My niece just joined Grand Tiger Martial Arts and she already loves it. The offer a $70 2 week…read moretrial which includes a free uniform. The staff is very welcoming and loves to answer any questions you have. It is located in a busy parking lot because there are several other businesses around but it is easily accessible. When you arrive the door is normally open, if you are just joining, you go to the front desk and ask for Crystal. She will sign you in, grab a uniform for your child, and collect your payment. Your child can change in the bathrooms in the back and join their class when it starts. We arrived late, but once my niece joined the class, she received a warm welcome by both instructors. Immediately one of the instructors gave her the individual attention needed in order for her to catch up. One of the reasons I chose this location is because they ask parents to grade the students on their behavior at home and based on what they get at home, they are allowed to try for a belt. It definitely helps with listening at home. Once leaving the class, each student has to bow and say bye as they exit. We love our new karate home.

I think it is a mcdojo because you get a belt every month and ot takes 3 through 10 years to get a…read moreblack belt but you got it In 2?

WE LOVE THIS PLACE!…read more Master J. Lee and is wife are just fabulous and nice people! They are just perfect with kids of all ages. My kids do their after-school program and we cannot be more pleased with their care of our children and the teaching them of the full meaning of Tae Kwon Do - with discipline, respect and health/fitness. This is a fantastic center and if they keep this level of service and instruction, we will be clients/students for a very long time! This studio gets our family's strongest recommendation!

Went there for a private birthday event and it was such a great experience. The class was not easy…read morebut the instructor walked us through each move and explained the details very well. The studio is clean and the equipment is really nice if I lived in the area I would definitely be interested in taking classes there.

I am newbie to Pilates but I am slightly obsessed now. As a An exercise enthusiast, the same…read moreroutines and variations of exercises can get a tad bit boring, so I was looking for something to spice up my routine. Also slow me down a bit and help with flexibility-Pilates does just that. I enjoy the camaraderie in the room as we all struggle with our holds, music is always bangin', and the environment is just what I need to get me going. I signed up initially for three months, but I can see this being something I will continue to enjoy long-term. Some of my favorite and instructors are Tiffany, Karen and, Michaela. I hate to give up the secret, but their classes, instructions and Playlists are phenomenal and I love that they offer early morning classes since I am an early riser! This will continue to be my home studio for the long term for sure.

James Conkell, who is the head instructor of Alpha Combatives, is great, patient, and extremely…read moreknowledgeable. He is very conscientious and caters his classes to suit the interests, experience/skill level, and needs of the individual. For me, this has included exposure to JKD, Muay Thai, boxing, karate, and Escrima. I am also really interested in learning how to react in situations where I might have to defend myself, so I also appreciate getting the chance to learn techniques that are also on the more practical side. This is a mobile business, so while it says he is based in Arlington, he has come out to teach me in DC. I look forward to every class and always feel like I am getting a great work out as well as improving my technique. His prices are also very reasonable and I highly recommend contacting him for more info.

I started my Jeet Kune Do training this past summer with James. I am highly impressed. So far we…read morehave worked on a mixture of boxing, muay thai kickboxing, taekwondo, karate, and kali (filipinio stick fighting). This is only the beginning. I realize there's so much more ahead of me that I look forward to learn. I have to say, James is seriously one of the BEST martial arts instructors I've ever met. I guess in my view it is somewhat rare for me to say that because through my time training in martial arts up until now I've met many instructors who just didn't click with me because of their poor attributes. That is certainly not the case at Alpha Combatives. James has all the qualities of a proper martial arts instructor one could ask for, he is truly friendly, patient (which is huge to be a good teacher), personable, creative, has a huge appreciation for and knowledge of the martial arts, and understandable. He takes into consideration a student's prior experience in any martial art (if any) and creates a customized training program for that student. One student's training will not quite be the same as another student. Alpha Combatives does not use a one-size-fits-all approach for its students, which is key for anyone wanting to reach their true potential in the martial arts. Believe me, I have been to schools in the past where there are too many students, making it not as likely to receive personal attention from the instructor or the instructor does not make an effort to get to know his students personally. I've also been to schools where many times I felt like I was just another number and not part of the family because of the big environment. Here at Alpha Combatives, I am pleased to have the full attention of James, the instructor, during my training session, we get to know eachother alot, and I completely feel like I am part of a family and not forgotten. I have been absent from training for quite some time and recently James got in contact with me to see how I was doing. That proves how much a FANTASTIC martial arts instructor James is because he does not forget about his students or their well being. Keep in mind, all of this at an affordable price! I mean affordable. There are too many martial arts instructors in the area that will charge a high price for one-on-one training, even well over $100 for one class. Martial arts should be accessible to anyone that wants to train. Alpha Combatives offers a really affordable rate for training, personalized attention from highly qualified head instructor James, and knowledgeable experience in martial arts to add to your arsenal, all in a fun, safe, and friendly atmosphere. Although I have not gotten too deep into my JKD training yet, I already learned several cool techniques that are very helpful for practical self defense should the unfortunate time come for me to have to use them. Training in JKD has given me more confidence than ever knowing that I am slowly building up the skills needed to be able to effectively defend myself in a realistic situation. I do train in a combat sport and although I love it, one has to understand that a punch or kick to the face may not always work in street self defense. For example, James has shown me a couple of kicks that are more practical for defending yourself and trust me they work even better for causing damage to an attacker. JKD is a perfect choice for anyone wanting to get into martial arts or to learn more about self defense. It is a combination of many styles of martial arts into one. It's alot of fun, believe it! I love to learn a variety of martial arts and this is perfect for me to do so. I guarantee you will love training at Alpha Combatives once you start, whether it'd be for JKD or another martial art style you are interested in. There's no need for beginners to feel nervous as you will learn in a comfortable environment. All advanced martial artists were once beginners too. It is not as common to find someone as passionate and caring as James to be your martial arts instructor. Take advanatge of training here TODAY!

Bellicose Martial Arts is absolutely fantastic for both adults and kids! My kids (ages 6, 11, and…read more13) had such a blast! They're already counting down to their next class. I take my class across the hall from my kid's classroom. The instructors are approachable, always ready to answer questions, and the staff couldn't be more respectful. It's amazing to walk into a place where everyone knows your name; we feel like we are part of the Bellicose family every time we step in. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a fun, welcoming, family-oriented, and top-notch fitness, martial arts, and self defense experience in the Bowie/Crofton area.

I was very hesitant to try kickboxing-thought it was too hard and would be too much for me. I was…read morelooking for a way to relieve stress while improving my fitness and stamina. My hesitation was unwarranted because Bellicose is fantastic!! The owners and instructors are encouraging and very helpful. Mr. Q plays no games and that is what I needed. In the beginning, I only came if my friends came-now I go alone if they can't make it. My confidence and stamina has grown in these few months. I can't thank them enough. The energy is infectious and I have made many new friends. If you are looking for a supportive, fun place to get in shape-Bellicose is it.

Posting my review again because I had a whole fiasco with my yelp account and it was deleted…read more I trained private lessons in Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) sporadically with Gus over 2022 and 2023. My lessons were sporadic due to my move, car issues, and general scheduling conflicts on my end. My sessions with Gus were great - he is super patient, kind, and an excellent teacher. My years in grappling have taught me that there are many people who are very good at their chosen discipline who also make crap teachers. Gus is not one of those people. He was even great with my pre-teen niece who joined for a few lessons. I really appreciated my time learning with Gus and feel that it set me up to continue my training even after I moved away from the area. Note: I was originally wary of going to Gus, since my preference was to learn Filipino Martial Arts from someone who shares Filipino heritage, but Gus is respectful of the material and so knowledgeable about the history of FMA. He made many great "homework" recommendations that helped me grasp the truly amazing context behind the development of Filipino Martial Arts. I am glad that FMA is being taught and spread by someone who cares about it!

I have been taking tai chi classes with Taj Johnson, Sky Valley Tai Ji, for seven years. He is a…read morepositive and inspirational instructor, with a good sense of humor. He teaches a range of styles, including Yang, Wu and Chen. His approach allows students to move quickly through a small set of movements, then work on refining them and deepening their practice, and then extending their set of moves to complete the form. He teaches classes in several locations, and his long-time students are a testament to both his teaching skills and good character.

This is the best school in the DMV for authentic Capoiera Angola taught in a warm atmosphere that…read moreis welcoming and of high quality. The instruction is top-notch across all areas of the art, including music and movements. Also, the founder and director, Dale Marcellin, ontinues to hone his skill with regular trips to Bahia, Brazil, which builds off his long-time training under the famed master Cobra Mansa, as well training under Grandmaster Joao Grande. My pre-teen son has been a devoted student of Dale at Universal Capoiera for about a year and a half. While my son is currently the only kid in the school, he is mentored will with very positive adults and challenged in a healthy environment. Dale's senior students are also extremely supportive and helpful. As an example, the Friday night Beginners class taught by one the more experienced students provides an ideal intro to Capoiera, with effective instruction in the basics. This is THE place to quickly learn traditional Capoiera Angola in DC.

I joined the academy about a year ago, and this place has become my second home. The environment is…read morevery relaxed and warm, and everyone there is like family. The head instructor was a student of Cobra Mansa and Joao Grande, so his game is tight. My game has evolved so fast, that most people think Ive been playing all my life. Stop by this place and get ready to sweat.