Took my 5- and 8-year-old to Six Blades Jiu Jitsu Nova for a free trial. The environment is…read moreno-nonsense and clearly built around serious training-- which as an Army veteran is something I personally respect and felt at home in, especially given the military-style banter. That said, I didn't find the tone ideal for younger kids. There was language and phrasing ("kick his ass!") that I didn't feel was appropriate for children, and I was disappointed by comments made toward boys being beaten by girls ("You'll walk home if you lose to a girl")--not exactly the message I want either of my kids internalizing. The instructors are absolutely skilled and committed, but they treat the kids like mini adults, which may work for some families, but not ours. We ended up going with another gym that's more youth-focused, closer to home, and offers more affordable memberships with military and family discounts. I think Six Blades would be great for adult students or older teens looking for high-level instruction, but it just wasn't the right fit for our young kids. Edited for further context: For further context, what the owner describes as "jovial" banter included quotes from coaches during the kids' training session: * "Kick his ass!" * "Whoop his ass!" * "You better not lose to a girl!" * "If you lose to a girl, you're walking home!" * "Pay attention, dammit!" "Banter" implies the kids could respond with witty comebacks--but what would they realistically say to grown men in a position of authority? They simply complied. That said, I truly appreciate the owner's openness to constructive feedback. It makes me feel more confident in my decision as a parent. For now, we'll stick with the more "budget" and kid-friendly option -- at least until my children are old enough to clap back at demeaning and misogynistic comments with confidence and humor that comes with maturity.

My son has been training at Six Blades three times a week for seven months. He's had the best…read moreexperience! The instructors are extremely skilled at jiu-jitsu and are natural teachers. The kids children's classes are full of super sweet kids and friendly parents. The community is very welcoming and I'm so grateful to have found it.

I've been wanting to train here for years so the bar was high and it exceeded expectations from the…read moreminute I walked in the door! The environment was so friendly and welcoming. Family oriented with kids and parents all there to hang and train. Snacks and some play areas for kids and a beautiful bright matted area with amazing pictures from Ryans career fighting and cornering the most recognizable faces in the game. The instruction was absolutely incredible I cannot recommend Ryan and his academy more. Definitely check it out if you are in the area I wish I could train here more! - Nick Lamagna

High recommend this martial arts academy!…read more Our kids have been going here for about 10 months and love it. Started with BJJ, but then switched to capoeira which they enjoyed more because of the acrobatics. The coaches and staff are really supportive and patient with the kids. The gym is pretty big and they have cameras so parents can observe from the lobby. Parking can be tough if you don't get there early, but there's room on the neighboring side streets which aren't too far away. Typically there's always people leaving between classes so I have always been able to find a stall. The prices are reasonable. Upfront costs may seem high, but it includes the uniform and which they need anyway. Otherwise it's a great price. They also offer discounts for siblings, military, etc.

Don't waste your time. I've quit while signing up for the trial class. The owner is paranoid about…read morecovid and shows irrational hostility towards new members. This is the only gym in the neighborhood that makes you QUARANTINE for 14 days just to start your trial class. You are not allowed to drop in, have to make 48 hour prior appointment for a class because of covid. It's 2022. Even our government doesn't have restrictions anymore. Why are they being paranoid? Their website said I can provide a negative result to take the class faster so I told them I'm willing to provide negative test result. Then the management literally replied with a threat saying "we will ban you if you show up before 14 days." Then they sent me another email saying they won't accept me as a member and etc while I was writing this review. How do you expect to teach people martial arts when you are this paranoid, rude, and irrational? I've been to few local gyms here but this is by far the worst experience just by contacting them. Glad I didn't even waste my time attending here.

I just had my first class, and I absolutely loved it. Kru Carlos and Instructor Jeff were very…read morewelcoming. I am not the most athletic person, but the atmosphere of the class and the energy of the instructors made me feel like I absolutely did not want to give up when I was tired- which happened pretty quickly . I have never felt the motivation to push myself to the degree that I felt tonight. If you are having any doubts, don't! Go ahead and sign up for a class. You won't regret it.

While I don't know much about any other Karate Schools, I can tell you that Seichou Karate is…read moreabsolutely amazing for children. Richard Romero takes a fatherly approach to each child focusing on their mental and physical development. He teaches Karate and life lessons with a passion for making children better not only at Karate but life as well. Additionally, he doesn't give his students anything and makes them put in the work and truly earn their next belts. If you are looking to enroll your kids in Karate, you really should check this Dojo out. Richard Romero is exceptional and the reason we drove 20min plus several nights a week for our kids to attend. I really am at a lost for words on how lucky we were to find this Karate Dojo!

This past weekend we had an awesome birthday party for our now five year old son. He and all of…read morehis guests (and parents) were very impressed by the entire experience the dojo provided. Thank you. We are also thankful for the photos and all the other extra touches the staff and Shihan Romero provided. We will highly recommend the dojo to others.

Let me start by saying that if I could give more than 5 stars to a place, this would be it. Shifu…read moreChris and his wife manage and instruct students in this family-owned dojo. Shifu (master in Chinese) Chris is an excellent teacher. He has been doing martial arts for almost his own life, and he is very knowledgeable. He had spent 13 years in China working with different masters. As a result, he is an expert in different styles of martial arts such as Chinese boxing, Kung fu Shaolin. Following his mission to keep Shaolin kung fu alive in the US, he started this dojo in VA. Currently, they offer two free sessions to let people experience the school before joining. I joined this class after participating in two free sessions. The environment and students in the dojo are great. Everybody is friendly and respects each other. From a covid standpoint, everybody wears a mask throughout the class, and there are sanitizers for both hands and equipment. Each session includes warmup, practicing the basics, form, partner work, and meditation at the end. Shifu Chris changes the structure of the class and always has new activities and challenges in each session. After two months of going to this class, I already feel really accomplished. I am able to do basic techniques and self-defense. It had even effects on my day-to-day life and helps me to be more focused. I recommend this class to whoever is looking for martial arts or even looking for a fun and effective workout class.

Wonderful experience, great exercise, friendly classmates. The sessions have everything I enjoy --…read morestretches, warm ups, boxing, defense, individual and partner work, meditation, some qi gong... lots of variety and progressive mental/physical challenges so you're never bored and always growing. I started this class three months ago feeling very out of shape -- and as a total beginner to martial arts. Now, I feel like I have energy enough for classes, plus I'm starting to hit the gym more too and feel less stressed during the work week. It's definitely the kind of work out that isn't a chore -- it's energizing. Come take the two free lessons and try it out for yourself to get hooked too. Shifu Chris and Weiwei, who assists, are patient, thoughtful teachers who care about culture, health, and overall wellbeing. Class is always a positive, welcoming environment.

Elevate MMA is the most amazing martial arts gym I've ever been to in my life. It's changing my…read morelife everyday since I joined. I am 48 years old, and I haven't had formal martial arts training in over 10 years. I moved here back in 2020 during the pandemic and because of work as well as unhealthy choices, my fitness took a toll. I'm fact my overall well being took a toll. I was headed towards a negative path in my life and when you are faced with adversity, you have 2 choices: 1. Let adversity consume you. 2. You make changes. My problem was I didn't know how to start making those changes. Enter Elevate MMA. One day while driving in falls Church for groceries, I saw a banner for an MMA gym. Something intrigued me. I learned immediately that the gym is operated and taught by World Class MMA fighter and World Class MMA Coach and UFC veteran Master Siyar Bahadurzada who has trained alongside some of the greatest fighters in MMA history. At that point, I had to learn more. I met Master Siyar in person and I talked to him about my short and long term goals. He listened to me and assured me that as long as I come in and commit to training and give it my best, I will see the results I want. He is 1000% right. The only way you will know if something is possible or impossible is if you give it a try. Never accept any limitations that have been placed upon you. When you learn to be out of your comfort zone, that is when change happens. That change will produce growth. Master Siyar is true martial artist and he is passionate about what he does and how it affects people. His teaching style is phenomenal as he is patient, gives clear instructions, and as long as you give it your best, he will take care of the rest and build you up from there. I invite you to come in and experience Elevate MMA for yourself. I have been here now for 3 weeks and already, I have lost 4.5 pounds, I am getting stronger, and building my confidence day by day. I am so proud to be a student of this school. Elevate MMA offers something great for everyone. So I leave you all with this: "The way you do anything is the way you will do everything." If you are determined to better yourself, then I will see you at ELEVATE MMA. Think about it, take action, and own it! Let's go!

I've lost 20lbs since coming here and my confidence has skyrocketed. It's a very positive and…read moreuplifting community and the gym is state of the art.

My grandson goes and enjoys his Karate classes. The trainers are really devoted and experts in…read moreteaching. They focus on every single child which is such a motivation for not only children but the parents too. I enjoy watching his class as the teachers are experts in teaching. I would definitely recommend my friends and family.

I've hesitated to post this review but I feel I need to. About two years ago, after my son turned…read more4, we decided to try Andrew Gause on some neighborhood recommendations, thinking it would help him with some coordination and balance issues. We were asked to come a half hour early for our free trial class, so we did. When we got there it was quite crowded and busy with all of the evening classes, but I filled out all the paperwork and talked to Andrew. Andrew didn't really meet my son or talk to him - just me. I didn't realize how long we'd be sitting there so I didn't really bring anything for my son to do, and he didn't have a spot to sit since it was so crowded. He was on the floor, bored, wiggly, and excited. I should have brought something for him to do but I didn't realize he was supposed to sit there waiting for a half hour. He was four. As time went on he got pretty wiggly and started complaining that he wanted to go in, but I told him he had to wait. He wasn't behaving badly - just restless because he was sitting there for so long and kept getting bumped into. Again, he was four years old, and excited. Don't tell parents to bring kids in a half hour before class - it's just setting them up for failure. Finally the students for the class started coming in, and I asked Andrew if we were supposed to go in too. He then loudly stated "based on what I've observed, your son is NOWHERE near mature enough for this" and told us that we should just observe the class. My son was devastated after waiting nearly a half hour for this, other parents were staring at us after Andrew loudly chastised us, so we left. My big regret is that this experience kept us away from Taekwondo for two years - I thought the sport just wasn't the right fit for us. I was wrong. The sport is a fine fit. This studio is not. My son is thriving at a different studio now, is focused and works hard, and is building his confidence and coordination. I am sure Andrew Gause is the right fit for many kids, but I would caution families with particularly energetic or young kids about going here. I don't think anyone who understands young children would expect an excited 4 year old to sit on the floor of a crowded, noisy room for a half hour and be perfectly calm.

I've been taking Filipino martial arts here since i moved back into the area in 2021. The people…read moreare amazing, the cost of classes is the lowest I've seen. (I've been doing Kali for a long time and have had to pay triple what they charge). I love all the coaches and the community here is really great. The gym is super supportive and coming every week has been a big highlight to my weeks.

The smartest decision I ever made…read more I have been attending this gym for almost a year now. Classes are frequent and at times convenient to all schedules. The instruction is top notch and you will not only get a great workout, but you will learn life saving techniques to get yourself out of trouble. The gym is pretty basic - think no a/c or heat. Train like you fight. They offer Krav Maga, Jiu Jitsu, and Filipino Martial arts (think stick/knife fighting - which is my favorite :)). It's no nonsense, get it done type of training. This isn't training for martial arts sports, you're training to end the fight and get out of the situation. In addition to the classes (almost 7 days a week), you can participate in sparring on Saturday mornings. No invite needed, just show up and feel what it's like to fight someone fighting you rather than a willing victim that you get during the week during training. There is gear you can borrow for the day, but I highly recommend getting your own as soon as possible. There really is no other way to learn to fight than with someone that's uncooperative. This gives you a chance to try a new things that you've learned to see it in action in real-life. You'll love it!

I was worried when moving from Los Angeles to the Washington DC area that I wouldn't be able to…read morefind a good Brazilian Jiu Jitsu school for myself and my two kids. I am thankful that I found the Yamasaki Springfield location. I tried out several different schools in the area and finally settled on Yamasaki because it felt like the perfect fit between the kids and adults programs. My kids train both judo and jiu jitsu at the school and both programs are great. Coach Mo is a great judo coach and they have a dozen or so black belts able to assist the kids classes on a regular basis. My son's take downs and standup have improved dramatically since training judo there. Professor Neto does a great job teaching both the kids classes and the adults class. The kids classes are the perfect balance of discipline and fun. Neto explains the various techniques with an extremely high level of detail and thoroughness. The adult classes have a good mix of beginners and advanced students. There are several black belts that attend class and can lead the class if Neto is away. The academy is air conditioned and comfortable in the summer months and Neto is a stickler keeping the mats clean.

My son has been coming here for over a year now and without a doubt has been a great experience for…read morehim. The facility is clean and the instructors are professional and very experienced. Most importantly they make it fun for a 7-year old. Another big plus is the number of senseis available per student. The small ratio gives a more in-depth teaching per student which at times may be required. Overall a great place to train and grow! Looking forward to seeing my son advance! Enjoy.

I am so happy here. I've been coming to Foundation for about 3 months for training once a week, and…read moreI feel that my form in weightlifting has improved tremendously. I train primarily with Patrick (who is the co-owner), and I've also trained with Angelo a few times. Both are amazing to work with and so positive and upbeat (even when they are making you lift hundreds of pounds!). They push you hard and encourage you to build confidence to try things you didn't think you could do. Patrick has a remarkable gift with remembering names, and he is constantly circling the gym checking in with people about their goals and how they are doing in their lives, both in and outside of the gym. You can tell he knows personally and cares about every single member, and he makes an effort to recognize and celebrate every single person there. It's a small fitness community, so everyone also knows each other and supports each other. People are always cheering for each other if someone across the room hits a PR or does something amazing or new. Patrick also makes a point of welcoming new members by introducing them to people and checking in to make sure they feel welcome. Being at Foundation is the highlight of my week, and in the few months I've been there, I've already hit new milestones and PRs I didn't think I was capable of. I really love it here!

FOUNDATION FITNESS!!! I LOVE this place. I played sports growing up but was never someone who…read moreworked out on my own. Steven has helped me understand exercise techniques that I never could've figured out by myself. He knows exactly what I need to do to see improvement and isn't afraid to challenge me. All the trainers are awesome. Amber and McKenzie are so knowledgeable and helpful. Even though they aren't my trainers, they're very engaging, fun to be around, supportive, and are a part of my fitness journey. Steven has a great attitude and impeccable customer service. I'm glad I chose Foundation Fitness because I don't think I'd be as committed to working out if I didn't start here. A welcoming, challenging (but not in a scary way), fun, focused, and collaborative environment have been key to my success so far. Whether you're an exercise newbie or serious bodybuilder these capable trainers will help you achieve your goals and set new ones. Bonus: all the clients I've met are really cool too. Lastly, an honorable mention to Angelo (now at a different location): he's a great trainer, kind person, and very knowledgeable. COME TRY FOUNDATION FITNESS!!!