I moved to the Twin Cities in early June, so I haven't been here all that long. But I have spent a…read morelot of time at a bunch of other martial arts places including FLO MMA in Chicago and Pacific Ring Sports in Oakland. So when I say this place is something special, I really mean that. For the boring setup stuff: The do jahng itself is effectively in a converted loading dock, so there's a crazy amount of space for classes to be held. The flooring is setup using semi-foam stuff like children's playmats, but it's almost as solid as normal wood flooring or carpet without being hard if you were to actually fall. Easy to jump on stuff, that kind of thing. Standard blue mats are brought out for added safety and comfort for falling / rolling / throwing when those particular drills come up. Various equipment that you'd see in any other boxing or martial arts studio, with weapon racks for the upper-belt forms and training (Not touching without permission kinda goes without saying). There's also a pretty good viewing area for parents to see their kids in class if they would like, but please be mindful of people working in the space, since your voice does travel. For the KSW-specific stuff: SBN Steffen and SJN Nicki are pretty great people in general with a pretty nice sense of humor about, well, everything. As someone who goes primarily to the adult class at night (Which starts at 8PM, so even if you get stuck at work it's fairly easy to get to, I don't interact with the kids that often, but the kids themselves are surprisingly well behaved during things like belt tests and the monthly promotion potluck. Which goes into the atmosphere. One of the things that I never really received in my other martial arts classes was something beyond, for lack of a better phrasing, form and technique drilling. KSW here has a strong emphasis on the traditions of KSW as well as making sure you're generally just a good person. Adult class specifically (I'm pretty sure the kids do this too, I just can't speak from experience) starts off with a discussion of the topic of the month (Last month was integrity, the month before was courage), and SBN typically breaks the topic down in small parts over the course of the month while relating it to something either personally relevant or more topical (The last integrity discussion he read The Oatmeal's Columbus Day comic, citing Matthew Inman as his integrity hero). It's actually my favorite part, and I have a feeling it's what contributes to the overall controlled tempo of the environment. The last reason I love this place relates more to my wife than anything else. She has spent a large portion of her life doing and teaching group fitness and personal training, yet after a fairly poor Tae Kwon Do experience at our undergrad, she refused to even entertain martial arts (in short, higher-belts exerted poor control when sparring and there was "punishment" not by pushups but by belt hitting and punching). So the first week I went, she was completely terrified about starting martial arts again. What if they were mean? What if it's too hard (Which I find weird, because she invents absurd tabata workouts all the time for herself)? Since we started going, she absolutely loves the workout intensity, bringing a lot of the things she has learned into her own workouts. Both of us completed our first belt test this weekend. She's excited to do more, and is more than willing to keep going even if I'm not there. Seeing that change is more than a simple 5-star review.

I had a great first workout at St. Paul Kuk Sool Won. Compared to other schools I've tried this one…read morewas very organized and the classes were a lot of fun.

Great teachers. Great authentic Filipino Martial Arts School.read more

From the owner: We teach Bahad Zubu and Western Boxing. Bahad Zubu is a Filipino martial art that teaches sound…read morefighting principals to help you defend yourself on the street or win a fight in the ring. You will learn how to fight with various weapons such as sticks, swords and knives. You will also learn weapon vs. weapon fighting as well as how to defend yourself empty handed against a weapon using elbows, knees and punches. With our traditional boxing instruction, you will further your empty hand skills and sharpen your self-defense abilities. We are not rooted in forms and non-contact drills, but insist on interactive training and different levels of sparring that will help develop your combat skills and show you the progress your making.

I did the one week trial period which was roughly $30 and you get a pair of boxing gloves. I…read morethoroughly enjoyed my experience, I did a few kickboxing classes, Muay Thai and tried MMA for the first time! They make the whole experience not intimidating for first timers like me and the gym itself was so spacious! The instructors were all very knowledgeable and friendly. I would definitely consider coming back again but it was a long drive for me so that one reason why I stopped going. The only recommendation I have is make sure you arrive at least 5 minutes early to all your classes, especially if they are in the afternoon because the parking lot fills up quickly!

Recently, I completed the 6 week challenge, which gave me the motivation to come back and start…read moreattending classes again. For the challenge we were to attend kickboxing classes 3 times a week. Originally I was signed up for Muay Thai, as I found it to be an interesting art, but after the challenge, I found I enjoyed the kickboxing a lot and signed up for that instead. I was worried about finding time to attend, but they have so many classes on their schedule that I can always find a class that matches my schedule, no matter how much my schedule changes week to week. While I worked the fair, I was able to attend morning classes. When I went back to my normal work schedule they had a class almost every night of the week. The coaches are absolutely phenomenal. Being that there are so many classes, there are also a few coaches, and they all teach their classes differently, while still changing it up from class to class. Not only are you getting a satisfying workout, but you are getting a variety that promises you'll never get bored. As for the people, they are all very friendly. Although I attend classes alone, there is always somebody to practice with. Often we end up pairing up, and if you didn't bring a friend you'll have to make a new friend. I have not had one bad experience with all of the people I have worked with. As great as a place is, if the people aren't friendly, then it basically becomes a chore to attend. I actually find myself looking forward to attending classes and meeting new people. Overall, I would highly recommend taking a look at this gym. The classes are great and flexible; the coaches are knowledgeable and helpful; and the people are extremely friendly. UPDATE 9/11/19- 11 months later and I still find myself getting excited to attend classes everyday. In fact, sometimes I dread holidays or vacations due to the classes I'd have to miss. I've started many hobbies and quit after a month or two because I was bored or just didn't feel like I belonged. Here I feel like everyone is so inclusive and welcoming. I've expanded from kickboxing and Muay Thai into Brazillian Jiu Jitsu and am loving it just as much as the other two. Unfortunately, this does mean I do have to cut back on one of the other two in order to participate, but that's what I get for wanting to try everything. One important thing to note is that The Cellar is not just for the combatants looking to get into the or improve their fighting prowess. Yes, if that is what you're looking for, this place is amazing, but for an average Joe, Jill or whoever, this is a good place to meet new friends and get in a fun workout. P.S. The website is also super slick. I really like that they now have pictures showing which coaches teach which classes.

I've dropped into Southside BJJ a handful of times when I'm in Minneapolis for work, and every…read moresingle time I'm blown away by how welcoming and friendly everyone is. From the moment I walk in, they treat me like I've been training there for years. The coaching is legit. I always leave with something new to work on -- and I've actually been able to use what I've learned here in competitions and open mats back home, with solid results. Whether you're just visiting the area or you live nearby and are looking for a gym, I highly recommend checking this place out. Great people, great instruction, no ego -- just high-level jiu-jitsu and a good vibe.

This is a top notch jiu jitsu gym in the heart of Minneapolis. I was in town for work and dropped…read morein. Enrique was super courteous and responsive, and Walker, Daniel, and Grayson taught an excellent no-gi class. The students are tough and you can tell they are receiving great instruction on a regular basis. I highly recommend this jiu jitsu gym!

Welcome to the gym Rocky could have trained at!…read more I had a good class here and our instructor was pleasant, friendly, and kept us newbies engaged in the class. These classes are extremely affordable and it's very convenient having on site parking. While these are great advantages, and you can pay by card in person and on the website, I'd really like to see them replace some of the floor mats and the equipment.

I attended the 3 hour Women's self defense class with my 19 y/o daughter…read more The class was well organized, registration process super easy. The 3 hours went very quickly because the structure was - see one, practice until we had it right, see another move, practice... At the end there was an opportunity to put it together, three male instructors were good sports about the women in the class practicing on them. For the first time I feel empowered to be aggressive, yell profanity and know I'm powerful enough to fight. Scarlet was the main instructor. She is serious, funny, skilled, engaging and smart. Truly a gifted instructor. The session took a grim topic and made it fun to learn. Super supportive. Highly recommend Krav Maga Self defense for Women. I'd probably go to other classes but I live in the western suburbs so it's too far.

I found FEMA a good place to try and/or achieve proficiency in kung fu, tai chi, yoga or Japanese…read moreswordsmanship that's family oriented, flexible, and credible. The dedicated individuals will easily help get you started. They patiently answer all questions. Low or high skill levels and flexibility are accommodated here. I have been practice sword as a student of theirs on and off for 8 years. Their sword instruction connections are solid and reputable. I never had injury through FEMA and yet learned the finesse of using a weapon as reputable as Japanese Swordsmanship. The environment is always clean and calm. It is a joy to practice in. -many thanks!

From the owner: Five Element Martial Arts & Healing Center is a 501(c)3 non profit educational organization…read morededicated to the empowerment of of all people through the martial arts, wellness, personal safety/self-defense training so we may have a more peaceful community/planet. Classes in: Gongfu, Iaido, Judo, Jujitsu, Yoga, Kajukenbo, Taiji, Qigong, Wu Chien Pai, and Wushu.

Super friendly forms drop in, great teachers and space. Would definitely go back if I was in the…read morearea

Tag: 5 star all around experience - Coaching, Community, and Facility…read more Bottom Line: Our family has been training with Max and Mark Kafka since February 2017. The Grappler Station is one of the few places I'd give a true 5-star rating. Facility: The facility is excellent, everything is new! The mats that lie on top of a sub-floor supported by styrofoam provides an awesome surface for the kids and adults learning to throw, fall and grapple (even this 40+ 200lb dad). Coaching: Sensei Max is an outstanding coach and teacher. He has a lot of competition experience to share from his time on the mats and his time spent training with Olympic athletes and coaches. As an instructor, he possesses excellent command and charisma. My kids love his style! He keeps it fun but also makes sure the students are working hard and learning. Besides being an extremely technical judo athlete and coach, Sensei Max also emphasizes strong values in his curriculum such as leadership, motivation, nutrition and toughing it out. As a parent, this is great, as the kids learn this from another adult whom they respect which makes mom & dad sound less crazy and supplements our message as parents. Community: The group of parents, students, and adult practitioners have been great. We've met some awesome people through judo and Sensei Max & Mark provide a strong foundation for the culture of the gym. Some of the fun has been for birthdays, sledding parties, and movie nights. Overall, I feel extremely fortunate as a parent and martial artist to have found The Grappler Station and Sensei Max Kafka. The quality and level of instruction are superb. Minnesota is lucky to have a Judo Coach and leader of this caliber. Highest Recommendation!

He Said: My oldest child has been taking lessons from this…read moreacademy for a couple of years. I am really impressed with the life lessons the instructors have taught my kid (and the other kids). Respect, discipline, and other good characteristics are part of every class. Kids train to level-up their belt and there are tournaments to showcase what the kids have learned. Hwa RD also has an after school program, but my kid does not attend the program. Pros: - Great instructors and teachers - The academy teaches good behavior Cons: - Classes are paid upfront, which can be more than families can afford - Sometimes email responses can be slow

My children train here, and we love the mix of martial arts instruction and discussion about…read moreleadership and responsibility. The owners/leaders care deeply about the academy's mission and the students. The range of classes, afterschool care, and summer camps is excellent.