I signed up for Defend Yourself classes earlier this year. I'm more than halfway through my 10-week…read morecourse and I'm already sad that it's almost over. My class is made up of supportive, encouraging women and I've already found myself using some of the one-liners I've picked up from my instructor, Lauren Taylor. Things like, "your coping mechanisms are not your fault," for example, have been majorly helpful. We've spent weeks learning different defensive maneuvers and hitting targets (which is a major stress reliever) but the course also focuses a lot on assertiveness, from being able to say "no" at work to setting boundaries with harassers, family members and everyone in between. Personally, I've benefited from the lessons on deescalation tactics, learning to stay on MY message, rather than arguing, etc. It's a great course. I highly reccomend it.

Lauren Taylor is a true champion and master teacher. I am the author of Beauty Bites Beast, a…read more"how-come" not "how-to" book about women and setting boundaries. I've also made a movie by the same name. This is all by way of saying that I am not new to the field of women and groups at risk learning to take care of their own boundaries. Lauren is the real deal and I would send my closest friends and family to her in a heart beat.

Wonderful experience! I've been training here for over a year. Great instruction and very clear…read morelevels of advancement. Join with the intent to train and get fit. Hanshi Polander is the genuine article. He is a Master at what he does. As a result, you will learn and you will have improved fitness when you listen, study, follow instruction and carry out the lesson. We have a lot of fun in our classes (adult) and everyone is there to help each other. Highly recommended!

great teachers great training I am glad I made the choice to join Polander academy of martial arts…read moreit makes you feel great and brings out the best in you of your looking to get in to martial arts or want to expand your expertise I highly recommend polander academy

My background is in karate, so when I began training with Ben, his particular style of Wing Chun…read morethat incorporates pressure blew me away! I have really enjoyed taking a completely different perspective on my martial arts training, learning to deal with an attacker who is large and close simply by leveraging my own body structure. Ben and his senior students are extremely encouraging and supportive, so the classes have a real community atmosphere. I wholeheartedly recommend you take a class, whether you are a lifelong martial artist or absolute beginner.

I've trained in a number of different martial arts, including boxing, muay thai, and other forms of…read morewing chun, but Ben's blended approach and focus on structure has been a whole new level of practice for me. I've never really understood or believed in the application of internal power for practical use but, after one session of chi sao with Ben (and being thrown into a wall a few times), I had to concede that there was something real there. One thing I've always appreciated is that Ben is very clear where Wing Chun does and doesn't work. He teaches boxing, wrestling, and some MMA, but always in the context of where Wing Chun fits in. Full disclosure, this is not for everyone; it's not a quick fix, it's not a cardio workout, and it's not showy. This is a long process of understanding internal structure, physics, and how to exert your body in a different way than you're used to. If you're interested in gaining a new understanding of your own body and how to weaponise your posture (yes, posture can be a weapon), give it a try. Or, if you think this isn't real and doesn't work, come and try it anyway. The only way to know is try it out and we're always ready to welcome people with an open or curious appetite.

Perhaps this is great studio for some, but if you have physical disabilities, this is not the…read morestudio for you. If you are trans, this is *explicitly* not the place for you. Sifu Paul Ramos called me a "primadonna" for respecting the limits my physical therapist had suggested given severe muscular issues. That alone would be rude, but sometimes people are rude. However, something to consider if you have injuries or disabilities that prevent you from moving in the way he expects you to be able to move. Sifu Paul Ramos, also, in what was simultaneously to my novice eyes a masterstroke of tàijíquán and literally illegal, said this to me as I was angrily explaining to him that he violated DC law governing public accommodations for trans people by repeatedly referring to me, a very femme trans woman, as male on three out of the four times I attended. If it weren't illegal, it would have been excellent technique; redirecting my anger back at me towards a vulnerability he knew I had about my physical impairment. Then, as my anger grew, he passive-aggressively wished me well "with the chip on my shoulder." Again, excellent technique. The classes seemed nice and generally very accessible to beginners such as myself, so maybe it's the right place for you. It grieves me that Sifu Paul Ramos went out of his way to ensure it was not the right place for me.

Sifu Paul is an outstanding teacher in the truest sense of the word. He is patient, highly…read moreknowledgeable, skilled and wise. He gets the very best out of each student. Please ignore the post by Emily. Her version of what occurred in class is highly inaccurate. I started classes with Paul two years ago with two bad knees, two bad shoulders and a bad back. I am now in the best shape of my life.

I absolutely would recommend American Sport Karate. Mr. P is amazing with children--he inspires…read morethem to work hard, while instilling values like good attitude, discipline, focus, listening, leadership, and teamwork. The students are extremely motivated. After months of watching my 5-year-old son learn (and beg to go to class every day), I signed up to do it too! I love the emphasis on good behavior and character not only in class, but also at home, with lots of fun thrown in. When a Karate Tots class opened up for 2.5-4 year olds, our youngest couldn't wait to start. It's been a game changer in our home.

My kindergartener loves Mr. P's karate class. And I love that Mr. P is teaching him patience,…read morerespect, discipline and karate while making him laugh. And moms, I have to mention the homework sheets - you will never see your kid so excited to help with dishes, clean his or her room, or take out the trash in the hopes of earning a patch for his or her karate uniform. There are fun opportunities for parents to jump in -- including an occasional parent-kid class where you, too, will be challenged and laugh at the same time. And Mr. P offers parents nights out where your child will eat pizza, watch movies, and play dodgeball while you take some time off. Check it out, you won't regret it!

While I don't know much about any other Karate Schools, I can tell you that Seichou Karate is…read moreabsolutely amazing for children. Richard Romero takes a fatherly approach to each child focusing on their mental and physical development. He teaches Karate and life lessons with a passion for making children better not only at Karate but life as well. Additionally, he doesn't give his students anything and makes them put in the work and truly earn their next belts. If you are looking to enroll your kids in Karate, you really should check this Dojo out. Richard Romero is exceptional and the reason we drove 20min plus several nights a week for our kids to attend. I really am at a lost for words on how lucky we were to find this Karate Dojo!

This past weekend we had an awesome birthday party for our now five year old son. He and all of…read morehis guests (and parents) were very impressed by the entire experience the dojo provided. Thank you. We are also thankful for the photos and all the other extra touches the staff and Shihan Romero provided. We will highly recommend the dojo to others.

I was a student (and part-time instructor for Saturday lei tai and "Little Panda" kung fu) for…read moreseveral years under the tutelage of Master Joe Dunphy and his shifus and was so pleased to learn that the shifus who teach here have since continued his legacy with the Iron Fist Chinese Martial Arts & Fitness school, named in honor of "Iron Fist" Dunphy. I have many fond memories of Master Dunphy and the US Martial Arts family, and my time spent studying at this school. The shifus who run this school are extraordinarily knowledgeable about martial arts and their instruction is of the highest caliber. They are examples of excellence and do much credit to the memory and legacy of Master Dunphy, the school itself, and the study of the internal and external systems of tien shan pai. (For clarification, my initial review of the school contained a reference to USCKF, the United States Chinese Kuoshu Federation, which is now known as USKSF, the United States Kuo Shu Federation.)

I have trained in several styles of martial arts and two different styles of Kung-Fu. The training…read moreI had received while attending class here was by far the best. The head instructor took special attention to individuals and trained them in a way that fostered positive growth. There was always a focus on effective self-defense and very little of the "dance" moves that make other martial arts training less effective. The style taught here is Thai-Shan-Pai and from my experience, it is highly effective for anyone to use against an aggressor. I couldn't recommend this school enough and we still be going here if I lived in MD. If your looking for solid training, regardless of age, sex, or size this is the place.

Teacher is good on what he does, but not to great with beginners, no warm ups, sometimes he forgot…read moresome kids and focus on the ones they know more! Probably for adults it's great school but a real beginners he needs more patience. My kid was there and he missed two sessions and until now we haven't received a call or email on why he is not coming to class! Unprofessional business. Good luck.

After recently getting into capoeira, I have taken a few capoeira classes here. It is a lot of fun,…read morethe instructor is really knowledgeable and has been teaching capoeira in Brazil for years and now is teaching in DC. I had not done any martial arts before so this was a good way to start and I like that it is not full contact (no gloves, helmets, or pads needed) Capoeira isn't as commonplace as yoga or kickboxing here in DC but it is a really great cardio workout, and helps a lot with flexibility. Plus it incorporates the music and culture of Brazil so it is not just one-dimensional. They have classes here on Saturdays (kids' capoeira classes) and on Sundays (adult capoeira classes) and they also have classes at All Souls Church on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 7 pm. I like that there are many days and times to choose from so it fits any schedule. Finally the rates are very reasonable especially if you buy an unlimited monthly pass.