I have been to some of the more expensive gyms in town, and while towel service and mirrors are…read morenice, this place will get you in shape faster than anything else. If you have a sense of humour, you'll also have a good time. The most popular class is cardio kickboxing, which is a fitness class with a focus on core, legs, and pushups. In addition, there's some partner drills. Two things make it way better than the other boot camp style classes I have taken. First, George has spent years training as an Olympic swimmer and then kickboxer in Russia, and he brings these advanced techniques to the gym, so the workout is more efficient and more effective than the typical trainer who got a three month personal trainer certificate. Second, this is really functional: it's the drills you would do if you were planning on kickboxing. You will get a lean, toned kick boxer body very quickly. One girl who has never worked out started just after me, and in two weeks I could see the difference. My partner last week was a young looking fifty year old guy, who lost twenty pounds in six weeks doing this workout. The people in the class range from out of shape mom types, to SFU students, along with a few kickboxers who stay for the kickboxing as well. Mostly women in the class, but I can usually find a guy to partner with. The best deal is the monthly unlimited, and for an extra $20 or so, it lets you try all the classes. Just for fun, I have also tried the kickboxing class, which turned out to be great. I had taken a few martial arts (karate, judo) classes as a kid. These classes focus on the basics, and he teaches it so the techniques really make sense. He usually throws in a story about some guy getting hurt in the ring for doing the wrong technique, but it comes off funny, not scary. I don't plan on ever stepping into the ring, but it's very cool to finally learn the right way to throw a punch and a kick. The third option is the self defence class, which is very different. You won't sweat in this class, but you will learn practical moves, which appear to work. Again, I hope to never get in a fight, but it's fun to learn. I'm a firm believer that a good teacher makes all the difference. I really like George: he's highly qualified, he's definitely tough enough, but he's also very funny, in a very Eastern European way. Even if you don't live in the neighbourhood, it's worth a trip to check this place out.

I hate working out. I'm the one happily sitting in the pub scarfing back nachos and beer while…read morewaiting for my friends to finish their hot yoga/boot camp/crossfit classes. I reluctantly decided to start exercising, just to try to avoid all those yucky medical conditions that attack couch potatoes. A friend suggested kickboxing so we tried out Reality Martial Arts and... I can't believe how much I like it. It's a great workout that's also super fun, which I honestly believed to be impossible. It's nice to know that all the exercises we do are specific to kickboxing training, instead of the random moves you do in regular fitness classes. Don't expect the bells and whistles of a fancy gym - this is for 'real' training. The instructors are great and welcome guys and gals of all shapes, ages and fitness levels - no need to feel intimidated here. The schedule is very convenient, with loads of evening classes. For those who want to focus more on fitness than technique, they have cardio kickboxing too. Definitely the place to go to have fun, learn a new skill and get a complete workout in a friendly and supportive environment. Never thought I'd say this about a gym but I love this place!

On Saturday, October 11, 2014, Gracie Barra Vancouver & Raz Chan Fitness presented Women's…read moreSelf-Defense Seminar as a fundraising event for Battered Women's Support Services. Seventeen women attended and it was excellent!! Much gratitude to Raz Chan, Anica Simon, Max Rathburn, Norm Leung, Andrea, Robert and Carla. It was excellent!!

Before coming to Gracie Barra, I had already been a hardcore MMA fan for years. That said, I'd…read morenever really trained in martial arts before and the few attempts were awful: I tried wrestling in college, but the program at my school consisted of doing around 600 crunches and countless push-ups while rarely actually receiving any instruction on techniques. The judo program I tried was filled with "alphas" who were more intent on putting new guys through the floor more than anything else. As such, you can understand my hesitation about joining a martial arts gym again. It was something I was naturally curious about but, given my prior experiences, extremely nervous. So after doing a LOT of research about all the various schools in the Vancouver and Richmond areas, I settled on Gracie Barra and now, a year later, I cannot imagine having chosen any other gym. One thing that really sets GB apart from other gyms is how beginner friendly their method of instruction is. New students are paired off with more experienced students who are more interested in helping and encouraging more than anything else. If you're not in the best physical shape or have never trained in a martial art, this is hugely beneficial. It'll encourage you to keep going and ensure that you keep getting better, learning all the time. GB emphasizes the "family" aspect, which means that all the students are there to help each other grow, not crush each other to satisfy their egos. Because of this, GB has a really, really positive atmosphere that makes it easy to learn and that'll keep you coming back until suddenly, you realize that you're not the new guy anymore. That's another thing too: Gracie Barra has fantastic people. Whether it's the instructors or your fellow students, these are all people that you'd genuinely want to hang out with. Even if it wasn't at all something you were expecting or looking for when you joined, you WILL end up making friends here, from all walks of life. I cannot overemphasize how huge a boon this is, especially for beginners. The bottom-line is this: if you're really interested in martial arts and want to get in shape, give this place a try. It doesn't matter if you're grossly out of shape or laughably uncoordinated and clumsy; GB WILL make you better without EVER annihilating you or making you feel badly about yourself. If you're nervous about trying a martial arts gym, there is nothing to fear about GB: just great people and great instructors. As for the technical aspects: Gracie Barra's bread and butter is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and there are students and instruction at all belt/skill-levels, with classes divided accordingly. There are also classes for muay thai, boxing, and conditioning. The average Gracie Barra class follows this structure: Warm-up (5-10 minutes genuinely geared to WARMING YOUUP, not making you puke) Technique 1 (usually a takedown, demonstrated, then drilled back and forth with a partner) Technique 2 (something on the ground, either a transition, escape, or submission) Technique 3 (again, something else on the ground, generally a natural extension of technique 2) Sparring So yeah, if you're at all interested in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or curious GO TO GRACIE BARRA! You will not regret it. There is no gym that is more supportive to your growth both as a person and as a martial artist.

Best teacher ever. We have known the teacher for years, his work is amazing! He is so patient and…read morejust so good at getting children's attention and breaking complicated skills down to their level. If you knew our kid then and now(or just compare month to month), you would know for sure that miracle happened !

From the owner: Join our classes for adults and kids and join a community. Come and train striking or grappling and…read morelearn the meaning of control and technique. The journey to blackbelt begins with a strong foundation. We build our ninjas from the ground up. Through the practice of Shokotan karate, Brazilian jiu jitsu, and kickboxing, students learn fundamental life skills like stranger danger, focus, growth mindset, and self-defense. Stripe-by-stripe, belt-by-belt, our students cultivate the physical skill and the will to become a blackbelt — on and off the mats. Sign up for a free 1-on-1 today.

PRO-TIP: Thursdays are cardio days! My friends and I didn't know that LOL I've never felt my heart…read morerace like that and I'm fairly active. I did a free trial beginner women's kickboxing class with my friends instructed by Kees. The boxing gloves are complimentary for session use, at least for the trial. The facilities are really nice and we had a good time. Despite the class being relatively small in size, another coach stepped in to help supervise everyone and give tips. The coaches do push and encourage you, especially when you're starting to slow down. I like the wide range of martial arts that they offer and I can tell they're top-notch. Would recommend checking it out!

Im old and tired. But the boxing coaches welcomed me in and were pleasant, helpful and educating…read more I was sore after the first day, but excited to come back. The place was clean, had relevant equipment and trainers. They were kind enough to follow up with me. I will definitely be showing up atvthe gym again

I got a groupon because I tend to use deals as motivation to keep me active and this seemed like…read morethe perfect alternative to your standard everyday gym workout. The gym is located is a great spot, almost always street parking and if you're commuting its a short distance from Joyce skytrain station. The workout is great, Christian has years of experience and can make you feel comfortable and gives you an amazing work oit whether you are a beginner like me or an expert black belt. His instructions are clear and easy to follow and hes just the right amount of encouraging and disciplined so you're confident but not slacking off! Definitely worth a try even just for a few drop in classes to see if you like it and I'm sure you will be smiling and sweating in no time flat.

World class Martial Arts instruction in a fun and low pressure environment, there is nothing like…read moregetting a great cardio workout while you are learning and sharpening skills. Thanks for all the great instruction guys! Oscar

Wow, where do I start..? I love this place! Awesome facility with wood trimmed walls, high…read moreceilings, and traditional tatami mats over a spring floor. The lounge area provides a nice environment for pre/post training discussions. You could spend all day here cause it doesn't feel like a gym. Central location and nearby free parking, which is always a plus. You get so much value as a member. The instruction is top notch. You quickly develop real practical skills and are challenged in the best of ways. The community is welcoming, supportive and fun to train with. I'd come everyday if I could. Highly recommend!

Don't let the unassuming frontage fool you. Once you enter, it's like Mr Miyagi's dojo inside!…read more The foyer is totally Eastern zen and the expansive dojo has real tatami floors. The owner and main instructor Jesse Blue is ask excellent teacher who instructs JKD, Kali Eskrima and has many male and female students. On Sundays, Adam Chan teaches practical Wing Chun and he is one of the best teachers of martial arts that I've ever met in 25 years. Vancouver is lucky to have such a beautiful martial arts school right in the center of the city!

I signed up my son for the Taekwondo classes a while ago before the dojang opened this new…read morelocation. The dojang is very spacious and always kept clean. The masters and instructors are very helpful. The kids have fun. They gain self-confidence and discipline. Adult classes are great as well. We get a good workout, learn self-defense techniques and fun way to keep fit. Ask them for a free trial lesson.

AMAZING place to learn Tae Kwon Do and keep fit. My children have been students of Master Kook for…read moreyears, first at their North Shore location, and now at their beautiful, spacious, bright, new East Van location. They offer classes for all levels and all ages and do everything they can to make you comfortable. Head Instructor, Master Woo, is kind, patient, crazy-amazing at TKD and FUNNY...the kids all gravitate to him, but also respect him at the same time (I have kept my kids in line with the simple phrase "What would Master Woo say right now?"). He is so good at what he does: keeping his students (young and old) motivated, keeping classes fun and informative, and instilling core values of discipline and respect. How he keeps a class of 20-25 children in check is beyond me, but he does it! Another gem is Program Director, GRACE! She is so good at making you feel welcome and at-home. She always has a smile on her face (it lights up the entire room) and she is always ready to do what she can to make your experience a good one, including swapping pants with you when your own pants are too short, so you don't feel like a complete moron (ahem, that was ME) during class. This is just one example of the many, many, things that Grace does to show you that she cares and wants you to be comfortable when you train. Everyone here, not just Master Woo and Grace, are fantastic instructors, each bringing their own uniqueness to how they teach. Never a dull moment, lots of laughs, being in better shape and a new extended family is what you will get if you train here. Can't say enough about how amazing everyone is!

I have been training here for more than 4 years and I am still here. That says something about the…read moretraining environment. The instructors are all volunteers who are passionate about martial arts. Safety of the participants is constantly emphasized and I can says that I have not received any injuries training here. The classes are well structured as there is a curriculum for students to follow. Aside from martial arts specific technique practice we also do physical conditioning drills whether they be calisthenics, weights, or multiple partner drills. I have met students who are new to the martial arts as well as students who are continuing from previous martial arts experience. Everyone is encouraged to develop and learn at their own pace. I recommend Hapkido Vancouver if you are looking for a martial arts gym.

So last March, I was robbed on the RER B train into Paris from CDG airport. It wasn't violent or…read moreanything, I just fell for the oldest trick in the book (someone "tripped" and dropped some coins in front of me, I help him pick them up, his friend takes my shoulder bag). Anyway, the experience shattered some of the rosy perceptions I had for living and working in Paris and got me thinking more seriously about what I would do if I was involved in a more escalated encounter. So, being back in Vancouver for 2 months while my new Euro work visa processes, I thought I would take up martial arts, as a way to learn something to take back with me and get a good workout in at the same time. I had heard about Hapkido Vancouver from a friend and I was instantly hooked, which was surprising given the fact that I had a real sour experience as a child from one of those churn and burn dojos that rely on the enrollment of hundreds of kids a year for their business (I'm looking at you Kingsway Shito-Ryu Karate). Here I walked away from each class feeling like I learned something new and practical, things that are intuitive once you think about it, but nobody bothers to (eg, the wrists is not meant to bend it this way, or this pressure point hurts a lot when pressed). And it was nice to be told why we were doing certain things and why it would be useful in a real life setting. Every class was small (3-5 people usually with 1-2 blackbelt instructors) so there was a ton of personalized attention. It was helpful to have a clearly stated curriculum for each belt level posted so it was clear what you expected to know at each level and how long it would take to get there. The blackbelts teaching us were, in addition to being qualified, patient, effective and very friendly - zero egos here. While we are often being thrown around or taken down as part of practice, safety was priority and learning to fall or roll was the first thing we learned to do. On the topic of being thrown around, I should tell you that was tossed and tapped out on the regular by both a young woman and and old man. So Hapkido works for all shapes, sizes, builds and genders. The space itself is modest, occupying the second floor in not the best area of town. There are not too many people training here. They do not teach kids. All the instructors have day jobs and they do hapkido to stay in shape and because they are passionate about it. This all reflects the fact that this gym does not seem to operate like a traditional business and does not make decisions with profit maximization as an end goal. Rather this appears to be a place where people come together to learn from each other and better themselves. I'd recommend Hapkido Vancouver to anyone and everyone - if you reach out to them, I am certain they would be happy to take you through what Hapkido is all about without charge and let you try it out. I plan to re-enroll when (or if) I settle back in Vancouver.