My kids trained at another BJJ (Brazilian jujitsu) gym for a few years and didn't grow much in…read moreskill or confidence. We looked at other gyms, including Smiley. After taking the trial classes, we decided to stay at Smiley. The reasons? My kids were happy there and were excited to return because they, "Had fun"- their words. The coaches are hands on and encouraging. There's no pressure for them to compete, which isn't a goal of ours (the parents) or the kids. We want our kids to learn self defense because we feel it's a necessary life skill. The coaches at Smiley respect that and train our kids just the same (unlike other gyms that pushed private lessons and competitions). I like the affirmations Coach Smiley shares at the end of class. In addition to learning self defense, I want my kids to build confidence, resilience, determination, etc... the coaches at Smiley help speak life into the kids while teaching them self defense techniques. Lastly, I like the options they have for kids (8 and up): MMA, Boxing, and Muay Thai! They have BJJ for kids 4 and up I believe. It's nice to have a place they can learn different skills and have the time to do it with their packed schedules. You get your moneys worth! I'm looking forward to seeing my kids grow in skill and confidence at Smiley Academy.

Kids trained elsewhere for years without much progress. Smiley has been a game-changer. They have…read morefun, hands-on coaches, no pressure to compete, and a focus on self-defense, confidence, and resilience. Options for kids include MMA, Boxing, Muay Thai, and BJJ. Kids are excited to attend, and I can see them growing in skill and confidence. Highly recommend.

The location address is now 1115 Blanding Blvd. I have to give a huge shout out to Mr Ordaz and Mr…read moreCenteno for all of their attention and support over the years with my son's journey to getting him ready to test for black belt. It's amazing to see how he has grown and it takes a village to raise a great kid... thank you for being a huge part of our village. For any parent who is thinking about putting their kid in martial arts or wondering what school to choose, Roderick's Family Martial Arts is awesome and I also want to give a huge shout out to Mr Sutherland at the OakLeaf location who has also been a part of his village.

Fast to take your money. Push you to buy thing you don't need. And if you ever question them or…read moregive feedback they kick you out of their studio. Owner is nice. His employees can't say the same for. One of his "managers" rolled her eyes when my wife asked to talk about some gear. She was rude, inconsiderate and talked down to others. Fake smile and a fake personality. Also. Sometimes class is being led by early teenage people. For over $4000 a year in cost, you'd expect more.

The instructors here are top notch(Marcelo+George)! Both very accomplished. The group is very mixed…read morewith all level belts. I can't say enough about the good vibes and atmosphere of the group. Three months in and I feel at home! I can't say enough great things about BTT!!!

Friendly atmosphere, great for families. Proven world class instructor and competitive champion…read morewith numerous awards through competition. In addition to the adult program, they have an excellent kids program as well. One of the top Brazilian Jiu Jitsu schools in Jacksonville! The kids program and adult program are consistently winning gold medals at the local, national, and state levels. They have added a mixed martial arts class and now offer group and private lessons. Great school!

I used to attend as a teen and now my teen son attends. The staff is excellent. They are helpful,…read moremake you feel welcome, and super nice. The staff has always been like that even when I was there. The classes are great.

My granddaughter wanted to try kickboxing, so I signed her up at Karate America. To her surprise,…read moreI signed up as well. We signed up for both Kickboxing and Self defense, both excellent values. What a great way to have fun and get in shape with your kid! The people who practice there are all encouraging and kind. The instructors are talented in accelerating physical abilities and learning martial arts. They are also great with people, understanding that we are all different, and they are the best at helping people fit in and get the most out of the classes. I am especially appreciative of the manner they teach personal discipline, with love and respect. The Self-defense and martial arts training provided builds confidence, strength, flexibility, and balance. And will inspire one to do more with their life. And you don't have to be in shape to start, they will help you start from where you are. Join up, and make real progress fast. That's from my personal experience at Karate America. Absolutely excellent.

Great Christian place for kids to learn karate, but WAY over priced. If you have more than one…read morechild interested, look to spend at least $150 per month per child. Not to include the belts; which you must purchase theirs.

This school is wonderful! This is a true martial arts school. We have many years experience with…read morethe big, box chain karate school in our area. At AFR, it is refreshingly different. We were told up front exactly what the costs would be. No guessing. And the quality of the instruction is more personal, authentic and well rounded. Sensei LeAnn and Sensei Rebecca have done wonders with my timid little girl. Our son is blossoming in self confidence and self discipline. The integrity, professionalism, compassion, authenticity, and Christ-centered learning at AFR Christian Karate is why we chose this Dojo over all the others in the area. A low introductory rate, flashy marketing flyers and a fast lane to a black belt does not make those big box chain karate schools a better deal. Thank you AFR Christian Karate for doing it right, doing it honest and doing it better.

Good school environment. Friendly, lots of classes for kids and adults. Amazing coaches. I've…read morethoroughly enjoyed training here for the past year and can't recommend this place enough.

Started 3 years ago with my 5 year old daughter and it has been such a blessing for her and our…read morefamily. My daughter just became a black belt and has blossomed to be a driven and confident kid. Between the Ninja nights and tournaments she has built deep friendships and even started their leadership program. My son joined in March and its helping him immensely with his speech and confidence. My husband even started this month! The instructors are the right balance of informative, patient and supportive. They provide lots of helpful and fun stories to give overall insight into self control, discipline and honor. Something I have greatly appreciated. Pricing and scheduling is extremely simple and easy to setup within the app. They post upcoming events and provide instructive videos all in the app so you have it for practice at home too. The membership allows you to pick and choose which classes fit your schedule so if you miss a Monday you can join the Tuesday class instead and get the full flexibility you need. Easily the best decision for my family.

Looking for something challenging, emotionally stretching to your kids? Looking for something that…read morewill develop disciplined habits and build a character of integrity, honesty, and honor? Then come check this place out! You can try out 3 classes for only $25 (includes a free uniform)! All classes start with showing respect to parents and guardians that brought the kids to class, to the American flag, and our country, and the instructors who are leading the class. The kids learn several different styles of martial arts, including using and getting out of chokeholds, kicking and punching combos, jiu jitsu, and wrestling. Even in your kids first few classes they'll what is like fight and wrestle someone. There's no babying your kids here. They're taught to embrace and learn from adversity. If you do decide to join the monthly cost includes unlimited classes throughout the week. That means you can take advantage of your investment in your kids daily! We love this place and absolutely love Mr. Eckholm, the instructor. I recommend this place to everyone and anyone. (They also have adult classes)

Instructors that truly care about the kids and a very organized lesson structure everytime. They…read moreteach Tae Kwon Do and each beginner class is about 45-50 min long. Students are praised on how well they do outside of the class as well, and are encouraged to bring notes from their parents and school papers with good grades. Each month they focus on a different goal while they learn their moves. Adults can train here, too, but they train alongside the kids. They have programs where you can earn your black belt in 3 years. The only reason why I didn't keep my son here is that they are a bit out of my budget. Otherwise, they are an excellent karate school.