The Academy Eden Prairie has been a great place to train. The instruction is top notch and there…read moreis a very friendly atmosphere for students. I've been training Jiu-Jitsu for several years and have gotten in excellent shape and have increased my flexibility, all while learning practical self defense.

Take my 4yo here for kids MMA. Its amazing, worth every penny. Instructors are attentive and…read morepatient. They will calmly repeat the same instructions to each child as many times as they need without getting frustrated or making the child feel bad. They mix in physical activity and training with mental focus exercises. It has helped my child make huge strides in focusing on a task while filtering out distractions. I cant say enough about them, they have a free 30 day trial but most of the parents I've spoken to have signed up within a week or two.

I discovered MKG West around 4 years ago and have been a regular student since. I was looking for a…read moreschool that taught something a little different as I had already studied Tae Kwon Do, Karate, Tai Chi, Aikido and several other arts. MKG West offers Kali, Panantukan, Jun Fan, Jeet Kune Do (see Bruce Lee), Muay Thai, Kickboxing and self defense classes. Both Mike and Greg are excellent instructors who show great skill in easily explaining and demonstrating techniques yet allowing you to progress at your own pace. There is no hard sell; "give us $$$ and we guarantee you a (color) belt". This is more traditional master-student style instruction but in an exceptionally friendly environment. Since progressing in Kali I have also enjoyed both the Kickboxing and Muay Thai classes; after studying at several of the top Martial Art schools in the twin cities I am amazed at how much harder people work in these classes. It's a real workout! I highly recommend this school for anyone looking to study unique martial arts or simply to add to their existing skills.

My son started Warrior's Cove in August 2022 when he was 12yrs old. From the beginning, he has…read moreenjoyed every lesson and every instructor! He is now 14, he is able to attend the kickboxing classes, which he loves! Now he goes M,T,W,Th,&F!! Most days he goes for both: Kids MMA & Fitness Kickboxing. The connections he has made with other students as well as the instructors are so invaluable and something that he will always have with him. HUGE shout out to Bodie for supporting my son and being such an amazing role model!! I couldn't be more thankful. :)

I'm not sure what the two previous reviews are about, as I don't recognize any of the names of…read morethose instructors. Also, I'm fairly sure the address is off by about 4 blocks. But I've been coming here about a month, and from my first day I felt welcome and valued. All the instructors made an effort to meet me and learn my name, identified my areas of strength and weakness, and were super accommodating when I didn't know what I was doing. I felt like they caught me up to everyone else in the class very quickly and without judgement. I've lost 5 pounds and gained quite a bit of muscle definition since starting here. I did try two other gyms for fitness kickboxing which were good (nothing bad to say about them) but Warrior's Cove definitely gave me the most comfortable, non-judgemental, and personable atmosphere. 10/10 would recommend.

I started up at Kitsune Karate in their beginner adult Karate class 3 years ago and I have loved it…read moreever since. The instructors are extremely knowledgable and care about each individuals growth, no matter what the level. The perfect amount of fun and a good workout, Kitsune Karate hosts several events and seminars throughout the year featuring world-class instructors ensuring the students get the best possible learning experiences. Can't recommend it enough!

My 9 year old just had his first class and it was great! The instructor (Eric) seems great with…read morekids and knows his stuff. My son had taken martial arts before and the kids were not taught any fundamentals and even after years could not really defend themselves. In this class even the kids who were only in it for a few months had developed some good skill. He also teach some relaxation and breath work! We are really pleased.

I've hesitated to write a review for Omulu since I consider this place as a second family, but now…read morethat Omulu has a Yelp presence, it's time! I started taking classes a little over 2 years ago with Omulu. I'd never done capoeira before and had maybe seen a video or commercial with capoeira to know know what it was. I came to class in reasonable shape, but I'm wasn't/am not an athlete. Nor do I have a martial arts background. I took to classes right away because the whole experience was so positive. Even though my opening moves were likely clumsy and off-balance, no one ever makes me feel like I'm okay for a beginner or should look for another hobby. Have you tried knitting, Kate? That positivity has lasted through training. Everyone moves at their own pace and is there for the love of capoeira and the community. Omulu is unique in that we don't learn only how to do the physical aspects of capoeira. We learn to sing and play instruments that are all part of the capoeira tradition. We are a group of people with varying abilities and that even a 7.5 pregnant person (me currently) can find a way to participate. If you're looking for a new fitness hobby, and a challenge, capoeira is worth a try.

My son has taken classes at Omulu for 5 months now and it has been an amazing addition to our…read morefamily! Right off the bat, every adult and child was nothing but encouraging to my son. He had never taken any sort of gymnastics or martial arts, so his body control was not stellar, but he was encouraged and cheered on as he learned capoeira. We never have to fight him to go to class. He loves every second of it and he feels so good about himself when he walks out. That's a big deal when you're talking about an 11 year old boy. We are so happy to have stumbled into capoeira at Omulu and it will definitely be a part of my son's life for many years to come.

I love love love this aikido dojo. I'm a complete noob to all physical activity but wanted to try a…read moremartial art after watching Avatar: The Last Airbender. I chose Shuharikan because their approach to beginners is very open and fun. No "Bow to your sensei!" militaristic vibe here! Everyone is friendly and engaged in learning. No senseless drills, no hostility or anything that would turn off a beginner. They even have a low-impact aikido class on Thursdays. Great community and great people.

I have trained at Midwest Karate (Art of the empty hand) for several years ever since graduating…read morefrom the University of Minesota under Sinsai Fusaro( in 1973 where he taught). When the dojo opened at Dayton's Bluff, I continued to train under Sinsai Forest,Joe, and Anita. The oraganization has a strong reputation for integrity, flexible class schedules, and reasonable rates. As Master Ginchin Funakoshi stated in the preface to his 1975 book,"Karate-Do, My Way of Life," Karate-do is not merely a sport that teaches self defense blocks, strikes, and kicks but a continued training discipline that promotes strong mind/body to help provide a defense against illness and disease as well. Thanks to his devotion to Karate-do, he never had to take medicne or consult a physician. Shotokan karate's traditional training system of stretching, basics, kata, and kumite (sparring) provides an outstanding opportunity to gain self confidence, strength and balance to feel more comfortable in any self defense situation that may arise. Tom Wiblishauser

I've been going to Midwest Karate in St. Paul for almost two years, and it's an excellent dojo!…read more Senseis Joel Ertl and Anita Bendickson are extremely knowledgeable, helpful and pleasant instructors. Both have been national champions and teach karate every day, so you can't do much better than that for instructors. Both have a little different teaching style, so it's good to take classes with both if you can. I attend frequently with my 12-year-old son, and this is what many adults with older/mature children do, so think about starting *with* your child instead of just watching them on the sidelines. For the younger children, there is a children's program with child-only classes, starting at age 5. One huge thing that sets Midwest Karate apart is the availability of instruction times. There are day and evening options for all belt levels. I don't think the senseis are ever ill or absent. If you show up at a time, they'll teach you whether you're with 25 other people or alone. They accept everyone and work with them at their level, no matter what that is. There are many different people with many different fitness levels and ages, so don't worry about being too out of shape or old or whatever. They'll tell you when you're ready to test for a belt or go on to a higher class. The other members are welcoming to new people, so no worries! Go there! Joel and Anita and the other Midwest dojos feel very strongly about only awarding belts to people who have worked hard and deserve it versus some of the more "chain"-y karate places whose function is to make money by handing out belts every 3 months whether you deserve it or not. This is a positive thing, and there won't be a mystery if you should test for your belt or not---they'll let you know if you should or not. Sometimes they'll tell me to do it, sometimes they'll tell me to wait. Other tidbits include frequent seminars focusing on different topics such as practical self defense (eg. "Defending against knife attacks"), specific katas, etc. There isn't a huge focus on tournaments at the lower levels, but there is an annual children's tournament and open adult tournament at the U of MN that allows all levels to compete. Feel confident about joining Midwest Karate!!!