My child has grown so much since doing taekwondo at Grant!! The program is very well organized and…read morethe instructors are great! They really know each child and what each child's strength is. There is a lot of respect and patience here between the instructor, owners, and students. I love this place! I can't wait to see how much my child grows with her confidence and just her overall self!! The program is unlimited so you literally can go everyday, which we basically do because she loves it so much and wants to progress to her next belt quickly. Thanks for being such an awesome place!!

We moved here in October of last year and are dual military. I was so worried about not knowing…read morewhere to send my child for an after school program or for summer break/camp. Let me put all families minds at ease. This is the absolute best after school and summer camp that my daughter has experienced. We lived in Illinois (Great Lakes) and California (San Diego) and those child centers do not compare. My child has a severe peanut allergy so not only am I constantly worried about her learning or activities, I am worried about her health. I have never had to worry about her peanut allergy with the Grants. They not only teach the kids Taekwondo. The Grant family is amazing with the kids. I watched my daughter want to give up one time when she was doing an activity, Instructor Zach Grant took a knee and said something to her. Not only did she get back up, she continued what she was doing. When she got done I asked her what he said. She told me that he told her to breathe and never give up, to keep going even if you want to quit. That mentality is emulated in the whole staff. Thank you to the Grant Family and the staff that works there. You have put our minds at ease looking over our child. She truly is the most important part of our lives and it means the world to us to know she is taken care of and protected while we are both in the military.

My daughter has been attending this TaeKwonDo academy for a little over a year, and the growth I've…read moreseen in her--both on and off the mat--has been incredible. What started as an activity has truly become her passion. Mr. Baker is extremely knowledgeable and intentional in the way he teaches. He creates an environment built on trust, respect, and high expectations. He is firm with his students, but that's part of what makes his instruction so impactful. Life isn't all sugar cookies and rainbows, and he understands that he's not just teaching kicks and forms--he's helping shape character, resilience, discipline, and confidence. I've watched my daughter grow in focus, accountability, perseverance, and self-belief. She walks a little taller now, carries herself with more confidence, and takes pride in her progress. I am so grateful she has found something she truly loves and a mentor who is preparing her not just for the next belt, but for the real world. Highly recommend to any family looking for more than just a sport--this academy builds strong kids from the inside out.

My daughter has been a dedicated student at Virginia Tae Kwon Do for several years. During this…read moretime, we have invested not only our time and money--$110 per month plus testing fees and gear--but also our trust in the leadership of this school. She progressed from white belt to black belt through hard work and discipline. Unfortunately, that same level of discipline and professionalism has not been modeled by the school's leadership. The head instructor, Mr. Baker, regularly brings his personal political views into the classroom environment. He has shared disturbing anecdotes about immigrants and political talking points that are completely inappropriate for a space where he holds authority over young students. This is especially harmful in a diverse class that includes Black and Brown children, some of whom may be personally affected by the issues he references. I respectfully asked Mr. Baker to keep politics out of the classroom and to be mindful of the impact his words could have on children. He agreed, and he said that he wouldn't bring it up again. However, we soon found out that he was continuing to discuss his views. We tried to address it again. Rather than engaging in a thoughtful dialogue or committing to maintaining a neutral, inclusive environment, he told me that our daughter's membership was canceled within minutes of our follow-up conversation. No regard for her years of dedication or accomplishments. Just immediate dismissal. It is deeply disappointing that a student who put in the work to reach black belt status is now forced to find another school--not because of poor behavior or lack of commitment, but because the instructor prioritized pushing his personal agenda over providing a respectful, inclusive environment for all students. I sincerely hope Virginia Tae Kwon Do reconsiders how it handles both parent concerns and the power dynamic that exists between instructors and children. Martial arts should teach integrity, respect, and self-control--not fear, division, or ideology.

Kim's Hapkido is an unequivocally unique physical and educational experience for students of all…read moreages and abilities. For the past couple of years, our nephew and his other cousin have been students of Master Kim and Mrs. Candice. We've watched his levels of confidence and respect increase through the program(s). It was this building of character that encouraged us to put our own daughter into the studio. While martial arts is the root idea of the studio, the bigger picture is the development of the student- building them up, while utilizing physical and mental ideologies meant to nurture preexisting positive traits and improve that which is lacking. Herein, students are assessed and tested fairly and given every opportunity to succeed. They are treated like real people- as individuals working towards individual goals, in a team style environment. We've seen our daughter grow a ton in this studio. Her continued interest in the program has been the biggest surprise- she's young and usually easily distracted, but she WANTS to be involved in Hapkido! She's excited to go and wants to better herself. Her focus is improving and the physical outlet speaks for itself in these times! It should be noted that recently, Master Kim announced that he, himself has needed to step down due to health and family concerns. Longtime 2nd in command "Mrs. Candice" has taken over the studio and is already proving that she has the will and ability to continue Master Kim's teachings and the ideology of Hapkido to the the next generation of students. After seeing how important it was to the "new" managment (Candice had basically been running the place the entire time we've known her, so not really NEW) to provide continuity for longtime members, we had no reservations about allowing our daughter to pursue the next level of instruction under Mrs. Candice's tutelage. We are excited for what the future holds for our family at Kim's Hapkido- come out and see what the fuss is about!!!

Would have given a higher rating, if Master Kim was still around…read more Our family enrolled at Kim's Hapkido because of Master Kim's reputation, experience, and leadership as a seventh-degree black belt. We were therefore surprised and concerned to learn that the school would be taken over by an instructor whom we had personally seen only recently advance from red belt to first-degree black belt. The difference in rank and experience between the former and new leadership is significant, and it has reduced our confidence in the level of martial-arts and self-defense instruction being offered. Several more senior instructors with substantially greater experience no longer appear to be teaching at the school. We do not know why they stopped attending, but we wish they would return. We also had concerns about the testing and promotion process. Especially after the most recent graduation this past Saturday. Based on what we personally observed, some students advanced despite not consistently demonstrating proper kicks, techniques, or practical proficiency. It often seemed that receiving the next colored belt was emphasized more than earning rank through demonstrated ability. The school does promote manners, discipline, and responsibility, which we appreciated. However, we would not recommend it to families seeking serious martial-arts or practical self-defense training. Considering the cost, promotion standards, loss of senior instructors, and major reduction in leadership experience, we have decided to look elsewhere.

this is a great school. I travel for work and have trained in many different schools. I was in…read moreNorfolk for several months and they have solid instruction and a great environment. the kids program looked well ran and attended. as a visiting blackbelt I was treated very well. VBJJ is a well established school with a bench of solid upper belts to learn from and train with. The owners credentials are rock solid, and he is very friendly. There are a lot of military and LEO that train here. If you are seeking a safe place to learn top flight jiu Jitsu with a welcoming environment, this is it.

I took my daughter to attend a Jiu Jitsu class here to improve her self confidence and to learn…read moreself defense. After class she was very shaken up saying she didn't like the professor. She was very harsh and denigrated our family beliefs. I can't recommend this venue.

I couldn't be happier with Master Hills Martial Arts…read more Master Hill and Tiger Moe are two amazing people. They really know how to work with their students so they get the most out their classes. They are very patient with children and also provide a fun environment for them to learn and socialize with other children. My son attends the red dragons classes (Mon, Wed, and Sat) and they are very reasonably spaced out throughout the week so that he fully grasp what he is learning in his classes. So far he has taken four classes and I noticed he has really been focused on doing better in karate and he is interested in continuing. He really enjoys the interaction between the instructors and being able to have fun learning karate. Also offered is cardio kickboxing, which is done while my son attends his class so we both are getting our workout on! And they have workout machines if you would like to workout while your child is in his or her class. There are also classes for older children and adults. I am thinking about a self defense class for myself. Overall excellent place, with excellent instructors. You will not be disappointed!

Definitely take advantage of the one-week trial if you have a little one it helps you to see what…read moretype of program they run! The owners are very friendly and informative. They take pride in teaching "intellectual" martial arts with children. I was too busy watching The classes to take a lot of pictures but I will upload later. The studio is very clean and tidy. They have water and snacks and juices For guests and folks in between classes. Classes are offered from four years old all the way to senior. I was also pleased to see that they offer a pay by session kickboxing class for women. It's a great way to get in shape and get some discipline and focus at the same time. Give them a call and get kickin in 2020!

I had the opportunity to meet Master Son and learn more about his program. He is extremely…read moreprofessional, experienced, and truly passionate about helping students grow both in Taekwondo and in life. His background and dedication to teaching really impressed me, and I believe this will be an amazing place for both kids and adults. We're very excited for the grand opening!

NB: This rating is for the instructors and quality of instruction…read more Gustavo Machado Norfolk is an amazing dojo with great instructors. Professor Mark Sausser and his daughter Taylor offer quality instruction, multiple class options, and affordable pricing. Classes are structured with weekly progression, and live sparring at the end. The other students are respectful and helpful. The gym is a family, both at class, competitions, and outside. While small, the facility is clean and there is adequate training space. There are two restrooms, but no showers. Parking in the back is limited.

This place is awesome! Took my first class here, and I can't stop raving about this place! The…read moreteachers are so helpful and friendly. Definitely will come back! Highly recommended!

I just attended a training camp with Hanshi Mayers. It was totally awesome!read more

Good place. Friendly enviornmentread more