During my glory days in Tae Kwon Do at age 12, I really loved the physical activity and stress…read morerelief that came with punching and kicking. So recently I've been looking to get back into martial arts. I found Oom Yung Doe on Yelp because of its great reviews and its proximity to my house. I'd never heard of this form of martial arts, but the website claimed I could take a complimentary introductory lesson. Why not? I called on Sunday afternoon and was signed up for a free class the next day at 8 PM. That was quick. Not knowing what to expect, I showed up to the small studio in workout clothes, looking very out of place among the robe-clad martial artists. I signed a liability waiver and was led into the practice room by the instructor, John. There were a few people practicing individually in the room with wooden swords and fans. I had no idea what they were doing, but they sure looked cool! Where were the other students in this introductory class though? John starts by explaining the many benefits of practicing Oom Yung Doe. It focuses on connecting the mind and the body. He used to have asthma and back pain, and now they're gone. It improves your strength, flexibility, and focus. With regular practice, people start excelling in other parts of their lives as well (high GPA,s promotions, the works). Sounds great! Turns out I'm the only one in the class. Unexpected, to say the least. And pretty intimidating. But John was very supportive and great as leading and explaining each movement. We started out with some breathing excercises, then moved to some strength and flexibility movements, punches and kicks, holding positions, and finished with some self defense training. At the end, he did two full forms, a beginner and a dragon form, to demonstrate what you will work toward. He's been practicing for 7 years so is very committed and pretty incredible at it. The entire lesson took almost an hour, and it was completely free. The individual attention and professionalism was so impressive. From experiencing this class, I'm wondering if this form of martial arts is for me. I'm definitely lacking some of the strength, focus, and flexibility required, but I'm sure those are all things you work toward. I'm also not sure I'd be able to work it into my schedule, as John told me that they encourage people to come at least 3 times a week in order to improve. The introductory month is $150, which includes 3 private lessons and unlimited classes at the studio afterward. I liked seeing the space, learning more about the practice, and witnessing the personal connections the instructor has with the others practicing. It seems like a great environment to try something new and improve your physical and emotional well-being. I very much enjoyed the introduction and encourage anyone to try it out. What do you have to lose? (Except maybe your dignity.. if you care about looking like an idiot as you tremble trying to hold difficult positions or unsuccessfully fend off a fake attacker.)

Starting training in traditional martial arts is the best thing i've done for myself. The…read moreinstructors here are patient, knowledgable, and warm. Movements are challenging but results are almost immediate, no doubt there was a huge improvement by the end of one month. Just like all exercise , consistency is key and instructors are good at reminding you of this without being intrusive or self promoting. This place makes me feel i belong there and i am so glad i've brought it into my life

I can't recommend the Women's Self Defense classes enough! I have taken two now and plan to…read morecontinue with the series. There is so much to learn and you can never be too prepared. The instructors are great and provide hands on experience and real-life scenarios. SIGN UP FOR THE PEPPER SPRAY CLASS. You will be surprised by how much you don't know about using your pepper spray. The studio is a bit difficult to find and feels a little sketchy. I thought I would need to take a self defense class just to make my way into the studio. You're in the right place if you're in a dirt lot under the bridge around nothing else. Once inside, you can take these creepy industrial stairs up to the top floor or there is a massive elevator.

I have been training under Gershon ben Keren at Krav Maga Yashir since February 2012. In my opinion…read morethere are four reasons why Krav Maga Yashir Boston should receive serious consideration from anyone in the Boston area seeking to learn self-defense, learn a martial art, or simply vastly improve their physical fitness. Number 1 = Quality of instruction. This is the sine qua non of any martial arts school. Mr. ben Keren and his assistant instructors are professional, competent, and dedicated. Techniques are expertly demonstrated, remediated, and reinforced in a variety of partner-based and group-based drills. Students are always shown the "context" of a technique: what happens leading up to it, the purpose of each movement, and what happens afterwards. My belief is that when new students are able to perform a technique effectively on their first try, it actually reflects far more credit on the teacher than the learner. I see this happen all the time on the mats, and it speaks volumes for the knowledge and competency of the instructors. Number 2 = Krav Maga Yashir teaches the entire spectrum of violence, an area where other martial arts have major limitations. A striking art (boxing, muay thai, karate) may teach you to fight an imaginary assailant. A grappling art such as BJJ may teach you to escape from said assailant on the ground. Neither addresses the more important questions grounded in reality, such as: How did you get there? What if a knife or gun is involved? What if I accidentally trip and fall? Get taken by surprise? Get backed against a wall? Have a significant other I need to protect? Krav Maga Yashir teaches simple, direct, pragmatic solutions to all of the above, and more. Nobody needs to be Donnie Yen or Ronda Rousey to effectively defend themselves, and this school gives you the tools to do that. Number 3 = Value for your $$. Monthly membership rate is comparable to market rate for other area martial arts schools, and much lower than Crossfit gyms and other functional-fitness type places. The membership also gives free access to 5x-weekly cardio bootcamp classes, special outdoor training, and use of the gym at the studio. New workout equipment is constantly added and incorporated into the bootcamps, which themselves are a hell of a workout. Members also get first access to guest seminars with top outside Krav Maga instructors. Number 4 = Great social atmosphere. I'm always impressed by the respect, humility, and maturity of other students. It's very rare to have anyone beating on others in an attempt to be the tough guy, and such behavior is *never* tolerated. Students are all ages from 20s to 60s, all body types and fitness levels. Since all of class is partner or group based, you quickly pick up names and personalities of fellow students. Sometimes when you're on the brink of absolute physical exhaustion, you just can't help but look at each other and laugh at the insanity of it all. That's the kind of esprit that can't be faked, and a major reason I spend 10 hrs a week here without hesitation. Overall, Krav Maga Yashir gets my highest possible recommendation. I am constantly being that annoying guy urging my female friends to try it, and it's what I look forward to every day at work (when I'm not wasting time on Yelp reviews that will end up getting filtered anyway). You can try classes free for a week through the school website as well.

I've been going to this gym since 2021, and it's been one of the best decisions I've ever made in…read moremy life. There is such a vibrant community of accepting people that I don't know where I'd be in my life without this place. As a woman, I feel empowered to not only walk around my city, but I feel confident enough to take up space. If you're looking to be part of a community, learn how to defend yourself, and get physically fit, this is the place for you.

Went there for the Month Trial , before that I had never done any martial arts and now I feel…read morebetter than ever . I love MMA aswell as all the people here, we all just learn so much and is a family journey. Well recommended.

My decision to joining Master Tewfik and GMAS Karate has been one of the best decisions of my life…read more I was becoming bored with my normal fitness routine of going to the gym, running on the treadmill, lifting free weights, etc., I wanted to improve my fitness regimen with something more exciting and where I could learn a new life skill. Learning how to defend myself or how to respond to a situation where I need to defend my family seemed like an important skill to have, so I decided to join Master Tewfik's Muay Thai classes three times per week. He also teaches Karate. The classes are exactly how I hoped they would be. Between the incredible stretching techniques he teaches you (which I never would have tried on my own!), the patience and discipline to assess the environment and respond proactively or reactively with defense or offense, the intense fat-burning cardio you get from the various kicking and punching exercises with heavy bags and weights, and the camaraderie I have with my fellow Muay Thai members due to our common dedication to the art, I couldn't imagine not having Master Tewfik's Muay Thai class part of my weekly fitness regimen. Not only am I getting in incredible shape, but I am also learning some key life skills on how to defend myself and asses challenging situations. You get the best of both worlds...fitness and life skills! And all of this under the direction and mentorship of a Master and teacher who genuinely cares about your progress and happiness in your life. He is friendly, patient, and kind. He truly cares about his students and does everything he can to make you feel comfortable jumping into such a physically-intensive activity as Muay Thai. I look forward to this class so much and even bought a heavy bag to practice on non-class days! If you live in the area and want a new way to improve your fitness regimen and learn a new, key life skill, give GMAS Karate a try!

I love this place since my son has been coming to GMAS Karate he's more confident, more sociable,…read morelikes to be challenged, but most of all instil respect for himself and toward others. The Master has an excellent rapport with his students.

My kids have been doing the Little Tigers program for a half-year now, and they love it! They've…read moregrown so much so fast! Before signing up, neither was very active or brave. Now they run all over the place and don't hesitate to try new or difficult things. I was so impressed by their new energy, I signed up for the Mom's Kickboxing class, which is just as great as the taekwondo. Master Hong is an amazing instructor. He sets a challenging pace but knows how to keep it fun, which matters a lot for young kids. He has an impressive variety of activities that he uses for each class, and the classes build on each other. You can tell he really pays attention to each student when he praises one for finally kicking higher or faster after working so hard, and the student feels proud of their hard work. We highly recommend Sun Taekwondo Academy.

Great place to get your kid be active and not only learn Taekwondo but life skills as well. Master…read moreHong is great! If you are in Danvers or nearby you should definitely check it out! HIGHLY recommend!

Twenty years in, and after a substantial hiatus due to a job that wouldn't let me get to this…read morestudio in time for class, I'm back here. These instructors, and these classes, are fantastic. I love how everybody here is friendly, supportive - but also won't coddle you along if you're just stuck in a rut of self-pity. The beginner class is usually divided into four sections: 1. warm up, where you actually stretch out just about every part of your body. Great if you've been sitting at a desk all day. 2. basics, where you work on some basic aspect of kicking, punching, or stances. 3. forms, where you do what would be kata in standard karate; this is my favorite part. The class usually splits into several groups at this point, depending on experience. There's almost always at least one or two beginners in the back working on Long Fist I, so don't worry if you don't know what you're doing - you're not alone! 4. self-defense, where you work on drills to deal with things like wrist grabs, punches, and kicks. I have *used* these (alas) twice, and in both cases, the hours of drilling I did took over while my brain was locked up. Instructors Mark, Karen, and Jonathan are fantastic, and I was classmates with Instructors Melissa and Jason until I had to drop out. They're terrific people, and there is none of the "buy-a-belt, learn to master the soooper seeeekrit martial arts" vibe I've gotten from other dojos. You sweat, and you learn, and everybody's supportive of that. They are also supportive of the fact that people may come in with pre-existing conditions, and will not make you do the idiotic "push through the pain" thing when you're actually hurting yourself. (I've had teachers who did this, and am very grateful not to be putting up with that anymore.)

This is a fantastic place, and a wonderful community, both for kids and adults. The instructors are…read moreexcellent teachers, but what I love most is their commitment to each student. For adults, they meet you where you are in terms of fitness and knowledge, from absolute beginners to students who been practicing for years, and they then figure out how you can improve from there. For the kids, I have never seen a team of instructors invest such attention and care to every child in every class and then achieve success through positive encouragement. I've been a student myself for over ten years, as has my child, and I'm still learning and growing. Can't recommend highly enough!

I recommend coming here with your kids to learn taekwondo with your kids. They teach self…read morediscipline and self defense. If you're willing to learn also you can also take classes to either learn taekwondo,muay thai,and also boxing. It is fun learning new workouts or new techniques. It is a great atmosphere and safe. They have plenty of parking.

A great place to learn if you are a beginner or need to polish your technique…read more When I first joined, the instructors helped me come to up to speed. I appreciate the timing method that they use. A safe place to learn new skills and build seeks confidence!

My 2 sons have been students in Tom DeFranzo's Martial Arts Academy for years, and have progressed…read morefrom the initial white belt right through to second stripe brown belt...in fact they will test for their black belts in 3 weeks. Tom (or "Sir" as he is respectfully known by his students) has been an ideal teacher, leader, guide and mentor for my sons. He intuitively finds the perfect balance of "firm and tough discipline" and "warm, kind, approachable," and my sons really like and respect him. It is important to note that I highly recommend Tom's martial arts academy for any child, whether highly athletic and "ready to go," or for kids who are less physically confident and more reticent to explore physical activities. My sons have gotten immeasurable benefit from the strengthening, conditioning, flexibility, and agility that comes from martial arts, and in addition their time with Tom has made an indelible imprint on their character, personality, sense of Self, and commitment to integrity. I am so happy that we found Tom, and will always be grateful for his impact on my sons.