New England Submission Fighting

(1 review)

0.1 mi

I never thought I'd get into a martial art. This is no ordinary martial art, and this is no…read moreordinary dojo. I live down the street from Aikido of Amherst, and hadn't even thought to check it out, but one day, after I had vowed to myself I would do something to get more exercise in my life, a friend told me that he goes to this dojo. He doesn't just go, I realized, he drives 45 minutes, to get to *this* dojo that I can walk to. ...So I had to check it out. First I looked up Aikido, and I was amazed at what I learned. This practice has a unique and solid spiritual foundation. Yes, it is an extremely powerful defensive art, but the movements and methods do not cultivate violence within the psyche. This is how I think of it, anyway. As a life-long yogi, I know the power of postures and movements to effect the psyche. I take that part very seriously, actually. I won't say a lot about the roots of Aikido, you can look it up. I will just say that I can't imagine a defensive art more in line with my personal values; both in theory and in the daily physical practice. Long story short: I went, and I'm hooked. Hooked for life on Aikido, and so grateful to have this dojo to call my home dojo. Sensei Heath Atchley is wonderful--attentive, kind, and skilled--and the dojo environment he has fostered is truly special. It is a warm environment with friendly, sincere people, who welcome newcomers and enjoy both the art and the comradery.

From the owner: Aikido is a defensive martial art that uses fluid, circular movements to blend with the motion of…read morean attack and redirect that motion into dynamic throws or immobilizing pins. The art also utilizes deep breathing, relaxation, centering, and proper body alignment. Consistent Aikido practice improves one's physical conditioning--strength, balance, flexibility, coordination--and one's mental conditioning--self-confidence, concentration, perception, and concern for others. Aikido is a thoughtful art in that it does not cultivate aggression in order to counter aggression, and it continually reveals new and interesting things to those who practice it. Aikido is also a vigorous art. It takes your body, mind, and spirit beyond their ordinary boundaries into a new level of vitality. Aikido of Amherst provides a positive environment that is safe, friendly, and focused on the learning and development of all members. We offer classes for adults, teens, and chil

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Shaolin Kung Fu Center - Hadley

3.7

3.1 mi

I have attended this school before, my son does now and I hope to again. My opinion of this school…read morehas not changed much in 10 years. The people who teach and run this school are very passionate about Chinese culture and traditions. They go to China once a year to learn and deeply love Kung fu. I am Eurasian and have deeply hated euro Americans taking Asian culture and selling it as their own. I can't say that about this school because they know more about and love Chinese culture more than I do. A few years ago I had the honor of doing the website for the actor, Laurence Mason. He was one of the last people to train with Brandon Lee while working on "The Crow". He said Brandon was the most zen peaceful person he ever met but could kill everyone in the hanger in about 15 min. He said that the best teachers he ever had were "dangerous hippies" like Brandon. I agree with him and the teachers here have a very similar attitude to what he described with Brandon. They teach peace, respect, focus and how to stop a fight with least effort. Best school I have ever known. So yeah go to this school and get a copy of "The Crow".

My son has been going to this wonderful Kung fu studio for years. They have provided for him a…read moreperfect balance of discipline and hard work within a nurturing environment. I love that he gets physical exercise as well as training in breathing and meditation. The community of instructors and classmates has played a crucial role in his development from childhood to teenager, all within a caring and respectful environment.

Running

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Iron palm class

Amherst Martial Arts

2.4 mi

It's a small school. The classes are small. Each student gets close, loving, personal attention…read more The school is flexible, giving new students a chance to check it out before making a big commitment. I can't overstate what a positive impact Amherst Martial Arts has had on my 13-year-old son's life.

Amherst Martial Arts, a taekwondo school, is a really special space in Amherst. It has been…read moreoperating for more than 20 years, educating countless children, as well as hosting summer camps (taekwondo, swimming, and horseback riding). It's the complete program: philosophy, strength, forms, and practical application -- self defense and sparring. The strength of this program is not just in the excellent and serious instruction, but in the warmth of the community. The children are kind and supportive to each other, an attitude fostered by the teachers. The children and teens really form relationships with each other. The school is a labor of love for the instructors; they haven't raised their rates in years, because they want to keep it accessible. At some other places that I've seen, the programming aimed at kids can feel like a mill, processing lots of kids, keeping things fun but what are the kids actually learning? I've seen some kids' martial arts programs described as "belt factories" or "belt mills", where the belt tests are meaningless, and the kids aren't actually learning the forms, much less the philosophy and mental disciplines. No matter how skilled the adults are, they have to take teaching kids seriously -- not just as entertainment for the kids and babysitting for the kids. That is the opposite of Amherst Martial Arts, which feels like a cross between a school and a home -- the best kind of home, where everyone is working together, learning and improving and supporting each other. The kids have a lot of fun -- there are lots of opportunities for games and silliness -- but they also learn to buckle down, concentrate, try harder, improve. I've seen kids come in, too shy to kick at all, gain confidence just from the gentle, non-judgmental opportunity that comes again and again in a session, until they start finding their own ability to move and then start putting their all into it. This is huge for girls especially who may not have been given social encouragement or support to yell, kick, punch, roll, etc. The instructors are great at knowing how to relate to different kids at different levels: kids sometimes need gentle encouragement, sometimes sternness and seriousness, and often humor, and helping kids have fun AND then buckle down to focus and learn is a real art.

Kicks and Corrals summer camp

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Chinese Kung Fu Wushu Academy

(1 review)

2.1 mi

Very fun and engaging classes. 3 different adult classes offered and at great schedules.read more

From the owner: Traditional Kung Fu and Modern Wushuread more

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Northampton Martial Arts

(10 reviews)

5.7 mi

Northampton Martial Arts has been a great school which my whole family have taken classes. My son…read morestarted at a young age and worked his way up to black belt rank and continues his journey there. Master Scher is a great instructor. He is able to teach classes with multiple ranks and keep everyone challenged throughout. Unlike some schools, where belts are given not earned, students must learn the skills for each belt level before testing is scheduled. The prices are very reasonable especially with the many daily options for class times. I recommend Northampton Martial Arts to anyone who is interested in learning the disciplines of Taekwondo in a fun and positive environment.

I have been coming for over 5 years and now I help teach. You get everything you need before…read moretesting, tournaments, and every day things. Great place to enroll. All ages welcome

Our summer camp group wk 2

Twist kick on the school BOB

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School Facade

Team Link Northampton

4.3

(7 reviews)

5.7 mi

The staff is friendly and professional, all the BJJ students there are nice and considerate, and…read morethe atmosphere is laid-back. The teachers do a great job of breaking things down, answering questions, helping you learn and progress, and working to keep everyone safe. The students are friendly, nice, polite, and take good care of each other (some new ones off the street need some training sometimes, but it's rare). Highly recommended.

Great instructors and a welcoming environment. Communication has been great too. I would definitely…read morerecommend Team Link to others.

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Studio Helix Physical Therapy & Fitness

(6 reviews)

5.9 mi

I want to compliment Studio Helix for offering the Pilates classes taught by Bob Hannum. I…read morerecently saw Bob's Pilates videos online and became one of his students. Because my health and conditioning improved so much, I wondered where Bob taught live lessons. Turned out he taught at Studio Helix in Northampton, MA. My hat is off to residents in that area because they can get a good teacher in the flesh, while I live in Los Angeles and can only replay his videos over and over. Students wanting a good Pilates teacher can get one by visiting Studio Helix and signing up for Bob Hannum's classes. He's got the Pilates principles insight, pace and movement training, experience with students at all levels and abilities, and expertise to win my trust and confidence as a continued student. I do Pilates for me, but would go to Studio Helix for the live teacher experience and group motivation. If you make the effort to get to the studio and take B. Hannum's Pilates class, don't underestimate the value of teacher observation and feedback in your learning process, especially when students doing physical exercises can be off or develop little bad habits. To be able to follow his pace is another benefit of being there.

This is a follow-up so you need to read my earlier review…read more My elbow has been feeling much better. I have not have to wear an elbow brace to do the same exercises that I do in my gym regularly. His advice worked well. It, not only, diminished the pain in my elbow but the pain has not been coming back or increasing. The pain has been constantly decreasing. Pain relapse in my elbow had always been a problem. My past providers, except my PCP/ortho doctor who was a big joke, would do ultrasound and soft tissues in my elbow and arm. The pain would subside but they would all come back after a few days, some longer than others. Dr. Brady was the only one who did not even touch my arm or my elbow in treating my elbow pain (official diagnosis of my pcp/ortho was right medial epicondylitis). He worked on my chest muscles and posture to address my elbow pain. To him, my elbow was not the problem. To him, my elbow was telling me that I have problems somewhere else. My knee has also been constantly improving ever since he taught me how to walk and stand properly -- again, it was the posture. My back is the only one that has been a bit stubborn (like its owner) but it is also improving. The stretch exercises that he taught me for my back complements well the back stretches that Matt Shaw of the BU Athletic Enhancement Center taught me. The combined stretches from these people seem to be the best fit for my back problem (hopefully) currently. I like the fact that he is a very approachable person. He does answer my questions via e-mail on his own time (without additional charges or complaints from him).

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Quabbin Reservoir

4.8

(34 reviews)

7.5 mi

The Quabbin Reservoir Visitor Center is well worth a visit. The history and evolution of the…read morereservoir including indigenous wildlife are explained in detail. Very friendly and helpful staff. Ample free parking, too. The Reservoir is astounding.

What a special day at Quabbin Reservoir! I've always been fascinated by the history of the towns…read morethat were flooded to create the reservoir, so getting to see it in person was something special and our friends told us the history while we drove around and saw different spots along the way. The views were absolutely beautiful, and we may have gotten a little too excited when we spotted the turkeys. The best part was sharing the day with friends we met on a cruise 24 years ago. Beautiful scenery, fascinating history, wildlife, and longtime friends... it doesn't get much better than that.

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Mansion Beach

4.1

(14 reviews)

58.3 mi

What a beautiful spot! Beautiful stretch of sand and beach. Watch as the ferries go by. Water was…read morejust incredible. A stroll down the beach offered some very cool finds and the views of the cliffs are awesome. You'll have to get here by car, bike or taxi. The road is marked no mopeds allowed. Tip!!! If you take a taxi, make a designated time for them to come back for you. We were here during the summer of 2020 and due to Covid there were a lot less taxi drivers available. We later realized a prearranged pick up time would've been better than trying to call for a taxi and having a slight anxiety attack because it's an hour walk back to town and no one is answering! Lol! This is a beach person beach as there is no concession stand. The only major downside is no facilities so you know everyone is peeing in the water. I try to not think about that and in the end I truly had the best day of summer 2020 at this beach!!

Lots of reviews posted here for Mansion Beach in RI. This Mansion Beach in Wayland is hardly a…read morebeach at all. There's no parking lot, and the "beach" is about the size of a backyard.

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Puffer's Pond

4.7

(6 reviews)

5.2 mi

Puffer's Pond in Amherst is a place that I like to stop in at when traveling through the area. The…read morepond itself is a nice place to come and swim at, but it is also nice to walk around the pond and eventually come out at their waterfall. I also make it a point to come in the winter just so that I can see the waterfall get frozen over. The only critique about this place is that at the end of UMass' school year the place tends to be packed and at times people leave their trash everywhere. Besides that this place is nice and relaxing.

A great place to swim, but get here early on a hot day because parking does fill up fast…read more Please keep an eye on your stuff though people have had stuff gone through before. The swimming hole closes at dusk and alcohol is prohibited alone with smoking

Beach

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Sign

The Ledges

38.5 mi

My wife and I visited today for the very first time and it was amazing...the nude area at the…read moreledges was so relaxing and was worth the 2 hr travel to get there and we will most definitely be frequenting there more this season...Hope to see you there

A wonderful, secluded beach tucked away in southern Vermont. You can stay on the main portion of…read morethe beach where they have grass, grills, and facilities; or, take a hike down the well-worn trail, deeper into the woods, and find surf, sand, and the eponymous rock ledges where you can sun yourself like a cat.

Mendon Town Beach

4.3

51.6 mi

This place was a quality beach/lake experience. We came here on a Sunday afternoon, and it was…read morequite peaceful. As advertised the snack shop was legit...cheeseburgers were like $2.50...can't beat that. The sand was gritty and dirty, but there was ample space to stretch out, which is always a necessity. I'd say the only thing preventing a 5-star rating is the "mussel farm" that seems to exist beneath the water. All I can say is watch your feet; otherwise, you'll be spending Monday morning at the pediatrist.

This was a new find for us, it's a great little beach. Clean area and the water was beautiful…read more Lifeguards on duty. Bathroom available. Snack shack was great and not too much money and the food was good. I look forward to going back over and over again.