TL;DR (Too Long; Didn't Read): I trained here and loved it for ~5 years, until I was accused of a…read morestereotype for which there was no justification. Later learned of many other similar experiences from other former students. If you are a person of color especially, I caution you. It's very good training, but there's a good chance it will come with a price. The current climate we're in of protests and change has made me feel that it is important for me to share my experience here. I had trained in MMA, however gained interest in capoeira due to its African roots. So when I started at CAQ back in 2014, it was a new, exciting and fun experience for me. I met great people who I am still close with to this day, and for years it felt like home. Over time, I noticed more and more people were leaving--and many on no so good terms. Suddenly many of my friends, particularly students of color, were no longer training regularly. I will not speak to their experiences, just that I started noticing a trend. Me, still nostalgic for the "good old days," kept on going, shoving that to the back of my mind. Then, an instrumental teacher in my training who lived and breathed capoeira left. This was the beginning of my wake up call, but yet I was still loyal and continued to train. Until one fateful day in 2019, where I experienced first hand some of what had been relayed to me through rumors previously. I had made a request a year and a half prior to me leaving this school, regarding a student (not a person of color) that I felt extremely uncomfortable around. I simply requested not to do partner work with this person, nothing more, nothing less (everything else would be fine, roda, classes, workshops, etc). This was fine for a year and a half. Then, this person began taking it upon themselves to leave whenever they saw me. NOTE: nothing specific occurred to inspire this, they just began to do this on their own. I noticed, but I honestly wanted as little contact as possible anyway so I didn't think anything of it. I continued to train and keep my distance. I was told that all of a sudden, after 1.5 years, that this request was "too much of a burden" for the teachers. Which puzzled me, because none of the teachers had said this to me, and when I was recovering for wrist surgery, they had to come up with a totally different class just for me and that was fine. When I asked some of the teachers directly, I didn't get any confirmation that this was the case. I was told that I needed to talk to this student, and possibly apologize, because they "were scared" of me. The irony is that I had made the original request because I felt unsafe. Furthermore, I had been training there for nearly 5 years without incident, without even coming close to hurting anyone. I was never uttered so much as a mean word to this student, and I avoided them like the plague. I'm the type to avoid conflict, not start it. Needless to say, I was very upset and devastated to be confronted with being an "angry black woman" for a situation where there was no evidence or merit for such a claim. I felt as though they should have known me well enough (we used to hang out practically everyday at one point, training 5-6 days a week) to at the very least simply suggest that if this student had an issue to address me directly since we are both adults in our 30s. The situation had been made worse by them intervening, and quite frankly, justified my original feelings about the student. I had been given an ultimatum: talk to the student and possibly apologize, or leave. Needless to say, I chose to leave. I no longer felt comfortable training there and terminated my membership. After this incident, and especially now with everything going on with the protests, many students have reached out to me about what happened to me, and to share similar experiences. In short, the training is good (just make sure you listen to your body so you can avoid injury), but this school has a very hard time holding onto students of color, and more recently, teachers of color. While many have made attempts to usher in change to correct this, it still needs a lot of work before it can be a safe space for everyone.

I took two classes here the other month, to get a taste. I'm not ready to dedicate myself to the…read morepractice, but I had a very good experience and wanted to share (with the caveat that I have no real point of reference). The space is bare bones, but the school has a good vibe and the people are great. The instructors were fun, clear, and demanding. The receptionist was very friendly. And the students all seemed to be enjoying themselves and each other. One note: it's intense. I'm active, but the 30 minute, nonstop intro class left me winded, and (pleasantly) sore the next day. I will be back.

Grande is a living arbiter of capoeira angola knowledge and experience. Not all experts are great…read moreteachers: this man IS. His classes isolate the nuances of playing a beautiful game, while encouraging students to develop their own capoeira style, creativity, and general approach. I began training with Grande in January of 2015 and could not be happier with the community of angoleiros he has built in Brooklyn.

Training with Mestre Grande means you're learning everything-- the movement, the music, the…read morehistory, the culture and philosophy behind Capoeira Angola. In class we always do our basic postures, but we focus on different aspects of this dance-martial art after. Mestre Grande provides a nice and encouraging environment for capoeiristas of all levels to grow in.

I've been training here for 10 years now, and as a person that has tried many different classes in…read morethe city, this place is one of the best. Notables: - Location is convenient. 5th ave and 28th st. - Space is clean and roomy. There is a shower available. - People that train there are all in the similar young/professional range of mid 20s to early 40s, so there is a lot sharing of experiences and friendships, etc. - The instructor is hard working and committed. He brings several guests from Brazil to teach during the year as well.

I can't say a single bad thing about the ACC. It's a great community and a fantastic workout. The…read moreteacher is patient and knowledgable. The other students are also more than willing to help you learn as well. If you're interested in trying out capoeira, stop in to a beginners class, wear loose workout pants and a tee shirt and for a whopping $10 you can try it out!!

I was visiting New York from Seattle and there were a ton of Jiu-Jitsu gyms to choose from. I'm so…read moreglad I chose this one. Professor Marlon has created an amazing atmosphere for BJJ right here in Queens. I immediately felt as if I was a part of the family. Professor and Rafa even tried to get me to compete with the team at a local competition (unfortunately, my registration was too late- that was my fault). For background, I'm a white belt. I've been training for about 6 months. The students offered competitive and challenging rolls, and the Professors and coaches offer amazing instruction. Gi, No-Gi, and even Judo. You will get better if you come here.

I've experienced a few different martial arts styles and academies/gyms over the years. The BJJ…read moreinstruction here is on par with some of the best I've experienced. The facility is clean. Staff is friendly and welcoming. Fellow students are open to learning and helping each other improve. If BJJ is on your radar as something you'd like to learn this is a place you should consider committing your time to. Oss!

This place always bring a smile to my face. No matter what state of mind you come in, I guaranty…read morethat you will finish this class in a much better mood. Professor Piao's energy and knowledge are so intense that they can only rub on you. This is an rigorous workout that mix martial art, music and community. This is perfect for someone that doesn't like going to a gym but still want to exercise and have fun in the process. The group is very friendly and welcoming regarding your level. Whether you are a beginner or a graduado, this class is for you... http://www.piaocapoeira.com/

I only wanted to take a class to jump start my weight loss and get out of my depression during the…read morepandemic, and 2.5 years later, I'm a dedicated student who speaks fluent Portuguese and spent a month in Brazil all because of Professor Pião. He treats everyone with respect and you'll definitely find good energy and a safe space to train with him and this group!

I went to Dan with no prior experience, and he has been an amazing teacher. He is kind, patient,…read moreand extremely knowledgeable about Tai Chi. I've been going now for about a month and it's a great way to exercise, meditate and relax at the same time. Highly recommended!

Dan Baum is an awesome tai chi teacher. I highly recommend him. I have trained tai chi since…read morecollege, in Japan, China, and the US. And Dan is the best teacher I've had hands down. Not a lot of tai chi teachers in NY speak English very well and it can be a pretty weird sub-culture. By contrast, Dan is really skilled, very clear, and able to teach even the more complex forms to any skill level because he is really good at breaking the moves down (and also at demonstrating them- this guy is really good at this stuff). This is definitely a more "fun" and well-rounded tai chi class than any other I've taken. In a typical class (I've been going for about 3 years now), you can expect warm-up and stretching exercises, meditation, forms, push hands, and other interesting strength and flexibility training exercises. I've been learning a sword form from Dan and it is crazy fun. He's great about working with individuals while creating a relaxed sense of community. He plays music in class sometimes. And for people who think Tai Chi isn't a work-out, you should come check this class out - it's different than your typical work out, but I always leave feeling like I had solid exercise for the day and feeling a lot more centered.

My daughter has been training at Unity for over a year now…read more In brief: Kid Class - There are many BJJ schools near my home, but I chose to travel farther so that my daughter could train at Unity. I visited several BJJ schools across NYC before deciding. - The instructors strike the perfect balance of kindness and toughness, fostering discipline and resilience in the kids. - Unity is one of the rare places worldwide where a kids' class is led by a BJJ world champion (Sebastian Rodriguez). The other instructors are equally amazing and accomplished. Adult Class - It is inspiring to see so many women training, including multiple with black belts. - If I squint my eyes hard enough, I can picture my daughter as a woman training with them. Note: - To be fully transparent, I haven't trained at Unity as an adult myself. My BJJ experience was at a school led by Vitor Shaolin. - I have also trained in Krav Maga for several years, far more than in BJJ. - In my humble opinion, BJJ is the best self defense, especially for kids. Thank you for giving my daughter the incredible opportunity to train at your amazing school.

Best place ever totally changed my life, still go to date! Inclusive yet serious training…read moreenvironment!

Alex Dong is 4 Generation Tai Chi master and is the real deal. Excellent teacher of Yang Style Tai…read moreChi long form. His family ( Dong/Tung) has left a legacy on Tai Chi and has its own Dong Family fast form which is more aerobic. He teaches fajin, sword , knife, sticks, and a simplified form. He has a separate Thursday eve Chi Gung class. He is very patient and is a real master. He was a push hands champion. If you want to learn Tai Chi for balance, flexibility and health , he can help. Want to learn it as a martial art? Alex can help too. He is renowned all over the world and holds workshops in NYC, all over the US , Britain, Canada, China, Greece, France , Brazil, Italy, in addition to holding regular Tues and Thurs classes in NYC. I have had other teachers and he is the most knowlegeable . Also you become part of a great global Tai Chi community which is a bonus.