I may be a bit biased as I have been a part of CBNY for a number of years. However, this is our…read morefirst year at this location and it deserves a review! Professora Joy (aka Coruja) is a high energy, motivating capoeira professional who will get you moving and pumped all throughout class. Whether you are just starting or have been practicing capoeira for years, you can train at your level that is the best fit for you. Be prepared to have fun and to sweat. Alot. The space is clean and well kept with a spacious feel. It has smooth wood floors and if needed, mats can be put down for more intense take-down training or practicing acrobatics. An MMA style cage is available in the back for students who disobey instructions. And there are two bathrooms available for changing your wardrobe. The location is very convenient since its right off the N, Q line in Astoria. It is very close to the Gato Goloso Colombian Bakery so if you are in need immediate sustenance, that is the place to go. Capoeira is a very unique practice. It is a martial art that incorporates many different forms of physical movement and culture and is definitely an adventure you have to experience for yourself.

Joy has dedicated nearly 20 years of her life studying capoeira and it shows in her teaching and…read moreinfectious passion for the art. People come to capoeira for many reasons - to get fit, be immersed in Brazilian culture, build community, learn history, and challenge themselves. Joy facilitates a class that helps you do all of the above and then some. Capoeira can be intimating to a beginner but Joy creates an atmosphere that is positive and encouraging no matter what level you are at. I highly recommend her class if you are curious about capoeira. You will be in great hands.

I love New York Aikikai! It has helped me stay fit, meet and make friends with people from around…read morethe world, and learn a beautiful form of Martial Arts.

On December 19, I took a bus up to New York for the day to attend the New York Aikikai Christmas…read moreSeminar, an event where you will find many of the Shihans and rock stars of the Aikido world all under one roof. I was excited to see the very people I had read about and learned from online and in books. I met Claire Keller (Howcast Aikido videos) and Penny Bernath (Florida Aikikai) in the lobby area. I attended four of the day's six classes with Steve Pimsleur, Yoshimitsu Yamada, Donovan Waite, and Harvey Konigsberg. I was particularly impressed that three of these class teachers all took the time to walk over and teach me the fine details of the techniques they taught (Pimsleur with Kokyunage, Waite with Shihonage, and Konigsberg with Tenchinage). Big kudos to all the teachers who taught while they were practicing, too. The venerable T.K. Lee (Aikido of Houston), a direct student of Yamada Sensei, was always teaching someone in the round-robin line I was a part of. He taught me something new in Kokyuho. These one-hour classes flew by quickly as we paired up individually and in groups to practice, sometimes in rapid succession. Some of the classes had well over 100 people in a hall designed for half that many. The dan test followed the classes. Senseis Yamada and Pimsleur were the judges. In the shodan (1st dan) test, groups of four stood in front of the judges and were asked to demonstrate everything they knew. Every student was then asked to demonstrate their knowledge in a four-on-one randori attack. The nidan (2nd dan) test was a lot shorter, but more intense. The judges asked every student to demonstrate all of the knowledge they knew in rapid-fire succession and then demonstrate their knowledge in a five-on-one randori attack. The Christmas party followed. A smorgasboard of wonderful, savory dishes were enjoyed by all. On display were three kinds of beef roast, four pasta dishes in four different ethnic varieties, two kinds of chicken, two kinds of ham roasts, dumplings, veggie dishes, sandwiches, and an assortment of cookies, cakes, and pies. Yamada Sensei walked around in casualwear greeting everyone. Overall, the Christmas Seminar exceeded my expectations and I hope to make it a habit of attending it in upcoming years. The training hall itself looks much larger in pictures and videos than in person, but it is still a very nice space to practice. Everything in the dojo is very well maintained. The women's locker room has plenty of cubby space for your belongings and also has shower rooms, a very welcome touch. Gatorade and water is available in the lobby after your classes. There are couches in the lobby so your friends and family can sit and watch you practice. Check this place out!

I have been greeted with open arms, and challenged to mentally and physically progress. The…read morestudents are so kind and friendly, the teachers professional and nurturing and the dojo clean and welcoming. It's a formal environment, but everyone understands and explains. Sensei Zelda and Shihan Michelle are incredible instructors, and they are the true heart of the dojo. This is the first time I have been privileged to train consistently with women instructors who are professional and ethical. They don't play favorites and they devote plenty of time to new students. I can't wait to continue this journey.

One year is finished with an orange belt. I cannot believe in this only one year, my mind, my body,…read moreand my soul are getting stronger and stronger and tougher. Sincerely appreciate and thanks a million to Shihan, all senseis, all sempais, and my teammates who get trained together with blood and sweat. Ken Wa Kan is my second family. The discipline, the warmth, the coaching, the ethic of karate practicing at my dojo is incredible and I am proud of being part of Ken Wa Kan family. OSUUUU!!!

Was feeling down one day at work and decided to see what I might find as a form of entertainment…read moreand stress relief in the city. I love to dance (non-professionally) and learning different types of cultural dances so i looked into dance classes in NYC. After checking out a few other sites, I found this place through Yelp and their website (Thank you other Yelpers!). Quickly signed up for month of classes and went to my first class the very same night. Absolutely blown away! The instructor, Tehani, and her business partner, Kim, are both welcoming, kind, and passionate about Tahitian dance. They patiently take you through each step and each week review what was done before while building on with new choreography and emphasis on different parts of the dance moves. The other dancers have all been quite friendly and you can feel the spirit of camaraderie and island sentiment in the room. I'm one month in and happily hooked. I highly recommend you take one class or maybe even sign up for a month and see where the spirit of this dance and the instructor take you.

O.M.G - that's all I can say! I'm from Tahiti and was in NYC…read morefor work and needed a workout! I had heard that Tehani Benjamin (trained by the top dance company in Tahiti) had created a dance school in the Big Apple, so I looked it up, and WOW she's amazing! It's a great workout, the instructor's obviously passionate and incredibly skilled, and the group's really fun!! Try it, it's worth it!!

Currently I'm looking around for a new gym while I recover from my chest injury. From the time that…read moreinquired to the time I came to do the free trial and leave , the overall experience was just wonderful. The professor (Jefferson) was very attentive, supportive and he let me join the regular group instead of setting me aside and making me feel like i was "others" lol. I know that's a weird description but other places I tried made me feel like I was not capable of participating in the warm ups or basic stuff. With this gym I was happy I was even able to learn a new technique I don't remember learning yet from my old classes. I'm seriously considering joining them once I fully recover . I also love the transparency in terms of rates. Such a great experience . Thank you!

Sintonia Jiu-Jitsu Academy is fantastic. The staff is exceptional, and Jeff, the professor, is…read moretalented, knowledgeable, and professional. As a women, I believe this is the perfect Jiu-Jitsu academy to learn self-defense while also getting fit and achieving balance for your mind and body.

This place always bring a smile to my face. No matter what state of mind you come in, I guaranty…read morethat you will finish this class in a much better mood. Professor Piao's energy and knowledge are so intense that they can only rub on you. This is an rigorous workout that mix martial art, music and community. This is perfect for someone that doesn't like going to a gym but still want to exercise and have fun in the process. The group is very friendly and welcoming regarding your level. Whether you are a beginner or a graduado, this class is for you... http://www.piaocapoeira.com/

I only wanted to take a class to jump start my weight loss and get out of my depression during the…read morepandemic, and 2.5 years later, I'm a dedicated student who speaks fluent Portuguese and spent a month in Brazil all because of Professor Pião. He treats everyone with respect and you'll definitely find good energy and a safe space to train with him and this group!

Used to be an unbelievable program, but after substantial staff turnover including both the…read moreteachers and the office --- its not really kid friendly anymore. If the staff changes back, would be great, but I can't see continuing given how they interact with kids.

This is for the BBT class for the kids…read more Mr Elias's focus and coaching of the techniques, including saying when it was not done correctly. Also the playfulness that made it fun for the kids.

I've been taking early morning Shinobi fitness and Cardio kickboxing classes over the summer. Both…read moreclasses offer a great workout (I use them for cross-training), appropriate for all levels, and are a great mixture of cardio, endurance, flexibility and strength training. I love the individualized approach and small class size. Studio itself is very pleasant, as it has been freshly renovated.

I only did one trial lesson here. This venue offers a variety of classes in different types of…read moremartial arts. I was told that for my trial I could pick any one type of art I wanted to try. I made the mistake of selecting "kickboxing & cardio" thinking that meant intense kickboxing. It turned to really be just cardio exercise from martial artists. It did not teach any fighting techniques. Good cardio exercise is by no means a bad thing, just not what I was looking for. What I can tell you is: This teacher here, Jeremiah, was extremely friendly. He immediately makes you feel very welcomed. He taught very informally - for example, he asked me to call him by his first name, and played pop music as we exercised (note: I arrived early and saw the end of kids Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class, which appeared equally as informal). I'm not trying to say informality is a good or bad thing - I think it all depends on the person. I'm just describing my experience here. We did jumping jacks, jump ropes, and push ups. We worked in pairs and punched each others hands as we held up protective gear. It was fun! But again, what I did focused on speed and exercising different parts of the body, instead of focusing on things like effective punching techniques. I was paired with different people at different times. Everyone was very nice and welcoming. By the end, we all worked up a good sweat. I know virtually nothing about how this place teaches fighting techniques. But if you want a good cardio workout, this really did seem like a an effective and friendly place. If I was looking for a regular cardio workout, I would have stayed here!