I was told $99/month by Dietrich then later $199/month by the blond assistant. I questioned the change in price and told her to forget it and started to walk out. Then she it would be 99/m instead. So which is it? read more

Great way to release stress and workout!!!

We are skeptical of this place because of wavering on the price. At our initial interview, which he requested, Master Dietrich quoted us a price of $99/month. Kinda expensive but we were willing to do it because he seemed so good. The next day at our trial lesson, the blonde assistant told us that the price changed in the last day to $199/month, which is crazy for a 4 year old kid. When we walked out at this outrageous price, he called back to say - just kidding that was a mistake, it is $99/month. Yeah right dude, you got too greedy, you had us at $99 but not anymore. Be careful here! read more

I really like Dietrichs Karate studio. His attention to each child is great and he is definitely a real Karate Master and posesses infinite patience even with children who need extra guidance. He is a man worthy of the title of Sensei. The finished products are Champion karate students. My only complaint is the all the belt fees, test fees, uniform fees get a bit annoying, and the total cost is a bit high, though I think it it worth it if you can afford it. otherwise this is a 5 star place. If you want an elite dojo where the instruction is excellent and you are willing and able to pay for the quality then Dietrichs is a good place to check out. If you are on a budget or looking for something casual it might get a bit overwhelming. Make sure you understand this is a Dojo not an after school center. You are expected to commit a lot of time and money to it, but if you invest yourself it will pay off with unrivaled attention from a master of his craft. read more

My son took karate classes from Master Dietrich for over 10 years. Child and adult lessons. Great knowledge, awesome instruction. Positive experience read more

Our two sons started at Dietrich's Karate nearly a year ago. Beginning as a Ninja, they reinforced principles of respect, listening, and patience that my wife and I work hard to instill. The classes start and end with a pledge about doing their best. My boys just loved working with the other students during the lessons. Many of the lessons center on safety and being sure to identify and listen to their "heroes" such as parents, police officers, teachers, etc. Other aspects of the lesson used physical exercise to again work with agility, focus, and coordindation. When my youngest son was ill for a while and we couldn't make the classes, Master Dietrich called concerned about their absences and offered make up classes to allow them to catch up. A few months later I was hospitalized and unable to work for a while. To make sure the boys would stay on track, Master Dietrich ensured my boys would be tested to move onto Dragons. I have rarely encountered any program that is so willing to put students ahead of business. As Master Dietrich has stated, Dietrich's Karate is more than a school, but a family that looks out for each other. The first Dragon lesson demonstrated values of respect, confidence, and patience. The lesson worked on keeping yourself safe from bullies and basic self-defense posture. I particularly liked the emphasis on "black belt words" such as "I don't want to fight, leave me alone, etc, as a part of the defense strategy as well as making sure they did not actually hit back but deflected "blows" with open palm hands and not fists to avoid trouble with today's zero-tolerance policy of fighting in schools and such. For the whole week, the boys wanted to practice what they learned with me, my wife, and with each other. They are eager to continue their lessons and love the challenge they offer my boys. Master Dietrich has constantly stated and followed that a dojo is more than a school but a family. My family definitely has felt that since we have been a member of the dojo and are more than willing to continue their lessons with him and his dojo. I highly recommend Dietrich's Karate for anyone who wants a great supportive experience for their children. read more

My son attended the Spring Break class and absolutely loved it. Ms. Smith is a very sweet woman who answered all my questions prior to and during his week at camp. They worked with me when I needed to pick him up early one day and they filed the week with many enjoyable activities and several field trips including lasertag, bowling, and Chuck E Cheese. I purchased the week of camp at a discount through one of their flash sales so it is a good idea to sign up for their mailing list so you don't miss those offers. read more

This place is worth every penny! I went here for 6 years and I've grown so much. I'm a better leader, and most importantly a better person overall. I have my second degree black belt and I've learned to protect not only myself, but others. I had the WORST behavior grades in elementary school. And after going there I learned self discipline and respect. I now am a straight A student with a 4.2 GPA taking all college level courses in junior year of high school. I couldn't have done it without them! :) definitely recommend for anyone of any age or whatever! read more

Master D is absolutely amazing. I have been involved with martial arts for 20+ years, the bulk of it with Master D. Master D opened my eyes to world of martial arts and was a massive influence in my life when I was in a very rough spot. He is one of the most caring humans I have ever met, and probably one of the best people on the planet. I have been to a number of other schools, both visiting and attending because of their different styles (Jujitsu, Krav Maga, Kungfu, etc.) because of my fascination with martial arts based on what Master D introduced me to. But in the end, I have yet to find a school with a better owner, a better teacher, and better person overall. If you just want to kick and punch bags, you can go anywhere. If you want to change your life or that of your child, talk to Master D. read more

Master Dietrich is a wonderful Martial Arts Instructor but more importantly he's a wonderful human being. He has the biggest heart which makes him go the extra mile for his students. He is also a great instructor and Martial Artist. I taught Master Dietrich For a short period as Head Instructor for the Jhoon Rhee Institute. I was always pleased to have him in my class because he was the example that I needed for others to follow. They knew I worked hard as an instructor but to see one of their piers do it motivated them to wok even harder. So proud and happy to see you doing so well my friend. Listen to him, he'll take you to the top. His business is number one! read more

I've been at Dietrich's since 2014 and it's a very welcoming community (like a family). Master Dietrich and Ms. Smith genuinely care about their students and are great with both kids and adults (many families take class together). They have a lot of experience working with kids with special needs. I've especially enjoyed learning the details and applications (picture how each move affects you and an opponent) of combinations and forms. read more

Master D is a great instructor. He has extensive knowledge and experience, and uses them to make sure all his students know even the small details of proper technique, because they make a big difference in how you perform. Also, he loves teaching kids. And how many places can you take your child - even the very young ones - to be taught not by the lowest level instructor, but by a world champion? All the other instructors are excellent, as well - many of them former students, so they know the system well. read more

I recently moved to the Fairfax area and stumbled upon this place as I was looking for an after school program for my daughter for this coming year. I went ahead and paid for the package to take unlimited classes all summer. I couldn't be more pleased. They are so welcoming and even my daughter loves it!! Master Dietrich is very patient and warm with the kids. The assistants are nice too. They also offer classes at the same time for adults (kickboxing/karate) and kids. As a single parent this is the best!!! I can take my daughter to do something fun, motivating and good exercise and I can get some needed stress relieving exercise taught by Ms. Smith (the blonde that the other people are referring to). She is great! She is patient with me as I'm fairly new to kickboxing. She teaches me the right way to do the kicks and punches and never makes me feel like I'm not catching on quick enough. Not to mention, this workout is killer! It's fast paced, good music, great motivation, and a lot of sweat! I'm not kidding, after her class I feel like a new woman. I feel powerful! I love it! All the students in the class are also very welcoming and helpful. It feels like family. Like a sense of camaraderie, similar to how I felt in the military. Also, I have to travel for work a lot and if I miss a few classes I am treated the same, no guilt trips. They still welcome me back. I have felt out of place at other places and this place makes everyone feel like they can accomplish anything. They teach kids about healthy eating, manners, confidence... you name it. My daughter (me too) needs all these things and I think I need Dietrich's more than they need me. I look forward to before and after care this school year for my daughter (yes, they have before and after). I think it will be her best year ever. PS - My daughter now asks to eat veggies every night because Master D told her how healthy they are. It doesn't get better than that. read more

We're very please with Dietrich's Karate. We have been members for a year now and have always received great customer service. I can see my 5 yr old is more confident and social since he started classes with Master D- He always has a blast and learn skills along the way. They also offer summer and school break camps that offer a variety of different activities and field trips. Master D has always been available when we needed to talk to him It's a wonderful place to join in! read more

My experience is at least ten years old, but I'll share this. I attended classes for a little more or less than a year, and my son tried the courses for a short period of time. He didn't really enjoy the experience, while i found the workout to be top-notch. Culturally, I can't speak to the experience because my focus was very specific on fitness read more

I have been sending my children to Dietrich's for over three years a part of their after-school karate program and summer camps. They have been taught primarily by Master Dietrich (Master D) and his program Director, Miss Smith. My kids and I like both of them. One of the things I like about their program is that they teach after-school kids purely defensive maneuvers for the first year, until Master D and Miss Smith are confident that the student won't use their skills to bully others. I think this is an excellent idea, and I don't think there are many other dojos that do that. Additionally, they teach their students how to stand up for themselves in a defensive way. By standing up for themselves, the students build confidence. I noticed this year that the first-year after-school kids are often taught by assistants, but once the students graduate from that and start learning the fuller curriculum, they are then taught by Miss Smith and Master D. Also, last year when Fairfax County shortened its school year, Master D extended the summer camp program to include those extra days at no extra charge. So, why didn't I give this dojo 5 stars? There are 2 reasons. 1) I almost never give out 5 stars. 2) They don't teach the younger students that no matter which belt they have earned, they can still be overpowered by a full-grown adult. I think most dojos suffer from this flaw, however, so no matter where you send your children, remind them of that fact. read more

Sensei Michelle is an outstanding instructor. She is involved and focused on the children and creates an atmosphere that is fun and respectful. Her communication and creativity with children enables them to learn while having fun. Doris G. read more

Wish I could give zero stars. Be careful of this place. At first glance appears to be great but after a while you realize it's a rip off and Master Dietrich is just a very good salesman. I now know that PARKTAKES (www.fairfaxcounty.gov/prks) offers Little Ninjas classes at a much cheaper rate. Depending on the type and location of the class you get 10 45-minute lessons for $83.00 or 10 30-minute lessons for $90, a real bargain. We experienced a couple of problems with Master Dietrich. We went to a free lesson and my child loved it so we decided to sign up. That "free" lesson was taught by Master Dietrich and was the only good lesson he got. We attended a total of 3 lessons before we decided this was not the right place for us. The other two lessons were taught primarily by two "preteens" not by Master Dietrich. Master Dietrich was busy for most of my son's classes giving private lessons to a teenager. The exercises the preteens had my son's class performing were nothing more than "busy work". I was told by Master Dietrich he would be learning karate here and he was not. The other problem we experienced was payment. I specifically told Master Dietrich I was not willing to obligate my 3 year old to an entire package of lessons, but I was willing to pay monthly as long as my son enjoyed the classes. Master Dietrich verbally agreed to this and asked his assistant to take my first month's payment and have us sign paperwork. The assistant (a blond lady) supposedly could not find any paperwork but promised she would have everything ready for us to sign when we showed up next time. She said we owed $300.00 for the first month ($100 for 4 classes and a $100 registration fee). When I asked what the other $100 was for she said it was for the uniform (I later found out the uniforms are only $49.99). She did not have our paperwork ready for us the next week. At our third lesson I went to her and asked about our paperwork. She handed me some papers and asked me to sign. I was surprised to see it was for a package of lessons. When I complained and explained that Master Dietrich and I had agreed I could pay monthly she said that's not how it's done here. I explained I would not obligate a 3 year old to a package of lessons, "he's only three and too young to make that decision". At this point she because angry and stated "that's your job as a parent, you decide what he does and when." I stated I didn't understand why she was becoming angry, that right now we were exploring different activities to see what my son liked and that I had no intention of signing a 3 year old up for a bundle of lessons. I asked to speak to Master Dietrich. Dietrich was unavailable but his assistant assured me she would have him call. Needless to say he never called. We consider this a very expensive lessons learned. read more

We have known Master Dietrich since he was a champion competitor on the circuit. He has transferred that same fire into his instruction, both motivating his students to train hard in the moment and into inspiration, setting their long term sights on excellence. Highly recommended. read more

Our review of Dietrich's is based on two + years of experience. Here are some observations: The adult classes, taught by Mr. Scyoc, were great. They have the classes split by level so the newbies aren't in there with the brown and black belts. I was never in a class that I thought was too big and there was a good camaraderie between students and teacher if you needed help with something. Our daughter started as a Ninja just before turning 5. She had fun but we could tell pretty quickly that she needed more challenge than the Ninja class (basically the same games over and over again). We didn't get any offer to move her up to Dragons and she remained a Ninja until she aged out at 6. Perhaps if we had pushed then we could have advanced her earlier but we thought that Master Dietrich would be doing that kind of evaluation and we trusted his judgement. Our son started as a Ninja just before turning 3, which in hindsight was a bit young but we had signed up for a family plan so why not?! He was still a Ninja two years later working toward his black belt but was stalled (again, same games over and over again - how many times can you play "Dragon Tail"?). Other kids were "graduating" to Dragons (without earning black belts or aging out like was required of our daughter, they were just being moved up). We scheduled a meeting with Master D to discuss it and to question (whether) what the plan was for our son. I believe if we hadn't asked, Master D would have been happy continuing to take our money and seeing very little progress out of our son. However, after our meeting, he did make some adjustments in the class and started giving our son more responsibility and I saw real improvement in our son over the last couple of months before his black belt test. So I was optimistic about the future until the weekend of the testing. That testing weekend was our last experience at the dojo due to an "encounter" I had with Ms. Smith, the blonde lady referred to in other reviews here. We had issues with Ms. Smith the entire time we had been going to the dojo. I'm not sure why but both my husband and I had could sense it and I know we were not the only family to feel this way. It actually made the dojo a fairly uncomfortable place to be at times because you never knew if you were going to get happy Ms. Smith or grouchy Ms. Smith. She was very inconsistent in her personality and her enforcement of certain rules. What I noticed was that it wasn't just inconsistent from time to time but from family to family. She corrected my kids for things that other kids were doing. I'm fine with the correction of the kids, that is part of what they are there for is to learn respect, etc. but it should be applied consistently and it should be communicated properly. Well, at the black belt testing, Ms. Smith corrected my kids for something that they weren't even doing. So, I didn't want to take it anymore and I said something to her about it. Her response was completely unprofessional. I went home and told my husband we were quitting. He convinced me to go back to the next day (my daughter had testing) and to try the "just ignore her" technique that we had tried so many times. Well, let's just say she didn't let it drop and was completely unprofessional and rude again. So, we told Master Dietrich we needed to meet and we walked out. I mention scheduling a meeting as if that is an easy thing to do. During our experience at the dojo, we set up meetings for a variety of topics and arranged our schedules to meet theirs and still had several meetings cut short because Master Dietrich had double-booked or was busy talking to other customers during our time, or just didn't bother to show up on time...as if our time wasn't as important. Other issues involved poor management. Example, we ordered sparring gear when we first became gold belts even though we wouldn't need it until the green belt. They joked "yeah, it takes that long"...Wrong. It took longer! We paid over $300 for gear and waited almost 5 months for it. My husband's progress in class was stalled because he didn't have his gear for months! That's unacceptable. Another example is when my daughter was testing from Ninja to Dragon. It is a big deal to move up and they take the paperwork ahead of time to know who is testing. On the day of her test, they didn't have the Dragon White Belt for her. Pretty disappointing to a 6 year old who had been taking classes for over a year! Last comment is that after all our time at Dietrich's, when it came time to leave due to the unprofessional behavior of HIS employee, he fought us on giving us our money back claiming he couldn't give refunds (it's HIS company) and that he sent things to his attorneys (there was no contract so not sure what he sent), etc. We had to get our credit card company involved to get our refund. Classy. Be forewarned: It can be good but it can also be very bad. Be careful! read more

I have been with Master D for years and years. Its pretty obvious he cares for the kids and provides instruction based on not only on fitness, but values and good morals. Being a father of 4, I couldn't recommend a more family friendly place than this! read more

My son is taking the class after school at the Virginia Academy. I like that I don't have to pick him up and take him somewhere, they come straight to us. He is 4 and learning healthy eating, life skills and how to use his force (light medium or hard)on different things. He is really enjoying taking the class read more

I was looking for a dojo where my young son could begin to learn discipline, self-control, self-defense, and develop the ability to stand up for himself with other more aggressive kids. I'd walked into and back out of a number of franchise dojos thinking I was never going to find what I was looking for. And then I walked into Dietrich's. What a marvelous program! My son has been developing appropriate skills based on his age, and has a level of confidence and self-discipline that I could never have provided on my own. My confidence is greater, knowing that he can handle himself with aggressive kids at school now; the transformation is magnificent. As he begins to transition from learning developmental and self-defense skills into learning actual fighting techniques, I know that the staff at Dietrich's has confirmed that he's developmentally ready for that responsibility, and are stressing appropriate use of the skills he's learning -- this is so much better than the schools where they take any child, even a visitor at a "birthday party," and teach them to punch and kick one another! Some schools may be shinier and more automated, but I've never seen a dojo where they know your child better, or are more committed to them and their development into responsible, capable adults. My son has progressed to the point of beginning to learn actual fighting skills. Note - it's been 4 years since he began studying at the dojo! But he would not have been developmentally ready to learn fighting skills before this time. As a mother, I have complete confidence in three things, because of how he's being taught: 1) He will not use these skills inappropriately; they were not introduced until he was mature enough to understand that you don't "play" at karate. 2) If he is away from me in a crowded place, he understands how to defend himself, if he needs to. My confidence when we are at the mall or in an airport is absolute that if someone approached my child inappropriately, he would now how to respond effectively. 3) He is COMPLETELY aware of the difference between defending himself and aggressing, and in a school environment, knows how to be clear that he is defending himself and not participating in a fight, if he is ever in the position where he needs to defend himself. In a school system with zero tolerance for fighting, even if it seems silly to spend so much time on it in karate class, this is VITAL. Other people have commented on the cost. My child's well-being and development isn't a place where I really want a "bargain." I want the best service I can obtain, and feel strongly that I've gotten it at Dietrich's. I'm careful with who I trust to care for my child, and I trust Master Dietrich and Miss Smith completely. read more

Our daughter goes to Deitrich's after school for karate lessons and she loves it. Deitrich's has taught her a lot and helped her gain confidence. At the same time, they manage to make the lessons fun for the students. She often wants to stay longer when we pick her up! read more

Dietrich's Karate demonstrates professionalism towards school staff by being on time to pick up students from school and kindness towards school staff. They are also very kind and encouraging to students no matter what their age. read more

"What an amazing experience at Dietrich's. I started out as a Kickboxer and then decided to enroll my two daughters. They were very shy and timid when they started and I am proud to say that they are now Black Belts. I am so proud of them and after seeing some of the other centers for martial arts, am so happy that I chose Dietrich's" read more

My kids have been attending the summer camp at Dietrich's for the past few weeks. They are having a blast! I love that they are getting out and doing active things each day - not just sitting around in a daycare building. Every week the activities and field trips are different. All the instructors know my children by name. There is a great family atmosphere here where kids and safety come first, not fighting. They are being taught that winning comes from working together and supporting each other - not by "defeating" an opponent. Master D always reminds them to think about how they are feeling and whether that is the appropriate reaction to the drill. read more

DANGER--STAY AWAY! ZERO STARS!! For a business that claims to teach character to kids, they lack integrity. They verbally offer a trial period but do not honor their words. Get EVERYTHING in writing or they will not remember what was promised. Even when we went to see them after my husband redeployed and we were trying to get this all straightened out, the staff claimed to not even remember our family or the multiple emails we had sent. If you value honor, DO NOT put your kids here! read more

My nephew and I both attend dietrich's once a week with my nephew being in little ninjas karate and me being in kickboxing. I observe my nephews class that is taught master d and it is a wonderful environment. My nephew has down syndrome and master d is very welcoming and helpful with him. He never gives up on him and always claps for him an cheers him on which is something my nephew really likes, the other kids in his class are so sweet and have learned a lot and so has my nephew. The blonde assistant that you all refer to is mrs. Smith and she is my kickboxing teacher, she is absolutely wonderful!! I went I to the class being extremely shy and not knowing what I was doing at all. Mrs. Smith and all the others were very welcoming an mrs smith is a wonderful teacher she helps when you are haing trouble gives tips on how to punch or kick with out hurting yourself and is a wonderful motivator. Dietrich's is a wonderful place to bring your children, during the school year they have an after school program where they pick up the kids from school and bring them to the dojo. Before the kids are allowed to run around and play they are sat down so they can do their homework before class starts. 98% of kids at dietrichs show an improvement in school. Dietrichs is wonderful and I really enjoy going there. My high school graduation was Wednesday June 20 the same day I had kickboxing class, I was given the choise to either go to an all night grad party or go to my class, I loves dietrichs so much that I ditched my grad party and went to class instead. I love dietrichs!!!! read more

I've been going to this dojo for about 7 years, and I have to thank Dietrich's for making such a huge impact on my life. What you will learn here, you will never learn at any other dojo. You learn important lessons that help you with decision making, they teach precise details on karate techniques that other karate schools definitely lack, and they help you pick the right path to live. I wouldn't feel and be as confidence and strong without them. I have never been scared to stand up for myself, or be worried that I can't protect myself. With all the skills I've been taught, I know I can defend myself. I learn how to help others and prevent others from being bullied. I earned my black belt after 6 years of attending here, and it wasn't easy, but it was SO worth it. I never even thought that I would be interested in karate before I took my first class. Everything I have learned here, affects how I live my life every day, in a positive day. I highly recommend people to come here because not only will you learn important karate defense skills and techniques, you will also be surrounding my a positive and caring environment. read more