First off, this place is run like a well-oiled machine. The owners treat the employees like family. They obviously have a common goal and are all on the same page here. To keep kids safe, respectful and engaged. We signed up for the after school care program (priceless). Being a single parent, I appreciated the support they provided our family. My daughter says yes ma'am at home at it was nice that they reiterated that after school as well. They also set achievable high standards that I appreciated like, make your bed, say thank you, help out at home without being asked, and so on. Mrs. Danielle (one of the owners) is very transparent about how they do things. The kids adore and respect her. It's great knowing we are part of a community here. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for community, discipline, and support. read more

My kid goes here, they're really nice to him. You do have to sign up a year at a time, and it's either $150 a month for 3x a week or more ($170 per month) PLUS a 3-year commitment for unlimited per week. read more

We've had a wonderful experience with United TKD. At our first visit every instructor and many higher belts all introduced themselves to us and answered our son's questions, making a real effort to make us feel welcome. The classes are great and we've been very pleased with the seriousness of the instruction, focus on learning names and getting to know each other, long warm up and strength work, and attention for helping our son learn. The culture of positivity they've fostered pared with the kind and respectful discipline they practice has really created a wonderful environment for our son. read more

This has taken me a while to post, but I wanted to share our story. To cut to the chase, we do NOT recommend UTA. We (my wife and I) entered into a one-year Member Contract with UTA (United Taekwondo Academy) in February, 2012 for our 10-year-old son. (Spoiler alert: Don't sign one-year contracts with a martial arts school!) The UTA representative gave the sales pitch and we signed the agreement (without really paying much attention to the fine print on the back, of course). We payed $1485, or $135/mo. on our Visa card. Our son needed, as far as we were concerned, the discipline of a martial art, the consistency of multiple weekly classes and the benefit of consistent physical exercise. And for the first couple of months, that's what we got at UTA. Enthusiastic instructors, high energy classes (if not strong in the technique department), school picnics.. But as soon as the spring got into full swing, it was clear that the emphasis at UTA was on the business of bringing kids into the school, charging them fees for everything, and going to TKD contests! Beyond that, the administration - for all their apparent good intentions - was woeful. On three different occasions over the summer, there were classes scheduled that did not occur - and given that we live about 25 minutes from the school, was a serious inconvenience among other things. On one of those occasions, my wife made sure to call the UTA office on the morning of the scheduled class. Although the office manager assured her there was a class, the class had, in fact been cancelled! I dropped our 10 year-old off and left as he entered the school. As it turned out, of course, there was no class - cancelled at the last minute. But, also of course, the most alarming thing of all was that no provision was made for his safety by the instructor or by the office! Our 10 year-old went out the door, and the office closed a short time later - without a teacher or any member of the office staff making sure that he had a parent or guardian to take him home, or that he had some other arrangement. Someone in the office certainly could have called me right then on the cell phone listed for me. But our son was left to fend for himself until I came to pick him up 2 hours later. Although we have since worked on his options in such situations (like insisting that he use the office phone to call us at the outset), the incident was one that could have been tragic -- and, in our estimation, UTA certainly failed in their responsibility to act as loco parentis. Our pediatrician actually advised a lawsuit, but as to the law: no harm, no foul. Needless to say, however, UTA lost our confidence in them to watch our child, let alone engage with him in a contact sport.. And although we appreciate the loyalty and spirit of the school, during tournament season(s), Saturday classes are often cancelled so that the students can support their school at tournaments and such. We were certainly never warned that this would be the norm - though given our child's school and sports schedule, Saturdays are the best option for him and one of the reasons we signed in the first place. Honestly, we have all simply soured on UTA. We really do not want any more difficulty or meetings with administration - and they certainly offered that to assuage us. We have also had a number of email exchanges with the administration, from early in the summer when we complained about lack of communication involving schedule changes. Eventually we had to go to court - we lost, given that we certainly signed the agreement that says UTA has sole discretion about when they offer classes, how they offer them, and when they cancel them. We just wanted solid, consistent martial arts lessons for our children with staff and instructors we trust when we signed - but there was nothing in the fine print about that. At this point, we have no more faith in UTA; before we pulled him from the school, he cried at the mention of going to class, and our dealings with UTA's administration have been frustrating at best. So, to make a long story short, beware. They do have some things to offer, but there are a lot of other schools that do it with more organizational integrity. read more

When we first moved to Chapel Hill 2 years ago, we decided that my 8-year old daughter should take a martial art. We ended up choosing Tae Kwon Do although we went with a different school. I took martial arts as a teenager so I was relatively familiar with the beginning (white and yellow belt) instruction so it was fairly easy for me to see if my daughter knew the material or not. In addition, I work from home but live in a downtown area where there are not many children so we decided to take advantage of the other school's afterschool program. After a full year at the other school, and several very frank and honest conversations with the instructor, I concluded that, while they are very good with children, in my opinion, they were no more than a belt factory. It seemed like every 2 months was bonus time for the family owned business so while the owner's wife sported her Louis Vuitton bags, the children were graduated to the next belt despite many of them obviously not knowing the material in their testing. I proceeded to look for another school and had heard of UTA in the past. I went to visit the school and I had a frank conversation with the office manager and the head instructor in an effort to vet this school better, share my previous experience and explore their philosophy in regards to testing, belt promotions, etc. Needless to say, based on their answers, I enrolled my daughter in their afterschool and TKD programs. They've been nice, friendly and have taken due diligence ensuring that my daughter was prepared and ready to test prior to allowing her to do so. Yes, they have "events" as another reviewer put it but that's OK with me. They have extra-curricular activities as well (like Parent's Night Out) but nobody is required to participate. Yes, they tell the kids about upcoming events at the end of class but many times that's the only way the parents know about the activities. I like my daughter having social activities. Of course they cost extra money. This is a business. The activities cost money for them to put on. Overall, I have been pleased to date with their afterschool program as well as the Tae Kwon Do instruction that my daughter has been receiving. Remember, she doesn't NEED afterschool care. My primary goal was to ensure that our daughter received a solid TKD education and not be advanced faster than she should be. UTA has not let me down so far. read more

UTA has been an excellent place for my children to learn Tae Kwon do, as well as respect, perseverance and leadership. My daughter experienced an injury that kept her out of class for over a year (she was injured dancing, not at UTA). When she was ready to come back, but nervous about returning, the instructors worked with her outside of class to help build her confidence. They offered their support continuously while she was out and were a key part of her returning to the sport she loves. Anyone would benefit from the wonderful instructors at UTA. read more

Great location, good class sizes and something for everyone. They have students start at 4 years old up to 80. My son started here when he was almost 7, about 8 years ago when it was under different management. I was not a big fan of martial arts, but he really wanted to try it so I signed him up. He has been able to continue with other team sports and activities while participating. When the school changed management, I tried talking him into changing schools or switching to a different form of martial art (remember I was not a fan). He said he loved the school and his teacher Mr. Tippens and wanted to stay. This was a great decision. In the past 3 years since Master Partridge has taken the school over, the teaching quality, the physical school and the opportunities made available to students has not only gotten better, but has excelled. I have been so happy with the quality of instruction and how caring the staff is, that I have started taking classes with my son. It's fun and they encourage you to be the best you can be. Who knew Tae Kwon Do was fun? At UTA it is. read more

Our son has been attending United Tae Kwon Do since 2012. We started TKD based on suggestions from his school, behavioral specialist, and his doctor. He attends 2-3 classes weekly with breaks for holidays and Summer. He has matured immensely since he first started. The instructors do an excellent job with teaching attention, accountability, and positive behavior. Before each belt graduation, every student must be able to perform the necessary task for the new belt and they also have to demonstrate good behavior (grades) in school and at home. They work with each student (if needed) to make sure this happens. The instructors are excellent! They are firm when needed but they make every class worthwhile and FUN. Our son has never complained about a class or an instructor and he most definitely would if warranted. Before we started, I had no idea about the physical aspect of TKD. It has proven to be a great source of physical activity for our son. In the beginning, he could barely do 5 sit-ups or 2 push-ups. Now, he can easily do what is required for each class and he completes the activity the correct way. Both his core strength and stamina have improved greatly. All of this is accomplished without the stress of some performance sports. There is a lot to learn but the time requirements are completely flexible. If not, the instructors will be happy to work with you. We have been completely satisfied with the school and everyone associated with the school. Since 2012, 5 other students have joined from our son's school based on our recommendations. We're not sure about the 2 other negative reviews. We have not encountered any issues in almost 3 years. The Academy does offer other activities that you may need to pay for. All of this is explained up front each year we sign up. It is a business but there's NEVER any pressure to participate in these extra paid activities. Also, what business doesn't want to add customers. The goal is keeping customers and from what I see, it's working at United Tae Kwon Do Academy. read more

United Tae Kwon Do is AWESOME! They teach self discipline, eye focus, body focus, and mind focus. My son has learned all of the above as well as respect and the importance if being honest and having integrity. I have been thoroughly impressed with UTK of Chapel Hill / Carrboro. read more

Tae Kwon Do, Inc...otherwise known as United Tae Kwon Do has been more than a disappointment -- it's been disastrous! My children had shown some interest in Tae Kwon Do and so my husband took them for a lesson. My kids had taken a few lessons years ago at this place and we thought it would be a good place to start (United TKD was previously under a different ownership). When my husband took my kids for the first time in several years, the owner/manager convinced my husband (who is not from this country) to sign a three year contract that cost about $260 a month. For. The. Next. Three. Years. Over the last 2+ years that we have had this "special membership" my kids have attended 3-5 lessons. And if we are late with a payment, the management goes ballistic. Apparently there is no way to get out of the contract, so each lesson (assuming they have taken 5) has cost $640. They will absolutely not let us out of this contract, even though we are really struggling to make ends meet. And on top of their unreasonableness, a TKD lesson at United consists of 10-15 minutes of warm up, 20 minutes of team exercises, and only about 10 minutes of real TKD practice, then another 10 minutes of cool down and add to that several minutes of the kids sitting in line listening to upcoming events, etc. Time practicing the sport is at an absolute minimum. And I am comparing this to a TKD school that my son attended in Raleigh when he was younger. The one bright spot is that Shay, one of the black belt teachers, is an awesome guy. But did I mention that lower belts get taught by more advanced students rather than actual instructors that are paid to teach? This is unfair both to the new students and the more advanced students who should be receiving their own instruction. Although these are not tennis lessons, this operation is truly a racket. read more

Just like the other guy, I'm reposting my review here as well. Just a note - really, your enjoyment of the school depends on whether you enjoy Tae Kwon Do, because if you do than UTA will satisfy your needs. So sign up first for their 3-month or 6-month contract and see if you like it. Don't make the mistake of rushing into a 3 - year contract and then expect to be able to cancel it if you don't like it. Anyways, that was just a side to tell you to be careful about rushing in to TKD. Heres the rest of my review: UTA is a great TKD school. As a student there myself, I know that the classes are educational, fun, and demanding. The instructors are kind and knowledgeable, and they run a great class. The instructors keep a high standard for the students, and nearly all of the students maintain that standard. The school trains the students well and only moves them up to the next rank when they are ready. Classes are held every day of the week, except sunday(with special exceptions for events and special holidays). This means that its easy to come to class a lot during the week. Also, there is no limit on how many classes you can attend. For me this is great, as I like to attend 3-4 classes a week. At some other schools in the area, you can only go twice. You can also attend multiple classes in one day. Lastly, the training space they have is huge - much larger than the average one, and it provides the space you need for many students to practice TKD together. Overall, the school is great, with high-quality instructors, students, and training material. I would recommend it to any one, adult or student. read more

One of my three sons is a second degree black belt at UTA. He started UTA at age 6 and became a first degree black belt at age 9 and a second degree black belt at age 10! UTA has been amazing for him. We are at the Carrboro location so he doesn't get to see Master Partridge a lot but when he does it's always inspirational. Shay and Mike have been very important influences on him and are extremely dedicated to the kids and building their skills and confidence. There have been tough times where he failed stripe tests or was told he was not ready to test and these experiences were character building and he looks back at them with humor now! He has also had his share of SMALL injuries during sparring and again- he has learned to get back in the saddle. He has never gone to a competition and doesn't really enjoy sparring much but that has been just fine with UTA. We sign 1-year contracts each year because I am always worried about him loosing interest in the middle of a 3-year term but it's been 5-years and he still loves it! Even when soccer or some other sport kicks in he reduces attendance to once a week for a while when necessary but then increases attendance again later. I believe that UTA has had a major role in shaping my son into the responsible, ethical, and disciplined kid that he has become. My youngest son is 5 and has been a tiny kicker for a little over a year. He can't wait to be a black belt like his big brother! UTA is wonderful with the tiny kickers and they surely appreciate that the younger children need more encouragement and less hard knocks. I highly recommend UTA to anyone interested in improving their child's confidence and physical health! read more

My 8 year old son and I take TKD at UTA, and my 7 year old daughter is a Tiny Kicker. We absolutely love it. My son and I have been taking for almost 2.5 years and we are testing for our black belts in a few weeks. We are primarily taught by Master Shay and Mister Mike, and they are amazing. They are super caring toward my son but also convey their high expectations for him. They have been flexible with us when needed (e.g., they allow me to take the class for juniors so that I can train with my son; they are available for private sessions to work on things we are struggling with). My son even did a few sparring competitions and had a great time. TKD at UTA has really helped build his character -- his respect for other people, his confidence, his discipline, his work ethic -- in a way that team sports haven't. We signed a 3 year contract for him and 1 year contracts for me and for my daughter. I think it's pretty standard practice for martial art studios. My daughter has struggled with gross motor skills her whole life and the Tiny Kickers program has been wonderful for working on her coordination and body control. The teachers are kind of "fake strict" with the Tiny Kickers -- they pretend to be strict but with a smile, and without any stern words. I'm always amazed at how engaging and patient they are with the little ones. My only concern with TK is that there used to be 4 classes M-F that she could choose from, and now there are only 2 b/c the classes on the other 2 were moved to a time she's still in school. I'm hoping they'll switch back... In sum, I would recommend TKD enthusiastically. And if you want to learn with your child instead of sitting and watching, it is an ideal place for family training! read more

Hm. I took an hour out of my busy day to write a thoughtful review which I KNOW is representative of my community, as I've talked to many moms and dads who echo my enthusiasm about UTK of Chapel Hill. After two days, my review was relegated to the "Not Recommended" pile. I want to know why two highly negative reviews remain, and why 10--yes 10 glowing reviews have been moved to a different section where the rating does not contribute to the overall review rating. It bothered me so much that I read Yelp's fine print, which is written in a totally bunk fashion, by the way, and leads me to believe that their algorithm is bogus. How do the two negative reviews represent my community more than the 10 glowing reviews?? I'm going to post a daily review until someone from Yelp can explain this to me. read more