Coach Kenn and Coach L are amazing. They are patient with the students and make sure they…read moreunderstand the cycle they are on for the week before moving on. They work with the students on an individual basis. My son has been going for 2 years and loves it!

Excellent facility! Staff is extremely knowledgeable and work with beginners well. They display…read morepatience and proper scaffolding for my 4 year old who is just getting started. They are putting my son in a good position to use self control and to focus on the task at hand. I appreciate what they are doing as an organization that is equipping the youth with discipline and hard work.

This is the best Jiu Jitsu school in the state of SC. I've trained at several schools over the…read morelast 20 years. Rigan Machado, Gerson Sanginitto, Henry Akins (Rickson Gracie's third black belt), Cindy Omatsu (the first woman outside of Brazil to earn her Black Belt in BJJ). The attraction for me is that this school is run and owned by a couple, two Black Belts, Danilo and Jessica Cherman. There aren't many women Black Belts in our area and to have the opportunity to train and learn from one was an opportunity I couldn't overlook. She is a legit accomplished, talented, loving, compassionate, fierce fighter. He is a brilliant knowledgeable grappler as well, recently winning double gold (his event and the open event) at the IBJJF Charleston Fall competition just a couple of weeks ago. The school has a mix of white belts from the Irmo area, and color belts from their school in Connecticut. They had a successful program in CT and a strong women's team. They've been open since January and in 10 months, less than a year, they won 1st place at the IBJJF Fall event in Charleston. This is an academy that anyone in the greater Columbia area should attend. If you're looking for a BJJ school, this one has it all - a great youth program, great adult classes, even a striking class. Classes are Monday through Saturday. I'm so grateful to have found this place, I could go on and on. A real gem of a BJJ school. Danilo and Jessica are great school owners and BJJ practitioners and instructors.

Amazing coaches! By far, the best Jiu Jitsu gym in the Columbia / Irmo / Lexington area. I've been…read morelearning Jiu Jitsu since 2012, moved around quite a bit due to my tenure in the Army, and have never had a Professor teach the way Professor Danilo teaches. He breaks the techniques down in ways that make it easier to grasp and understand. Jitsu Academy is truly a family environment also, my kids train also and have both made tremendous improvements with their techniques and game.

We have 3 daughters taking classes here since January and I'm so impressed with how they teach each…read moreclass and skill. They have learned so much and the instructors are so patient and skilled. The fact that it is also affordable for our larger family is an extra blessing!

Our family began training with Columbia Self Defense in December of 2019. We initially started with…read morejust our older boys, but after seeing what they were learning, we enrolled our daughters in classes as well. When our oldest graduated to the adult class, my husband and I began training too. The skills we've acquired and friends we've made along the way have been priceless. Over the course of five years, we attended classes at all levels and can only say positive things about the gym and instructors. The instructors train each student on their own level, while pairing them with partners who will help them grow and keep them safe. Our daughter has developmental delays and ADHD, and they have been amazing with her! Safety is always a priority at the gym. Thank you, Shayne, Traci, and Joe, for all you have done and continue to do at Columbia Self Defense.

This location is a bit smaller than other locations, but it'll do in a pinch when you need a quick…read moreworkout. It is attached to a doctor's office, so fortunately if you go a little too hard, then you'll be in a good place. The facility is well maintained and clean. The staff is very nice and inviting, and the patrons are usually in a somewhat good mood. The only real negative, for me at least, is that there aren't overhead fans, so there's low air circulation during a hot run. Overall I enjoy dropping in to burn off some calories.

Nice Staff! A great gym, that meets my goals. Parking is nicer, than busier locations!read more

My grandson attends karate classes here. The teachers are really good with the kids and the kids…read moreare learning self-discipline, balance, fun and friendship.

I love this place my stepson and my son both take classes here and they absolutely love it. The…read morecoaches are very committed and it's a great martial arts school altogether the first few classes are free, so I recommend giving this martial arts school a try you won't regret it

My two sons have studied at Martial Arts Academy for a combined eighteen years. They are currently…read more12 and 15 years old. I am surprised that the individual who posted a negative review of our school never bothered to attend a single class before doing so. Our students and competitive team are a family. We have dedicated masters who are internationally recognized in the Olympic sport of Taekwondo. We sweep the medals at every competition we attend. Our instructors are caring and knowledgeable, but they are demanding of excellence. Truly, this school is not for everyone. If you don't want to work hard and give your best - it is not for you. If you want to buy a belt for promotion every 3 months it is not for you. If you want to truly learn martial arts, learn to defend yourself, learn sportsmanship and competition, than this is the place for you.

My husband, teenage daughter, and I went to this place to find out what days and times they were…read moreopen and how much it costs. We spoke to an older black guy who took us into his office and showed us a video of what he teaches. He then, out of nowhere, says "You're Mexican, what part of Mexico are you from?" "Do you know the Sanchez brothers?" I told him I was born in Merced California, and he replied with "Oh, well there's a lot of Mexicans in Aiken." He made me, my husband, and my daughter feel uncomfortable, things got really awkward after that. We were only there to get information. (They charge $109 a month.) We moved from California in July 2016 and we were hoping to find our daughter a place where she can do martial arts, but this is definitely not the one. I do not recommend this place.

Five stars for sure. First, I love that they split their monthly cost into weekly payments. Very…read morehelpful for families on a budget. Second, our 8yr old son truly loves it here. The staff is very kind but appropriately firm. We have noticed such a positive difference in our son in the short few months that he has been here. He's less forgetful at home and has been taking more responsibility for himself. He's excited and motivated to go to every class. We look forward to spending many more years at Black Tiger.

My family has been attending BT for close to a year now and we have been having good results…read more Master Black is a good instructor and his training style holds to the 5 tenants of Taekwondo. I don't have other martial arts instruction to really compare to, but in comparison of outlets and activities for our kids and as a family as a whole, this is a very good one. While going to those trampoline parks may be fun to go to, there isn't a whole lot that you take away unless you only wanted a diversion that was one-time or sporadic. Attending BT gives you and your family the opportunity to build your physical health, a development of character, and it's also a great way for families to spend time together. If you're looking for only that one-time or sporadic participation, this isn't for that. Like if you go on a diet, your goal may involve loosing weight or eating more healthy. If you engage in weight-training, your goal may be to build more muscle mass. None of those things can be done just once or twice, you need to stick with it before any results are obtained. If you decide to attend BT, Master Black has entire months planned out to in advance to train and educate all of his students, kids, juveniles, and adults alike, in building themselves on those different levels. It doesn't require the commitment of the entire taekwondo lifestyle, but the benefits of physical and character development last beyond the class. No trampoline park can do that. What I would have liked better is the physical building. I need higher-intensity work-outs and more often than what BT provides, so I work out extra on the side for that. Another downside is that there are only a few adults who participate (many parents do come by, but only their kids attend). So the variety of styles and opponents to spar with is limited. I do like that Master Black has a wealth of knowledge and experience with Taekwondo. He is friendly and also good with kids too (he is also a father, so he has that insight as well). Many of the students have been attending for years, working their way even up to Black Belt. So I'd rate a 4.5-5 stars, most especially because my kids enjoy it so much.

Great place to learn martial arts. Great instructors and a 5 star system. Classes for Kids and…read moreAdults.

From the owner: Eng School of Self Defense is a world proven program of mixed martial arts teaching the…read moreWorld Combative Art System created by Grandmaster Robert W. Eng III in 1977, aimed at teaching students Discipline, Self Confidence, and Self Defense.