My kids and I have been going to Connelly Academy for over 10 years for the classes. And kids had been going to their Summer Camp every summer as well. I can't say enough about the staff, and Grandmaster Connelly is absolutely amazing. He has such amazing way with hyperactive kids, he had been called 'the kid whisperer'. I like adult classes too, they are designed for all levels of fitness, and you are never too old to join! read more

If you're not sure what to do for summer camp this year, I highly recommend Connelly's Academy Tae Kwon Do Day Camp in Evanston. It's available for first graders on up. If you're looking for a NON CONTACT martial art experience where they focus on mutual support & respect, development of skills and personal growth, this camp is a winning option. Benefits to students include improvements in fitness, self-confidence, character and leadership. They teach perseverance, integrity, courtesy, and emphasize developing an indomitable spirit, as well as compassion and self control. It's a positive, inclusive, non-competitive environment where kids get to be both physically active, as well as having some calm activities (music, learning some history, yoga, etc.). I cannot say enough positive things about the experience my family has had with Connelly's Academy. Camp runs June 8 through Aug 7, and the nice thing is that you can register in one week blocks, so if you want to sign up for a week here and a week there due to travel or other commitments, it's more flexible than many other camps. Here's the link: https://www.connellysacademy.com/summer-camp/ read more

Very odd experience with this summer camp program in July 2023 - some of the counselors were friendly but others seemed easily irritated by the kids and my son reported that a counselor yelled at one kid in his group, "Stop being a jerk!" (These kids are in elementary school). My 7 year son, who is a rule follower and good listener, reported that he was bending over to pick up a cone that he had knocked over during a lesson when - out of nowhere and without saying a word - the sensei grabbed him by the back neck of his uniform and roughly pulled him up. Then the sensei walked away without saying a word. My son wasn't sure if he had done something wrong. Beware. Weird vibes here. We are new to martial arts but this wasn't the beginner experience we were hoping for. read more

This place has helped me get through my anxiety like it's nothing. After over ten years and counting I have been able to work on my physical and mental health. Just recently I got my second degree black belt in taekwondo. This community has helped me in more ways than I could possibly imagine. If you want your kids growing up showing respect and learning how to stand up for themselves both physically and emotionally then send them here. read more

My son has been practicing Tae Kwon Do with Master Connelly and his amazing staff for two years now, both in school and during summer camp. This practice has helped him mature emotionally and has really boosted his confidence. He is much more grounded since starting and I credit the staff and the relationships they build with the kids. My son has special needs and the staff have been incredibly responsive and open to that, without treating him differently; they definitely took the time to get to know him and played on his strengths. Looking forward to having him continue and grow in his practice! read more

These guys are great. My 7 yr old shy son started this sport because it was available at his school (they go to different schools and provide group lessons at the gym). We don't regret it. The instructor is great, the kids don't bother each other since it is a sport were discipline plays a roll, lots of kids seem rather shy but seem to excel. They are very accommodating with their tests (2 times per year the kids get a chance to test for the next higher belt color). I don't get tons of email announcements and fundraising emails like with so many other after-school activities. It's also affordable and most importantly, the kids seem to have fun! read more

My daughter's friend was doing taekwon-do in preschool when they were 4. His passion for it peaked her interest and soon we were observing classes in the McGaw YMCA gym and then she began participating. My daughter is very little (skinny and short) for her age so I think she was a little intimidated at the time. She went through periods of waning and waxing interest. At this point, she has earned her yellow stripe and has her eye on a yellow belt. I feel like this is one activity that I will try to make her keep up because she is very creative and taekwon-do is teaching her self-discipline. Master Connelly has an amazing way with the kids. He is laid-back, but has high-standards. He has a sense of humor, but requires the kids to be serious about their participation. He is soft-spoken but can command a room full of 30 crazy kids somehow! He offers a number of different locations and times for classes. He teaches at a lot of the schools in Dist. 65 before school. My daughter was going to the classes before school for a while, but we have a hard time getting our butts out of bed before 7 on Friday mornings and walking the grueling two blocks to school so she's back to taking classes at the Y. I think she actually prefers that because the class is smaller and she can get more attention. read more

My son started taking lessons with Connelly's Academy in 1st grade. He is now a Junior in high school, working toward his 2nd degree black belt and assistant-teaching in classes whenever he has the chance. Though he has tried out a number of different sports/activities over the years, this is the only thing that truly "clicked" with him. When he first enrolled, he was having trouble focusing and following instruction in school (and was later diagnosed with ADD). We were impressed by the quiet, calm manner in which Master Connelly guides his students. While some Taekwon-do schools teach Taekwon-do as competitive contact-sport, Connelly's Academy approaches it as a disciplined art, with a philosophy that is incredibly .... zen (for lack of a better word). (Note: A few years after my son started taking classes at Connelly's, we thought about adding a class taught by another school, which was held a few blocks from our home. Their approach was much different than at Connelly's -- more like a boot camp, and geared toward bringing out aggressiveness in the students. My son was MISERABLE in this class, and we immediately agreed that Connelly's was the right place for him.) While acquiring the basic skills in Taekwon-do, our son also learned how to listen carefully, be respectful of others, trust his abilities, and conquer challenges in a calm, thoughtful manner. We believe that studying with Connelly's has had an enormously positive influence on his life. I think it has helped him to cope with challenges from ADD/Executive Function issues that he was faced with, both at school and at home. We are grateful to have discovered Connelly's Academy when we did. I would highly recommend Connelly's Academy to anyone...... And to those who may have tried Taekwon-do at another school but didn't feel comfortable with the atmosphere, I would strongly encourage you give it another try by checking out a class at Connelly's. read more

My 9 year old son has been in Connelly's Academy for a couple of years at his elementary school. This summer he asked to sign up and went to the 1/2 day camp. He had a blast. I appreciated the camp as it is very we'll run. The academy communicates well with parents, the schedule, events and progress of your child. Also, they were flexible with scheduling and allowed me to break up the four weeks between the two 4 week sessions. Grand Master Connelly runs a very controlled, yet fun camp. He has many staff as teachers, and does a variety of activities with the kids. His method of teaching is firm, yet so kind and considerate. The children respect him greatly. I love his teachings of values and virtues. For example, one day I heard him teaching kids who we're getting frustrated learning a routine by having them repeat, "I can't....I can't ?...I can't YET." My son was most proud of what he learned in the class and is excited to continue his classes. read more

My son has been attending Connelly's Academy for three years now. It has been great for him. Most impressive to me is how accessible the instructors are, including Grandmaster Connelly, to even novice children. Grandmaster Connelly explains that he teaches martial arts to make the world a better place, not to make fighters. His sharing this with the children has made my son consider how he wants to order his life to help people. I am grateful for the influence this school has had on my son. read more

I trained at Connelly Academy for more than a decade. I started when I was 8 years old and participated through high school. I was looking for an activity and Tae Kwon Do turned out to be the perfect fit. It wasn't easy getting to the training sessions once a week. But, I am thrilled to say that I achieved the rank of black belt. Grandmaster Connelly creates a supportive environment for his students to achieve their goals. Besides the benefits of learning self defense skills, his students are taught about character and determination. They also develop the self confidence that comes with achieving goals. I have moved on with my life but there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of my experience with Connelly Academy. I highly recommend it for you and your children. read more

When my son was 6 to 8 years old, he took taekwon-do classes with Master Connelly, earning his yellow stripe, then yellow belt, then green stripe, then green belt. (That was 14 years ago; however, when I discovered a review of Connelly's Academy today, I had to sign up with Yelp just so I could add my own review!) During my son's first year of taekwon-do I sat on the sidelines and observed, it was such a pleasure watching my son blossom under Joe Connelly's training and example. During my son's second year, I frequently ran out on errands during the classtime. Then one day, the most wonderful feeling of calm a mother can have came over me as I realized my child was with a person who had the instincts and know-how to handle well any problem my child might have in my absence; and what a blessing that realization was to me. Thank you, Master Connelly.! read more

My daughter has been taking Taekwon-do with Grandmaster Connelly since she was in Kindergarten at Oakton Elementary School. During her last year at Oakton, she was the highest ranking belt and a very committed martial artist. She has often been one of the few girls in his class there and this is very unfortunate. I cannot exaggerate what an empowering, confidence-building experience this has been for her. To my surprise, she wants to continue to take classes now as a pre-teen and go for a Black Belt-- not for sport but as a discipline and in full admiration of her role models at Connelly's Academy. I'm thankful for the leader that they have helped shape in her. Worth every penny. read more

I've searched all over Chicagoland to find a martial arts school that wasn't only interested in a monthly contract. I have 3 children who have been with Grandmaster Connelly for five years. I have observed over 100 classes and am still amazed by GM Connelly's consistent enthusiasm, encouragement and skilled instruction. Each class incorporates something new, which really keeps the kids interested and moving towards the next level. Every student is treated equal. It's rarely a struggle to get my kids motivated to go to class. My children all have different athletic abilities and all have thrived at Connelly's Academy. My kids are more confident, more respectful of others, more aware of their surroundings and also more comfortable dealing with difficult situations. For GM Connelly, the mental aspect of martial arts training is as important as the physical skills acquired during training. And you pay as you go, no monthly contracts! I know this must sound like a paid endorsement but go for a trial class on a Saturday morning. You will not be disappointed. This is by far the best all around extracurricular activity my kids particpate in! read more