Westchester County is incredibly lucky to have The World Seido Karate Organization right in our own…read morebackyard. Under the leadership of one of the truly few World Renowned Martial Arts Grandmasters, Kaicho Nakamura and his son, successor, and Chief Instructor, Nidaime Nakamura, Seido has become an integral part of not only my life but my entire family as well. A global organization with branches on almost every continent in the world, training is focused on "Karate-Do: The training of mind, body, and spirit to realize the fullness of human potential". As a true traditional Japanese martial art, training is comprised of a dedicated approach to mastering the fundamentals as building blocks to advanced and more complex techniques and requirements as one progresses at their own pace. You will sweat and push yourself, at times, further than you thought you can be pushed. Having trained at The Westchester branch for over 6 years this month, Seido has become an important part of my life where everyone focuses on the concept of Renma, "Keep Polishing" (Improving), regardless of physical ability, age, or rank. So much so, that my wife and I made the decision to introduce our elementary aged twin daughters to Seido earlier this year. The children's program is wonderful and puts exceptional credence to safety, development, and building confidence among the kids and teens. I've witnessed this firsthand as I help assist children's classes periodically. It's been a pleasure to refer Seido to many of our close friends, who also are either members themselves or enrolled their kids in the children's program and train with my girls. All of the instructors are wonderful people who I would trust with my daughters implicitly, without reservation. The organization as a whole attracts high caliber people from different walks of life, who bring a common denominator to the Seido community of being a genuinely good person. I couldn't recommend Seido enough to anyone and everyone. Having never trained in the martial arts before, yet always curious, as challenging and demanding as training is, the hardest part for me was getting the courage up to walk through the door on a particularly cold March evening in 2016. The rest has been exceptionally fulfilling, you won't regret it!

The kids enjoyed their 1st class. The dojo is very well kept and clean The instruction here is…read moreincredible. Great Dojo. Their children's program is very good. The school ensures fundamentals are learned before any real fighting contact is actually done.

Everything. My daughter loves it there. She enjoys learning different types of classes that they…read moreoffer .

Great instructors and masters. I learned core life skills like patience, discipline, and…read moreperseverance. Would strongly recommend.

Karate Do outside of the US for seven (7) years. Black belt earned while training bare footed on a…read moreconcrete floor. Tae Kwon Do in the US, 3 belts away from black belt. I stopped training in a dojo approximately eighteen (18) years ago, darn, I guess I'm old now (late 30s)! My love for Martial Arts never went away, but I was disillusioned with most schools here in the US were most often people pay for their belts instead of earning them. Furthermore, most schools are just too soft, baby gloves... Next to my college education, the best gift my parents gave me was Martial Arts and I want to give the same gift to my five (5) years old son. I visited four (4) schools in the area and many others in the past for me. Many of them are lots of fun for the kids as they have many games to play, but often teach very little Martial Arts! Then came Renzo Gracie-Omar Jimenez Rockland Jiu Jitsu. The minute I entered with my son and warmly greeted by Arelis I knew I had found the right school. No contract needed, but I would have sign anything right away. Coach Aneta, Coach Jason and Coach Angel are just superb with the kidsI! I cannot talk highly enough. To my surprise, not only did I find the right school for my son, but for myself as well. I never trained Jiu Jitsu before and rightly so I am starting as a white belt. I find it shocking however that with my background in other Arts I am as helpless as a baby if a Jiu Jitsu guy takes me to the ground! Jiu Jitsu is a MUST and Professor Omar and his coaches (Mike, Dudley...) teach it the right way! Fees are reasonable and worth every penny. If you're looking for something to challenge your body and mind, pay this school a visit.

Dedicated staff with excellent coaches. This is your only option for legitimate Brazilian Jiu-jitsu…read morein the Rockland County area. The Kid's class is run by patient instructors who are also actively involved in the adult classes. The adult class is run by experts who take the time to get into both theory and specifics concerning technique. Class acts from top to bottom. Stop looking and start rolling.

Post Covid emergencies, this dojo remains top notch. The community is respectful, talented,…read morepleasant and healthy. Families are still welcomed, encouraged and treated well. Looks like they've grown a bit too. I recommended this dojo to a retired Air Force person. He loves it. Best of all, when it comes to the Aikido world, this dojo is peaceful and warm. Ownership is responsive and humane. Can you tell, I really like this place? . If you wanna learn Aikido or Battodo, give them a go.

If you're in the area and looking for a dojo, check this one out. Highly experienced, friendly and…read moreencouraging instructors providing safe and comprehensive guidance for practicing a wonderful and effective martial art, and they offer both Aikido and Iaido there. Great people, highly recommended.

Came in visiting from California--brown belt, been training ~7 years--and got absolutely destroyed…read more(in the best way). Left the mats questioning everything: "Bro... do I even know jiu-jitsu?" "Should I just move here?" "I should probably go home before my wife gets mad at me for training all day." Seriously though, amazing room. Everyone was super friendly, respectful, and very safe to roll with. The gym is really clean, and the level is high. Different training partners from white to black and ages from young competitor monsters to hobbyist parents. Chazz was the black belt coach that day--welcoming guy and great instruction. You can tell there's a strong culture and attention to detail. Highly recommend stopping by if you're in the area. Just make sure you check their rules/etiquette beforehand--pretty standard stuff (white gis only from what I saw, trimmed nails, good hygiene, etc.). Will definitely be back next time I'm in town. Than you everyone at Essential

Notice the 5 stars and the comment Yelp gives right after it? Woohoo! As good as it gets! My son…read morehas had the privilege of training with JT Torres, the owner/professor of Essential Jiu Jitsu. You literally cannot ask for a better more experienced instructor for adults or children. Hartsdale is so fortunate to have a true Brazilian jiu jitsu world champion in their midst, so please take advantage of it. There are few people in the world that match JT's ability to compete, train, and effectively communicate with students. If you want to learn BJJ, this is the place. Need more proof? Check out his profile on BJJ Heroes. https://www.bjjheroes.com/bjj-fighters/jt-torres

I may be bias beacuse this is my home school but I have visited plenty of BJJ school in the area…read moreand across the country. The people, the environment, and the no politics make this place a great place to train.

Great place for all levels ! A lot of fun and you will not regret trying it out. A real sense of…read morecommunity.

Have been going to the Karate Dojo on and off for over 20 years. Classes are for all skills levels…read moreand ages. If you're in the area, you should check it out!

NOT closed! Still open! On the second floor. Mon, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday classes. No…read moreclasses on Tuesdays but save that day for a rest day or for lifting. 530-615pm are children classes and 615-715pm are adult classes. Great for beginners and students with experience. Very friendly and no contracts!

I had always wanted to take a martial arts class and when I was ready to do so, I did some research…read moreand found that there was a very reputable gym close by. I could have taken the 30-day free trial, but after one class, I decided to join for a full year and have just recently re-signed for another. Up until this time I have concentrated on jiu jitsu but will be adding kickboxing shortly. For those contemplating whether to join, Training Grounds is an excellent destination for a number of reasons. As with any new venture, there is always the intimidation factor, but immediately, the friendly demeanor of both the staff and students put me at ease. Master Wil does a great job of putting training plans together and after demonstrating a move, works with every training pair to provide input, encouragement, and helpful tips. His enthusiasm is evident and his teaching skills are top notch. Along with Wil, the support staff has been excellent as well. Over the past year, I have trained with many different guys (and girl) and everyone has been great. Regardless of experience and skill level, everyone is willing to help each other to further their knowledge and improve their techniques. This is a product of Wil cultivating a family environment at the gym. When I first joined, my goal was to learn to better defend myself and get into better shape. My flexibility, strength, and cardio certainly improved and as part of a healthy lifestyle, has helped me drop 25 lbs and 7% body fat. If you are looking for a gym or are on the fence about joining, stop in and check it out. You won't be disappointed.

Solid BJJ gym with a welcoming atmosphere. Coach Wil is a knowledgeable instructor who explains…read moretechniques clearly and makes sure everyone understands what's going on, regardless of experience level. Classes are well-structured, and there's a good balance between instruction and live rolling. People here are respectful and focused on learning. Overall, a great place to train whether you're new to BJJ or have some experience already.