I do not recommend this gym for woman. To me, it felt like this environment revolves mostly around…read moreego and machismo, that's about it. It doesn't feel like they truly care about your progress. I believe male coaches here to be disrespectful toward female students. I feel that any concerns are dismissed. Although they promote themselves as a "women-friendly" space, based on my experience and what l've seen happen to other women here, I would not recommend this gym

Professor Hugo has created a true jiu jitsu community - over the years this place has become a…read moresecond home to myself and my daughter. Love the teaching style - no bs, just jiu jitsu. Train as hard or as light as you want. World class athletes with no ego. 617 is perfect for everyone - beginners, advanced, competitors, and kids. Positive attitude of this place is infectious. Osss!

Amazing school and instructors! I would recommend this martial arts school for anyone who wants…read morefitness, discipline, confidence or to learn how to protect yourself! These guys are great!

I have been going to the adult classes at the Union Square (Somerville) location for two years now…read more When I started, I knew I wanted to do some sort of self-defense (I am a woman and go out a lot alone) but I didn't want it to be militaristic in style. This dojo isn't. It's friendly and welcoming to all skill levels, and other students have moved there to escape the mitaristic style at other schools and have liked it at Villari's much more. Master Brad is friendly and kind and very knowledgeable, and he is good at making sure all skill levels get something out of the class. You can go up to two or three times a week for the same monthly fee, and they offer special seminars and tournaments as well if you're interested in that. Now a couple of years in, I feel that a lot of the techniques/my reactions are becoming automated, which is exactly what I wanted. Also, Reliable Market is just below for after-karate snacks!

Sityodtong is a great gym. The gym has produced great fighters for sure and has world-class muay…read morethai. What has kept me here for a decade is the sense on community, belonging, and purpose. Yes, this is a fight gym that can make you deadly fighter and improve fitness, but its more importantly a martial arts gym that can make you a better person.

A small, but very well-equipped, training facility with world-class staff and a wealth of classes…read more The memberships are pricey ($200 month to month, though it's less if you do a six month or full year membership), but you can build up a martial arts skill set very quickly with their elite-level trainers. If you go here and work hard, Joe Rogan may talk about how impressive your striking is one day.

There are several things that you need to consider in a martial arts school. The instructor is…read moreprobably the most important one than the actual style of martial art. Are the instructors qualified to teach or care about their students? Are there enough classes offered to keep a regular schedule? This school checks all right criteria to be a good school. Not only a good one, it is probably one of the best one in the world! This happens to be my 22nd martial arts school I attended during my lifetime, and I will have really hard time when I need to relocate due to my job. I am spoiled to drop in whenever I want since there are classes both noon time and in the afternoon all week. No schools have such a vast class offering. Thank you Mr. Hwang!

I was only a student at this school for a couple of months (my own scheduling conflicts), but I…read morefound the space and all of the teachers to be fantastic. Each teacher definitely has their different styles--some were really good at verbally explaining a particular technique,while others taught best through physical instruction. Apparently, the man who started this school, Jae H Kim, studied with the best tae kwon do master of this century (I've been told Kim's mentor created this particular martial art, but it's been around, in some form, for hundreds of years, so...) My fellow classmates were helpful and I never felt I was being judged if I hadn't fully learned a move. The manager of the school, Mr Wong, is the sort of teacher every student (child or adult) loves to have: he's relaxed and compassionate, but still gets you to do the work! You learn discipline here, but don't feel like anyone will get out the rod if you mess up. And...it's a true community. It's not quite as tight as the capoeira group I studied with, but still a definite collective. You'll have to sign up for a 6-month commitment when you join, which I think is good, since the whole reason I joined was to gain more discipline. And they'll hook you up with a uniform and make you feel at home. So go try it out!

From out of town and dropped in to get a few rolls in. Could not ask for a nicer, cleaner, more…read morewelcoming group of people including the owner Dave. Will definitely come back to support their team!

Dropped in for 2 classes when I was visiting Boston. Coach Dave and Mike are both welcoming and…read morethey make the classes accessible for all level students so it was easy to follow along. The teachers both gave plenty of individual feedback, even demonstrating the moves with me then rolling with me. Definitely can tell that this academy is a labor of love for Coach Dave, he puts a lot of effort into creating a team culture and positive experience for all. There is a strong emphasis on safety here and the techniques are practiced slowly and gently. Also, the other students were also friendly and invited me to partner.

This is a great place to train! The instructors are friendly, knowledgeable, and tailor instruction…read moreto your level. The instructors invest equally in everyone from white belt to black belt, whether those students are competing, learning a new sport, or just trying to get fit. As a new student, I never feel pressured to purchase uniforms or equipment directly from them. From an outside perspective, academies like these can seem intimidating. However, Florian's is the most inclusive environment I have participated in over my 30 years of training in different styles and at other academies. Although I have only been there briefly, I feel part of this group because everyone goes out of their way to be welcoming. It is an excellent place for women to train together as well.

Amazing practice for young children. Our son, now almost 9, has been attending BJJ classes for 2…read moreyears now and has loved it. As parents, we are impressed with the instructors skill and methods of teaching children, and encouraging the students to respect themselves, others and the practice.

I have been training with Sifu Stanley Jue for about a year and a half. I trained for a few years…read morein a different lineage of Wing Chun . I also have over 30 years of involvement with the arts and have black belts in Karate and Ju Jitsu ( 1rst degree and 6th degree respectively, plus some other stuff. Having been around for a while, one develops a knack for determining if someone is the real deal. I have trained with some amazing high level martial artists. Sifu Stanley may perhaps be at the highest level I have ever trained with. He is also an awesome guy. The training is now semi private with much individual attention.

Sifu Jue has been my Sifu for many years. I feel very fortunate to have found him. I'm a senior (Gu…read moreLao) Wing Chun student and I've practiced continuous sparring here for many years. If I had to defend myself, I could. For me, Wing Chun and continuous sparring are practical, useful, interesting, and effective. Sifu Jue teaches authentic, traditional kung fu in the traditional Chinese way ~ the way Kung Fu classes were taught in China past and present, and integrates his own method. This school is not a franchised business or part of an organization with a standardized curriculum. Having practiced Wing Chun under 2 previous teachers, I can say that Sifu Jue understands Wing Chun very well, is an excellent practitioner, and is an effective teacher with an ability to teach anyone. Over the years I've witnessed many people in his class develop into surprisingly good fighters. Sifu Jue knows many things but is a modest instructor. Everyone is comfortable learning here. As with anything, if you commit yourself you will continue to improve. Note: I chose to learn Kung Fu because I knew it offered something additional that modern fighting arts do not. There are the tangible benefits of self~defense, strength, and fitness, that come with training of any kind, but kung fu offers much more.

Getting thrown is like getting a ride on your own personal roller coaster: you lurch forward when…read moreyou least expect it; you go ass-up in the air; and then you land--usually on aforementioned ass. (I've been given to understand that if you land on someone else's ass instead of your own, you're doing it right.) The only deviation from Disney World is the part at the end when your roller coaster operator does her damndest to sit on you. I found out about Tohoku because I tried a Krav Maga-based women's self-defense course in Medford, which led me to try a Krav Maga class in Watertown, which led me to check out a BJJ class across the street, which led me to meet a woman who runs a dojo in Southie, which led me to meet some of her students who, at the time, were looking for warm bodies to participate at a women's shiai (read: tournament) at this place in Somerville called Tohoku. The competition commenced about ten minutes after my first class. I was shaking in my proverbial boots--I had never seen anyone thrown before, and I was supposed to fend that off? Lucky for me, everyone was very welcoming and willing to clarify things on the go. I'm not an especially outgoing person, so the circuitous social route that landed me at Tohoku required some serious outreach on others' parts. The folks here really do make a point of trying to reach out and connect with both individuals and other communities. I don't go to Tohoku very often; it's rather far from home, and I'm already in a committed relationship with another martial art. I just visit every now and then when I feel the urge to take part in something that starts looking vaguely like a triple time step and ends looking vaguely like I've been arrested for disorderly conduct. And it's cheaper than a trip to Disney World.

This is one of the best Judo dojo ever. It has a long list of history and all sensei are world…read moreclass Judoka. Everyone here is very helpful and willing to help you to learn. I come down to the dojo and train as much as I can.