Excellent enjoyable instruction as well as an excellent workout. Community and safety seem valued…read more The instructor's explanations of the various moves was straightforward and approachable; I look forward to learning more. Additional activities such as kickboxing and yoga are also offered.

Jesse is a master, not only of Krav Maga, and not only of its instruction, but in attuned,…read moreintentional, and customized manner of engagement that is necessary for safely learning such a brutal, necessary set of skills. Jesse teaches self-defense in the best spirit of it: it is your very last option after screaming for help, fleeing, de-escalating, and pleading, all of which he covers before teaching you how to to put an end to it if violence comes anyway. I trained with Jesse, two of my best friends (a couple), middle aged Japanese Mexican and Whitey, and 2 out of our sons, ages of 13 - 15 during our time there, plus my son's caregiver / beloved auntie, a middle aged East Asian immigrant woman. In that crowd, although family, we had language barriers, cultural norms to navigate, neurodiversity and high sensitivity, medical conditions (on my part), and Jesse was consistent in checking in to make sure he was getting his calibration to all of these right always. And, also, he pushed us exactly to the point of both fatigue, psychological stress, and level of force that we could each handle - with a big deep breath. Jesse is a singular human, a masterful teacher, a devoted father, and a Good Guy in this darkening world. His attention to the nuances of working safely with trans and nonbinary folks has been acute and humble and inquisitive; his desire to serve these communities comes from his deep values around equity, human rights, and protecting all people from predation. I have trained with almost a dozen teachers in my life, and Jesse is superior by multiples to all of the rest. I can't possibly recommend him more strongly, nor Krav Maga taught correctly: this is for people who don't want to fight out of sport or art; people who dislike violence, and wish only to know for tools to put an end to it if it is inflicted upon them. And Jesse embodies that. Que viva!

First and foremost, this place is VERY inclusive of trans, queer, and non-binary students! I know…read morethe name says "women's," but go to their website and read their gender policy, there is most likely a place for you if you aren't a cis male. Second, they are super accepting of low-income students! They never turn people down for scholarships or inability to pay, and they offer work-study opportunities. They also offer childcare while training!!! I did a Try-A-Class night back in November 2017, when I was feeling out-of-shape and emotionally overwhelmed by the state of the world. I needed something that would combine physical activity with mental/spiritual growth, in a non-judgmental environment. I loved it so much, I decided to sign up for the Beginner's Cycle (a month-long training series) in January 2018, and I have been training there ever since. When I first started, I was in a rut working at a dead-end job and lacked the confidence to move on to something better. Within 7 months, I had scored my dream job. Coincidence? I don't think so... training here really will boost your motivation and self-esteem. They offer a lot of opportunity to belong to a community that at times feels like a family, but there's also no pressure to get involved outside of attending classes. And no previous martial arts experience is required!

Seven Star Women's Kung Fu is a great place to make new friends, get/stay in shape, and learn life…read morelong skills. I've never been the athletic type, but I still enjoy both the physical and mental challenge of kajukenbo/kung fu. Everyone is incredibly supportive and it great to train with such a diverse group of women. Seven Star also offers scholarships and free child care and is 100% for women by women.

Best womens self defense class in Seattle. How to not get in a situation where you need to use…read moreviolence to resolve the situation, basic strikes, where to strike and some basic grab escapes.

I just took their Women's Self Defense class and I really enjoyed it. I left the class feeling more…read moreconfident and informed about not only how to avoid attacks but also how to handle myself in a bad situation. Women should be aware of the basic self defense techniques and this class is the best way to start on this path. It's truly a great class because it's hands on, realistic self defense course that practice through common scenarios like wrist grabs, hair pulls, chokes, etc. The class focuses on physical techniques you can use to break free of an attacker and escaping. It is not about overtaking your attacker, but getting away and running to safety. You will learn and practice simple self defense techniques that don't require exceptional strength but will get you out of any situation. I now encourage all women I know to take this class as it is not only a very useful class but also a fun class.

Putting our 10‑year‑old daughter in BJJ at Combat Arts Academy has been life‑changing…read more In just six months, we've watched her grow stronger, more confident, and more resilient. She carries herself differently now with calm, courage, and self‑belief. The confidence she's building on the mat shows up everywhere else too. The coaches are phenomenal with kids -firm, encouraging, and deeply respectful. They teach more than self‑defense: they teach discipline, mental toughness, and how to stand tall without aggression. As a parent, knowing my daughter is learning to protect herself while being empowered and supported means everything. If you're looking for BJJ that builds strong skills and strong kids, Combat Arts Academy is truly special. Dawa'

Love this gym! My son has grown so much, become disciplined and loves going to class (he is 5.5…read moreyears old). Can't recommend highly enough.

Simply an amazing experience. i'm tired, I have a giant bruise on my wrist, and I have not stopped…read moresmiling all day. This review is for the self-defense 101 class. class began with rules that instantly made me feel comfortable. Rules letting us know that anything we feel is OK, if we ever need to stop or don't want to participate in something, it's fine, things like that. Very comforting. we are then taught everything from how to use our voice to how to use our bodies. We are taught that we are allowed to trust our instinct and respond however we feel necessary to defend ourselves. We are taught ways to get away from people, ways to defend ourselves by hurting the other person if needed, and everything in between For me I must say that there was one clear highlight... After not even 90 minutes, we got to break boards! I I mean, how bad ass is that? Let me tell you something... It felt like the most bad ass thing I've done in a long time and I've been watching the video over and over again and smiling. I want to do this class again and again and I encourage anybody and everybody to go to Quantum

Although this place has moved down the street, the attitude has not. Quantum is a fantastic style…read morethat every serious martial artist should consider as well as anyone with an interest in what martial arts can teach you. Classes are intense with a heavy focus on improving strength, balance, flexibility, and technique (order varying depending on the class). The overall style promotes the importance of combining basic and advanced techniques into practical application with intense sparring classes designed to improve your own creative thought process while under duress. Most importantly, the Quantum community is very inclusive with an outward focus on inclusivity for LGBT people. Belt tests, work days, and community events are organized and performed by the student body for the betterment of all in the group. Definitely a great place to make some great friends. If you are new to martial arts or are looking for a great way to get in shape I recommend it. If you have studied Tae Kwon Do or Kung Fu and would like to continue your training in Seattle, I also recommend Quantum.

I've been training at Wudang Kungfu for the past 3 years so far. If you are looking for a place…read morewhere you can train forms AND application, within the same gym, this is the best place in Seattle to do it. I have explored lots of different martial arts gyms in the greater Seattle area, and lots of them have different things to offer. However, it was difficult to find traditional Chinese gungfu that is rooted in the culture and practice of Chinese martial arts that also teaches real, effective, full contact application. This is the place to do it! Lu Laoshi and Chang Laoshi are both incredibly knowledgeable, but also down to earth and humble. They really know their stuff, through the historical lineage and practice. There are many amazing non-Chinese instructors of the Chinese martial arts, but I personally appreciate that both head instructors are ethnically and culturally Chinese while also being attuned to western culture and the norms of western students. This is not a school with Japanese style belt progression, or a very hierarchical student culture. Both Instructor Lu and Instructor Chang expect students to think critically for themselves, and for the instruction to make sense because it works, not just because "they say so." If you approach it with an open mind, there is much to learn at this school, no matter your training goals. Chang Laoshi has many years fighting in the ring, testing his application skills in ring fighting, to complement his deep understanding of the traditional forms, and Lu Laoshi has a rich knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine in addition to her martial arts practice. Whether you want to learn internal martial arts for demonstration, cultivate qigong, learn about the culture and history of Chinese martial arts, or spar and compete in sanda full contact ring fighting, this is a place where you can do some or all of those things. There are many places in Seattle where you can learn traditional Chinese gungfu, and internal martial arts. There are also many places that will teach you full contact grappling and striking, for muay thai/BJJ/MMA etc. However, if you are trying to learn both of these dimensions of the martial arts and not just one or the other, this is in my opinion the best place in Seattle for it. You can learn forms, qigong, application, open hand, and weapons, all under one roof and with two deeply qualified instructors. There are places that are probably more "affordable" if you are just looking for the cheapest place to train and get a workout, but in this case, I think the expertise and thoroughness of instruction is more than justified, especially considering the generosity of both instructors when it comes to time and answering questions after official class hours.

After attending Wudang academy for over a year I can confidently say that I was in the best shape…read moreof my life! My flexibility dramatically improved but also overall body connection/fitness. The chronic pain in my knee completely resolved. If you want to live a long, happy, and healthy life this is the secret! They have many different classes/styles of martial arts that can be practiced, and the masters are amazing at helping you choose the best style to fit your goals. If I had more time I would study as many styles as possible. During my time there I practiced Baguzahang (Circular Boxing), Taijiquan (Tai Chi), and Qigong. A memory that particularly stands out to me was a student who had come from New York just to study at the academy. He told me that he originally heard about it after climbing the Wudang mountain in China looking for a master to train him in the original Wudang Sword Style. He was able to find a master, but the man told him to come to Seattle, WA and study at Wudang academy. This demonstrates the authenticity to their teachings which draw direct lineage to the old masters of Chinese Kung Fu. I originally attended the academy several years ago, before my life became extremely busy and I moved to Chicago. I plan to move back to the area some day and Wudang academy is at the top of my list for activities to prioritize. If I have kids someday, I plan on taking them to the academy. I hope that in the future I will be able to make time to attend again. If my review piques your interest, please attend, and learn more in person. I am a humble student and am no doubt not fully representing the amazing nature of this academy so please go check it out for yourself! -Steven

This is the real deal, folks. This is what you thought Martial Arts was all about until you…read moreenrolled in that *other* dojo, just to find yourself waving your arms around and grunting something in Japanese, Korean, or Chinese. How's that supposed to help you in the real world? When you receive your Black Belt from Sensei Lewis, after training in the excellent "GCL Karate" method, you will ready for ANY real world challenge. You will not fear any person on the street. You will be in the best shape of your life. Most importantly, you will have an unshakable inner peace from the mastery of your body/mind.

From the owner: We teach real-world self-defense and functional fitness to people from all walks of life.read more

I've been training at Identity Jiu Jitsu for a bit now and it's been a really solid experience. The…read moregym has two showers and is always clean which I appreciate a lot. I'm a blue belt and mostly train no-gi, and I've gotten a lot out of Tuan's CLA classes. They focus more on problem solving and live situations instead of just drilling moves, which has helped my game quite a bit. The community is also great. Everyone is friendly, respectful, and there to improve. Overall, definitely recommend checking it out. Especially the community open mat.

Loving this community, love this place…read more They have a great set of coaches, clean showers bathrooms and changing rooms. Plus the strength gym is a plus!