Kim's Hapkido is an unequivocally unique physical and educational experience for students of all…read moreages and abilities. For the past couple of years, our nephew and his other cousin have been students of Master Kim and Mrs. Candice. We've watched his levels of confidence and respect increase through the program(s). It was this building of character that encouraged us to put our own daughter into the studio. While martial arts is the root idea of the studio, the bigger picture is the development of the student- building them up, while utilizing physical and mental ideologies meant to nurture preexisting positive traits and improve that which is lacking. Herein, students are assessed and tested fairly and given every opportunity to succeed. They are treated like real people- as individuals working towards individual goals, in a team style environment. We've seen our daughter grow a ton in this studio. Her continued interest in the program has been the biggest surprise- she's young and usually easily distracted, but she WANTS to be involved in Hapkido! She's excited to go and wants to better herself. Her focus is improving and the physical outlet speaks for itself in these times! It should be noted that recently, Master Kim announced that he, himself has needed to step down due to health and family concerns. Longtime 2nd in command "Mrs. Candice" has taken over the studio and is already proving that she has the will and ability to continue Master Kim's teachings and the ideology of Hapkido to the the next generation of students. After seeing how important it was to the "new" managment (Candice had basically been running the place the entire time we've known her, so not really NEW) to provide continuity for longtime members, we had no reservations about allowing our daughter to pursue the next level of instruction under Mrs. Candice's tutelage. We are excited for what the future holds for our family at Kim's Hapkido- come out and see what the fuss is about!!!

Would have given a higher rating, if Master Kim was still around…read more Our family enrolled at Kim's Hapkido because of Master Kim's reputation, experience, and leadership as a seventh-degree black belt. We were therefore surprised and concerned to learn that the school would be taken over by an instructor whom we had personally seen only recently advance from red belt to first-degree black belt. The difference in rank and experience between the former and new leadership is significant, and it has reduced our confidence in the level of martial-arts and self-defense instruction being offered. Several more senior instructors with substantially greater experience no longer appear to be teaching at the school. We do not know why they stopped attending, but we wish they would return. We also had concerns about the testing and promotion process. Especially after the most recent graduation this past Saturday. Based on what we personally observed, some students advanced despite not consistently demonstrating proper kicks, techniques, or practical proficiency. It often seemed that receiving the next colored belt was emphasized more than earning rank through demonstrated ability. The school does promote manners, discipline, and responsibility, which we appreciated. However, we would not recommend it to families seeking serious martial-arts or practical self-defense training. Considering the cost, promotion standards, loss of senior instructors, and major reduction in leadership experience, we have decided to look elsewhere.

We absolutely love king tiger martial arts! My 6-year-old has been attending for a few months now,…read moreand the growth we've seen has been incredible. Not only are they learning strong karate skills, but their confidence, focus, and discipline have improved so much. One of the biggest differences we've noticed is in school. The lessons they've learned in class about respect, listening carefully, and staying focused have really carried over into the classroom. Their teacher has even commented on how much they're excelling and how much more confident and attentive they've become. It's amazing to see how the skills from karate translate into everyday life. Master C is patient, encouraging, and truly wonderful positive role model to these young kids!!! All the instructors keep the classes fun and engaging while still teaching structure and responsibility. My child looks forward to every class and is always excited to show and tell master c the good work he's done outside of the studio! The studio is clean, safe, welcoming, and has such a positive, supportive atmosphere. It really feels like a community. We couldn't be happier with our experience thus far and highly recommend this studio to any parents looking to give their child a strong foundation both on and off the mat!

I don't take martial arts lessons but our halau practices here on Sundays. It is a nice sized…read morestudio that they keep nice and clean. They have a large main room, a yoga room and a smaller practice room. I love walking in and seeing the inspirational things they have on their wall and front windows.

We have followed Coach David since he was just a coach somewhere else. He is the best martial arts…read moreand self-defense coach on the entire East Coast. Our entire family practices Krav Maga here at Katalyst and we couldn't imagine ever going anywhere else. The practical applications for every move we learn is crucial. We work on self-defense techniques that would actually be needed in life versus competition submissions or cage fights. While all of the martial arts and self-defense classes are similar to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, and MMA, we have our own style and flavor here.

Every woman and every teen needs to be taking classes here! I started over a year ago and my…read moreconfidence in protecting myself, and loved ones, as well as my situational awareness has significantly increased. I've learned techniques that can take a man 2x my size down. Weapons week and grappling are my favorite, but grips and holds are by far the most important to learn for everyday situations. The instructors are AMAZING - although it's a group class, they constantly give one-on-one critique because their #1 goal is safety first. I wish I was introduced to this studio sooner.

My daughter has been attending this TaeKwonDo academy for a little over a year, and the growth I've…read moreseen in her--both on and off the mat--has been incredible. What started as an activity has truly become her passion. Mr. Baker is extremely knowledgeable and intentional in the way he teaches. He creates an environment built on trust, respect, and high expectations. He is firm with his students, but that's part of what makes his instruction so impactful. Life isn't all sugar cookies and rainbows, and he understands that he's not just teaching kicks and forms--he's helping shape character, resilience, discipline, and confidence. I've watched my daughter grow in focus, accountability, perseverance, and self-belief. She walks a little taller now, carries herself with more confidence, and takes pride in her progress. I am so grateful she has found something she truly loves and a mentor who is preparing her not just for the next belt, but for the real world. Highly recommend to any family looking for more than just a sport--this academy builds strong kids from the inside out.

My daughter has been a dedicated student at Virginia Tae Kwon Do for several years. During this…read moretime, we have invested not only our time and money--$110 per month plus testing fees and gear--but also our trust in the leadership of this school. She progressed from white belt to black belt through hard work and discipline. Unfortunately, that same level of discipline and professionalism has not been modeled by the school's leadership. The head instructor, Mr. Baker, regularly brings his personal political views into the classroom environment. He has shared disturbing anecdotes about immigrants and political talking points that are completely inappropriate for a space where he holds authority over young students. This is especially harmful in a diverse class that includes Black and Brown children, some of whom may be personally affected by the issues he references. I respectfully asked Mr. Baker to keep politics out of the classroom and to be mindful of the impact his words could have on children. He agreed, and he said that he wouldn't bring it up again. However, we soon found out that he was continuing to discuss his views. We tried to address it again. Rather than engaging in a thoughtful dialogue or committing to maintaining a neutral, inclusive environment, he told me that our daughter's membership was canceled within minutes of our follow-up conversation. No regard for her years of dedication or accomplishments. Just immediate dismissal. It is deeply disappointing that a student who put in the work to reach black belt status is now forced to find another school--not because of poor behavior or lack of commitment, but because the instructor prioritized pushing his personal agenda over providing a respectful, inclusive environment for all students. I sincerely hope Virginia Tae Kwon Do reconsiders how it handles both parent concerns and the power dynamic that exists between instructors and children. Martial arts should teach integrity, respect, and self-control--not fear, division, or ideology.

Excellent instruction from experienced coaches. Highly recommend for Muay Thai boxing.read more

My child has grown so much since doing taekwondo at Grant!! The program is very well organized and…read morethe instructors are great! They really know each child and what each child's strength is. There is a lot of respect and patience here between the instructor, owners, and students. I love this place! I can't wait to see how much my child grows with her confidence and just her overall self!! The program is unlimited so you literally can go everyday, which we basically do because she loves it so much and wants to progress to her next belt quickly. Thanks for being such an awesome place!!

We moved here in October of last year and are dual military. I was so worried about not knowing…read morewhere to send my child for an after school program or for summer break/camp. Let me put all families minds at ease. This is the absolute best after school and summer camp that my daughter has experienced. We lived in Illinois (Great Lakes) and California (San Diego) and those child centers do not compare. My child has a severe peanut allergy so not only am I constantly worried about her learning or activities, I am worried about her health. I have never had to worry about her peanut allergy with the Grants. They not only teach the kids Taekwondo. The Grant family is amazing with the kids. I watched my daughter want to give up one time when she was doing an activity, Instructor Zach Grant took a knee and said something to her. Not only did she get back up, she continued what she was doing. When she got done I asked her what he said. She told me that he told her to breathe and never give up, to keep going even if you want to quit. That mentality is emulated in the whole staff. Thank you to the Grant Family and the staff that works there. You have put our minds at ease looking over our child. She truly is the most important part of our lives and it means the world to us to know she is taken care of and protected while we are both in the military.

I had the opportunity to meet Master Son and learn more about his program. He is extremely…read moreprofessional, experienced, and truly passionate about helping students grow both in Taekwondo and in life. His background and dedication to teaching really impressed me, and I believe this will be an amazing place for both kids and adults. We're very excited for the grand opening!

Natalie is one of the best trainers I've had! Her personality is so welcoming and inclusive, and…read moreher program is challenging but not overwhelming. I really appreciate her focus on form, being controlled and aware in my movements and not just trying to get as many reps as I can. NKFit checks all the boxes in what a workout program should be! *side note* I haven't used it, but I know she offers nutritional planning as well. And in the chats I've had with her, and the little bit of knowledge I have, I can see that it's a REAL program (not focused on trends or anything weird.)

AMAZING!! This lady completely changed my life!! I've lost 35 lbs in 4 months and still goin…read morestrong!!