Upon arrival I was quickly greeted by a friendly member of staff (Master V) who made us feel…read morewelcome. He provided us with information to the program along with the mental and physical benefits of TKD. Master Moon (and his team) are extremely patient, energizing, fun and serves as strong mentors to the community. We joined a year ago and my two kids continue to love going to class. If you're looking for an activity for your kid(s) that provides physical activity and confidence building this is a great option! Master Moon and Master V go out of their way to ensure the class sizes are small, each child is supported and encouraged and the kids are given an enriched experience. My kids are so proud of their achievements and have the belts to prove it! If you're looking for an activity or a discipline you want to invest your child into consider Master Moon's TKD, your child will grow more secure, disciplined and invest in their mental and physical health. Master Moon and ALL of the staff are considerate and thoughtful investors into our community and the well being of our kids! I highly recommend you consider enrolling your kid(s)! My son and daughter attend class together as they have advanced in their belt achievements at a similar pace. As a busy parent it is a bonus to bring both my kids (two year apart in age) to the same activity! I trust the values my children are learning from Master Moon's establishment!

Almost 3 1/2 years ago, my 4 year old son won a free month trial at Master Moon's TKD as a school…read morecarnival prize. Martial Arts was not something that my wife and I had ever considered for our family, but we decided to give it a try. I am so glad we did! The Little Tigers program is absolutely amazing! My son absolutely loves learning TKD, and as parents, my wife and I are constantly impressed with the life skills he has learned at MMTKD. Focus, Team Work, Respect, Self Control, Goal Setting, and Patience, to name a few, are taught from Day 1 by Master Moon and his Amazing Team of Instructors. After the first year, MMTKD held a "Family Month" where Moms, Dads, and siblings could join students in class for free. My two daughters and I jumped at the chance to give it a try. Since then, TKD has become a huge part of our family's life. My 10 year old daughter loves the supportive instructors at MMTKD. The instructors use a "praise, challenge, praise" approach when working with their students and it really makes a difference. My 13 year old daughter really enjoys the physical challenge of TKD. Learning the different forms and techniques continually challenges her and keeps her coming back! For me, TKD is not just a chance to workout, but an opportunity to spend time with my kids doing something healthy and positive. There are so many things about MMTKD that are special and worth mentioning... I feel that a simple review cannot do it justice. Come and check it out for yourself. I promise you will be impressed!

I have trained at Midwest Karate (Art of the empty hand) for several years ever since graduating…read morefrom the University of Minesota under Sinsai Fusaro( in 1973 where he taught). When the dojo opened at Dayton's Bluff, I continued to train under Sinsai Forest,Joe, and Anita. The oraganization has a strong reputation for integrity, flexible class schedules, and reasonable rates. As Master Ginchin Funakoshi stated in the preface to his 1975 book,"Karate-Do, My Way of Life," Karate-do is not merely a sport that teaches self defense blocks, strikes, and kicks but a continued training discipline that promotes strong mind/body to help provide a defense against illness and disease as well. Thanks to his devotion to Karate-do, he never had to take medicne or consult a physician. Shotokan karate's traditional training system of stretching, basics, kata, and kumite (sparring) provides an outstanding opportunity to gain self confidence, strength and balance to feel more comfortable in any self defense situation that may arise. Tom Wiblishauser

I've been going to Midwest Karate in St. Paul for almost two years, and it's an excellent dojo!…read more Senseis Joel Ertl and Anita Bendickson are extremely knowledgeable, helpful and pleasant instructors. Both have been national champions and teach karate every day, so you can't do much better than that for instructors. Both have a little different teaching style, so it's good to take classes with both if you can. I attend frequently with my 12-year-old son, and this is what many adults with older/mature children do, so think about starting *with* your child instead of just watching them on the sidelines. For the younger children, there is a children's program with child-only classes, starting at age 5. One huge thing that sets Midwest Karate apart is the availability of instruction times. There are day and evening options for all belt levels. I don't think the senseis are ever ill or absent. If you show up at a time, they'll teach you whether you're with 25 other people or alone. They accept everyone and work with them at their level, no matter what that is. There are many different people with many different fitness levels and ages, so don't worry about being too out of shape or old or whatever. They'll tell you when you're ready to test for a belt or go on to a higher class. The other members are welcoming to new people, so no worries! Go there! Joel and Anita and the other Midwest dojos feel very strongly about only awarding belts to people who have worked hard and deserve it versus some of the more "chain"-y karate places whose function is to make money by handing out belts every 3 months whether you deserve it or not. This is a positive thing, and there won't be a mystery if you should test for your belt or not---they'll let you know if you should or not. Sometimes they'll tell me to do it, sometimes they'll tell me to wait. Other tidbits include frequent seminars focusing on different topics such as practical self defense (eg. "Defending against knife attacks"), specific katas, etc. There isn't a huge focus on tournaments at the lower levels, but there is an annual children's tournament and open adult tournament at the U of MN that allows all levels to compete. Feel confident about joining Midwest Karate!!!

This is a community of awesome people!…read more A friend of mine recommended Striking Institute when I decided I should learn some self defense so if ever under attack I'd be able to get away and/or beat the crap out of them. I'm not quite there yet, I could probably really destroy my attacker if they were 3 feet tall and 103lbs...I'm working my way up to annihilating a full blown adult. What started as maybe a short term thing turned into a membership for several months now. The coaches are some of the nicest people around and they know their stuff, they're actual fighters, not gym instructors (no shade), and you have pros training all around you. They make it fun, informative, and super comfortable for newbies that may have some anxiety going in. The other members are always welcoming as well and giving you tips if you're interested. There's a variety of classes, bags, drilling, clinch, pads, sparring etc. I've got an injury, but I'm given alternative striking options in each of the classes, it's great. The only thing I don't like is getting punched in the face with my eyes wide open, it's quite unpleasant. But that's my own fault and it's not like they hit you at full force...at least the coaches did their job and drilled the "keep your eyes open" part into me. Anyway, if you're searching for a place to get started, go here.

My daughter and I spent nearly two years training at Hive Martial Arts, drawn to the supportive…read morecommunity fostered by Mr. Froeming and other members, which quickly felt like family. With over a decade of experience coaching all ages--especially youth--I also served as an assistant coach and videographer at Hive, supporting the school in any way I could. Unfortunately, a recent incident with a confrontational parent, Andrea Deshone, exposed serious gaps in the school's approach to conflict resolution. After a class, Andrea aggressively approached me over a complaint from her daughter, Stella, an instructor at Hive that day. Instead of addressing her concerns professionally, Stella went to her mother, who then confronted me. Despite my calm requests for space, Andrea refused to back away and even stepped closer when I expressed that I felt threatened, effectively cornering me. She got so close that I could feel her breath and spit. Mr. Froeming and another student approached, and I pleaded for help, explaining that I felt attacked and trapped. It can be as frightening for a man to feel threatened by a woman, knowing that defending oneself could have serious consequences. Unfortunately, this nuance was not acknowledged here. A trusted adult student witnessed the exchange, observing that I had simply asked a question of the only instructor in my group. Later, this student confirmed to Mr. Pallesen that I had done nothing wrong. Despite this corroboration and texts supporting my account, Mr. Pallesen never acknowledged this and chose not to address the issue. Initially, he agreed to mediate, but after I submitted a personal account explaining the incident's impact on my CPTSD--which affected me severely for two weeks and still affects me--he declined to read it and suggested I pretend the incident hadn't happened. When I asked if he would take the situation seriously if the genders were reversed, he confirmed that he would, highlighting an inconsistency. In our exchanges, Mr. Pallesen shared his own experience with Andrea, recounting how her family aggressively confronted him in 2017 about his treatment of children, saying, "What the f--k happened? Why are you treating the kids like this?" According to him, this intervention forced him to self-reflect, helping him save his business. He also explained that Andrea's family threatened him with a bad review, which he acknowledged could have impacted his business. This may explain his reluctance to address my situation directly, but I genuinely hope he learns from this experience as he did with his previous encounter so he can grow as both an instructor and a leader. This experience reflects broader concerns about leadership and standards at Hive. During one leadership lecture, Mr. Pallesen stated that "both political parties are basically the same," a comment that bothered one student, Beth, so much that she responded, "That is the definition of white privilege," highlighting a lack of sensitivity in a group that includes people of color and people of the LGBTQ+ community. While Mr. Froeming and most of the community were wonderful, the lack of professional support from leadership ultimately left my daughter and me feeling disconnected from a place we once considered family. I share this review in the hope that Hive Martial Arts can reflect and grow, strengthening its community for all.

Great school with amazing teachers. My son has been going here for five years. I would never go…read moreanywhere else! I will follow this dojo anywhere if they ever move! Best dojo ever!!!!! :)

Great for anyone at any level higher experience guys love to help out lots of spaceread more

Next Level Combat, without a doubt, is the BEST Jiu Jitsu school I've ever trained at. Nate is an…read moreincredible teacher and has created an unbelievable culture that you won't find anywhere else. The talent/skill level at Next Level Combat is second to none. I'm so grateful to be training at such an incredible school with such amazing teammates.

If you want to be in a muslim village this is your place! You are surrounded by people who have no…read morerespect for the instructors nor the other students or women. They do not bow, they disrespect and it's not a good learning environment, sorry but it's unfortunate. These are facts and truth.

Went there had my son try out some of the class. I found one instructor condescending to my son who…read moreis in spectrum. And the other assistant master were stuck up acted as if you bother them as questions

The owner and lead instructor is incredible. A champion martial artist who elevates the game of…read moreeveryone who trains with him. The school is perfect for students of all backgrounds and skill levels.

Great training. Wonderful lessons! Brandon's a beast! I always make sure I visit when I am in…read moretown! I recommend the same for you!

I'll like to give it a 5 star but is the only gym we've attended. But base on this experience it's…read moregood. Every coach has its own style of teaching. Everyone get to open roll at the end regardless of belt and who you roll with. Higher or more knowledgeable belts go easier on less knowledgeable kids to help them build skills/experience.