I enjoyed class & the clear, individualized, & supportive instruction. I had some joint pain…read more(prior sports injury) the day I attended & they helped me adapt. I will sign up for another workshop because this one was well done. The studio is also lovely & bright. You can see the pond from the workout area & there's a welcoming vibe that helped me get over shyness around movement challenges. Positive examples from black belt women... helping those in class believe in ourselves.

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.

I am new here but love it already. I can tell my son is going to learn a lot physically and…read morementally. Very nice people here.

Highly recommend. My daughter is on the autism spectrum and has been doing TKD for almost a year…read more She's changed so much. The masters are amazing with the kids. They're great teachers and overall great people.

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.

Fred Villari's technique is friendly to the kids and graceful for the adults. I bring one of my…read morechildren here and she is progressing wonderfully. She isn't being pushed through the belts just because we are paying either. The staff is friendly and professional the only regret is not being able to take some classes myself. Love these guys!

Been taking the adult classes and enjoying thoroughly. Great judo instruction for self defense,…read morecompetition, or personal growth. In addition to Judo Lopez Sensei has extensive experience in multiple martial arts as well as life experience from working as a bouncer and security in the past. If you want the technique for competition, the test, or the one for the street/self defense, Lopez Sensei can show you the nuances for each application. This Judo club also emphasizes ground techniques in addition to throws. You will get a well rounded grappling education and experience here at a price that is significantly more affordable than any of the nearby BJJ schools. He also offers Judo classes to children as well.

Both sensei's are phenomenal teachers. It's very hard to find a place that really cares about what…read morethey do and the people they are teaching. When I first heard you become a family I was quite skeptical. Well let me tell you I was wrong. They felt like family very soon into doing it and now I rely on them and consider them all very dear friends and love them all. They have also helped on a few occasions with my son when he was having a hard time at school or home. (If you want to see a behavior turn around quickly have a Sensei talk to your kid). An added bonus is they are VERY good at what they do. Wouldn't dream of going elsewhere. I know I have found lifelong friends.

Northampton Athletic Club is an outstanding choice with a wide variety of equipment (freeweights,…read moreCybex, TRX, Peloton, rock climbing wall, pickleball, basketball) and a wealth of regular classes (Zumba, Pilates, yoga, spin, boot camp, strength). Personal trainers are also available. Locally owned and managed, the NAC staff is friendly and helpful, and the facility is kept in great condition. It's easy to make friends here, so you can integrate your social and physical fitness. If you're looking for a pool, get the gold membership so that you can also work out at the Hampshire Athletic Club, too. I've been a member for three years so far and love it here!

I come to this gym every time I visit my sister in Massachusetts and the service is always great…read more It's a decent sized gym, not too big, not too small. They have everything you need. The equipments are a bit older, but considering the membership price, it's not too shabby. They have a separate room for different workout classes. The gym is divided into two levels. Both levels have their own weights section and cardio section. It's a great local business with friendly owners.

We just love the experience my grandson have experienced with the staff and providersread more

I'm really disappointed with how my daughter's party went at Pioneer Athletics. We had an amazing…read moreexperience in 2020 at her first birthday party here, so I was excited to come back. Also my daughters had attended classes for 4 years there.But this time, it was a whole different vibe. Chris was super helpful when we were setting up , but once the party started, Taylor took over and it was a complete flip . She was talking to the kids in a tone that was scolding. It felt like they were in trouble or something. It wasn't just the kids, she was short and rude with the grown ups too. I get it, safety first, but it's a birthday party, not boot camp! When we were trying to celebrate and have some fun, Taylor was stressing about everything and we were being treated like children. Even me, the person who paid for party was not allowed to touch pizza and cake without her basically blocking my access as if it was her very own personal pizza and cake. The worst part was when my daughter was sitting on her cousin's lap for the Happy Birthday song and Taylor scolded and embarrassed telling her to get off and sit down. My daughter looks so sad in all of her photos and videos in some pictures she's even visibly crying. What really bothered me was that we were paying customers, just like the VIP party that was coming next. We had paid for our time slot, and we were still within it. But despite that, the staff kept mentioning the upcoming VIP party, making us feel like we were being pushed out the door. Our business wasn't valued! I hope Pioneer Athletics takes this feedback seriously and works on making their parties more fun and less stressful. I want my daughter to have amazing memories of her birthday, not memories of a host yelling at her. This experience was a letdown, and it's unfortunate because there were 14 other kids at her party with their parents and they could have considered having their parties there or enrolling their children. However, they shared the same concerns as I did. Here are my suggestions: I think Pioneer Athletics should consider revising their party format to allow for a more relaxed and enjoyable experience. With the current timeframe for obstacles , everything felt rushed the kids didn't get much time in the ninja portion and that was the whole point. The kids were just getting into the activities when it was time to wrap up, and it's clear the host were stressed about getting everything done on timez. If they could offer longer party slots or more flexible scheduling, I think it would make a huge difference. That way, everyone could enjoy the celebration without feeling like they're being herded through activities and out the door. It's definitely something to think about if they want to create a more positive and memorable experience for their party guests.