We love Hickory Academy of Martial Arts! The instructors are great. They hold the kids to a high…read morestandard. They have a great family plan where all your kids can join, no matter how many kids you have. The building is very clean and I was told they mop every night, which is good when you have a bunch of people running around with bare feet! My kids have been enjoying the classes a lot and are excited to go every week. The one improvement I would like to see would be holding people to an even higher standard for earning their belts. There are some people there who have a black belt who don't seem ready to be a black belt. I know it would probably upset people if they failed their belt tests multiple times, but to me, a black belt isn't a black belt if some of the people who have it are not very skilled. However, I do wonder if some of the black belts there may have earned their belts at a different (not as good) dojo and then transfered here. I could see that being a possibility. All in all, love them!

This martial arts school is very disorganized! There are way too many children in a class to even…read morelearn any karate skills. My child went for a short time and we decided it wasn't a good fit. They throw your child in a group of advanced students. The ages range from 6 and 17 years old. I don't think a child should be training with teenagers. My child had no clue what they were doing and didn't know the rules and what things meant. The bald instructor seems to me to be a little hot headed. He got really upset when someone's little children walked on the dojo mat with shoes on. I think if you want the parents to watch their children practice, then you better have an area where those with little children can be entertained or place a wall up where they can't get onto the mats. This Martial Arts Academy is a joke! No structure whatsoever! I wouldn't pay them a dime to ever go back! Plus, if you like hearing moms talk about God knows what and other talking loudly on the phone, then this might be your place! Don't waste your money driving to this place. Do your research if you don't know a thing yourself about karate. They don't care if your child is a beginner. All they care about is the money they will bring in and it's not worth it. Oversized class full of students equals not learning a thing!

I have been a student of JKI WS since 2011. Through my training, I have grown as a karate…read morepractitioner and as a person. With the excellent and guided instruction I receive from the dedicated Sensei, I have been on a road of self enlightenment and improved physical fitness. In addition, it is a heck of a lot of fun. Some of the people I have met at JKI WS have become my best friends.

This is a small dojo, where the owners are also instructors. The classes tend to be small enough…read morethat you receive personalized attention. A variety of class types, including children's classes (little ninjas), karate, weapons, and even a general physical fitness class on Friday nights. Be sure to call for class times. If you're looking for an easy hour with no benefits, look somewhere else. If you're looking to really push yourself, see what you are capable of, and make some friends in the process, then give them a try.

Traditional Karate at its best. Head instructor Kyoshi Howard Smith has been teaching for over 40…read moreyears. Teaches one of the four major styles of Karate, Shito-ryu. Great for all ages from 4 and up. Traditional weapons training available! Class are Mon., Weds. and Thurs. 5:30 for kids and 6:30 for adults. Sat. Little dragon class at 10:00 for kids 4-6. If you are interested in quality martial arts training you need to check them out!

Ricky and Edie Smith are the owners of Sidekick. They put Excellence in the rating of excellent…read more Karate taken at Sidekick has been the best thing my grandson has ever done. His attitude his performance his attention to instruction has improved 1500%. The disciplines learned with Sensei Ricky's guidance have made my grandson look at life differently. He now strives to excel in all ways of life. His cooperation and wiliness to share with his sister and the rest of the family has improved. I wholehearted recommend Sidekick Karate to everyone at any age. This weekend I watched 4 Senior Citizens (65+) perform in a Tomoe which tested the skills they have learned as new karate students. They all performed successfully. It's never to late..

Edie is one of the owners of Sidekick Karate! She is absolutely awesome. She remembers everyone's…read morename and face, and always greats me with a smile and in a very energetic manner. Sidekick picks up children from their elementary schools and buses them to sidekick for karate after school. If your children need to stay longer after karate is over, there's a separate room with desks, a white board, a game system, a tv, changing rooms and bathrooms. On wednesdays they order pizza from dominos and feed the kids dinner and then around 6pm they go to a local church. This gives parents extra time to work or maybe time to run an errand before picking up their children. My son has learned a lot since he's started going to sidekick. The owners have absolutely thought of everything in terms of accommodations for children after school. You can tell that the owners truly care about the children in our community. We are lucky to have them as part of our community. I highly recommend sidekick karate for lessons, or for lessons and after school. It's well worth the money, and your children will learn impulse control, better judgement, overall discipline and they will get to socialize and be somewhere where you don't have to question whether they are cared for or not. I would 100% recommend Sidekick!

Traditional Japanese Karate. Adult, Kids, and mixed classes. 4th Dan Sensei Randell brings years of…read moreexperience, diversity, and enthusiasm to each and every class. I highly recommend this school because there is something here for everyone!! Hope to see you there soon. OSU!

I want to thank Sensai Randall for saving a woman from getting kidnapped by a violent criminal. You…read moreare a hero, and I hope the young people you instruct realize that. I'm not from the area, but I wish great things for you and your business.