My son attended this studio for about five years, and I wanted to share our experience for parents…read moreconsidering enrolling their children. I'll start with the positives. The instructors are energetic, genuinely care about the kids, and do a great job creating a fun environment. They also emphasize discipline and respect, which is one of the main reasons we kept our son enrolled for so long. Unfortunately, after five years, I don't feel like my son truly learned karate to the level I expected. As a black belt myself, I was surprised that many students in the advanced classes had not mastered basic techniques that I was required to learn before advancing. Even some black belt students did not know how to properly tie their belts because they had never been taught. The studio has a sign that says, "A black belt is a white belt who never quits." While perseverance is certainly important, that philosophy seemed to carry over into belt advancement. My impression was that consistent attendance was often valued more than mastering the required material. I attended several belt tests where students struggled with the curriculum, were coached through the test by an instructor, and were still promoted despite not demonstrating proficiency on their own. Another downside is the constant upselling. There always seemed to be another optional class, event, seminar, or program that required an additional fee. While none of these were mandatory, the requests came frequently, and the extra costs added up over time. Overall, I think this is a studio that does an excellent job helping kids build confidence, discipline, and have fun. However, if your primary goal is for your child to develop strong martial arts skills and earn promotions based on mastery of the material, our experience suggests this may not be the best fit.

My son has been attending EFK (Lexington location) for a few years now and is currently part of the…read moreElite Instructor Training (EIT) program. He really enjoys learning how to become a good instructor and appreciates the responsibility that comes with it. He's also been volunteering regularly, and the school has given him space to grow and develop his skills, both in martial arts and in helping others. We've found the environment to be structured and supportive, and it's been a good fit for him overall. If you're looking for a place where kids can train, build confidence, and take on leadership roles, this is definitely worth checking out.

Very nice talented teacher. Students seem to have a lot of fun…read more For me I just don't like the fact that the lesson are rarely in sequential order One lesson you could be working on forms 1-2 or 1-4 and the very next you could be on 4-8. Not enough time to digest. Or you could show up and find the last couple forms being taught when you have not been shown or learned the beginning forms . You cannot wear sneakers either which I do not understand as the floor is a rubber mat and there is not contact. I think more elderly would like to come

John Keefe is an outstanding teacher and knowledgeable in many martial arts. It is clear he is in…read moreit for the love of martial arts and his students are his priority. I have studied multiple styles with many different teachers and John is exceptional. Whether you are interested in adult or children's classes, I highly recommend him. He relates well to everyone and customizes his classes to the individual needs of his students.

Defensive Edge is an amazing gym where our family of four enjoys a variety of classes, sometimes…read morewe get to train together. The staff genuinely cares about everyone's success. I've participated in the women's self-defense class, Fight Fit, women's Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and traditional Gi Jiu-Jitsu, and I love them all! The gym offers something for everyone and has truly become our second home. It's helping teach my children discipline and humility while they have fun, learn self-defense, and stay active. We highly recommend it for individuals of all ages!

My son started at Defensive Edge a year ago. He loves the instructors. They show the kids each…read moremove a couple times, then have the kids practice. Each time giving them praise and feedback. Thanks for all you do!

My daughter is 4 and is in the junior warrior class for about 10 months. Sheehan Marco is really…read moregreat teacher and amazingly patient. The kids start learning Karate that is appropriate for their age group. He really teaches good listening, patience, and other skills that are great for the kids.We are looking forward to her development in the coming years.

This was the best party ever. My 6 year old and friends had a great time, were fully engaged in all…read morethe games and activities. The decorations, attention to detail and excellent customer service. I had no idea what to expect and was completely blown away by Shihan Marco and his team. Thank you for such an incredible day!! I'd give more than five stars if I could.

Rising Storm Training Academy is a wonderful place for kids to learn the art of Martial Arts. Newly…read moreopened and offering great session times for working parents! Nathan, the head instructor and owner, has a real skill for teaching and engaging kids that can lose focus. The rates are very reasonable to. He offeres a free introductory lesson to try out. My son is having a super time and learning the art so quickly directly because of Nathans teaching.

From the owner: We are a full time Martial Art School…read more Offering professional instruction in Rising Storm Kempo Karate. This program teaches traditional techniques along with kid safe awareness. A big draw to our Academy is the fact that we incorporate ground defenses in our training as well. This is taught through fun and exciting exercises for kids, teens, and adults. The instructor was also nominated into the World Martial Art Federation 2010 Hall Of Fame for "Outstanding Youth Instruction."

I have been training with Body Mind Systems for almost four years. I cannot express my gratitude…read moreenough for the training I have received. The instructors have helped me improve my life.

Great place but way too expensive. They are asking for…read more 416.66 per month . Total of 5000k a year.

I can't recommend the Women's Self Defense classes enough! I have taken two now and plan to…read morecontinue with the series. There is so much to learn and you can never be too prepared. The instructors are great and provide hands on experience and real-life scenarios. SIGN UP FOR THE PEPPER SPRAY CLASS. You will be surprised by how much you don't know about using your pepper spray. The studio is a bit difficult to find and feels a little sketchy. I thought I would need to take a self defense class just to make my way into the studio. You're in the right place if you're in a dirt lot under the bridge around nothing else. Once inside, you can take these creepy industrial stairs up to the top floor or there is a massive elevator.

I have been training under Gershon ben Keren at Krav Maga Yashir since February 2012. In my opinion…read morethere are four reasons why Krav Maga Yashir Boston should receive serious consideration from anyone in the Boston area seeking to learn self-defense, learn a martial art, or simply vastly improve their physical fitness. Number 1 = Quality of instruction. This is the sine qua non of any martial arts school. Mr. ben Keren and his assistant instructors are professional, competent, and dedicated. Techniques are expertly demonstrated, remediated, and reinforced in a variety of partner-based and group-based drills. Students are always shown the "context" of a technique: what happens leading up to it, the purpose of each movement, and what happens afterwards. My belief is that when new students are able to perform a technique effectively on their first try, it actually reflects far more credit on the teacher than the learner. I see this happen all the time on the mats, and it speaks volumes for the knowledge and competency of the instructors. Number 2 = Krav Maga Yashir teaches the entire spectrum of violence, an area where other martial arts have major limitations. A striking art (boxing, muay thai, karate) may teach you to fight an imaginary assailant. A grappling art such as BJJ may teach you to escape from said assailant on the ground. Neither addresses the more important questions grounded in reality, such as: How did you get there? What if a knife or gun is involved? What if I accidentally trip and fall? Get taken by surprise? Get backed against a wall? Have a significant other I need to protect? Krav Maga Yashir teaches simple, direct, pragmatic solutions to all of the above, and more. Nobody needs to be Donnie Yen or Ronda Rousey to effectively defend themselves, and this school gives you the tools to do that. Number 3 = Value for your $$. Monthly membership rate is comparable to market rate for other area martial arts schools, and much lower than Crossfit gyms and other functional-fitness type places. The membership also gives free access to 5x-weekly cardio bootcamp classes, special outdoor training, and use of the gym at the studio. New workout equipment is constantly added and incorporated into the bootcamps, which themselves are a hell of a workout. Members also get first access to guest seminars with top outside Krav Maga instructors. Number 4 = Great social atmosphere. I'm always impressed by the respect, humility, and maturity of other students. It's very rare to have anyone beating on others in an attempt to be the tough guy, and such behavior is *never* tolerated. Students are all ages from 20s to 60s, all body types and fitness levels. Since all of class is partner or group based, you quickly pick up names and personalities of fellow students. Sometimes when you're on the brink of absolute physical exhaustion, you just can't help but look at each other and laugh at the insanity of it all. That's the kind of esprit that can't be faked, and a major reason I spend 10 hrs a week here without hesitation. Overall, Krav Maga Yashir gets my highest possible recommendation. I am constantly being that annoying guy urging my female friends to try it, and it's what I look forward to every day at work (when I'm not wasting time on Yelp reviews that will end up getting filtered anyway). You can try classes free for a week through the school website as well.