My son and I love coming here. We've been members now for the past two years. I looked at a lot of martial arts schools in the area and SMA was the perfect fit for my schedule and budget. When I came in to speak to Jana about signing up, she told me about their adult kickboxing program. I was hooked! I made the decision to stop being a spectator and join in on the action. This experience has changed my son and I for the better. His behavior has improved and the principles he learns in class help him communicate better than he ever has. We look forward to growing more as a family and improve together. read more

I wrote an honest subjective narrative about my experience with SMA and now I'm being threatened by the owners of this place to take my rating down or they will take me to court for "defamation". Talk about bullies. I thought martial arts was supposed to be a place to combat bullies? I will not be silenced. I joined the SMA kickboxing classes in January 2016 via a Living Social Deal iLoveKickboxing. After those classes were used, I decided to purchase 35 classes. The instructor was absolutely INCREDIBLE. If this review was for him, it would get 5 stars. However, he is no longer teaching there. I noticed recently that SMA exchanged most of their kickboxing branding from iLoveKickboxing to "SMA X-Treme", while still keeping the iLoveKickboxing products and not purchasing anything new. The bags are in terrible condition with hardly any padding left and someone could get seriously injured. I did my research and noticed that they are no longer members of the iLoveKickboxing website. When asked when they'll be getting new bags. They say they have no money. So my question is... Where are the members fees going? Where is the money from the children's karate classes going? To the owner's vacations? To their pyramid schemes that they constantly force upon their clients on Facebook? (31 gifts, Isagenix, etc.). I have at least 20 classes left of my membership and I'd rather throw away my money than go back to a place that mistreats their employees and their clientele. (I would like to note that I have not talked to my old instructor about this review and he has done nothing to influence my decision to write this review. In fact, he begged me to take it down. But I would not because I think it's more important to stick up for what I believe in). read more

What a phenomenal school. The way they teach martial arts and life skills is unlike anywhere else I've been to. The students have tremendous respect I've seen to anyone they talk to. And to see young students learn how to teach is astoundingly amazing. I love the family atmosphere and how families train together! read more

I came across a groupon for 10 classes for $50 so I figured I'd give it a try. Well, it's been about a month since I started at Sovereign Martial Arts and I have to say, the kickboxing class is probably one of the best workouts I've ever had. It works every inch of your body, it's super fun and relieves stress (at least for me!). Sadly, my class allotment is coming to an end and unfortunately, the membership fees are a bit steep for me. Should they decide to add more membership options, at lower prices, I'd definitely consider becoming a member. But other than that, it's a great place, a great space, with really encouraging instructors and members. It's nothing like a typical gym - people are there to really get the best out of their workout and kick ass :) read more

I love coming here to train. The staff is very supportive, welcoming, friendly, professional and always willing to give the best experience/suggestions possible. I started going to SMA back in April and I haven't had any bad experiences. The only bad thing for me is not being able to go to train/workout when I do miss a few days. When I started, I wasn't expecting there to be any forms of 'relationship' since I had the mind set of "going to the gym, work out and then move on with your life.." but I quickly realized that going to SMA had already become a part of my life. So, thank you SMA for not being like the other gyms and then finding a way to worm your way into my life. :) read more

I went ok the net too look for a school that teaches Krav Maga. I found this listed and a trail lesson plan for 3 lessons for 19.99. I went to my first lesson and was taught some very basic moves for about twenty minutes then I was told to come in for the formal class. I came in for the so called formal class were me and one other guy were the adults.The rest of the class were teenagers . We did some exercises and the rest was kickboxing, instructed by none Black Belt. I asked why we were not learning Krav Maga and was informed that they instructed in cycles , every other week.After the so called Krav Maga lesson. I went to find about what the schools rates were ,more out of curiosity then to join. I was given a sales pitch about Black Belt plan that would,be for three years. At the cost of seven thousand dollars, plus 9.8 financing. Stay away . A complete waste of time. read more

Since Kassie & Paolo left things haven't been the same. I asked several times if I would be charged once my contract ended and was told absolutely not! Guess what, I was charged and no one returned my call when I raised the complaint. Bigger isn't always better! read more

My son takes classes here and i have to say that i love the environment. It is a positive empowering environment where the children are taught to be respectful not only in the school but outside of the school as well. read more

SMA has a family vibe, everyone knows your name (which makes you even more accountable since they know when you don't go!) The training is great, tough but great, and the environment is extremely positive. I have nothing but wonderful things to say about SMA! read more

clean facility, awesome staff, affordable prices. you can tell they really want to help you out and offer different options to work with you :) read more

I took kickboxing at Sovereign Martial Arts. The classes were going great. The schedule was great. Until I had a problem....I was coming in late for class, missing the warm up, due to traffic. I was traveling from Morristown to Rahway between 5pm - 6pm, rushing to get to class. I was told by a particular person behind the counter, that I couldn't take the class. This person told me this twice. I had to leave. They told me I could take the later class, but I told them, no I can't because I'm married, I like to spend time with my husband, and I also like to eat dinner at a reasonable hour. I felt like I was paying ALOT of money for nothing, since I wasn't allowed to take class. Something else that happened....I signed up for a board breaking event, but they needed the money sooner then I could give it. I asked the same person behind the counter to please take me off the list. Instead, they paid for me without my permission. I had to come in and pay them back. The day of the event, I was unable to come, due to family reasons, so I called and told the same person to have someone else use the boards that I bought. Well, they saved them for me, which I found out on the same day I went in to quit. Another thing...you can't break your contract, unless you move far away, or have a doctor's note to stop going. Be careful. Don't sign that contract unless you actually have the money and live and/or work close to the school. I had to wait until my contract ended so the payments would stop. Meanwhile, I was still paying 3 months worth of class that I did not attend. The rules are a bunch of BS. They need to be changed. read more

Buyer beware. My son joined this school in the Fall of 2014, they had a six week special going on, after the 6 weeks were up he decided to join full time at a cost of approximately $100/month plus cost of some gear maybe another $200. After about 6 months in they asked him if he wanted to join the black belt program, he wanted to, so I agreed, the cost then jumped to $155/mo plus a additional $250 for more equipment. After another 6 months my son told me he wanted to try out wrestling, sure no problem, I informed the school that he would be moving on to wrestling, they said he had one more month left on a contract,so when he was done wrestling he could go back to the school and have a month free. He decided after wrestling season he wanted to focus on wrestling, I informed the school he wouldn't be coming back, they told me I signed a 3 YEAR contract BS, who would make a $5400 commitment with a 12yr old, no one would. They continued to charge my bank card until I changed the account number, now they are sending me collection letters. I will be contacting the attorney generals office and the better business bureau regarding this company and there unsavory business practices. I never signed a contract with them, yet they claimed I did. read more

Where do I begin? Wish there was an option for negative stars. I just spent $3100 to get out of a contract if that gives you any indication. A contract that they were not clear was 36 months. This gym, if you can call it that, is horrible. Attitudes are terrible, dedication to the kids is atrocious & service is worse yet. I ordered equipment in February that I never received and they have not refunded me for, headgear being among the list of items never received. Senseless Gaby had no issues letting kids spar without head gear. And members were lucky if they were blessed with the presence of Senseless Jose once a month. They consider 12 and 14 year olds to be advanced enough to be helping run the classes. They have been in a new gym for probably over a half of a year, and still have not put mats down on half the gym. I would never say we were particularly happy there but my son wanted to do karate so we stuck with it. But he started to hate it and would fight us to go every week. My husband was also a member and he hated it too. We've started at a new school and the difference is night and day. Shame on us for staying as long as we did. My son is so much more interested in karate now and the instructors are so precessional. The grass is greener... For anyone considering signing up or worse yet, considering extended your contract, please read the Yelp reviews and even the reviews height here. And to top it off Better Business Bureau gives them an "F". Should have done my own homework. read more

It is never a good idea to go to a school where you are required to sign a 3-yr contract for your child in order to advance in their training. After going for a few years, the attention to our child diminished along with our child's interest. Our child has special needs and the attention needed was not being granted, nor was there an interest to our child's absence which was a result of various things including illness. The only interest was in payment, regardless of attendance. That along with the rotating door of instructors that kept leaving the school, and not on a happy note. There were no options to get out of the contract, nor was there any interest in our current situation which made making payments extremely difficult, especially when it would go on for more than 1/2 yr more. When speaking with other parents that had a similar situation, I saw how indifferent they were to anyone's real life situation, including a single parent who was struggling to put food on their table, but was still expected to pay the $200+/month fee through the end of their contract. read more