I've been studying martial arts for more than 35 years. I can say with confidence that Steve…read moreNugent's Karate Institute(SNKI) provides a level of instruction that is second to none. It all starts with Grandmaster (GM) Nugent by setting the tone that quality, professionalism, respect and attention to detail are of utmost importance. GM's instructors are the best around. They all have been handpicked by GM Nugent to uphold his standards. Those studying at SNKI learn effective self defense and the additional benefits that studying martial arts brings. It's difficult for most people to know how to pick a good martial arts school for themselves or their children. This problem is easily solved by joining SNKI. Among the thousands of martial arts schools which deliver varying degrees of proficiency and results SNKI is light years ahead. SNKI is literally in a class of it's own.

My son has taken lessons here for almost 2 years and absolutely loves it. It's a serious school…read morethat isn't too over the top - the kids have fun and learn a lot!

My son attended this studio for about five years, and I wanted to share our experience for parents…read moreconsidering enrolling their children. I'll start with the positives. The instructors are energetic, genuinely care about the kids, and do a great job creating a fun environment. They also emphasize discipline and respect, which is one of the main reasons we kept our son enrolled for so long. Unfortunately, after five years, I don't feel like my son truly learned karate to the level I expected. As a black belt myself, I was surprised that many students in the advanced classes had not mastered basic techniques that I was required to learn before advancing. Even some black belt students did not know how to properly tie their belts because they had never been taught. The studio has a sign that says, "A black belt is a white belt who never quits." While perseverance is certainly important, that philosophy seemed to carry over into belt advancement. My impression was that consistent attendance was often valued more than mastering the required material. I attended several belt tests where students struggled with the curriculum, were coached through the test by an instructor, and were still promoted despite not demonstrating proficiency on their own. Another downside is the constant upselling. There always seemed to be another optional class, event, seminar, or program that required an additional fee. While none of these were mandatory, the requests came frequently, and the extra costs added up over time. Overall, I think this is a studio that does an excellent job helping kids build confidence, discipline, and have fun. However, if your primary goal is for your child to develop strong martial arts skills and earn promotions based on mastery of the material, our experience suggests this may not be the best fit.

My son has been attending EFK (Lexington location) for a few years now and is currently part of the…read moreElite Instructor Training (EIT) program. He really enjoys learning how to become a good instructor and appreciates the responsibility that comes with it. He's also been volunteering regularly, and the school has given him space to grow and develop his skills, both in martial arts and in helping others. We've found the environment to be structured and supportive, and it's been a good fit for him overall. If you're looking for a place where kids can train, build confidence, and take on leadership roles, this is definitely worth checking out.

Awesome! I have been taking Uechi Ryu here for over 10 years and can't say enough about it. Sensei…read moreAzoff is a wonderful instructor to both children and adults. Kids classes start as early as 5 (they are so cute!) and continue to adults of all ages. The classes are a great mix of men and women (boys and girls). This is a great sport to do after school or after work. Not only physically but also mentally. Uechi helps on your focus, coordination, and confidence to name a few. Not mention it is a great stress reliever! The facility is just beautiful and well cared for. Plus there is a gym right beneath the karate school. Many parents go work out while their child is in karate which I think is really neat.

Great dojo, highly skilled instructors. Very diverse type of Karateka attend (Age, nationality,…read moremale/female). Good beginner program for kids.

This is a great, traditional dojo offering multiple classes daily. There are evening classes…read morethroughout the week and morning classes on Saturday and Sunday. If you're looking to challenge yourself in a physical and respectful way, this is a great school to reach your goal.

We started my 5yr old son at DMA about 2 months ago and our daughter will start in the fall. So far…read morewe have really enjoyed being a part of the DMA studio. I love that Shihon Dan focuses as much on life lessons as he does on Karate. He does a great job talking to younger children about powerful topics such as honesty, respect & perseverance. We are new to Karate as a family but it's not something I can see us giving up any time soon. If you are looking to get your child into martial arts I highly recommend the DMA studios.

Other karate classes for young children that I've seen are mostly games, running around, with a few…read moresloppy kicks here and there. DMA teaches REAL karate from day one, and still manages to be just as fun for the kids without sacrificing learning actual self defense. Don't waste your time and money on schools that don't really teach your children much of anything. DMA is the best, hands down. You'll never find a more patient, capable, and FUN instructor than Shihan Dan!

Great place for adults and kids. Family friendly. The owners Andrew and Michelle Rollinson are…read morefriendly, helpful, with students and staff.

There is magic here. I am not a connoisseur of martial arts…read moreacademies, as this is our first experience with a TKD studio. However, Renshi Andrew at Alpha is a rare and special talent as an educator. He has boundless focus, patience and perseverance with all of the students. He is a big bear of a guy who captivates the kids, draws them out of their shells and keeps them in motion. At the same time, he never lets up on the message of control, discipline and respect. He has made all the difference for our son. Andrew and Michelle have built a warm community around the studio, which gives all of the students and families a familiar place to come, gather, watch and learn. If I was more selfish, I'd tell you to stay away so we could keep them to ourselves, but somehow I know there is enough to go around.

My son has been attending Elite Freestyle Karate for ~4 years or so. He has progressed from a…read morewhite belt to a purple belt over this time period. While the belt progress is great, what's more is the mentorship he has received from the staff. We started with Sensei Nick, who now teaches at another location (Arlington?), I believe. Senseis Henry and Jasmine are our most recent instructors. All 3 have been amazing to our family and to our son. Sensei Henry in particular has taken our son under his wing and instilled confidence in him (which has been the primary purpose of us doing karate). The instructors are really great about keeping the kids focused and keeping their attention, but also making karate fun and educational. Our son was recently invited to join black belt club, which is an additional 10 minutes after each class but they get to learn how to use additional equipment like kali sticks, nunchucks, and do some light sparring. There are a lot of extra things that EFK does too, like bootcamps and tournaments. You can opt in to whatever you'd like. A big thanks to EFK (including leadership, Shihan Gary and Sensei Ryan) and our amazing instructors (Sensei Henry and Sensei Jasmine) for providing such a great and positive experience for our son.

I am deeply disappointed with the business practices here. My son trained here for over 4 years,…read morebut our experience ended on a terrible note. Upon leaving, we were hit with over $800 in cancellation fees. It feels like they care more about profit than the kids. What's worse, they are now encouraging children in class to promote the dojo at school for sign-ups. It seems more like a marketing machine than a place focused on teaching leadership. If you decide to sign up, read the fine print very carefully--do not get locked into their contracts. This final experience left a black mark on the last 4 years. Not recommended.