Zach helped me realize that my instincts are not going to be useful in a dangerous situation, and…read morethis type of training is critical to prepare me. He is a great teacher with experience to back it up. I appreciate his sensitivity to the content and trauma-informed approach. I walked away with multiple defensive tools to utilize in different situations and feel relieved and safer with this knowledge.

Zach was an amazing teacher! My daughters both took the class with me, age 16 and 8. They learned a…read morelot, and as a mom, I feel better knowing they have some knowledge of self defense. It was a bonding experience for us and a good way to approach a difficult subject on how they can stay safe and aware. Zach was kind and relatable, making us feel instantly at ease. He did the perfect teaching technique where we listen to what he has to say first, then he shows us an example, and then we try it ourselves. We practiced a good amount of time on each move so that we could absorb it. He infused a little humor into the class and kept it interesting. We felt very powerful and prepared by the end of it, which was truly a relief and an accomplishment. I highly recommend this experience! My daughters and I still talk about it and practice what we learned. - Renda Palo

The spirit of this dojo reminds me why I fell in love with Martail Arts…read more While visiting Seattle I went with my brother and his son to their family class night. The Sensei was welcoming, knowledgeable, and present. He honored the tradition while making it engaging for my brothers son. It was wonderful to see them bond and have fun while learning REAL Martail Arts. I have taken and belted in 7 different styles from Jeet Kun Do - Muy Thai etc. I can be a bit tough on dojos as I have a very high standard. This place meet them and surprised me. Small class size, clean open environment, and a handing down of tradition with love and joy. After class I asked my nephew to explain what he learned. While still slightly out of breath he explained in detail with excitement what he learned. If I lived in the area I would come to this dojo. I HIGHLY recommend this place. The spirit of the Martail Art is alive and well here. Bring your kids, get them unplugged from their Playstations and Facebook. Have them build their minds and physical endurance.

I've been practicing in this dojo for about 2 years. Sensei Bill is the head instructor who has…read moredecades of experience in martial arts and he's a very knowledgeable teacher. I've also been learning QiGung and Daitoryu along with Aikido, which helps in cultivating Martial arts skills. The other popular instructors are Sensei Mike and Sensei John, who are excellent teachers as well. The cool thing about them is that they are very keen in learning the right martial arts way and we do a lot of experimentation and we have a lot of fun learning Aikido and Daitoryu together :-)

It is literally the best dojo I've ever been to the staff are so nice and the karate is fun and…read moreexciting

Excellent classes and friendly staff! I love this neighborhood studio - adequately sized with…read morecubbies for your shoes and bags, and water available for purchase. I found this place while looking for kickboxing and was happy to learn they also offer Muay Thai classes as well. This is one of the only places that gives you boxing gloves when you sign up for a kickboxing package - I've been to other kickboxing places around Seattle and have always had to borrow their old stinky gloves. It was nice to get a new pair to keep and bring to future classes. I wasn't sure what to expect upon my first class but the instructors were all very helpful and friendly. I didn't feel uncomfortable at all during the hour long class. Don't be fooled into thinking a beginner class will be easy! I was sore for 3 days after my first class - they really work your whole body!

The instructors, as well as Anita (program manager), are so kind, encouraging, and genuinely…read moreinvested in every student's growth. They take a wholistic approach to coaching -- focusing not just on martial arts skills, but also on building confidence, respect, and strength both on and off the mat. My son has gained so much self-belief and fortitude since we moved back to the area and rejoined. The family-like atmosphere makes every class something to look forward to, and the regular fun events they host for the kids really bring the community together. You can tell they care deeply about the student's development and happiness. We feel incredibly lucky to be part of the MMAA family -- highly recommend to anyone looking for a positive, uplifting, and empowering martial arts experience!

Came with my friend and her children while they were in class. The kids told me how much they liked…read moregoing to class here. Watched the instructor teach and he was really good with the kids. A little difficult to find the first time as there is not an obvious sign for the complex its in.

This place is not what it used to be. I am so disappointed with the current state of the dojang…read more You used to have to work hard for your black belt, but now it feels like they give them out like candy. This school is clearly more about the money than the success of its students. The instructors used to be more skilled and now it looks like they are just trying to get through the class rather than actually wanting to help students. More than half of the class is spent doing jumping jacks and conditioning exercises rather than actually teaching Taekwondo. I don't remember the last time I saw Hwang's focus on the quality of kicks, sparring techniques, blocks, stances, and the individual weaknesses of the kids. They typically rush through these aspects whenever they do go over them --which leaves the students with terrible form and a lack of skills for self-defense. There is barely any space for the parents to sit down as well. They used to have an upstairs area where parents and students could hang out but now they have been trying to lease the upstairs space for the past three years. It just shows that they care more about the money than the students and families that are a part of the dojang. It also feels like most of the instructors don't care anymore. I mean during belt-level tests, students sometimes have an instructor in front of them telling them step-by-step how to do the poomsae when students are supposed to memorize these to receive the belt. It's an absolute joke! This place is nowhere close to a school or an academy or anything to do with teaching. The instructors look like they have lost their passion for Taekwondo and teaching. If you are looking for a place to learn how to properly learn Taekwondo, this is NOT the place for you.

My daughter has been going to Hwang's for three years, during which time she has grown tremendously…read moreand gained a great deal of confidence. At age 5, she started at a different martial arts school in the area, to help her gain some skills to overcome her shyness. Unfortunately, this other school's teaching style did not accommodate kids like her, who are more hesitant and cautious, which was disappointing, because this was one of the reasons why we wanted her to try martial arts. At the first sign of nervousness, she was told that weakness and tears were "not allowed on the mat," and was made to sit out. At age 5. Which I found appalling. Enrolling instead at Hwang's was one of the best decisions we have made. The instructors have been patient and encouraging, never shaming her when she has struggled. Instead, with just the right amount of good-natured encouragement, she has felt supported and welcomed, has overcome so much anxiety and self-doubt, and three years later she is a proud junior black belt, at age 8. The confidence she has gained has carried over into her school and social life, and I can safely say that we largely have Hwang's to thank for this. I feel that the curriculum for kids is age-appropriate and a good balance and progression of physical and mental discipline. General kids' classes do not teach hardcore elite-level technique, and that is fine. Students seeking more intensive martial arts experience are free to sign up for private lessons, or ask about enrolling in the Olympic training class. There will always be fees involved with testing and tournaments, and black belt promotion involves time and financial commitment just as at any reputable taekwondo school. For the positive changes we have seen in our daughter through taekwondo at Hwang's, we strongly feel that the investment is well worth it. Also, black belts are registered with the Kukkiwon in Korea, which is widely known as the world taekwondo headquarters. In other words, Hwang's is legit. Lead instructors and masters have all been welcoming, friendly, and willing to take time to answer any questions or concerns. All the instructors, including the assistants, are excellent role models for the younger students. Master Hwang takes pride in each student who comes through the door. The enrollment has grown a lot recently, and the school is undergoing renovations to accommodate the growth. Parking can be a challenge, but there is extra space available farther up the "street"at PSE. Our family looks forward to many more years to come, and more dan stripes on those belts.

I learned about Oom Yung Doe through a complimentary community women's self defense seminar they…read moreoffered one Saturday morning. I later signed up for their six-week level one women's self defense seminar, which was a great decision. The class size was small with personalized feedback and interaction. I am excited to keep building on my learnings, as I am now taking the six-week level two self defense seminar. I recommend checking out Oom Yung Doe's classes! The instructors are knowledgeable and really care.

I've trained in Oom Yung Doe for over 11 years and I think it's great. Oom Yung Doe is a style of…read moretraditional moo doe, which is the original root of martial arts before it branched out into all the different styles. These schools focus on the healing knowledge of martial arts as opposed to the breaking knowledge of martial arts. Yes, you can still learn some very strong self-defense, but the point is to improve yourself and then improve the people and communities around you. The instructors are all very genuine and caring and the knowledge passed is very deep. The training combines movements from all east asian styles of martial arts, along with herbs and meditation. There is also philosophy passed, such as not hurting others and being true to your inner self. Oom Yung Doe offers many different training programs. You can train towards your black belt in moo doe, you can train in one particular style, you can take a short-term or a longer-term program, or you can take a conditioning program designed to develop one particular aspect of your self (such as strength, flexibility, core development, jumping ability, etc.). There are also conditioning programs that will help to resolve physical, mental, or emotional issues - these programs use herbs, pressure points, and simple movements and are very effective. You can also enroll your children in either regular classes or in special programs designed to boost their abilities in sports or other athletics. Overall, this place is great and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in getting or staying healthy and strong.

I was a member here for several years and originally joined as a continuation from the UW BJJ club…read more Even after I stopped training due to personal circumstances, I kept my membership active to support the school and maintained a student-rate patronage for quite some time. When I recently requested to cancel, I was informed that the most recent charge could not be refunded because of a 15-day notice policy. This was disappointing, especially given that the gym previously placed my membership on a multi-month pause and later resumed billing without any proactive communication. The instruction and community are strong, but my experience with the billing practices and lack of transparency around charges has been frustrating.

Great gym with high level black belts as well as beginners. Welcoming & friendly! Cannot recommend…read moreMarcelo's enough.

WONDERFUL. I learned how to defend myself and I was united with many others. Beautiful people…read morebeautiful things.

As someone who struggles with anxiety and chronic overthinking, I walked into Sensei Chris' Dojo…read morefor the first time nervous and not sure what to expect. Chris was patient and indulgent of my ramblings, while making me comfortable enough to demo some practical skills in self defense. I surprised myself by signing up for lessons, and can say with 100% certainty that it is one of the best choices I've made in a long time. Sensei Chris' ability to respond to the individual needs of his students is consistently impressive, as is his unwavering dedication to his craft. I look forward to every lesson with him because I know I will be learning practical skills to help keep me safe in the real world and will have fun doing it!