My daughter was introduced to Aikido here and trained for years under Sensei Rob. I observed his…read moreclasses whenever I could, and I was consistently impressed. His aikido technique was excellent, but even more important was that he had a natural affinity with his young students and understood how to teach them effectively. We moved away and had to find a new dojo, but my daughter misses Sensei Rob and will always remember him. I miss him too.

Best dojo in the northeast, northeast of the US that is! Amazing school, great dojo and it is lead…read moreby one of the most respected Aikido instructors in the country! Visit every time I am in the area after training here when I lived here.

Located in a very nice part of the city near historic Rittenhouse Square, Aikikai of Philadelphia…read moreis an extraordinary dojo with an amazing array of instructors. Sensei Roderick Johnson is very patient, precise, and detail-oriented in explaining all of the techniques. He is big and strong, yet fluid and graceful in all of his movements. Dr. John Porter's classes pack a plethora of techniques in a short period of time. He incorporates fun exercises in our training to allow us to think outside the box. Carlton Harris' classes, like Sensei's, are also very structured and blend power and precision in all of the techniques. I wish I could take more of Carlton's classes, but the day of the week doesn't work for me. Ed Shockley is a weapons master. He is so very humble in person, but when he's on the mat, he radiates energy. His Aiki weapons classes feel very much like yoga, linking the mind and body as one. John Holt teaches the weekend children's classes. His classes always blend fun activities with the serious stuff like movement and ukemi. The dojo community includes a rich blend of people of all ages and ethnicities. Everyone here is very kind and passionate about Aikido and the senior students are all very approachable and willing to explain the techniques to the junior students. I think that fosters the best kind of learning environment when both teachers and senior students help the junior students grow. If you are thinking about studying Aikido, you can sit and watch our classes to see if it looks like something that resonates with you. However, once you begin, you must understand that your training will take time and patience on your part. Everyone progresses at different speeds and understand that you are placing your trust in people who've experienced what you are about to experience in your training. This is not like many forms of karate where you train to achieve a black belt in a short period of time. Aikido takes a long time to get to an advanced level and even when you get there, you realize there is much more to learn.

I took my 6 year old here for kid's Aikdo at her request (they have Saturday morning classes. The…read moreSensai is very nice and the instructor Suleman, is funny and a skilled martial artist. My child, however, is a little too young still - so we'll be back again when she's older. Meanwhile there is also a Karate Studio (unafilliated) next door that teaches Shotokan. The Dojo is well used and well appointed with plants along the windows. If you or your child want to study Aikido, this is a great place to go.

My 5 year old son absolutely loves it! The sensei's are so patient and helpful with the young…read morechildren. I am continually amazed at his development and how much he is learning. Highly recommend Amerikick South Philly!

It has been a great opportunity to introduce this to my child. This has been helping my child with…read morefocus and discipline. I love the way the staff cares about their students. And the effort they put into each and every children. Self defense is such an important skill to have esp when they're young and facing bullying at school. I would recommend this to any parents.

My son goes this martial art school. Our family love how each and every instructors help the…read morestudent to achieve not just self defense but make sure student doing well in school. Thank you Paul, Kathy, Josh, Jade, John and the instructors. We miss you!!

I've been at this dojo a few months, shy of a year. I've had to take time off here and there due to…read morevarious personal injuries. This place is amazing. As an adult, it is very hard to find high crowd karate training in the United States. Many dojos are geared heavily towards children as their target market and this leads to a sort of watering down of the material. Not here. This place teaches traditional Okinawan Goju. It does not teach anything else which is another rarity among American dojo. There's no arnise there's no BJJ. They don't even really do Kobudo on occasionally using the bow. It's just karate the way they teach it in Okinawa. It passes a very simple test if you Google Morio Higaonno Goju, you will find several documentaries on this dojo's Okinawan counterpart. You will see we use the same equipment and techniques and Dojo as the Okinawan dojo does. You get the same exact experience you would get over there except you don't have to learn Japanese with an Okinawan dialect. Sensei Crespo's loyalty to the traditions of this ancient art is truly commendable. It's also a great deal economically. Training of similar quality can easily run you over $150 in another dojo. This place is just 80 a month. They run a three month special where you also get a uniform. The workout can be up to two hours long. You start off with the kids classes to warm up and then you do more advanced contact heavy exercises in the adult class. They meet three days a week. I've tried a lot of of dojo's in the area and there really isn't a better deal than that. The adult class is very small and within very little time you will know everyone there. It's a very welcoming family like atmosphere. After a few months, I can honestly say I feel at home here. Going here is often the highlight of my week. At first, it may seem difficult. Many of our stances utilize muscle groups that the average person does not exercise, but if you stick with it, you will get stronger you will lose weight and you will learn how to move. You will also learn one of the oldest and most respected forms of karate in the world. So whether you want to learn self-defense, lose weight or find an activity for your kids that will allow them to learn about another culture and burn off energy this is the place to be. The only thing missing is YOU.

I have trained with Sensei Crespo for almost two decades now and I can say with full confidence…read morethat Sensei Crespo is one of the most dedicated practitioners I have ever meant. Every class he encourages his students to give it their all and to strive to improve every day. I owe it to Sensei and my fellow students for shaping me into who I am today. I am proud to be a part of this dojo and look forward to many more years of training.

This is the best dojo I've ever been a part of. If you're willing to learn, grow, and challenge…read moreyourself, I highly encourage you to join. You won't regret it.

I visited this aikido dojo while traveling from my home dojo in Evanston, IL, and it was a…read morewonderful learning experience. Jason Sensei is an engaging and highly skilled instructor, and all the members--at every level--were welcoming and supportive, especially to someone still early in their aikido training. The location and training space are excellent, and the atmosphere reflects a fun, dedicated, and committed community. I was grateful for the opportunity to practice here and highly recommend this dojo to anyone interested in aikido.

Semper Fi MMA Academy is impressive. I have nothing but the highest compliments and I am not one…read moreto be easily impressed. At Semper Fi, new kids are eagerly welcomed into the fold by the other kids and parents are quickly welcomed by other parents. There are no cliques and everyone is very open. When you join you are welcomed into a family like environment: There is no supremacy complex here. Higher belts help lower belts and learn even more while doing so. Their technique is refined and every class you practice what you know and learn something new. Sensei Julio is incredible. He establishes a safe environment for students to learn in a way that is technical, rule-based, and effective, but always fun. Even after a class where someone is corrected and doing push-ups or after a class where you just can't get the move down, every person leaves with a smile and a desire to come back and get back on the mat. Even more impressive is the feeling of family. Sensei Julio sponsors and provides all the eggs for the Easter Egg Hunt. His depth of caring for his students and the community is apparent, and he does all he can to make Semper Fi a positive community partner. With every class I witness, I see these children becoming a force unto themselves. Each class they walk a little straighter, and approach each new skill with more confidence and fire. They take that belief and confidence into other parts of their lives. If you are looking to enroll your child(ren), want to do kickboxing, yoga, or MMA yourself, I would highly recommend you take a look at Semper Fi.

The womens kickboxing is a dance class... literally- we were instructed to just stand around and…read moredance. Not a challenge at all and certainly not kickboxing. Also they block anyone with a negative experience from their facebook page so im sure im not the only one who has had issues with this place.

I am proud to be a member with this club and its community. The discipline, confidence and…read moreconnection I find in this club extends out through every aspect of my life on a daily basis. We have a lot of fun and congregate a lot of respect for these arts so far that it feels like I have joined an international and historically rich family.

I'm still a beginner, but despite this, my confidence level with defending myself, has already…read moregreatly improved. I highly recommend this club.