There is a great team that leads the Laughing Dragon studios. The facilities are not great but it…read moreis right out of a Bruce Lee film where the technique takes center stage over the looks of the place. Our kids love the lessons and I am impressed that it isn't a belt-driven system. We have friends whose kids are testing for belts constantly while at Laughing Dragon it is about form, style, and the Shaolin method. I am impressed.

From the owner: The mission of Laughing Dragon Kung Fu is to combine practical self-defense skills with a total…read morebody workout and inspire a lifelong love of Chinese martial arts. Our training is available to anyone interested, provided they have a sincere desire to learn and are of good moral character. We offer free trial sessions for every class!

Absolute gem of a place to train. Stopped by to see if I could train a day or two while visiting…read morethe area from out of town; their morning crew and training vibes were so awesome I trained with them the entire week - even bought some merch to wear once my trip was done. Not only recommend this place to anyone looking for a solid gym to learn, but will be coming back if I find myself in the Charlottesville area again!!

My and my freaking awesome amazing boyfriend who's so good at jiu jitsu went on Saturday and it was…read morereally fun.

This is one of my favorite places to be awsome instructors. if you have a problem and are confused…read morethey will help you personally.

My son has been at UpLevel since he was 6, he is a blackbelt now and absolutely loves it. It is a…read morefamily studio that encourages all students. He has a great group of support and our entire family feels welcome.

These guys are excellent! Black Belt Success Academy staff are very well trained and positive. This…read moreis the best place for your child and they have incredible martial arts program for adults. They teach real practical self defense as well. This is your best choice in town!

Our family loves BBSA! We have grown individually and as a family since joining. The instructors…read moreare fantastic, knowledgeable, patient and great teachers.

Master Ma is the most dedicated and caring tkd instructor anyone could wish for!! So lucky to have…read moresuch a master teaching in Cville.

This is such an amazing TaeKwonDo studio! Master Ma does an amazing job at instructing my kids not…read moreonly taekwondo, but also how to be responsible, respectable and aware children. He has an amazing ability of getting them to work really hard but still have a good time. It's crazy that his studio isn't full of students all the time. We were thinking of just trying it for 2 weeks during the free trial, but his prices are fair and my kids were too excited about going the 3rd week that we couldn't just stop. Now we're 9 months in and they're still loving it! Thank you!

I have been attending ATA in Charlottesville for a few months now. I was surprised at how…read morewelcoming everyone seems to be. Coming in as an adult with little experience from my youth, I felt that everyone had a hand in any success I was experiencing. You will never find instructors as professional as Mr. and Mrs. Cirone, as they both not only seem to have a load of qualifications, but also are great at teaching you the skills you need and communicating with both adult and child in a way that makes sense whether you're starting as a white belt, or you have been a black belt for a while. When you join ATA, you are joining a family and the support for success is fantastic!

From the owner: Taekwondo for ages 3-Adults Leadership Life Skills…read moreDevelopment- Confidence, Respect, Goal Setting Internationally Certified Instructors Licensed by the worlds largest martial arts organization, the American Taekwondo Association (ATA) Cardio-Kickboxing Krav Maga Self Defense Physical Fitness

This place is awesome. I have been wanting to try BJJ for a while and I finally decided to, I am so…read moreglad I picked Gracie Charlottesville. The community here is great and very helpful for all skill levels. Their facility is brand new, big, and has really nice amenities (shower, sauna, lockers, changing room, etc). If you want to give it a shot they also offer a completely free 1 week trial. Definitely recommend this gym!

Update! Their newest hire who is currently running the kids classes (including one for 4-6…read moreyear-olds), upcoming women's classes, muay thai, and other things, is Kristen DeBruycker who trained directly under THE Pedro Sauer and has trained in Thailand. Absolutely incredible instructor. Amazing school and soon to be the best!