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!

I've been wanting to try kickboxing for a while now, so when I saw Alpha Martial Art's $19 for five…read moreclasses and a pair of gloves deal on Groupon I got on it like nobody's business. The AMA Bryant location is just behind University Village and has a good amount of parking spots if you plan on driving. It's more on the intimate side, with a lobby, two workout rooms, two bathrooms, and some storage/office spaces. Try wearing flip-flops if you come because you'll be barefoot and the mats are a tad sweaty and grimey. Now... I cannot say enough good things about the staff here! I usually take classes with Lauren on the evenings and she is just 100% badass. Srsly, she looks like someone straight out of a video game. Support staff like Anna and the receptionist who works Thursday nights (bummed I can't remember her name) are so, so friendly and really take the time to help you get situated and working on the right moves: jabs, hooks, kicks, and combos. These guys are so fun and they always play good music to get everyone pumped. My only wish is for there to be some more consistency and bag-stand time in how the hour-class is structured but, regardless, it's still a great workout every time I go. While I don't expect to be a sucker punching vigilante by the end of my five classes, I'm certainly leaving with a greater awareness of how to move my body so that I can be my strongest self.

Great introductory course for those that want to be more aware and practice hands on skills. Two…read morehours was the perfect amount of time for this course. The class started right into some hands on stuff...bring a water bottle it can be a workout! The practice sessions really made me more aware of the areas I need to improve in. I'm ready for level 2!

I have been attending NOVA Self Defense regularly for the past three months. Saturday mornings are…read morenow one of my favorite parts of my week! Evan and the assistant instructors are very good about giving constructive, targeted feedback. I feel that I have learned a lot of new things and had plenty of opportunity to fine-tune the basics, which has helped me build up my strength. In class, we learn to protect ourselves and fight back. When we learn new techniques, Evan breaks down the psychological aspects before moving into the how-to, enabling a full understanding of the why you are learning this. The real-life scenarios continue to be a helpful, and above all, safe way for me to try out what I've learned. Some of the other reviews have mentioned the work out at the end of class. This is no joke. The workout is the best! We do circuit training with some combative stuff thrown in, like palm strikes, elbows, and knife-dodging. Evan encourages you and will even work out with you. I'm not even a fitness freak (ugghhh I hate the gym), but this workout rocks. For those who are feeling iffy about the class and the amount of combat that takes place, please be assured that Evan always encourages you to find a way out of a physical altercation. This is an attitude that I have always appreciated because at the end of the day, I'm a lover, not a fighter. This class is just teaching you what you can do if you are left with no choice or caught off guard.

Highly recommend! Self defense and confidence booster…read more This is a great program in a healthy environment. The leaders are good people, developing good people. The skills attained here are VERY practical and if used properly, would be VERY effective. No need to be "flashy" if it's effective. My teenage daughter has surpassed me and is excelling.

My partner and I took a free trial course in Tsun Jo Kung Fu today. Everyone here, especially the…read moreinstructors, were very welcoming. Initially, we were asked to follow along with warm ups. Next, two different instructors worked with us as a pair. They reviewed proper stances, basic movements, punches, and a couple of blocks. We did some of this work with punching bags, the instructors and each other. They made it interesting, fun, and empowering. They were very encouraging. One was lighthearted and upbeat and the other more serious but patient and very nice. I enjoyed the intimate setting and small class size. In addition to classes they have a small gym that is available to students free as long as the dojo is open. I might have to finagle my work schedule to make this work but we felt good about this experience and plan on continuing with either the one month unlimited trial or five class pass. Based on my first impression, this is totally worth it!

My son has been coming here for a few months now and loves it. Joel and Jeremy are both great…read moreteachers and the kids all look up to them. Highly recommend!

Visiting Seattle from California recently, I needed some mat time and really appreciated my…read moreexperience with Gracie Barra Northeast Seattle. Professor Joel Townsend was awesome; super inviting, knowledgeable, helpful with details and even shared come fun and friendly knowledge/history about my home academy (Paragon). Gracie Barra Northeast Seattle has a great culture, with a strong community (as evidenced by how they all came together to help rebuild when a car recently drove through the front of their facility!), but were all so warm and welcoming to this visiting white belt. I never felt like an outsider. I stopped in twice on my 4-day visit and enjoyed every roll and every training partner. Despite the aforementioned auto incident, the spot is clean and comfortable. If you're visiting Seattle, or looking for a regular training home in North Seattle, regardless of level, I can't recommend them enough. You'll learn a lot and have fun doing it. Cheers!

Muay Thai Iyarin is an amazing place to train. The **community is fantastic**--everyone from the…read morecoaches to the students is incredibly friendly and welcoming. From day one, I felt right at home. The staff were also **super responsive during sign-up** and helped me through some unusual payment hiccups without any hassle, which really showed how much they care about their members. I mostly attended the **11:30am classes**, which tend to be a bit smaller--perfect for getting more individual attention. The focus is very much on **technique**, which I really appreciate. Head Coach Tony deserves a special mention. He's **super friendly and approachable**, but don't let that fool you--he'll absolutely push you in training (in the best way possible). You leave every session tired but better, and the support from the whole gym makes it an awesome experience. Overall, it's a **supportive, technique-focused, and fun environment**--highly recommended for anyone looking to train Muay Thai, regardless of level.

New to the sport and just a hobbyist, but this gym is great for both beginners and people there to…read moreseriously train for fights. Muay Thai is a fantastic workout and a beautiful art. Inherent in the culture of the sport is mutual respect and sportsmanship, and Muay Thai Iyarin embodies that. Communication with your partner is emphasized, especially for more senior folks being paired with newer folks so that they feel comfortable with the light, play-style sparring used to practice the drills learned in class. Naturally, there is the option for heavier sparring for those in the intermediate and advanced classes--but even then, communication is emphasized...sometimes you've got an injury, sometimes you just don't want to go hard, etc. It's all about talking and getting on the same page. I absolutely love that, because it's so important to the sport, and to life in general! I love Muay Thai, and I really appreciate the culture and community that has formed around this gym. The folks here are great, and they work hard to make it a fun, safe place to learn the art.

We love Zen Dragon!!!! Our son has been coming since he was 3 (now 7) and now our daughter (3) has…read morejust started!! We love the focus on foundation, community and building strong minds and bodies!! The Sensis' are great, especially with children who are young and starting out (and maybe need a bit more attention and direction!) and we love the fun events like Ninja night where they can bring friends!

Master Jennifer's dojo is a treasure of the PNW. Her team is incredible, each bringing their own…read moreaspects to the martial arts journey that leads to a well rounded experience and education. Sensei Amanda is so welcoming and great at teaching forms, Sensei Raven is incredible at helping students embrace a growth mindset and Sensei Taye has a breadth of knowledge he can easily break down into digestible terms. Master Jennifer fosters inspiration in her students in their techniques and exploration of philosophy that is applicable inside and outside of the dojo. Students here are friendly and welcoming, and losing ~40 pounds in 6 months through the exercise doesn't hurt either. If you're curious, try out a class. You won't regret it!

I really enjoyed Joanne's 6-week self defense class for women and highly recommend it! I…read moreappreciated that it was more than just the physical moves, but also how to verbally set boundaries (like saying no without apologizing!), and red flags to look for. Some of the info was a refresher, some brand new. I also appreciated that alternative moves were suggested, like for folks with bad knees, or the guidance for a woman using a cane. Everyone can benefit from this class! To answer the questions most people asked me: The class is kept to a small size, about 12 people. It's only for women, trans, and non-binary; no men. Folks in the class ranged from teen to 60s--I loved seeing mothers and daughters taking the class together. About half of the physical practice involved a punching bag dummy, and the other half involved hands-on practice with classmates, which was necessary, helpful, but also a bit awkward at times. But, I got over it, and got a lot out of it.

I loved taking Joanne's class. Each week, I learned something new! While the physical moves were…read moregreat to have under my belt, the cerebral lessons were just as helpful (i.e grooming behaviors, setting boundaries, how to say no). We had a small group so class was more conversational and we could ask questions anytime. I highly recommend Joanne's class if you're thinking about brushing up on your self defense skills or are not sure where to start! I now feel more confident out in the world after taking this course. Thank you for all that you do!

Really great and professional program! The instructors Dylan and Jeff are highly skilled and…read moreprofessional. They take the time to make sure I grasp all the concepts before moving on. Overall great experience with the training sessions I have had here and look forward to continuing with them!

The instructors were super nice, very informative, and incredibly patient. We all had a great time…read morebut also feel like we gained the knowledge and tools to defend ourselves! This class is incredibly empowering! I feel so much safer when I am by myself and I am going to insist that all my friends and family take his class so they too can feel protected!