in students and expects them to respect each other and others. She loves her students and genuinely treats them like family. Ms. Maria and her co-instructor Matt also offer Eskrima, Boot camps, boxing and more. We recommend this for anyone (adult or child) interested in learning self-defense, self-control and good fitness. Ms. Maria also has classes catering to special needs children/adults as well.

Golden Dragon Defense is amazing! Our daughter has been taking Tae Kwon Do for the last month and…read morelooks forward to every class. We love Mrs. Maria! She is very educated in the true art of Tae Kwon Do and self defense, teaches life lessons in respect and kindness. I have seen her work with children and adults... with the same amazing results. This is not a cookie cutter school...this is a family of Superheroes! I highly recommend this school to anyone looking or even considering any form of martial arts. Tammy

James Conkell, who is the head instructor of Alpha Combatives, is great, patient, and extremely…read moreknowledgeable. He is very conscientious and caters his classes to suit the interests, experience/skill level, and needs of the individual. For me, this has included exposure to JKD, Muay Thai, boxing, karate, and Escrima. I am also really interested in learning how to react in situations where I might have to defend myself, so I also appreciate getting the chance to learn techniques that are also on the more practical side. This is a mobile business, so while it says he is based in Arlington, he has come out to teach me in DC. I look forward to every class and always feel like I am getting a great work out as well as improving my technique. His prices are also very reasonable and I highly recommend contacting him for more info.

I started my Jeet Kune Do training this past summer with James. I am highly impressed. So far we…read morehave worked on a mixture of boxing, muay thai kickboxing, taekwondo, karate, and kali (filipinio stick fighting). This is only the beginning. I realize there's so much more ahead of me that I look forward to learn. I have to say, James is seriously one of the BEST martial arts instructors I've ever met. I guess in my view it is somewhat rare for me to say that because through my time training in martial arts up until now I've met many instructors who just didn't click with me because of their poor attributes. That is certainly not the case at Alpha Combatives. James has all the qualities of a proper martial arts instructor one could ask for, he is truly friendly, patient (which is huge to be a good teacher), personable, creative, has a huge appreciation for and knowledge of the martial arts, and understandable. He takes into consideration a student's prior experience in any martial art (if any) and creates a customized training program for that student. One student's training will not quite be the same as another student. Alpha Combatives does not use a one-size-fits-all approach for its students, which is key for anyone wanting to reach their true potential in the martial arts. Believe me, I have been to schools in the past where there are too many students, making it not as likely to receive personal attention from the instructor or the instructor does not make an effort to get to know his students personally. I've also been to schools where many times I felt like I was just another number and not part of the family because of the big environment. Here at Alpha Combatives, I am pleased to have the full attention of James, the instructor, during my training session, we get to know eachother alot, and I completely feel like I am part of a family and not forgotten. I have been absent from training for quite some time and recently James got in contact with me to see how I was doing. That proves how much a FANTASTIC martial arts instructor James is because he does not forget about his students or their well being. Keep in mind, all of this at an affordable price! I mean affordable. There are too many martial arts instructors in the area that will charge a high price for one-on-one training, even well over $100 for one class. Martial arts should be accessible to anyone that wants to train. Alpha Combatives offers a really affordable rate for training, personalized attention from highly qualified head instructor James, and knowledgeable experience in martial arts to add to your arsenal, all in a fun, safe, and friendly atmosphere. Although I have not gotten too deep into my JKD training yet, I already learned several cool techniques that are very helpful for practical self defense should the unfortunate time come for me to have to use them. Training in JKD has given me more confidence than ever knowing that I am slowly building up the skills needed to be able to effectively defend myself in a realistic situation. I do train in a combat sport and although I love it, one has to understand that a punch or kick to the face may not always work in street self defense. For example, James has shown me a couple of kicks that are more practical for defending yourself and trust me they work even better for causing damage to an attacker. JKD is a perfect choice for anyone wanting to get into martial arts or to learn more about self defense. It is a combination of many styles of martial arts into one. It's alot of fun, believe it! I love to learn a variety of martial arts and this is perfect for me to do so. I guarantee you will love training at Alpha Combatives once you start, whether it'd be for JKD or another martial art style you are interested in. There's no need for beginners to feel nervous as you will learn in a comfortable environment. All advanced martial artists were once beginners too. It is not as common to find someone as passionate and caring as James to be your martial arts instructor. Take advanatge of training here TODAY!

Took my 5- and 8-year-old to Six Blades Jiu Jitsu Nova for a free trial. The environment is…read moreno-nonsense and clearly built around serious training-- which as an Army veteran is something I personally respect and felt at home in, especially given the military-style banter. That said, I didn't find the tone ideal for younger kids. There was language and phrasing ("kick his ass!") that I didn't feel was appropriate for children, and I was disappointed by comments made toward boys being beaten by girls ("You'll walk home if you lose to a girl")--not exactly the message I want either of my kids internalizing. The instructors are absolutely skilled and committed, but they treat the kids like mini adults, which may work for some families, but not ours. We ended up going with another gym that's more youth-focused, closer to home, and offers more affordable memberships with military and family discounts. I think Six Blades would be great for adult students or older teens looking for high-level instruction, but it just wasn't the right fit for our young kids. Edited for further context: For further context, what the owner describes as "jovial" banter included quotes from coaches during the kids' training session: * "Kick his ass!" * "Whoop his ass!" * "You better not lose to a girl!" * "If you lose to a girl, you're walking home!" * "Pay attention, dammit!" "Banter" implies the kids could respond with witty comebacks--but what would they realistically say to grown men in a position of authority? They simply complied. That said, I truly appreciate the owner's openness to constructive feedback. It makes me feel more confident in my decision as a parent. For now, we'll stick with the more "budget" and kid-friendly option -- at least until my children are old enough to clap back at demeaning and misogynistic comments with confidence and humor that comes with maturity.

My son has been training at Six Blades three times a week for seven months. He's had the best…read moreexperience! The instructors are extremely skilled at jiu-jitsu and are natural teachers. The kids children's classes are full of super sweet kids and friendly parents. The community is very welcoming and I'm so grateful to have found it.

I just started here after a free introductory lesson with the instructor and owner, Jon Garfield. I…read morewas very impressed with his background and level of expertise, as well as his easy-going personality. I felt comfortable right away. After this, I met a couple of other students there around my own age (47), some teenagers, young adults, male and female. There is also a great program here for younger kids. There is no pressure here and lots of patient encouragement, but make no mistake, these guys know what they're doing! Don't let the laid back atmosphere fool you. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is no joke. You WILL become a confident "badass" by sticking with it, which is what I hope to do. I highly recommend Jon Garfield and his school to anyone of any age.

I want to give a major shout out to Trulynd Hall & Hannah Lee from Be Ryong Martial Arts studio in…read moreAlexandria. They went above and beyond to show our campers an amazing demonstration of basic TaeKwonDo skills. Highly recommend their instruction, patience, and expertise!

Without a doubt, one of the best experiences of my life. I started here (At the school which is…read morelocated in Alexandria, VA) as a hapkido white belt with absolutely 0 martial arts experience, and left as a black belt when I regretfully had to move away. That's literally the only thing that could stop me from coming to class (4 times a week). Also important, this is a sparring school, so all the things you learn are put to the test. Master Yun is all of the following: - Kind - Smart - Incredibly Skilled - A good teacher - A BEAST (Seriously, sparring with this guy is like sparring with a tree that hits back with the force of a car accident) - Gentle (He can take you all the way to your limits without hurting you) The other students and instructors at the school are outstanding, and i'm proud to have trained with them. You will forge friendships and skills, as well as your mind, body and soul. I can't recommend this school enough for hapkido and taekwondo martial arts training.

I love this place. I…read moremoved here from Denver for a job and the first thing I did was look for a Muay Thai gym recommendation, and this was the gym that was recommended. It was so important to me that I even chose my house to be close to this gym. When I got here it did not disappoint. Almost immediately I met kru Jom who has since taken my Muay Thai to the best level. To be completely honest, I move with a lot of Ego. I thought I had to be fast , strong, and impressive in order to be "good at martial arts" and kru Jom called me out immediately. "Sahira, I need you move more. Too tense" and "Sahira, I need you play more". In the 5 month I've been working with Kru Jom I've become more playful and relaxed in my motion, which is also translating into my regular life. Anger issues have noticeable decreased and I find myself applying Kru Jom's life philosophy into my healing practice as well (I'm a chiropractor). Kru Jom is my guy, and the entire gym holds excellent standards and requires high levels of discipline from me, which is the environment I thrive best in. "Train. Win. Repeat." is our motto, and it holds true both in the gym and outside of the gym. If you want friends to sweat with, play with, and get better with, this is the place for you. Oh, and we have a cold plunge and sauna as well as an entire boxing ring. The amenities are great, and the community is better.

I was in the area for work and did a drop-in bjj class at Pentagon MMA. Everyone was extremely…read morewelcoming and there were a lot of tough rounds! The gym is beautiful and has everything you need (showers, weights, plenty of mat space). Highly recommend! If youre in the DC-area definitely check them out!

If you care about the safety of your child, do not patronize this business. If you wish to trust…read moreyour child with a staff that accepts accountability for accidents if/when they arise, then do not waste your time here. Long story, short, I witnessed my son being kicked and punched several times by another student, and it was never acknowledged or addressed by the staff. When I attempted to make the instructors (and management) aware of this, the response was lackluster at best. Let me paint the full picture of my dismay... My experience with this business is a classic case of what happens when you don't heed red flags when you should. Let me start by stating how excited I was to learn about Northeast Taekwondo about a year and a half ago. A few of my son's friends (slightly older) had attended and it is very close to our house and school. So after reading the Yelp reviews, I called and spoke to someone who advised me that the 3 year old group was full, and that he would put us on the wait list for when my son got closer to 5 (which was this September). I received a call about a year later, advising me that a spot had opened up, but when I confirmed my son's age (4 at this point), he said that he made a mistake and that we should expect another call in late August or so. Despite the confusion, we were content, having already enrolled my son in Aikido classes across town. So come early September, since I had not heard from the company, I got proactive and attempted to reach them by phone several times (5-6 times). I left a few messages, and never received a call back. I am a stickler about businesses returning customer inquiries in a timely fashion, so once I did not hear back, I wrote them off as unworthy of my business. A few weeks later, I finally received a call back advising me of open slots and an orientation happening on 9/25. When I advised Mr. O'Kelly of the un-returned calls, he never acknowledged the oversight or apologized; he simply implied that it was my fault by stating that it was best that I email in the future. Despite these small deals, I decided to still attend the orientation; mainly because of how close the facility is to our home and the kids' school. Right now we travel 30 minutes across town during rush hour, and I was looking to cut down on the commute. I also was excited about the prospects of starting my 3 year old out too. Anyway, we arrived for the orientation, and no one explained that the parents were supposed to sit, while the kids were to gather and participate out on the mats. The staff member who greeted us with the contract saw my son sitting next to me and never suggested he join the group. After a few minutes, when I saw other kids his age participating in street clothes I asked about it and only then was I advised that he should join in. This placed him in the back of class, where the instructors paid little attention to what was going on. My son ended up lined up next to an unruly child who was running around, being wild and disrupting the class. The instructors spent a lot of time trying to reel him in, but as their attention went back to the older, more skilled kids in the front of the room, they totally missed this child practice-punching and kicking my son. My son calmly asked him to stop, and after doing it a few more times, the unruly child found other ways to get in trouble. But never once did the instructors notice what happened, and address it. Another staff member was discussing payment with us in the back of the room, and when I stood up to address the punching and kicking, he basically ignored me. Because, the other child had ran to the front of the room, and left my son alone, I allowed my son to finish the lesson. So this was about 20-30 minutes in. The kids continued to do group technique drills and individual strikes on instructors with mats. It was then that I noticed that little to no attention was being paid to the kids in the middle and back of the room, and especially not the kids who were struggling. My son's form or lack of focus at times was never noticed or corrected and I just felt like his needs had fallen through the cracks since he was not either acting bad or overachieving. My husband and I walked away from the experience knowing that we would not be back, especially since our experience at DC Aikido has been the exact opposite. That said, I felt it necessary to bring these issues to the attention of the business owner, who was not present at orientation. So, I emailed him (per his request) and in as nice a way as possible, I voiced my concerns. Mr. O'Kelly simply stated that "it's not ideal for everyone." He never acknowledged/addressed the real issues at hand - namely the safety of my child, the negligence of his staff, and the promise to do better in the future. So, my family and I will steer way clear of Northeast Taekwondo and instead spend our time and money patronizing DC Aikido as we have for the past year.

I went with my sister yesterday for the Tiny Tigers class. For kids between 2 and 4. My nephew is…read morein the class and the 3 instructors teaching it are totally amazing with these kids. I can't believe the things they have them doing. The class is 30 minutes and the amount of work they do in that time is really cool. I would defiantly recommend anyone to take there tiny tiger there and get enrolled. Learning discipline at a young age is always good.

Trained here for 3 years and I don't regret it Great…read moreinstructors and amazing training partners and coaches that help succeed in any mix martial arts

I've been with the Mikido family and mikido MMA centers for over a decade. Anywhere and anything in…read morefitness you want to achieve , this is the place . Master Brent Hess is a world class coach and with his prestigious experience in martial arts , boxing, wrestling , and BJJ, he gives you the right guidance in achieving your fitness goals and your goals in competition.