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 have been training with Master Dyer for over a decade and cannot say enough about him as an…read moreinstructor or as a person. He has taught me, my wife, and both of our daughters. In the process we have all improved greatly physically and mentally. The principles you see come through on the studio's website are not just hyperbole. He lives the principles he teaches. He is an amazing martial artist but more than that he is an amazing teacher. He can break down the complicated into small practical applications and explain the "why" behind them. His personal training background is great for both someone looking to martial arts to improve mobility and fitness, but also to someone looking to understand why an old kung-fu form's supposedly impractical movement actually makes sense in the context of a fist fight. I would also like to add a personal note that I have made so many friends through martial arts. Most of the friends I have made as an adult have come through martial arts connections. If you train with Master Dyer you will improve in all aspects of your life. I have. And I hope you find the same community I have through martial arts.

From the owner: Martial Arts/ Tai Chi and Meditation classes in Springfield.read more

I have two children, 8 and 5 yo, enrolled in King Khong MMA and been extremely happy with how the…read moreprogram is run. The classes instill discipline and confidence in the children. They learned of a lot of Jiu Jitsu skills and actively practice the moves in class to progress. Master Bao along with assistant Master Zezao and Leo help provide direction and positive atmosphere. Happy to recommend to anyone as a parent.

This is a gym I love to come to at least 2-3 times a week. Coach Bao (owner) created a family…read moreoriented environment where we can come and sweat our tails off. King Kong MMA pushes you physically and mentally every time you step foot in the door. Learning self defense is a vital skill to own. It keeps you in shape but not only that, you stand a better chance protecting you and your loved ones. I've tried other MMA gyms in the area but they don't compare to king Khong. The instructors are 100% attentive & they even train you to fight competitively! The gym is clean (super important) Life feels so much more exciting now that this is a part of my life !

Sensei Roberto is a great sensei, funny, and really care about his students. Love going to this…read moredojo, all the teachers and students are very friendly and always happy help lower rank students.

BEST dojo in the State of Virginia (one of the best in the world, I am sure). If you want to learn…read morefrom a great Sensei (Roberto) and other blackbelt instructors, then Virginia Dojo is the only choice. I am so happy to be a part of this dojo! Sensei Roberto is quite simply AMAZING. He truly cares about his students and teaching karate. The atmosphere at the dojo is welcoming and friendly--from beginner to advanced! Everyone participates to help others learn. The women's class with Denise is fantastic as well! Denise is an inspring third degree blackbelt instructor who is passionate about women's karate and karate in general. As a student, you can take her classes and or the mixed group classes with Sensei Roberto. Check out this dojo for yourself. I signed up a little over a year ago with my kids and we love it and highly recommend.

My son has been coming here for over a year now and without a doubt has been a great experience for…read morehim. The facility is clean and the instructors are professional and very experienced. Most importantly they make it fun for a 7-year old. Another big plus is the number of senseis available per student. The small ratio gives a more in-depth teaching per student which at times may be required. Overall a great place to train and grow! Looking forward to seeing my son advance! Enjoy.

I was fortunate to train BJJ at Yamasaki Academy (Springfield). Professor Neto is gracious,…read morewelcoming and runs terrific classes. Plenty of clean mat space to roll. Academy has players at all different levels -- the variety is challenging and educational. Great vibe from everyone at this school. Yamasaki Academy offers not only BJJ, but Judo and Muay Thai. An amazing, well-rounded school that's conveniently located!

I had a really great time visiting here. PS your first class is free! The instructors and the staff…read morethat worked here were all really kind and made the experience even more enjoyable. I've been to boxing classes before, but I really liked the way that they laid out the class format here. It's a variety of boxing and strength workouts intermixed so you get a well rounded workout. Each day also has a different focus like legs, core, etc. so the workouts that go alongside the boxing have a collective theme. I got a very nice calorie burn. I recommend this to somebody who wants to change up their fitness routine. They have class pack options if you don't want a huge commitment. Or you can join one of their different memberships. The class length is 50 minutes.

RockBox is fantastic! The classes are so much fun. All of the coaches are great and work to…read morechallenge you during class. I leave the classes feeling accomplished and definitely notice myself getting stronger. Would recommend this studio for all fitness levels.

Sensei Gary and his team do an amazing job! Potomac Kempo - Kingstowne's team of instructors are…read moreall committed, professional, kind, and knowledgeable. My son has been taking martial arts classes at this Dojo for over 6 years and he simply loves it there and looks forward to every class. It is apparent that he has developed a strong sense of belonging and is committed to continuous learning. Potomac Kempo provides much more than martial arts training. It provides structure and stability that can be so helpful toward personal growth. I have no doubt that these classes have helped tremendously with my son's development, and I credit Potomac Kempo with helping him to develop a strong moral compass, greater self-discipline, strong conflict resolution skills, and a high degree of empathy and respect for others. I have no reservation in recommending Potomac Kempo.

This is a great community, but only to the extent you want to spend A LOT of money to center your…read morewhole life around Kempo. I was a member for nearly two years with both of my children, and Sensei Gary is a good instructor but also very pushy constantly trying to upsell expensive equipment and special events at a substantial added cost. As long as you go along with it and keep shelling out more money, he is supportive of your training, but he does not like to take no for an answer. And be warned: if you ever decide to stop attending, he will charge you for an extra month after you've left as a penalty for leaving. Potomac Kempo's rates are already far higher than most other martial arts in the area, over $200 per month per person, and this school is clearly more interested in taking your money than in your personal well-being. Pick another dojo.

My grandson goes and enjoys his Karate classes. The trainers are really devoted and experts in…read moreteaching. They focus on every single child which is such a motivation for not only children but the parents too. I enjoy watching his class as the teachers are experts in teaching. I would definitely recommend my friends and family.

I've hesitated to post this review but I feel I need to. About two years ago, after my son turned…read more4, we decided to try Andrew Gause on some neighborhood recommendations, thinking it would help him with some coordination and balance issues. We were asked to come a half hour early for our free trial class, so we did. When we got there it was quite crowded and busy with all of the evening classes, but I filled out all the paperwork and talked to Andrew. Andrew didn't really meet my son or talk to him - just me. I didn't realize how long we'd be sitting there so I didn't really bring anything for my son to do, and he didn't have a spot to sit since it was so crowded. He was on the floor, bored, wiggly, and excited. I should have brought something for him to do but I didn't realize he was supposed to sit there waiting for a half hour. He was four. As time went on he got pretty wiggly and started complaining that he wanted to go in, but I told him he had to wait. He wasn't behaving badly - just restless because he was sitting there for so long and kept getting bumped into. Again, he was four years old, and excited. Don't tell parents to bring kids in a half hour before class - it's just setting them up for failure. Finally the students for the class started coming in, and I asked Andrew if we were supposed to go in too. He then loudly stated "based on what I've observed, your son is NOWHERE near mature enough for this" and told us that we should just observe the class. My son was devastated after waiting nearly a half hour for this, other parents were staring at us after Andrew loudly chastised us, so we left. My big regret is that this experience kept us away from Taekwondo for two years - I thought the sport just wasn't the right fit for us. I was wrong. The sport is a fine fit. This studio is not. My son is thriving at a different studio now, is focused and works hard, and is building his confidence and coordination. I am sure Andrew Gause is the right fit for many kids, but I would caution families with particularly energetic or young kids about going here. I don't think anyone who understands young children would expect an excited 4 year old to sit on the floor of a crowded, noisy room for a half hour and be perfectly calm.

My younger daughter takes class here & loves it. I love it for her also. The instructors/masters…read moreare excellent with the kids, keep them focused, and teach them discipline. My daughter has a few school friends who regularly attend the same classes as her, but I have noticed that she has also become friendly with other children which is especially nice to see in this COVID age. The thing I like most is the flexibility of the classes. I had assumed we would have to come a specific set of days every week, but you can choose which days work best for your child. This is especially helpful for those of us with other children or prior engagements, or simply to allow the child the independence to pick when they'd like to come. My daughter started in mid-March and she got her white belt in April. It is now early May and she's gotten two tips on her belt already. These achievements give my daughter a sense of pride and also motivation to keep doing her best! They also offer summer camp, after school care, and always have something special going on (like bring a friend week, mother's appreciation month right now, and father's month coming up in June). Overall I'm really grateful to have my daughter in this academy and look forward to the years to come.

Elite M.A. Center provides various martial arts classes for students of all ages, including day…read morecamps, after-school sessions, and even opportunities for birthday/private parties. I love that their mission is all about providing a safe and fun environment that encourages self-improvement and personal development. Reaching out to Ms. Annie for more information, she was super responsive, friendly, and was readily available for any assistance! I can see why this place receives high kudos from their happy clients, as it's an awesome activity for after-school/-work or on the weekends! Located in the same plaza of Wegman's, there's plenty of parking around. +classes for all abilities +camps available +friendly staff +safe environment +located in the Wegman's plaza +plenty of free parking

I really enjoyed this gym. It is a good mix of free weights, and machines with dedicated spaces…read morefor calisthenics and fitness classes. The change rooms have steam rooms which are a nice touch after a good workout. I found the rates to be fair and Gabriel and his team of trainers are great! One star off because it can be very hard to get a parking space and there were a few broken machines. Otherwise this is a very good gym.

Lily was very sweet and helpful at the front desk. The gym and locker room was clean and easy to…read morenavigate.