Now normally, I don't write reviews about non-food establishments. But for this place, which I have…read moretrained at and have a few family members enrolled I will. This is currently the best traditional martial arts school in Elizabeth and probably for a good radius around. I received my black belt in Kenpo Karate and trained in several styles under Dan Miragliotta Jr. I know a good school when I see one. It is always great to see an icon make a comeback and SMAA did so after so many years dormant. Programs: They have programs for all ages. For kids, they have a few that fit various ages and experience levels. My cousin and godson are 8 and 10. But they have programs for as small as 3 years old as well as adult (kick-your-butt) programs. Instructor: Master Oscar is one of the best. He creates a great environment for the kids and pushes the adults. This isn't some run of the mill school owner either lol. I mean for starters, Oscar is a friggin marine! He knows how to get the most out of people lol. He was a student there, from what I understand, back in the 80's and that's when Shim's was winning Olympic medals, awards and tournaments all over the place. He took over the school about 2 years ago and it's fantastic under his leadership. Oh and he is trilingual too, born and raised in Elizabeth to Hispanic parents and his wife is Korean... so the Spanish and Portuguese speaking parents as well as the Korean parents love that. There is no twisting the truth from the kids on what Master Oscar said today haha My personal take: I have a godson and a cousin that go there, both under 10. My cousin grew up with some nerve damage in his leg and left side of his body. He at times walked unbalanced or favored his right side due to this. After his brother, my godson joined, he asked to join as well. To attest how amazing this kind of after school activity is - ever since he started training there he has shown a huge boost in strength, agility and control of his weaker sides. My aunt is so happy about that. What is is not: Shim's is NOT an out of the box UFC-wannabe building type place. No meat heads, no excessive tattoos. This is traditional, disciplined and "golden rule" martial arts. You'll be speaking in Korean by the end of the year, you'll be meditating at home, have amazing mind focus and be in great shape. If you want to simply "get in shape" - you'll get a regiment built by martial law and military law... exactly... lol. I highly, highly recommend to anyone looking to learn the Tae Kwon Do or get in shape and not have to worry about getting into an octagon. I also recommend it to parents who want to give their kids an activity that will be with them for life.

My son has been practicing here for a few weeks now and I love it!!! Master Óscar is a great…read moreteacher! The fees are fair and my son likes it. My boy has autism and since he started there, he has been improving his motor skills...I'll recommend this school!!!

I like the place because Master Han and his team are absolute great with kids and the place is so…read moregreat and i think place is good for the kids to learn.

My kids used to get in trouble at school. Then they started to learn Taekwondo with Master Han and…read morethey became very disciplined and well behaved. Master Han loves kids and he is a great teacher. He taught my kids discipline and dignity. He is an amazing athlete and great person.

It is paramount how our kids are shaped and influenced during their early years. Having made the…read morechoice to enroll my daughter in Taekwondo classes was a decision I don't regret, especially this specific school. ATA Park Karate is extremely professional, but at the same time, very personal, and what I mean by that is that they treat their students and parents as part of the family. Ultimately, that is the goal, to be part of a school/institution/academy that makes you feel part of the community, where kids/students feel safe, comfortable, while their grow skills and core values that will be the pillars for their future. Special thanks to the amazing leaders this school has, my daughter looks up to you, and you inspire her to do better every day. Thank you. Yours, Daniel A. Arias

My son has been training here for years and he loves it. Martial arts helped him with his…read morediscipline, as much, if not more than his physical conditioning. The instructors are first rate and all of the students feel like they're a part of a big family. Highly recommend!!!

I trained here for a year and a half and learned not just about self defense, but self as a whole…read more I've visited other Aikido dojo's and this one definitely has a feel of authenticity. There were ample amount of classes to take advantage of, with many different sempai's and sensei's sometimes from out of state and out of the country! What was great about the exposure to the guest instructors was that you were then exposed to different teaching styles and philosophies even though the principles of Aikido are all the same which involve philosophy, spiritual and of course martial aspects which train in effective ways of defending oneself. The school is great for adults, kids and as a result families. The parking is plentiful, except on testing days and seminar days. Overall I enjoyed my time here. The senior students for the most part are very supportive but just like any school many of the other students are a mixed bag. Still, if you're going to train in Aikido, in NJ, I recommend here. Y.W.B.R - Sensei Stickles

Punch, whiff, pivot, spin, throw - KA-BLAM! This is aikido, among the most beautiful and effective…read moremartial arts in the world. There are certainly arts that dispatch an opponent more directly, but most of those leave him shattered on the ground. Aikido is unique in its ability to calibrate response to an incoming attack in the service of inflicting no more harm than absolutely necessary to diffuse the situation. If that sounds awfully charitable among the world of fighting systems - it is. And mastery of that calibration requires study and self-control. In the bargain, the aikidoist gains a set of techniques - really a mode of operating in the world - that is applicable to an expansive range of human experiences, not just those that devolve into hand-to-hand combat. I have been lucky enough to study at over a dozen different aikido schools during my 30-year career in the art. Aikido Schools of New Jersey (ASNJ) is distinctive for its warm, family-friendly atmosphere. If you're looking for the next hot MMA school to unleash your brutality and exert your dominance -- keep on scrolling. Walking into ASNJ you will find people of all different sizes and shapes smiling, laughing, supporting, and respecting one another. Sure, we're also wiping each other out on the mat, but we're doing that in the service of learning, growth, and mastery. ASNJ supports a robust adult program, weapons training, iaido, kid's classes, tai chi, meditation, and yoga. If you're looking to move your body and expand your mind, there's probably something going on there for you. Note that aikido is also an excellent mode of full-body aerobic exercise. Big muscles, little muscles, core muscles, cardiovascular, circulatory - fall down and get back up 100+ times in an hour and you'll be feeling it for sure. ASNJ classes targeted at specific intensities help lots of different body types work up a lather in a way that is safe, comfortable, and fun. Drop by, flop on a sofa, and check it out for yourself. You'll fall for us, guaranteed.

This is an amazing school. As an active member of the Law Enforcement community and lifelong…read moremartial artist, I highly suggest this dojo. Union Martial Arts offers a number of programs and disciplines. I train there in the Sami Combat System as Sensei Nichols is an amazing Instructor and the only Authorized Sami Instructor in the entire United States. The Kid's training camps and programs are also second to none. I highly recommend this Dojo.

I did exclusive research to find our daughter a very good karate school. I end up finding this…read moreschool while I was on google and it had 5 stars. My spouse and I talked about it for awhile and end up setting up a appointment to see what it was about. Our daughter loved the one on one training during the appointment and the good thing about this school is it is martial arts so it's a little of everything. This is perfect because her father learned martial arts so he was also happy about the school. The rate is reasonable and the uniforms are so nice and comfortable for the children. All of the instructors bring their A game when it comes to every day classes. Our daughter is getting the hang of it right off the bat and she memorized the moves and names of the moves instantly! Thank you team for your hard work with the children , teens and adults !

Highly recommend this gym! I'm new to the area and have been searching for a boxing gym for a…read moremonth. I landed at this one and I'm already excited for my second session. He was welcoming, motivating, and kicked my a** I learned so much just in one session. The gym wasn't too crowded which was nice and even though there was someone else there I felt like I had that individual attention.

I had a great first session with Ahmik and will be coming back as a regular. I've wanted to try…read moreboxing for a long time but wanted a place where someone legit could help understand the fundamentals 1-on-1. Ahmik was easy to schedule with, put me at ease right away, and also pushed me a bit even though it was only our first session. He is exactly what I'm looking for in a coach: tough, smart, funny, with a good heart and a desire to coach. You should definitely check out X-Fit if you want to box for real!