Courage Combatives is an excellent collaboration of mixed martial arts for self defense. The…read moreinstructors have a wealth of knowledge & truly care about your comfort level with the movements to improve your advancement. Questions are invited & welcomed. This is one of the best programs I have ever been involved with.

From the owner: Courage Combatives is a New Orleans based company that is dedicated to making people stronger,…read moresafer, and more confident in their everyday lives. We aim to provide training that is realistic and relevant, but still enjoyable to our students. Our team consists of Coaches Myron Gaudet & Angel Lia. We provide group & private training to all who understand the critical need for defensive training in today’s rapidly changing world. This includes organizations, families, first responders & individuals. We teach a well rounded system that draws from proven, modern martial arts and tactical training methods. Our material is also compliant with and understanding of the legal and ethical standards of self defense law. To put it simply, we are dedicated to training our students to make good decisions under bad conditions so they can go home safe after a potentially threatening situation. We teach all ages!!

Church's karate has been amazing with there day camp. The staff is nice and they are so flexible…read more Kids always have a great time.

My son, small for his age of 6, developed an awful habit of dealing with frustration by hitting…read more So, naturally, I enrolled him in a class that would make his strikes more deadly! Well, no. Actually, I discovered that other parents found help for their similarly-disposed children via the martial arts. Many said that the emphasis on discipline and focus was the reason. Others said it was their child's increased confidence. Whichever reason, they were saying it worked, so I was intrigued. But I was also cautious. I didn't want this to become another "you damn well are going to practice" struggle, ending with an unused violin in the closet. Or whatever the karate equivalent to that would be. I discovered the website for Church's Karate Academy, and the price and length of the trial package was fantastic. Low output of cash, two months, uniform included. After that, you enroll at the regular monthly rate, or you walk away. No strings. Not bad! I went to the studio with the intention of enrolling my son. So glad I did!! If you go to the website expecting to find information about the studio, please don't be put off. The website is flashy, but it's also a bit generic, offering reasons why studying the martial arts is a good choice but no sense of Master Church or his studio. Frankly, the website feels like more of a sales pitch than much else, but that is not how Master Church himself is. The studio works like this. Karate students are placed in a class group based on their age and expertise. Master Church holds classes for each of those groups five or six days per week at regularly scheduled times. You attend two of those classes per week, and he tracks this via an attendance card. You do not have to commit to particular classes. For example, if you can normally attend on Mondays and Wednesdays, but something comes up one Wednesday, you can go to the Monday and Friday class for your group instead. Or, if you split custody, perhaps it's easier for Mom to take Kid on Tues and Wed but Dad to take kid on Wed and Sat. No problem. No need to tell Master Church in advance. Just show up to whichever two classes per week for your group. So flexible. As for Master Church, enough cannot be said about how great of a teacher he is. It's obvious that he genuinely cares about and believes in them. In return, they want to do well and can't stand the thought of disappointing him. He's that kind of teacher. If you have ever had such a teacher yourself, you know their magic. He is firm, though, not a push over, and he has their respect for that. I eventually even enrolled a certain violin quitter, and she loves it. What's more? I honestly cannot remember the last time my son hit me, although I'm sure I'm just as frustrating as ever.

First time here walked in Ms.Roshand greeted us i told her my son was interested in Kung Fu, she…read moreintroduced us to Sifu whom showed my son around the place explain to him different Classes that was taught there,..everything was explain to me classes, cost, time all questions was answered professionally.. can't wait until my son starts Karate class here Monday !!!!

My son has been coming here for years. The instructors and staff are all down to earth and try to…read morehelp you to advance at your own pace. It's way more than just self-defense; you will learn patience, commitment, and, as you advance, leadership. They are very active in the community and you will have the opportunity to perform the skills you learn. It's very much a family atmosphere.

++1. A rare gem among the other karate dojo…read more This is one of the late traditional karate dojos around. If you're looking for a place to learn self-defense, this is the place. Unlike other dojos where you pay for your belt color, Louisiana Karate Association makes you earn it. There are no free things in life. I prefer earning my "stripes," especially if I have to defend myself against an attack. Sensei Mikami is one of the oldest and renowned instructors around. He was a former Japan Karate Champion back in his day...so you know his karate is legit. He focuses on physical and mental discipline. This dojo has a reasonable size class, so you know you'll learn and get the attention you deserve. The other karate students are experienced and really helpful when it comes to needing help. There is a waiting area for parents and guests to sit to watch. If you're unsure, it's a great way to see if this dojo is a good fit for you. So, if you're looking to learn how to defend yourself and get a good workout, this is the karate dojo for you in Metairie.

What made me join was because I wanted to learn better discipline to help me out with my…read moreinvolvement in other sports. I'd be saying a major lie if I said it hasn't helped me in that department. Sensei Mikami is not only the real deal but also a legend in Shotokan Karate. Physical fitness and self defense were some nice bonuses for me that I have gotten out of training here. All of his instructors (too many to name on here because they're all great) are well qualified and specialize in different aspects of karate so if for some reason there is a different teacher than who you are accustomed to having you will still learn something important while being here.

They were great, until they were not. We were very happy at Tiger Rock, until we saw the wizard…read morebehind the curtain. My daughter was injured at a tournament- not unheard of in a contact sport. However, from the franchise to the corporate level, they were clearly less interested in my concerns and more interested in my membership. It took almost 4 months to even get a call back from corporate. It took another month to get a copy of the rules. This was 5+ years into her sparring. Speaking to students at other franchises, many were given written rules with their sparring gear, but that was not the case with our location. Their rules state: TOUCH TO LIGHT CONTACT does not cause pain, injury, penetration, or visible movement of the opponent receiving the technique. Points are achieved with this type of contact. MEDIUM CONTACT is not promoted but can happen accidentally as a result of fast movement while sparring. No points are given for medium contact and up to two points can be awarded to the other competitor. HARD CONTACT is never sanctioned (results in disqualification). They tell competitors that this will be enforced, but they do not unless it is truly blatant. When I spoke the instructor, it was implied that the contact was not excessive, rather her feelings were hurt because she wasn't being as included by the popular girls (which I will say was her choice, but also, hurt feelings don't leave contact marks and bruising). Further, after age 12, competitors are supposed to be separated by gender. My daughter was regularly partnered with males, including males over 16. When I expressed concerns and said that was against the rules, I was told they could not ensure she would not spar males, even adult males, so we made the decision after 6.5 years to leave, literally days before her 4th degree black belt pretest. It is clear that while we thought we were a team working to help students, including my daughter succeed, that thought went one way. If you are a parent who stays right there watching and makes sure you get everything in writing and are not be timid about stopping things you see unsafe, maybe they are ok. When my daughter was hurt (it was relatively minor- split lip, mild whiplash, and possible mild concussion and- again- not uncommon in contact sports) and we felt the opponent who kicked her too hard and in the wrong location was a poor sport, we found out how little our instructor/franchise owner had our back. We also found out how little we knew about what our rights were as a competitor/family. We were not really given the option of her finishing the round. (and while the girl who kicked her got gold, my kiddo got silver and we couldn't be more proud of her). Though we do try to focus on the positive experiences we had, which were many. Unfortunately, the negative ones were about safety, which made them nonnegotiable. We found another school and have been pleased with their responsiveness and attention to safety.

Tiger Rock in Old Metairie offers a great kickboxing class! The instructors are friendly and…read moreknowledgeable and they put on a class that's both challenging and FUN! I look forward to kickboxing every day!

36 Chambers has changed my life…read more When I first was handed a flyer to 36 Chambers I thought "This seems like an awesome gym but I don't think kickboxing is for me". I've never been particularly coordinated or encouraged in athletic endeavors. I am intimidated by people who are good at sports. The first time I walked into 36 Chambers almost all of my fears fell away. Janet and Meredith, the owners of this newly established kickboxing and kung fu studio in Mid City, were so welcoming and genuine. They understood my apprehensions and shared their experiences from when they began. It felt real. It didn't feel like they just wanted my money or like I had to be a certain way to be there. I have been going to classes and private trainings at 36 Chambers since the beginning of 2019 and I mean it when I say its changed my life. Janet and Meredith are both amazing instructors who take the time to teach. I feel like I've learned so much, I've connected with my body in a new way, and I've made friends with others in the classes. I have gained such a confidence in the past few months. And I can also throw a mean punch!

From the owner: Classes & Personal Training in Kickboxing, Boxing, Kung Fu, Sanda/Sanshou. All Levels Welcome…read more Now offering live online classes & personal training through Zoom.

Classes were effective and fun. The sensei cares deeply for his students and helps them master…read moretheir craft. I recommend this class for newcomers and pros alike.

From the owner: Crescent City Combat is a New Orleans–based martial arts club designed for adults who want to move,…read moresweat, and feel more confident in a welcoming community. Our sessions combine beginner-friendly striking fundamentals, and fitness-focused training in a positive, low-pressure environment—no experience needed. Whether you’re looking for a fun way to stay active, meet people, or add variety to your weekly routine, Crescent City Combat offers structured classes, upbeat coaching, and an easy place to belong.