I am very particular in my search for a good martial arts school where the instructors are caring, respectful and give proper training techniques. Finding one that doesn't break the bank is important as well. When a friend of mine recommended this school to me, I immediately did my research. While some online reviews were from years past, it influenced me to give it a try. There were many reviewers that said their parents went there, they went there, and now their children goes there too. To me that says a lot. Master Pena and his wonderful instructors teach very well, respectful and are so patient with each student. They will see to each student excel by having proper form. If anyone is lagging behind, they are patient and will try different ways to get the technique down. Having past experience I know that it is very important to have proper form as one can get hurt by not protecting themselves correctly if you don't have the right stance, incorrect formation or movement. So I loved that they explained all of these so well to each student. In the end this builds great self esteem and good self defense techniques for the student. Through the training of the Tae Kwon Do and Krav Maga, each student learn many self defense techniques. The school clearly promotes the 5 tenets of Tae Kwon Do: Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Indomitable Spirit, and Self-Control. This is an amazing establishment that is run by a great family. These kids love these classes by Master Pena, his very skilled daughter and other instructors. There are classes for adults too. read more

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Still an excellent martial arts gym. Their taekwondo program is still very good after all these years/decades Believe me I know, since I am a hard core Taekwondo practitioner for more than 30 years. They concentrate on power and real life application of TKD. In fact Krav Maga self defense techniques are incorporated into the Taekwondo self defense curriculum. The masters/instructors will be honest if one is not doing the drill correctly. They will also pat you on the back of you are doing it right. That is what you want. Masters Dante and Leanne will push you to reach your martial arts goals. read more

My kids have been going for taekwando lessons at Ultimate Martial Arts for years now. It's been great so far. My kids have learned a lot not only self defense but also self discipline and respect for others. The place is also always clean and family friendly. read more

Ultimate Martial Arts - Taekwando - Martial Arts Near Me - Lincolnwood, Illinois

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Ultimate Martial Arts have been a great experience for me. The owner Master Pena and other instructors are very kind, supportive and encouraging to me and all the students to learn Taekwondo. I learn so much about self-defense and Taekwondo so far in 3 months. My goal is to get a black belt and become a martial artist. This Dojo will definitely help me to achieve my goal. read more

UMA has been such a positive addition to my sons life. He began in 2019 and worked his way to becoming a black belt with the support and training of Master Pena. He is such a positive influence in the life of my son and all of the students at UMA. Thankfully, Covid is behind us. I am still in awe that their programming maintained, but on zoom, allowing my child to be active regularly and engaged with his martial arts community. Im so grateful that isn't the life we need to continue to live, but I was so appreciative when we were that UMA was there to help keep kids in their communities. We are so lucky to have them in our lives. read more

Master Lee is an amazing instructor. My son started tykwando and loves it. He is learning so much more than just how to do tykwando. I would recommend this place for anyone who is looking for some structured activity for their kids. read more

I have been doing taekwondo here for 5 years! It has been the best 5 years, you can learn a bunch of skills to prepare you for the outside world and to become more confident in yourself! I highly recommend this place! read more

Ultimate Martial Arts - Main Studio! - Martial Arts Near Me - Lincolnwood, Illinois

We've been attending classes at Ultimate Martial Arts since 2017. Both of my children have benefited greatly from the amazing curriculum and teachers, and they're now first degree black belts. The level of confidence, discipline, and strength they've developed over the years is amazing. Master Peña is an outstanding teacher and role model. I love that it's a family-operated business, with Mrs. Peña at the front desk and daughter Leanne one of the amazing instructors. The value for their services is fantastic and we look forward to continuing with them for years to come. read more

We love this place. Me and my brother been going here for the past 4 years. The owners are good people, they're like family. The prices are reasonable, and this family try their best to keep the kids and family satisfied. The instructors here are the best. They treat their kids equally. The boxing coach here is one of the greatest. I recommend this place more then anything. The place is also really clean. read more

Master Peña and his Team truly treat you as apart of the family the moment you walk in. We enrolled our 6yr old a few months back and we have been thrilled with the level of patience, instruction and communication all the Instructors have for the younger age groups. The student to Instructor ratio is great! Every student has the opportunity to have one on one time within their small groups. The facility is clean and inviting. We've recommended UMA to many people already! We can't wait to see our Little grow within this community! read more

I love this studio. My 5 year old has been attending here for almost a year. The instructors have a remarkable ability to connect with little children, and they clearly have an excellent grasp of best psychological practices for interacting with young students. I highly recommend Ultimate Martial Arts to any parents looking for a martial arts studio for their children. read more

I'm still not a fan of the contract and highly recommend they get rid of it. However, we started going on weeknights instead of weekends and it is a very different experience. There are much fewer students so the attention is much more personal and there is plenty of room to sit. The biggest thing that has changed is my daughter's attitude about it. She loves it now and looks forward to going every week. read more

Okay, so I came here because I wanted to try Krav Maga. I had no idea that I was basically asking for an asskicking by exercise. These guys do a hell of a job. They are very friendly and the place is very clean and organized. There's a huge variety of skill levels from little kids to adults and the rooms are well ventilated. However, the practice is serious enough that you need the appropriate gear to go with it (gloves and wrestling shoes are pretty strongly suggested/needed). Krav Maga by itself is very practical, and something that is not difficult to pick up. So as an art, I would suggest researching it to understand its purpose, as it is not the same as other typical chinese martial arts. It's also quite expensive (129$/month) but thankfully charges monthly and not pay in advance like some martial arts places. However, they are truly worth the 129$. I have not worked out that hard since wrestling and other sports in high school. I look forward to a sore tomorrow and sore body in future from taking Krav Maga with these guys! read more

Its really a mixed bag...Krav Maga is a great work out and the instructors Hayk & Arpun are very nice (and stern!). I crave the experience again, however... The place is not clean, it smells like hot feet. I can only imagine what it takes to disinfect the studio (imagine 12 or more people sweating, some barefoot on the mats day in day out). What ever it is they need to do, their not doing it. I got a rash on my forearms after learning defense techniques using the elbows. Maybe I'm just sensitive? This is my main reason for not returning. My second reason would be that it is WAY too expensive. I got lucky and scored a great deal at an auction event (anyone wanna buy them off me?). Otherwise I could never afford it. Clean the place and I'll be back! read more

I have always wanted to learn Krav Maga and finally found the place to train and learn. Jamie does a great job introducing you to the class schedule, membership options and figuring out what option will suit your needs. The instructors are top notch, they are passionate about the principles of Krav Maga and applying them to everyday life. Krav Maga was created by the IDF (Israeli Defense Force) as a means of pratical combat and to be in control when a dangerous situation arises. The training is intense and the instructors really put the class in a mindset of reacting in real life scenarios. The intensity of the class is also a great workout for your entire body. You will work muscles you never thought you had, which is great because I thought my body was devoid of all muscle. The class is a mix of teenagers, college kids, businessmen and woman, parents, anyone can learn Krav Maga. read more

My 9yr-old son has taken Tae Kwon Do classes here for about 2 yrs now. He loves it. The instructors are great, and Master Pena (the owner) has developed a positive environment for learning that is competitive, but with a strong focus on self esteem. There's no "Go for the leg, Johnny" in this place. It's not about the trophies, although they produce award-winning students.. They also teach Krav Maga for adults - it's Israeli self defense. It looks pretty fly, and the classes are always full so I imagine people like it. Ask about the different discounts - there's one for SINGLE PARENTS, ya'll. That's rare. I would have given them 5 stars, but I think they need to work on their office management a little more. read more

Ultimate martial arts is a really nice place to get some martial arts instruction. They have a really great facility; its huge and has lots of great instructors. They do great training here and its a great place to start learning. read more

Ultimate Martial Arts - Martial Arts Near Me - Lincolnwood, Illinois

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We were looking for a martial arts dojo to enroll our 6-year old son in. We stumbled upon UMA on yelp (which is close by our house) and spoke to the owner and founder, Master Dante, as well as his wife, Leah. The place is clean and well-organized. One of the good things about UMA is they let potential students try out one or 2 classes to see if the child would be interested and go from there, instead of letting the parents sign up right away. Master Dante will assess the student and let the parents know if the child is ready to learn. As a parent, I know how difficult it is to handle children as young as 4 years old, but I am really impressed as to how good they are with children. They teach them the way of tae kwon do, respect and discipline, and also make tae kwon do fun for the young students. They also have MMA for older students. Highly recommended! Thank you, Master Dante, Master Alfred and all of your wonderful instructors! read more

I have been coming to UMA for almost 2yrs. The Kickboxing classes are what brought me in. I have stayed because of how fun the classes are. The Boxing, Heavy Bag, Weapon Defense and TRX are excellent. Definition in my body has been a great bonus, in addition to the increase in stamina. Instructors are great. They are knowledgeable and trained. They continue their own training to pass on to their students. The front desk is usually ran by Carolina, she is friendly as can be. The owner & family very welcoming. Support your ma' & pa' shops. Location is great. My 6yr old daughter just started their Tae Kwon Do classes as well. The mix of gentle and firm instructors is great. My daughter looks forward to her weekly class all the time. read more

Be Careful when you sign contract with them, cancelation fee is charge you 2 or 3 months extra payment , Their classes are overcrowded . Kids are encouraged to test prematurely and that has the whole thing feeling dumbed down. The waiting room is total chaos with loud parents and siblings and the door left open to studio. never ever went back again read more

Worst customer service ever! I came here in December because i wanted to start TaeKwonDo. So I call a week before and tell Dante I'm interested in TaeKwonDo. Dante says come on Saturday at 10am. I come at 10am. He doesn't even greet me or anything. He's busy talking to some family for almost an hour. It's 10am. I go upstairs for the lesson. The instructor up their says come at 11am. I leave the place because 1. Dante is still talking to a family and 2. I'm pissed. Dante calls me and says why did you leave? I said because you lied to me. I told him that the instructor said come at 11am. Dante says you can come at 10am. I said forget it. and hung up the phone. Worst place ever! read more

Re: Krav Maga This is a great facility for Krav Maga classes. The staff was very helpful over the phone to help me become acquainted with what I can expect for my introductory class. It's really not for everyone. They have the classes organized by skill level, check out the website for the scheduling. The Krav Maga classes are intense. They definitely aren't for someone of average shape. They have a lot of members in law enforcement. In the beginning class there was only 1 other woman and mostly really big guys. That isn't to say that they are hostile or unfriendly to women. Far from it they were very polite. I expected this macho facility full of testosterone. I was there just for Krav Maga classes but when I've been at this facility, I do have to say that I'm amazed at the discipline and level of respect of the children between classes. They are respectful of each other and the adults around them. That has to say something about the value of sportsmanship of the facility. If you are unfamiliar with Krav Maga it is a martial art that was developed and used by the Israeli Army for training. I loved the idea that you would be training in self defense in less than ideal conditions. Meaning that unlike a Sylvester Stallone movie, if you are attacked by several guys on a well lit set, they won't take turns getting beaten up by you. You'll see in advanced classes that you will go through self defense exercises with more than one guy coming at you. Also they vary the lighting so you train in strobe lighting or in the dark and sometimes even loud noises. You will be expected to partner up for some exercises and rotate partners. If you are curious and you are ready for a really intense workout, give them a call after checking out their website. That said, expect to really work out very hard. Eat properly before the class but not to soon before and stay hydrated. read more

I used to take this class at this location everyone was so friendly and kind as always the instructors were very friendly and understanding. Recently I called in to find out information to go back and I was very upset to find out how they would not give me information over the phone. They expect me to come in and try a class before I ask about pricing to see if it suitable for me. I would think I know what to expect if I have taken the class before... read more

I liked the classes, two of the instructors (kevin and Iva) were really good and they really care to teach you how to do it right. the reason i'm giving this one star rating because of their customer service. Sarah who works at the front desk told me when I signed up is basically if i didnt want to continue with the 6 month I just bring a note from a doctor that im injured and i cant continue so i finished 5 months then i was relocating for another area so i cant continue with the class, i go there with a doctor note. she pretends like she doesnt event know me and doesnt remember she said that. then after another month when my 6 months membership ended, they still charged my card form membership which is a total scam. i basically had to go to my bank and dispute my transaction and I called them and told them the whole story but they basically dont care. just want to rip off money. dont go there. if you do, be careful with giving them your credit card info. read more

Positives - The instructors are tremendous (The ones that I worked with mostly were Ziad, Arpun, Hayk, and Chris) A) they know their stuff and B) They know how to teach. I have worked in education my whole life and they have their classes down to a science. When introducing a new skill they always attach it to prior knowledge and then allow you to build up to do a more difficult drill utilizing that technique. Almost always they demonstrate likely mistakes, real world application, and walk around the room to offer individual instruction. C)On top of all of that they are funny and always challenged you with new drills pushing you the right amount to excel in it. There were days when I wasn't motivated to attend class but I always left glad that I went because I learned something and had a blast doing it. Negatives - The classes offered other than Krav Maga are exclusively stand up related. The boxing class they offer is tremendous. Hayk is as good as it gets teaching boxing and his class is very challenging. That being said, there is no grappling options at this gym. You do some grappling in Krav Maga but a class solely devoted to grappling would be a great supplement to all of the striking offered (TKD, Kickboxing, and western boxing). It was my perception that the gym doesn't really know what direction it is headed in regards to if it wants to be a Krav Maga gym, martial arts gym, or a fitness gym. They are recently adding a Zumba class to the mix several nights a week. I found this to be baffling for a few reasons, one being that XSport is opening up right down the street. The name of the front of the building is called Ultimate Martial Arts. I have yet to be convinced how Zumba fits into that equation. UMA Does not offer testing to get past level two in Krav Maga. This is frustrating for those that wish to level up and continue to grow as a "martial artist" (I know KM is considered self defense). I was told that there would be a test to take level 3 classes by a certain date and when that date was approaching it was obvious that it wasn't going to happen. That being said, I was released from my contract and they did keep their word. I did appreciate the fact that the owner kept his word and didn't try to lock me into the contract. The final negative is the very high price. For what they charge a month you can go to a pretty high level MMA/BJJ gym anywhere in the city. The boxing classes, the Krav Maga classes, with the addition of a solid BJJ program would make it worth it if you would be able to advance in Krav Maga after your first year. I loved my time at UMA and would do it over if I could but if I could have done it over again, I would have left after my first year there. The great instructors kept me there. My advice to UMA would be to go all in with Krav Maga and structure the classes like the Indiana KM Worldwide gym does. Offer Krav classes that have an emphasis on weapons, ground, and standup. Trying to compete with a mega gym opening within walking distance is rather silly. The one thing that mega gym won't have is learning very useful and taxing martial arts like Krav Maga but you need to be able to keep those students past a year. Stay true to the name in the front of the building. I'd be willing to return if the prices match my room for growth. read more

I'm speaking as a student for 3+ years I started at the foundation Level and now I'm in Level 4. I say this because I have spent a significant about of time and have taken just about every type of class with each instructor. The best thing you can look for in ANY martial arts training are Instructors that CARE. If you keep showing up and work at it without quitting, you will notice that when someone corrects you or gives you something to tweek YOU REALLY see the difference. This is because they care about your PROGRESS. You can ask them questions after class and they will give you feedback. The UMA Krav Maga program with the Fit To Fight Curriculum focuses on the evolution and application based on analysis and trial. The instructors combine drills that help inoculate you from fear and build muscle memory -they also keep it interesting and find creative ways to deal with the dynamics of a real fight (for those of us who don't get into too many fights or have much practice). The Program includes SPARRING for more advanced students. You get challenged and you also learn to get better under safe supervision but challenging enough -trust me. TRX training can help you stretch out creaky muscles -build strength especially for the core balance and functional training. Heavy Bag -Pure energy and a chance to work at your own pace(see kickboxing) and challenge yourself with a large target and bash away. Kickboxing and focus mitt training -More challenging as you will learn to hold pads for your training partner and learn simple to more challenging combinations with both hands and feet -improve focus and coordination/technique with George! read more

Too expensive!!! It cost $200 dollar to signup, and $100 a month. Also cost $300 dollar just to cancel your membership. I would not recommend this place, as they are in it for the money. Make sure to read everything, and how much time you have before signing up for the class. edit: They didn't care that I had college in Urbana-Champaign... read more

I am so shocked and sorry to say that the owner's response to my Yelp review was to release me from my contract and kick me out of the gym. Initially, he assured me that they would work on the bathroom, which he said may have been due to a dead animal caught somewhere in the structure of the building, and thanked me for feedback. However, thereafter, morning classes were sent upstairs to a studio about half the size of the studio downstairs, including the boxing classes. This was not ideal, as the upstairs gym does not have weights, or more importantly, the heavy bags we use in boxing classes. It is more difficult to warm up in a smaller space, and of course, you have less room to spar. This went on for over a week. Finally, I asked the owner's wife, who was staffing the desk, when we could use the down stairs gym again, and she said she didn't know. She said morning classes of fewer than 10 people would now meet upstairs. I said that was not fair, since we needed the heavy bags, and since that was not what was presented to me when I signed my contract. She suggested I find another gym that would meet my needs, since I was concerned about MRSA. Today, the owner told me speaking to his wife the day before was unacceptable, and I had to leave. I am shocked. I have no idea what offended her, beyond my asking to use the gym I had been paying for in monthly dues. I did not raise my voice, did not use foul language, and in fact, even asked why she was angry with me, which she denied that she was. The owner refused to tell me what I had done or said that offended his wife. He did say he was offended that I would write a negative review on Yelp while using his gym. I pointed out that I had tried to have my concerns addressed in personal conversations, but that I had had no success, and indeed, my talking to his wife personally got me kicked out of the gym. It is SUCH a shame that such talented instructors work in this environment. The people who attend the gym are really nice people, and the classes are challenging and fun. The only downsides are the cleanliness issue, the ever-changing schedule, the perverse, and I would say retaliatory, refusal to allow morning students to use the larger studio downstairs, and the frequent cancellation of classes. These are all administrative issues that could be addressed so easily. read more

I things its a great place to learn self defense i had read some negative reviews about the centre using some harsh words i really don't know about others but i think it is best place to learn self defense specially krav maga it is the best of the best. Friendly environment , caring people and highly qualified staff and teacher from the first call i noticed the great customer service and when i arrived at the academy. The school was awesome neat and clean professional staff everything was great. I wanted to lose my weight i got the best results Lose 11 pounds in just 1 week with good training and perfect diet i am now making my way to become a police officer Moral of the story DON'T READ NEGATIVE COMMENT'S AND MAKE A DECISION COme first see the academy and then decided I don't know about others but i am highly satisfied read more

My daughter has been training here for a year now. I've decided to start martial arts for her to build up her confidence and of course to learn some self defense techniques. I am beyond happy, not only she is 100% more confident but she is also learning how to protect herself. The instructors are very professional and know how to work with the kids. Very clean and organize facility. I would recommend this place to anyone! Thanks UMA! read more

This is the best Krav Maga studio in the Chicago area. The owner, Dante is a great motivator and the classes are the perfect combination of self defense and fitness. Krav is the most practical form of self defense I've ever studied. Give it a try. read more

Our son took taekwondo here for nearly a year. The classes are overcrowded and crammed back to back with literally no time in between. Kids are encouraged to test prematurely and that has the whole thing feeling dumbed down. The waiting room is filled with loud parents and siblings and the door left open to studio, leaving kids distracted. It's a shame as they could address these things, but don't. read more

If you want to learn Krav Maga without any bs then this is the place. First the trainers are awesome Ivo, Kevin, and Paul are some of the best and really care about your development. They spend as much time as they can with you in proportion to the number of students within a class. The smaller the class the more attention you receive. They also know how to make you sweat and push you. Second the people you train with are also very respectful and nice no mma wannabees in here. I have trained with my brother but also with people from the class and everyone has a common goal which is to learn self defense and return home in one piece. Third the place is very clean. I have spent a year training here and will most likely keep learning Krav Maga at UMA. read more

I'm in my mid-30s and I've always wanted to try a martial art - they made it fun, fast, and effective - for both learning and for getting fit. A buddy of mine wanted to try Krav Maga and we both live downtown Chicago, but based on the reviews and the hours, UMA is the best and worth the drive. I can honestly say I'm in the best shape of my life because, if you let them, the workouts push you further than you think you can go! It's up to you whether you want to go 110% or just show up, learn, and still get a good workout without going crazy, that's why I think it's great and I still drive up from downtown. You can stay in Level 1 and just keep fit or challenge yourself and excel to Level 2 which I did in 4 months. It's also co-ed and evenly split male/female in level 1. They've got 2 rooms going for difference classes, there's good changing facilities and it's easy on/off of I-94. I liked that a lot of my classmates were police officers from around the area too. I recommend this for anyone that wants to get fit and actually challenge their mind learn something at the same time try this! read more

My son has been taking tae kwon do classes here. The instructors are really great. They teach fundamentals and really understand each students learning curve. My son has stayed focused on these classes longer than any other extra cirricular... I am very pleased and highly recommend these classes for all kids.... read more

Ultimate Martial Arts is the ultimate school for Krav Maga. I've been here for more than 2 years. The instructors make the school worth coming back to. Kevin is the master of conditioning and whipping you into the best shape of your life. And Ivo works you until you feel like vomiting (in a good way!). They do such an amazing job preparing you mentally and physically to defend yourself in any situation! read more

I have been boxing for a few years previously before joining UMA, therefore having high expectations. UMA definitely fulfilled my expectations with the boxing instruction of Hayk. His classes are very challenging and push me to the limit every time. I feel like I am in the best shape of my life because of it. Master Pena provides top notch customer service and is always a phone call away. He's a very approachable, good person. The facilities are always clean and as previously noted each member is treated with respect and provided with great customer service. I highly recommend this place for anyone looking for martial arts training, whether you are a beginner or been practicing for years. read more

Taking Krav Maga here has been a fantastic experience! The instructors are amazing and really help you to excel, and all the other students are very helpful. Great atmosphere and great instruction! read more

**Update** After working with the management they issued me a refund for the charge. I really appreciate them working with me. Great customer service and great services. read more

Very nice, clean and professional facility with excellent instructors. Variety of classes at convenient times throughout the week and on weekends. Especially enjoy the TRX training. read more