As a long time combat sports practitioner, I have had the opportunity of visiting and training with…read morenumerous martial artists up and down the East Coast and even outside the US. On visits to the Roanoke area, I have trained with Dennis and co. at Hybrid and can say hands down, they have the best Brazilian Jiu Jitsu / grappling program in the Roanoke area. Of course people seek different goals out of their chosen martial art, but if its BJJ or MMA that you're interested in, then Hybrid is your spot. Head coach Dennis is a legit BJJ black belt under Master Pedro Sauer (one of the few black belt level instructors in SW VA) and the school also has solid striking and judo programs as well. -Hybrid welcomes all levels of students from starter to experienced competition level. The environment was open and humble and head coach Dennis was professional and welcoming .

When I came off of Active Duty where I started my jiu jitsu journey, I searched for a place that…read morewould "fit". I contacted the owners at Hybrid and they were more than welcoming. What I really enjoyed was as soon as I walked through the door, no one turned their backs and pretended I wasn't there. Instead, every person made an effort to introduce themselves. Absolutely one of the most welcoming gyms I have been to. It contains an extreme wealth of knowledge through a number of black belts, who are all willing to help. The students here are the most detailed and technical I have seen. In addition to jiu jitsu, their judo program is legit. I have really enjoyed learning the traditional Japanese names for the techniques and the amount of detail again, is outstanding. The Muay Thai program is great! Very challenging and gives you a great sweat. I can't say enough greatness about this extremely well-rounded martial arts center. This is not a "fighting gym", and I like that. The concentration on the arts as they were meant to be is exactly what I was looking for. They welcome anyone traveling through as well. If you are looking for a great place to train, stop here!!

I know the owner was an awesome martial arts fighter and has taught many young people in the area…read more He definitely knows his stuff. I remember him going many weekends out of state to fight bigger and tougher opponents. Marines..specifically.. Ray is the most qualified judo instructor I have ever met. If you need proof he has or tons of trophies. I think he left a trail of them (and marines) over the years. He is very good.

This is a great place to learn self defense and develop your body to be better at anything you do…read more It needs no experience and can be practiced by anyone younger or older.

In the nearby area this has got to me the best Karate school, it teaches real Karate as well giving…read moreyou good exercise, the teaches knoeo when to be stern as well be funny. Overall if your child needs any of these things or wants to know Karate send them here.

My seven year old son expressed a desire to learn karate. I myself am a long time martial arts…read morepractitioner and instructor in several different systems. Most of what I practice and teach however does not lend itself to children, nor does it involve traditional uniforms and class structure. With this in mind I thought that it would be best for my son to learn in a different , structured environment with peers his own age. I took him to Mr Peterson's school. We were greeted by Mr Peterson himself and he was very warm and welcoming. He told us that the first month is free and that my son was welcome to attend at our own schedule. We started the next week. I took him to two classes, both personally taught by Mr Peterson, and was impressed by how good the class was structured for children, the enthusiasm of the sensei, as well as the legitimacy of the material presented. I had truly thought that I had found the perfect dojo for my son to train. On our third visit however, a small child was behaving in quite an unruly manner. The child did not respond to verbal redirection attempts by the instructor. I was certainly expecting the screaming child to be removed to a quiet area for a timeout. What I was not expecting however was for the child to be told that since his behavior was so bad he would be losing his yellow belt, which only caused the kid to escalate even further. At this point one of the black belts rushed over, picked the child up, and took him over to a corner in what appeared to be a very forceful manner. Once in the corner, the child was placed on his back as the adult attempted to remove the yellow belt. The child fought back but was easily overpowered by the adult. The child's belt was removed and replaced with a white belt. The child continued to scream and attempted to remove the belt, which was tied on even tighter. A joke was made at the end of class about how tight this particular individual could tie a belt. I was truly in shock at what I witnessed, as a parent of a special needs child, as a martial artist, and as a mental health professional with over 23 years experience in the field. The child certainly needed to be removed to a quiet area but not in a manner which bordered on abuse. My son will not be going back.

I did my yoga certification at "In balance". The "Kunga" methodology, by which the classes were…read moretaught, was a lifetime bonus in compassionate communication and kindness. In three months of classes, you get to really know Nicole and her staff! Practiced in their studio too; You'll be hard pressed to find another yoga facility that measures up to In Balance. Just Go. Barrett

I practiced at In Balance Studio off and on for two years while attending graduate school at…read moreVirginia Tech. Nicole and Keala are wonderful people, and I will greatly miss In Balance's community. I also love that a primary focus of their studio is geared toward supporting the community either through donation flows or making yoga accessible for those on tight budgets. They also handled their response to COVID-19 responsibility and ethically by quickly moving their classes to Zoom. I highly recommend this studio for anyone looking for a community that's focused on supporting your personal growth, giving back, and having fun!

I've studied several different martial arts in different geographical areas and have found this…read moreschool excellent. The instructor or sifu, is an excellent teacher. He motivates while teaching. The classes are not overly challenging, but provide enough of an opportunity for improving stamina and overall health. The martial art is very practical, and as I learn more, the more I recoginize its utility and efficiency. The classes are offered at different times during the week, allowing more flexibility in being able to attend class. I would highly recommend this school, teacher, and martial art to anyone interested in learning kung fu (Ving Tsun).

The first time i came was for a Tibetan Singing Bowl soundbath, which consisted of laying on the…read morefloor with blankets and listening to the bowls. It was kind of like a trippy meditative kindergarten naptime. Every other class I've taken--Hatha, Hatha Flow, and Yin--has been just the right amount of challenging but also mellow and kind. The space is inviting, they have student discounts, and there are quite a few classes offered. The downtown location is convenient. The teachers know what they're doing. What a pleasant place.

Best yoga studio in Roanoke. I've been a 3yr devotee. Highly recommend Jill's classes. She…read morechallenges you spiritually and physically. The studio is vinyasa/hatha based with some heated classes (warm like 80s, no hot to the 90s or 100s). I love this studio and particularly Jill's classes because of the smart sequencing to music and peak poses. Most of the time I feel like I'm almost dancing fluidly through the asanas! The instructors (particularly Jill, Steve, Sarah, Kimberley and Wendi) challenge you to inversions, arm balances and binds. The studio definitely has a cult following and this is evident if you go to the Saturday 930am class!

H/H is such a gem in Roanoke! I hadn't taken a work out class in a couple years and was a bit…read morenervous getting back into it, but all the instructors are so welcoming and accommodating it quickly became a part of my regular routine. The potion bar is perfect for a post-class treat or morning coffee before work. The Blue Dream with macadamia milk is my all-time favorite. Such a fun spot to take friends to or create new ones!

Love this place! The classes and the instructors are awesome. It's a great place to get a workout…read moreon a cold winter day or sweat it out in the summer.