I loved taking Peggy's classes. She instructs well, is patient, and is very skilled. I have a hard…read moretime memorizing, and she took her time with me and made sure I got something down before moving on. I ​highly recommend Rising Phoenix.

From the owner: Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) is also known as Arnis, Kali, or Escrima. FMA is dynamic and diverse…read morebecause it teaches traditional weapons in addition to it’s regular martial arts curriculum. Our FMA program improves coordination, agility, and fitness. We teach people of all fitness levels, so there’s no need to “get in shape” first! 9 Unique Program Qualities: 1. Adult classes start at age 14 & up 2. Classes begin and end on time 3. Adult classes are taught joint locks, pressure points, and takedowns that can be used in conjunction with other techniques to heighten your self defense knowledge 4. FMA improves coordination and increases agility 5. We teach application in everything we do. We don't show a form/kata and then let you wonder what it does. We teach the application in every form, so those skills could be used to overcome possible threats in the real world 6. Real self defense lessons start on day #1. Our self defense techniques have been pressure tested to make sure everyone can do them 7. Our instructors are experienced ADULTS, each with over a decade of martial arts experience each and are both CPR certified 8. We never yell at students! 9. We don’t charge registration fees! We offer a free trial class for potential students

This place is amazing for teakwondo! If you would like to learn, this is the place. My friend Alex…read moreloves it. -Kevin (Eli)

My son has been taking Tae Kwon Do for approximately 3 nearly 4 yrs now. We've been through one…read moreownership change and a couple individual instructor changes and one location change; however the principals and values remain the same. My son plays football and has 0 interest in any other sport. He started Tae Kwon Do during football offseason for exercise and to improve balance and coordination. He recently received his black belt. His mother and I are beyond proud. This martial arts gym allows my son to take breaks while football is in season and return when the season is over. Taking Tae Kwon Do has dramatically improved his balance and coordination and made him more assertive on the football field. This studio is great for all kids for a myriad of different reasons. Other parents and students alike I've spoken to use this facility for: self defense, organized activity for home schooled children, behavioral/ structural respect issues and countless other reasons including my kid wants to be a Ninja Turtle. Parents are encouraged to take classes also. They offer Cub, Youth and Adult classes days a week. Promotions run periodically for discounts on classes and equipment. You can check their website or Facebook to see the current opportunities. I'm relatively certain you can come in at virtually any class on any day (age appropriate of course) and try a class out at no cost or obligation. The lead instructor and manager of this facility is Meredith Little. The owner is Danny Williams. Mr. Williams owns this facility, Hoover and Jasper. You can take classes at Pelham or Hoover if you sign up at either location. The testings for advancement are held at the Hoover location. As a member of Tiger Rock you will also be encouraged to represent at tournaments. You are not required to. We've been to Tuscaloosa a couple times and Nationals at the BJCC. You can go a couple days a week, emerge yourself and go more and you can even take additional classes for weapons training. It's a great facility and it's well run. If you or your child has an interest in martial arts, I would encourage you to give it a shot.

I participate in the woman's and teens classes and I also used to do the kids classes before I got…read moremoved to teens and woman's. So I've been here for a little bit and experienced multiple variations of classes, and I guarantee this is a community you don't want to miss out on! Staff is amazing and always kind. Professors and coaches couldn't be more devoted to jiujitsu and helping you learn jiujitsu your best. Owners/professor khalifa and Lorena are great business owners and are very kind and super welcoming. Not only is the community amazing but jiujitsu is also something so important and enjoyable. The jiujitsu jim is also very well kept, always very clean and it's impressive how well kept and organized it is. 100% changes your life. Amazing! 10/10

Love this place. My 9 year old really enjoys it. I can already tell the difference it has made on…read morehim in just 1 month. Great staff. Very Welcoming and helpful. They take great care of the facility. It is very clean.

(Review is primarily regarding closed Vestavia location, but ownership is the same.) Action was my…read moredaughter's happy place but it was taken away from her. In the end ATA would not protect her from a bully, and when we as parents stood up for her we received a nasty public email that was clearly directed toward us. We decided to just step away but we never received a pair of combat gloves we paid for, or preferably a refund for them. ATA did not reply to text message, voicemail, email, or the Better Business Bureau. Think twice. If it comes down to you and another student who pays them more, you'll lose every time.

This gym and its staff have always been extraordinarily supportive of my child's individual goals…read moreas well as her overall well-being. Coaches at Blackwatch treat and train every child like their own. They value every athlete equally for their unique gifts and talents. They are appropriately assertive and willing to invest in and push an athlete to achieve their highest potential. All the while, they are always willing to go the extra mile to build them up in moments of discouragement or doubt. This has been the consistent theme at Blackwatch that continues to amaze me. My child has acquired and built skills here that she never would have been capable of without these coaches. Staff is very professional and available to parents; they speak in person with parents after each class and welcome questions or concerns. The cheer program is still somewhat young and has had the most impressive amount of growth this year. I truly believe that this program is about to explode; it is already strong and developing faster than ever. Highly recommend exploring anything and everything this place has to offer your athlete!

I love the feel of this dojo so much. It's an old-school, minimal bells and whistles place. I…read morecannot recommend Karl highly enough-- he is FANTASTIC with kids. I also really like that there doesn't seem to be a lot of emphasis on testing and promotion on a schedule, which I've experienced with other places in the past. My kiddo loves this "ninja school!"

This is a little know gem in the city of Birmingham. Growing up here as a Japanese/American, I…read moretook karate at World Oyama, during my high school years. This was the default place to go for anyone in my family and it was obvious that there was a rich history in the Oyama tradition. I certainly enjoyed being able to learn from a grand master, but perhaps didn't appreciate the magnitude of it until years later. As an adult, I lived in Japan and witnessed just how big the organization really is. There are World Oyama tournaments held there and they are big events. Despite the international fame of this school, you will find it very approachable, practical and welcoming to all. There is no fluff, it's just about strength, conditioning and being the best you can be. I know the organization has received accolades for its contributions to the state of Alabama and that it is something I will always value having had access to.

Tiger rock help teach me to fight and to have great flexibility. And the classes have a really…read moreenergetic atmospher.

My 5 year old son has been attending the Hoover location for about 4 months. He is a transfer,…read moreTiger Cub (ages 4-6) from the Gardendale location. There is a big difference! The studio is much larger with bigger classes. The monthly fee depends on how many days a week you want your child to attend. The instructors are very skilled and stern. Even though classes are large, the instructors have complete control and holds the attention of each student. They are strict on adherence to rules and obedience. Classes help build good character, self defense, and self control/focus. Parents aren't allowed to intervene in teachings, but during the last 5 minutes of class; parents practice techniques with their student. Classes are always on time, and rarely goes over.

This place has had such a wonderful impact on my son. He shows more confidence and takes every…read moremessage to heart. We highly recommend!

USA Martial Arts should be a staple in your child's life. The amount of confidence, discipline, and…read moreself control gained from their training is amazing! With typical smaller class sizes, they get a more hands on approach to instruction. They teach you how to grow as a student, but also how to grow as a person!