I have been a student of JKI WS since 2011. Through my training, I have grown as a karate…read morepractitioner and as a person. With the excellent and guided instruction I receive from the dedicated Sensei, I have been on a road of self enlightenment and improved physical fitness. In addition, it is a heck of a lot of fun. Some of the people I have met at JKI WS have become my best friends.

This is a small dojo, where the owners are also instructors. The classes tend to be small enough…read morethat you receive personalized attention. A variety of class types, including children's classes (little ninjas), karate, weapons, and even a general physical fitness class on Friday nights. Be sure to call for class times. If you're looking for an easy hour with no benefits, look somewhere else. If you're looking to really push yourself, see what you are capable of, and make some friends in the process, then give them a try.

Heng Shan Do is a martial arts school in Winston Salem, NC. It's a somewhat eclectic school of…read morekarate and kung fu. They've been around, in the same location, for over 25 years now. The style starts out primarily Japanese with Kempo and Shotokan forms, progressing into Tensho and Tonfa forms. There's also a couple Korean stylistic elements. Overall, however, the style is rooted in principle of Yin/Yang balance, tai chi and Chinese martial arts principles. As you advance in the style, it becomes more and more Chinese. By the time you reach black belt, the style is purely Chinese. It's easier to pick up the round Chinese movements once you have a solid foundation in the linear Japanese movements and you get the benefit of the brilliance of both cultures. While all this is the case, the founder of the style was first a yoga adept under Blanche DeVries, so when he created the style from its parent, he incorporated various yoga principles, most notably pranayama. I've attended classes at Heng Shan Do for over 5 years now and love it. The teacher is relaxed, cordial and non-threatening. One of the impressions I had of martial arts schools was that they were taught a lot like military bootcamps. Not the case here. This is a relaxed, yet disciplined approach that will be enjoyable for family members of all ages. I had always wanted to learn martial arts, but not in an overly aggressive, competitive fashion. I wanted something that focused on energy development. What ultimately attracted me to the school and got me to start was meeting the founder of the style and hearing him say, "Ultimately, it's about the fusion of matter and spirit." That's all I needed to know. The style itself is very practical. You won't need to learn acrobatic routines to get through the forms. There's very little jumping, and you won't need to kick higher than the waist. At that point, it's more efficient to throw a punch instead. As for pricing -- their prices are the most affordable in the area, and they don't use contracts, so there's no long-term commitment upfront. They offer a free trial period so that you can see if it's for you, as well. I really enjoy attending class there, and I hope you will, too. Look forward to seeing you there! * HSD meets up Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7pm to 9pm in the Summit School Gym.

Ricky and Edie Smith are the owners of Sidekick. They put Excellence in the rating of excellent…read more Karate taken at Sidekick has been the best thing my grandson has ever done. His attitude his performance his attention to instruction has improved 1500%. The disciplines learned with Sensei Ricky's guidance have made my grandson look at life differently. He now strives to excel in all ways of life. His cooperation and wiliness to share with his sister and the rest of the family has improved. I wholehearted recommend Sidekick Karate to everyone at any age. This weekend I watched 4 Senior Citizens (65+) perform in a Tomoe which tested the skills they have learned as new karate students. They all performed successfully. It's never to late..

Edie is one of the owners of Sidekick Karate! She is absolutely awesome. She remembers everyone's…read morename and face, and always greats me with a smile and in a very energetic manner. Sidekick picks up children from their elementary schools and buses them to sidekick for karate after school. If your children need to stay longer after karate is over, there's a separate room with desks, a white board, a game system, a tv, changing rooms and bathrooms. On wednesdays they order pizza from dominos and feed the kids dinner and then around 6pm they go to a local church. This gives parents extra time to work or maybe time to run an errand before picking up their children. My son has learned a lot since he's started going to sidekick. The owners have absolutely thought of everything in terms of accommodations for children after school. You can tell that the owners truly care about the children in our community. We are lucky to have them as part of our community. I highly recommend sidekick karate for lessons, or for lessons and after school. It's well worth the money, and your children will learn impulse control, better judgement, overall discipline and they will get to socialize and be somewhere where you don't have to question whether they are cared for or not. I would 100% recommend Sidekick!

Traditional Japanese Karate. Adult, Kids, and mixed classes. 4th Dan Sensei Randell brings years of…read moreexperience, diversity, and enthusiasm to each and every class. I highly recommend this school because there is something here for everyone!! Hope to see you there soon. OSU!

I want to thank Sensai Randall for saving a woman from getting kidnapped by a violent criminal. You…read moreare a hero, and I hope the young people you instruct realize that. I'm not from the area, but I wish great things for you and your business.

Balanced Karate training…read more As an adult beginner, the instructors and students here made me feel welcome from the start. Inclusive and no judgement. You will definitely get a work out, in a very positive environment. What I like best about this particular school is the "completeness" of the classes. In addition to the physical nature of the content, discipline and positive messages are also stressed. That they are part of the larger Karate International franchise is a plus. I recommend this for any age in any condition.

Excellent training for all ages! Teachers are very energetic and approachable! It not only teaches…read moreself-defense but instills self confidence. My nine year old daughter loves it. Give it a try, you won't be disappointed.

My son enrolled just over a year ago in the 4 Kicks Martial Arts program. He's now a blue belt and…read moreon the competition team, absolutely loving martial arts! Trey Courtney is an excellent instructor. For the junior students, he breaks down each belt level into a reasonable number of techniques that they have to learn. It builds both skill and confidence in the students. It has been a great experience for my son. I joined his adult classes recently and am now getting back in shape, doing something I enjoy. Trey challenges you while making it fun. I highly recommend that you consider 4 Kicks Martial Arts if you're looking to get into the sport for yourself or your children.

From the owner: 4 Kicks Martial A​rts offers a quality year round martial arts program at an affordable price for…read morechildren, adults, and families. ​Classes are available after school, evenings, and weekends. We teach American Karate, with an emphasis on conditioning and self-defense. Our program is designed for you to get exactly what you want out of the program. From training in the art of karate for the exercise and sport of it, to providing the discipline of karate as an extracurricular activity for your child, to competitively train towards a black belt and participate in tournaments, or to incorporate Karate as a lifestyle. The choice is yours. 4 Kicks Martial Arts is here to help you achieve your goals. No matter what path you choose, our program encompasses personal, cognitive, social, physical components that will teach, challenge, and encourage you and/or your child towards personal achievement.