If you're looking for a martial arts academy with exceptional instruction and a welcoming atmosphere, Fonseca Martial Arts is an outstanding choice. The coaches are knowledgeable, patient, and genuinely invested in helping people improve, regardless of their experience level. The attention to detail, emphasis on respect, and strong sense of community create an environment where people can learn, grow, and challenge themselves. Whether you're just starting your martial arts journey or looking for a place to continue training, I highly recommend Fonseca Martial Arts. read more

Best teachers have left or are leaving; very sad. Was once a great place. 4 just left and looks like more on the way.

I've been practicing Shotokan Karate for about six months now, and joining FMA is one of the best decisions I have ever made. The people at FMA welcomed me with open arms and I felt like all of the regulars in the T/Th 7:30pm adult classes became like a little family to me. Since beginning karate, I have gained confidence, new friends, and a drive to continue achieving. I was recently promoted to yellow belt, and can't wait to get closer to orange! Jaime is an outstanding instructor, and I would definitely recommend working with him if you're just starting out. He has always amazed me with his ability to motivate everyone to do their best while also keeping the mood light. read more

Fonseca Martial Arts - Evanston - NU Team Bonding Activity at FMA - Karate Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

In spite of their claim in their front web page, they have hidden fees. Indeed, they bill $25 for the 'belt ceremony' (and that is supposedly with a discount, because regular graduation fee is $35), that is: the kid breaking a 10cent wooden plank during the regular time of the class, while other wait and watch during their (paid) lesson. That happens every time there is a belt change, approximately every 6-8 attendances. (if one goes twice per week, you can take that as a monthly fee). In other word, not only the 'unlimited' plan costs $30 extra (fair), but it allows by definition to graduate faster to the next belt, so that allows them to bill more often that stupid fee. Useless to say: you don't get to keep the belt. In a nutshell: a coward money grabbing strategy because what one is going to do: not get the belt? Dishonesty, at its best, both for the kid who has to pay, but also for all the kids who wait while doing nothing in the meanwhile. And definitely deceptive advertising to state 'no hidden fees'. Very far from 'respect' values they supposedly prone. read more

Can't say enough about how great classes are at this location. My son started taking classes after watching his sister move through the belts. The care and attention to each child is truly amazing. My son has become stronger, focused, respectful, but above all is having FUN. Instructors are engaging and kind yet push each child to be their best. Jean Carlos Vasquez is a real asset to the Evanston Dojo! Highly recommend if you are looking for a weekly activity/class that your child can continue to grow with. read more

Excelent class and environment. Sensei Oswaldo is a professional Sensei, who shares his karate's knowledge in a professional, dynamic and fun way. In every class, Sensei Oswaldo always encourages his students, to give their best. His classes are very well structured, with discipline, but always with a fun touch. He also uses different activities to bring to the next level the kata and/or kumite that the kids are learning. For me, this is not just a karate class, it is the best way to build self confidence in my kids. I have seen them improve their karate skills, and also improve in their personality. The classes on Tuesdays and Saturdays have helped my kids a lot in the tournaments, but also physically (flexibility, endurance for example) and emotionally. I highly recommend to try these classes, specially the ones on Tuesday and Saturday, you will see a huge difference in your kids and why not in yourself, if you attend the class too. read more

I came in expecting to get my ass kicked.... and I did. I went to Fonseca not for Karate, but for BJJ. It was an interest in passing as a new sport to get into, and I managed to remove a lot of skin off my knees and feet, unfortunately. They do have a great environment for BJJ if that is something of interest. The trainers were very professional and it was a very open environment. The studio itself is rather small, but works. I will be back....once the skin heals :) read more

With a Groupon, I took 10 Muay Thai Kickboxing classes at Fonseca. They started offering Muay Thai at their Evanston location as of September 2013. The 1-hour classes are offered Monday and Thursday evening, and Saturday afternoon. Each day has a different instructor. The classes can fluctuate a lot in size; I been had one class where it was I was the only student as well as in classes where there were 7 other students. They structure the classes such that there's a general theme each week (e.g. punches), and each instructor has his own take on what he teaches you. They encourage you to come to two classes a week, with the idea being that you'll become familiar with the motions in the first class and absorb the lesson in the second class. I haven't felt that going to 2 classes per week is necessary. Having been to class on all 3 days, I'd rate the instructors accordingly: Monday (Ren) - Ren's not the best at explaining things or at judging what your skill level is. I felt his class was best suited for people who already had some exposure to Muay Thai (at least 3-5 classes), so intermediate level and above. Thursday (Jim) - Jim provides thorough explanations (tediously so at times) and demonstrations of the techniques. He's great if you're completely new to Muay Thai (and perhaps martial arts in general) or of intermediate level. Saturday (Alex) - Alex is a less verbose and less demonstration-minded version of Jim. While all the instructors do warm ups, Alex is the only one who consistently includes core and cardio exercises at the end of class. In some ways this makes his class the most physically challenging of the three. Alex's classes are good for all levels of students. They have boxing gloves and shin guard available to rent for $5 per class, but I'd recommend buying your own equipment that fits you. They don't use fans and generally don't seem to be interested in circulating air in the 1st floor studio; stick with shorts and t-shirt/tank top so you don't overheat. Overall I enjoyed my Muay Thai experience and would recommend Fonseca. read more

After contacting them and paying to set up a group demo for our organization (the flyers and website state that your first time is free), we had Sensei Jaime who was really great with the kids. It was a fun overall experience for everyone. We were in the upstairs space which had fabulous sunlight coming through and parking was free on a Sunday. I might look into classes for my son once his current sports session is over as an option. I think that the emotional maturity and understanding is a nice addition to the physical challenges that their classes would teach. read more

The sensei's really care about the kids and get to know them. It feels like part of a family. Also they are very involved in making sure the kids are doing well in school and at home which I really appreciate. My son loves coming to the dojo. There are so many great role models there for him, even the teenage young males. I am very grateful. The events that the dojo sponsors are great also. read more

I originally wrote this back in 2010, but Yelp removed it for some reason. I was pretty upset with Yelp, since Fonseca Martial Arts is such a great place and deserves the 5 stars. 8/4/2010 I have two kids taking karate at Fonseca and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a place that send their kids for martial arts. The training is challenging; the instructors provide a great deal of encouragement; and it has helped to build confidence in my kids. My son is six years old and started at the age of four in Little Dragons and is now a solid yellow belt. My little girl turned four years old in April and is in her second session of Little Dragons. Sensei Jaime and Sempai Tito are really great with the kids. Sensei Jaime always makes sure to talk to the kids before or after class to give positive feedback and encouragement. My six year old has been to their summer camp as well. He has a great time and comes away from the experience being even more enthused about karate. They also have dojo tournaments during the year that my son has a lot of fun participating in. Fonseca Martial Arts is definitely a place that will provide excellent training for all ages and skill levels. Sensies John and Elisa have really put together a top notch operation. Not only are they extremely decorated in the world of Karate, but they are sincere individuals that are interested in providing a great experience for your kids. read more

All I have to say is that Fonseca Martial Arts rocks! If you are looking for a great place for your kids or yourself to train do not look any further! My son loves going and taking the classes and so do I. Professionalism, dedication and passion in everything they do! Keep up the good work guys! read more

I am new to karate and highly recommend this karate group. The classes are taught by world renown athletes that are patient and very easy going in terms of new students. I was very nervous to start something so intense but felt like I was amongst friends right away. I highly recommend Fonseca Martial Arts. read more

We love Fonseca Martial Arts. My 4 year old son started going there a few months ago for Karate. What a difference it's made. He's a very active boy. Jaime is the GM and his Sensei for most of his classes. They learn great lessons as well such as, "Be Respectful", "Be Responsible", etc. I highly recommend it there. read more

We love this place! My son and his friends had so much fun at his 6th birthday party, the looks on the kids' faces when they broke boards was priceless! After two years of watching my kiddos class I decided to start training too and am having an absolute blast! Highly recommend! read more

We still love our dojo! We've been here ~18months. Our now 7 year old continues to thrive under the wonderful instruction of the sensei's. When asked what her favorite thing about karate is, she always says, "The sensei's!!" Two months ago I started attending the adult classes twice a week and I'm hooked! Not only is it a great physical challenge, but as work towards earning my black belt, I'm struck with the mental challenge this sport offers. I have the same sensei's my daughter has and it has become a fun thing for us to share as she and I both learn. I can't speak highly enough about everyone we encounter~ read more

I think giving a little bit of background is relevant to frame properly what your experience and expectations of a martial arts school might be : I've practiced martial arts on and off for some 20 years. I found out that -most of the time- the teachers do matter more than the discipline you're actually studying. I am definitely not a gym workout fan. I don't find sweating on a treadmill particularly satisfying. From my standpoint, martial arts have always been an essential blend of actually learning something new while contributing to a richer life experience overall (community, discipline, etc). These days, I am looking for a school which allows me to stay at a decent level of health, while still learning new techniques and approaches. I like a strenuous workout as well, and find myself fairly competitive in this area, but I do stay away from the military workout routine (although I did quite a few of these in the past). The first thing that attracted me to Fonseca was the profile of the owners, who are accomplished athletes. A quick visit to YouTube also allows you to see it for yourself. I also went for a free class to experience the routine and the personality of the instructors. Shotokan Karate was fairly new to me and I never thought I'd be quite interested by it as I deemed the art too "rigid". Well...that was about 2.5 years ago, and I've been a member of the school since. The fact that I'm writing such a glowing review after a lengthy experience of the place, talks at length about the quality of this school! If only for the fun of it, I advise you to go have a look at a sparring class, or a form class where you can see John or Elisa Fonseca. Seeing these guys in motion is just sort of magical to be honest. Generally speaking, I found that Fonseca Martial Arts has allowed me to find a very good balance between the different factors of my life at this time. Like any martial arts schools, it gives you as much as you want out of it, and the instructors will try to motivate you to become better, and generally increase your involvement while still being very respectful, and quite friendly. Some reviews might make you feel that this is a kid-only place, but that's not the case. While a lot of investment goes into the "future generations" classes, the adults classes have a real community feeling and are challenging as well, sometimes quite challenging depending on the day :) . The making of the school is very diverse, you will have both adults and kids of different origins and backgrounds, which I value a lot in any martial arts school. Still, the classes are clearly separated between age categories. In the end, I believe the draw for this club comes from the quality of the teaching, the great ability the instructors have to teach clearly and efficiently, and the community atmosphere of the club. Definitely, one of the best martial arts learning experience I've met in the States ! read more

I love this place! I did have to knock a star off for 3 things: 1 The reduction in martial arts types (They used to offer MMA and Akido) 2 They no longer offer a flat fee per month (it was basically all you can eat karate) 3 They charged us to test into the next belt level. (You can only get promoted if you can afford pay extra.) They also have an awesome kids program. (Same pay to test problem though). read more

I believe in the discipline of martial arts. My kids used to take Kung Fu. I found in Fonseca a great program, incredible Instructors. My kids just love it! And me too! Thank you! read more

My two children, ages 6 & 8, have been studying karate at Fonseca's Evanston location for a year and a half and I myself have been a student there for about nine months. The instructors do a great job of balancing encouragement, respect and discipline and we have seen huge gains in our son's focus and our daughter's confidence. There is lots of parent/family involvement at this dojo and many sponsored activities, such as periodic dojo tournaments that give even the youngest students a taste of martial arts competition in a friendly, controlled environment, an annual awards banquet, a holiday party and many other community-building activities. They offer family classes and there are many active families that have both parents and kids studying karate together. This year, they held their first annual Fonseca Cup, a real, official tournament that drew competitors from around the country, and my kids were thrilled to be able to be a part of this event. Although my kids do not participate, Fonseca also offers an after-school program that includes homework supervision and martial arts training. For adults, the classes are a great workout and I look forward to going each week. We also recently held our son's 6th birthday party at Fonseca. The party was a huge success and we got wonderful feedback from both kids and parents. My husband and I agreed that in pretty much no other setting could a group of 16 5 & 6-year-olds have been kept under such good control and had so much fun. Sensei Amanda, who led the party, did a fantastic job of keeping everyone in line and tailoring the activities to suit the needs of kids with a wide range of athletic abilities and level of martial arts experience. When we moved to the North Shore from the city we visited quite a few martial arts schools before deciding on Fonseca and we've been very happy with our decision. Would highly recommend for those looking for quality martial arts instruction and a sense of community for themselves or their children. read more

The entire staff at Fonseca Martial Arts are not only experts in their art but also great teachers and mentors. John and Elisa Fonseca hold their instructors to the highest standards and understand how to motivate and connect to students of all ages. The dojo is a friendly and welcoming environment with safety and positivity as priorities. FMA is a great place for kids of all ages to learn respect (for themselves and others), discipline, self-control, physical fitness and self-defense. FMA also has a great group of adult students and its a great place for the entire family to train together. Highly recommend for anyone and everyone! read more

I have been training at FMA for about 5 years and the rest of my family has started training there more recently - my 6 year old about 1 1/2 years ago and my wife about 1 year ago. It is a fantastic dojo with amazing senseis, great training, and a great environment. They are committed to providing outstanding instruction. They are also amazing with kids training - not only having the patience to work with little kids but also instilling in kids (and adults too) excellent values of respect and effort. read more

My 3-year old daughter has been enrolled in the 'Karate Tots' class for about 3 months. I have nothing but great things to say about Fonseca. Sensei Jaime in particular is fantastic - he's like a toddler whisperer. Initially my daughter was apprehensive about the class - it took a few weeks before she was willing to go out on the floor by herself, but she received constant encouragement from Sensei Jaime and the rest of the staff. They do an amazing job of instilling structure in the class and encouraging respect among the children, while still treating them as kids and making them comfortable throughout the class. read more

I've been training in Karate at Fonseca Martial Arts for close to three years and would recommend this dojo to anyone--children and adults. The training is outstanding, it's great exercise and a lot of fun. The membership is expensive, but given the quality of instruction and access to unlimited Karate classes it's worth the cost. read more

Both the adult and kid programs are great. You get to train with two world champions who teach many of the classes themselves. You will be supported in any objective you set, whether it is to compete or just to have fun. There will be champions coming out of this club. read more

The kids karate program is really well-run. I signed my son up for it a year ago when he was in kindergarten to try to help him build confidence and learn some anti-bullying skills for the crazy crazy school playground and beyond. He is definitely gaining those skills! But he's also benefited from karate in ways I never even imagined. Sometimes I wish the senseis were in charge of my son's school. I watch the way they interact with the kids and am constantly impressed. They're truly wonderful. One of the best decisions I've ever made and the only time I've ever felt compelled to write a Yelp review. I am so glad I decided to go to that first free trial at Fonseca. read more

Great place for kids -- after-school program is excellent. Offers pickup from local school, homework help, snack, free time & karate lesson. My son loves it. Trained, patient staff. read more

Although I have been training in martial arts for 15 years, I have been training exclusively at Fonseca Martial Arts for the past five years. The principal instructor, John Fonseca, is an outstanding martial artist, as evidenced by his record of achievement in karate and induction several years ago into Black Belt Magazine's Hall of Fame. His wife (and co-owner of the school), Elisa Au Fonseca, is also a world-class martial artist in her own right. Unlike other schools, Fonseca martial arts offers instruction in a variety of martial arts including akido, judo, karate, mixed martial arts, and wing chun. There is truly something for everyone. The environment is friendly and relaxed, and Sensei Fonseca doesn't ask newcomers who may not be in the greatest shape to do more than they can. However, the workouts won't disappoint those who really want to sweat! If you're looking for a school that hands out promotions, this is not it. But if you're serious about exploring the world of martial arts, you should check this place out. It's definitely one of the good ones. read more

My son has been a member of the Fonseca Martial Arts family since he was 3. He has benefitted both kinesthetically and socially from being involved at FMA and has just completed his seventh year there. There are many levels of karate available from beginners to advanced, and child to adult. It is a great family atmosphere and great instruction for those wanting to learn the sport, get in shape, stay in shape, or to be a part of the team. My son surprised me when he demonstrated interest in competition karate of which he has participated for the last five seasons. He loves the dojo and has met kids from Chicago, Evanston, Glenview, Deerfield, and Highland Park. No mater what program you are involved in such as summer camp, after school care, demo team, competition team, there is something there for you. Karate is such a great life long sport. It teaches discipline, focus, teamwork, goal setting and it is great for cardio, toning, core, and balance for any age. It has translated to so many sports for my son. We love the parents and families that we have met during our time there as well. We had no idea who John Fonseca and Elisa Au Fonseca were when we first joined the dojo but we quickly found out how respected they are worldwide in the sport/art of karate. Sensei Jean Carlos has been an amazing teacher and mentor for my son and has coached him to national championships. More importantly he has helped my son build character and discipline. As a teacher and coach in schools in the Northwest Suburbs and North Shore Suburbs for 25 years , I can tell you that our family has had an amazing experience with Fonseca Martial Arts. Just remember to kiyaaa with spirit when you are there :) read more