My daughter has been a student at Star Studios since she was she was 5 years old she is now 8.5. I have read some of the negative reviews and they couldn't be furthest from the truth. Master Ben and Master Dana have gone above and beyond for my daughter. My daughter has ADHD and struggles in school making friends and fitting in, kids have bullied her and cut her down and there was one time where she had enough and she pushed another student who was bullying her. I do not believe that violence is the way to handle a problem so I had talked to Master Dana about what had happened at school and her and Master Ben agreed to talk to my daughter about what she had done and that was not there job to do so but hands down they did it. My daughter has made friends thanks to star studios all the kids build each other up and cheer for one another no matter if they are a gold belt or black belt. They are taught they are a team! My child has found a place where she feels that she belongs and to me that means the world! There are few people that my daughter looks up to and respects and Master Ben and Dana are 2 very important people to her that she very much looks up to. Both Master Ben and Master Dana I believe understand that they are role models for these kids, yes there classes aren't free and this is the career they choose to do to make a living, everyone that I know who goes to work expects to be paid for there time, however I do believe that they do this because they are passionate about Martial arts and teaching these kids what they know. I don't believe they do this just for the money! I know for a fact they don't. My husband primarily took my daughter to class because I work later than he does but we have recently separated and I assumed he was still paying for the classes and turns out I was wrong. Master Ben after months of not getting paid finally brought it to my attention and he worked with me, most schools would have brought it up after missing 1 payment and would have forced me to pay in full or kick my kid out! When I explained the situation he was way more understanding and compassionate and even asked if there was anything he could for us. I also own my own business and if I went that long without paid I would have reached out long before they did! So I do not believe they are in it just for the money! There hearts are in it way more than there wallets are! My daughter has been a red belt for almost year if not a bit over a year so they don't advance kids if they aren't ready. My daughter wants to do weapons very badly so if they wanted to take advantage of that for the money they would let her do it now but she isn't ready. She isn't ready not due to lack of teaching but due to my child being lazy at home and not practicing like she should be. I love my daughter so very much and every parent wants to see there child advance but my daughter is just now starting to give it her all. She loves karate and looks forward to class every week but like most young kids when they are at home they don't want to work so she has more work to do before she can advance. Trust me these kids learn alot and I would never go after or threaten any child but if I were that type of person there are some 8 or 9 years old that I watch every week could take me out! They didn't learn these moves by watching old chuck Norris films they learned it from Ben and Dana! So if you are thinking of putting your child into martial arts please don't believe the negative reviews on here please take advantage of the free week that star studios offers to check it out for yourself! Please go and watch and make your decision by watching a class I do not believe you would be disappointed and you will be in aww when you see what these kids can do! I have now seen there forms several times and my mouth hits the floor every time I watch them! Thank you Master Ben and Master Dana for giving my child self esteem, respect and discipline and most importantly thank you for teaching her how to defend herself if God forbid she is ever in a life or death situation! To a mom this gives me a piece of mind especially in a world filled with so much hate right now! read more

02/11/2025 Updated Review: Genevieve is still thriving. Not only has she accomplished many new challenges in her belt advancement, but she also continues to build her self-confidence. As she sees her hard work pay off through learning new forms, sparring, and weapons, her confidence grows. Star Studios does an amazing job tailoring forms and moves to the belt levels, constantly increasing skill levels and challenging the students. I never worry about Nevie feeling bored because there is always something to learn or master. Martial Arts at Star Studios is something you can truly do forever. Two years later, I can't even begin to express the admiration my family has for the instructors. We primarily train with Master Dana in East Troy, but Master Ben always welcomes families to the headquarters and creates plenty of opportunities for the different locations to unite. This year has been exceptionally challenging for my daughter with friendships at school. However, the bond she has created with her Star Studios instructors and friends of all ages and belt levels has meant more to her than anyone will ever know. When Genevieve is in class, she is herself again. There is no bullying, teasing, or talking down to peers; instead, it's a place to build each other up and praise peers for doing their best. The instructors continue to excel at teaching respect and encouraging students to be their best. Our experience with Star Studios continues to be wonderful; it's more than developing friendships for the students--it's creating a family! If you are considering joining a studio for yourself or your family, you can't go wrong with Star Studios. The sky's the limit! Thank you, Master Ben and Master Dana, for continuing to bring out the best in Genevieve and our family with your powerful leadership! 04/25/23 First Review: Our daughter, Genevieve, has been attending Karate class for the last 10 weeks. Primarily with Master Dana and some weeks with Master Ben. I don't have enough positive words to say about the instructors, the facilities, the impact of Karate on Genevieve, the expectations being part of the Star Studio team and the motto Star Studio students live by. I have to say, I strongly disagree with the small amount of negative reviews on Star Studios. Karate is very much about discipline and respect. I'm personally thankful that the instructors are able to remind my daughter (if needed) to show respect. If the instructors sugar coated everything, I don't think my daughter would have grown as much as she had or have the drive she has to correct things that could be better. Genevieve has finally found something she can put her heart and soul into. She practices as much as she can. Not because the instructors told her to, quite opposite actually, they don't push that at all. The instructors say you are only going to grow with as much effort as you put in. Genevieve doesn't want to be better for them, she wants to be better for herself. As a mom I couldn't have asked for anything better for my child. Thank you Master Ben and Master Dana for teaching Genevieve in ways and with skills that I didn't know she needed! You are both one in a million! I highly recommend Star Studios! read more

As a former Black Belt and Sate championship(s) as a member at Star Studios, I feel it is necessary to help people understand the true meaning of learning what Martial Arts is all about and what I have attained while training there many years ago. First of all, it is not about how masterful of fighting you can become. the essence is self confidence. To truly break through and see an individual rise to believing that they truly can accomplish what they want, is the true victory. In the society we live in where everything is expected, with no pushing yourself to keep reaching for growth, the individual surely is set up for failure. You can not compare yourself, physically or mentally to others. I know, as a Father and Grandfather, we want the best for our children, but if one is truly honest, we get in the way. Benny and the upper belts position has always been to pull this forming confidence out and to keep them going forward until they reach their goals. I remember countless success stories of people rising above from lives that they were born into and had no choice. Now on the point of money, name a business that can operate on bare minimum income. As a business owner, there are expenses that others do not know about. Unfortunately, there are some that slip through. This young girls name is Tia. She showed more courage than any other individual that I faced. She fought in a tournament, were they combined other belts. I can remember this as if it was yesterday. Her little face had fear, but she fought anyways. Never did she give up! She walked away empty handed and it haunts me to this day. I went on to win Grand Champion but I felt no where close to the courage of that little girl. Her parents took her out and I never got the chance to tell her of her victory. She had accomplished what Martial Arts is really about. Never give up and keep pushing forward to reach your accomplishments. I wanted to go over to her house and present her with the 6 foot trophy that I had received. You see she was the Grand Champion and I hope she is still that today! Why did I write this? Courage, Strength, Compassion is what I received at Star Studios. It was never up to the abilities of the next person or what others thought, it is truly up to the student and how much they want it. Tia if your out there, I owe you honor and gratitude for what you taught me! read more

My son has been apart of Star Studios for over two years now. I love how Master Ben teaches his classes. He teaches self defense, discipline and respect. He is very good/patient with the kids. Master Ben is very dedicated to his students and expects dedication in return. So if you plan on doing the bare minimum in his program then dont waste your time or his. Any parent knows that progress followed by excellence is almost always because of dedication. Master Ben will not sugar coat the truth, but I love that about him. I dont see that anymore in teachers. How is a child supposed to grow and improve if no one is pointing out their mistakes. That sets the children up for disappointment and failure. He is not about money. Any body that says he is, is mistaken. He is about the kids being the best they can be and as I said in my review earlier, it's hard to be at your best if you are only doing the bare minimum. Your child will fall behind and I'm guessing the bad reviews on here were from the parents who chose the path to only do the least amount expected. I stand behind this class 100%. My son has learned and improved in so many things since we started: focus, attitude, respect, flexibility, self defense, I could go on. He loves the class and looks forward to it and so do his fellow classmates. Sign your kid up, you wont be disappointed. read more

We found out about Star Studio through a course that Master Ben runs through another facility. After dealing with him for about 6 months, we were certain that we wanted to sign up for Star Martial Arts full time. Master Ben and Star Martial Arts has been life changing for our son. While he was a good kid, he quickly became very disciplined and respectful in ways that he wasn't previous to his Martial Arts classes. Before training and learning physical skills, Master Ben teaches honor and respect along with the importance of personal hygiene and good school grades. I have been impressed for the last two years and continue to be. My son has grown so much and has learned all along the way. Master Ben is strict, but nice. I appreciate that he does not baby the kids, but gives them ample opportunity to improve. He has gained the respect of the students and parents alike. He is very serious about his expectations and makes them clear. Every child has grown in the classes and the patience that Master Ben and Master Dana show toward all of the students is remarkable. I highly reccomend signing up for this studio. You will not be disappointed and I guarantee you will see results both in their athletic ability as well as their manners and all other important aspects of life. read more

My daughter has been going here since 2015. She loves it here. She has A.D.H.D. and her school work and self confidence had suffered a great deal in school, however, since she has been with Star Martial Arts Studio these 7 years her school work, discipline and self confidence has improved so much. She is willing to try stuff and no matter what happens as long as she gave it her all she is a winner. My son has been here for 1 year and loves it just as much. He also has A.D.H.D. again his discipline and his self confidence has also grow a great deal. Master Ben, Master Dana and everyone at Star Martial Arts Studios wants your kid to learn and grow to be masters at martial arts. Please think of this as a investment to your kids grow and learning. The costs per month is very reasonable. This will only help them as they grow into adults. They will have the knowledge and understanding how to deal with multiple situations and a mind set to figure out how to accomplish there goals in life. read more

My son has been going here since August 2020 and he loves it because it gives him a challenge. We visited a couple other martial arts gyms in Rockford before choosing this one. Other places charge a large sum of money every month. I like how the costs here with Star Martial Arts studio are proportioned throughout the month based on each individual's progress or skill level. I also like how he mentions the local charities he donates to. It's a great way to bring awareness, help out and be involved with the community. I'm impressed from watching my sons confidence, flexibility, strength and discipline soar. I'm so glad he finally found something to stick to. I notice proud parents smiling as their kids reach goals and achievements. I read some negative reviews but if you're respectful of his time and services then you should have no problem. Props to all the staff, they do a great job paying attention to detail and are patient, kind and helpful. I wish we would've came sooner! read more

Look no further than Master Ben and his crew as not only what they teach kids (TKD/karate) but also on HOW they teach them. Your child will be transformed from the inside out with confidence, honor, integrity, and total sense of self worth. This is so important in today's society and Master Ben and crew do this wonderfully and EARN respect from all, they don't just demand it. We have been bringing our 6 yo here for just over two months and have noticed so much improvement in his social skills and honor and respect at home (not that our son needed it, but the traits definitely shine through) and we owe a big thanks to North Star Studio. Not to mention they have the same pricing since 1992, and believe me, it is very cost effective and worth every penny. I will be supporting this until my son (and soon daughter) have mastery of all the techniques. Very thankful for this teacher and his studio. A+++++ read more

Tony S.-My kids have been taking classes for approximately two years. The owner and his staff run very good classes and my kids have benefited in many ways in addition to the martial arts they are learning. From a martial arts standpoint it's amazing to see how far they have come. One of my daughters has benefited a lot in her school work as well. After approximately 6 months of classes my daughters teacher asked us what was going on. He saw a vast improvement in her confidence, concentration and overall testing abilities. Now two years later, my daughter has gone from a C or B student to mostly all A's. Classes can be tough at times but it has all been a real good learning experience for them! We will continue on the journey to black belt and beyond. read more

My son has been attending Star Studio for a little under a year now. He was struggling in school and at home with a bad attitude, bad grades, and confidence. I tried getting him into so many different activities from baseball, basketball, football, wrestling and we couldn't find an activity he enjoyed and wanted to stick with. He attends two- three times a week and sincerely enjoys and looks forward to going. It's the only thing he's ready ON TIME for lol! He's told me he wishes he could go everyday! Master Ben works with each of the kids to reach their goals and it has been amazing watching my son progress in the program as well as with his confidence and discipline at school and home. Thank you Star Studios for finding that spark in my kiddo!! read more

My twin boys attend Star Martial Arts Studio. One has been going for about a year. The other saw how much fun his brother was having and decided to join too. They go two to three nights a week and love it! They have both gained self-confidence. Master Ben and Master Dana are great at what they do. Kids learn the importance of doing well in school, taking care of their physical health, and self-discipline. People from age 6 to over 70 years old attend class. All are encouraged and given individual attention and achievements and growth are recognized. At Star Martial Arts my boys can do something that gets them away from the screen to do something healthy. I believe my boys will continue to grow here. It is worth the investment. read more

My daughter has been attending Star Studio for almost two years. We have seen tremendous growth in her tae kwon do skills, her patience, and most of all her confidence. The staff at all Star Studio locations strive to provide a positive experience for every child in class. The staff is kind, reassuring and dedicated to helping the students succeed. The program also teaches discipline and self accountability by encouraging the kids to practice and put in the work. Thanks to the guidance of this studio, tae kwon do has gone from something that my daughter wanted to try, to something she absolutely LOVES and is extremely proud of! If your child is wanting to give it a try, I encourage you to check out Star Studio . read more

My daughter has been a student at Star Martial Arts Studio for several years, and absolutely loves it! The students here are given many options for classes, beginners, intermediate, black belt, sparring, weapons, family class etc. Each student progresses at their own pace, they are not tested to the next level unless the instructor feels they are ready. This sets the student up to succeed, and gives them a sense of accomplishment. In addition to martial arts, the students also learn valuable life lessons/skills, discipline, respect, leadership, loyalty , confidence and perseverance. You are able to take two free classes as a trial before signing up, so go and see for yourself what a great place this is! read more

My 7-year-old son began learning martial arts with Master Ben in the spring of 2021 through a program offered at the Stateline YMCA in Beloit, WI. At first, I did not take the class seriously because I suspected my son would become bored and decide not to continue. However, Master Ben is a skilled teacher and knows how to keep the students wanting to return and excel. I have seen my son go from being resistant to authority and struggling in school to significantly less defiant and ambitious to succeed in school. He is now going 2-3 times a week to Master Ben's classes and asking to attend the monthly camps. I could not have hoped for a better result. read more

My children have been working with Master Ben at Star Studios for 2 years now and we couldn't be happier. Master Ben is an amazing instructor who focuses on more than just martial arts. Responsibility, respect, self control, and confidence are just some of the qualities Master Ben instills in his students. The studio is always clean and well lit, so it is a comfortable place for my children to learn and our family to watch them grow. All of the instructors are very helpful and make Star Studios feel like a family. I highly recommend Star Studios to anyone interested in self defence. read more

I knew of this studio growing up here in town, and always heard good. When my son wanted to try Martial Arts, I knew this would be the place. Fast fwd 3 years and he loves it. Master Ben does an excellent job with his students (from young to old). He offers a variety of classes that are very well laid out. Coming from a military/law enforcement family, I appreciate his teachings of discipline/ self motivation and believing in themselves. I highly recommend anyone who is considering self defense for themselves or their children to check out Star Studio in South Beloit. read more

I love star studio ! They had a free trial offer so I figured what the heck, I'd give it a try. My 2 children loved it, so we stayed. I think the instructors do a good job of making sure the kids get the attention they need , and they keep the class under control. I've had my kids in some classes where there is no discipline and everybody suffers. The lead instructor also includes little life lessons about responcibility, honor, and respect. Very well balanced, I would recommend taking the free trial and see for yourself. overall great school read more

We first brought our daughter to Star Studios when she was in first grade. She was struggling with focus, organization and attention issues in school. We needed a place she could get rid of some energy, and learn some discipline and focus. In the past three years she has gained confidence. We no longer have attention issues or organization issues or focus issues at school. She has learned self-defense that will carry her to adulthood. This has been a priceless investment for her future. We are thankful to Star Martial Art Studios. read more

Nothing negative to say here. My 12yr old son attends 3 days a week at this location and loves it. Master Ben is good with all the students, adults included. He just wants you to be the best you can be. He expects respect and he gives respect. They have charity fundraisers( american cancer society, rockford rescue mission etc) so they give back to our community. He praises students when they are doing well and steps in to instruct when help is needed. I would recommend to anyone looking to improve themselves. Adults or children. read more