Authentic enchiladas 10/10!! Friendly service and delicious food, this place is a gem. Will…read moredefinitely return.

Love this neighborhood dojo! My child has been doing well and I love the mix of skill levels that…read morecome to their class. Even though we are still a white belt we get to work with and learn things that the yellow, green and blue belts do as well. This place is a real community and very supportive, amazing instructors!

I have been coming here 2 years now. Great trainers, great people, great facility. Some classes are…read moremore of a workout, and some classes are more about technique (it all depends on which instructor is teaching that day). They have a lot of knowledge, and you can share a dialogue about different moves and questions you have. I feel safer walking around the streets of Chicago knowing that I can defend myself. Plus, the owner Jeff usually has some good stories if you show up to class early.

Let me begin by saying that while I love how you feel and look when you work out consistently, I…read morejust can't muster up the motivation to make myself do it! I dislike running, and I push myself harder when working out with a group. Clark and I wanted to take some type of a workout class together...him acting as my new motivation to get in shape. When it came down to decision time, we were between yoga and Krav. We decided to check out Krav since both of us knew what yoga was, and the rest is history. I NEVER feel obligated to come to class - I always want to go! (This is NOT normal for me!!!) We began attending Krav Academy around mid-March and have thoroughly enjoyed it every step of the way. Not only am I getting a great work out in, but I am learning how to get out of a dangerous situation quickly and safely. My funds are limited, but I can certainly justify this work out as it is not merely to "get in shape." The Academy is hosted by FFC Old Town, which is a fine enough facility itself. What I really appreciate is that the Academy is SEPARATE from FFC, so I do not pay for an additional membership at the gym (great news for people on budgets!!). There is a $100 equipment fee when you first sign up and the unlimited monthly package is $130. I believe there is an option for a 2 classes per week membership, but I certainly recommend going w the monthly. As for the instructors: all are seriously great. Ivo and Erin in particular do an exceptional job at demonstrating, explaining, and teaching different moves and defenses. It is obvious that Ivo has been doing this for a very long time and is very passionate about it. While many can be considered a "professional" in something, not all can teach. Ivo makes things so easy to learn and keeps it fun! He pushes you, teaches you, and jokes with you. I've quite literally never met a teacher or coach that has been able to teach me something new as Ivo has taught me Krav Maga. As a previous reviewer wrote: the instructors here are incredibly helpful. They want to teach you and take on a genuine interest in your improvement. I typically need a lot of help going through drills and getting better at them, but I have not felt like I've been a burden to anyone teaching there. People in class are always friendly and it is easy to join and feel welcomed. It helps a lot that the other students in the class that have been there for a few months also help instruct you and help you improve. I seriously cannot write enough good things about Krav Academy. I have a ton of fun, I'm learning how to keep myself safe, and am getting in better shape than I have been in the last 7 years! Everyone involved is seriously great and I really look forward to continuing my involvement in Krav Maga here!

This is a great place to learn Hapkido. Hapkido is a korean martial art that uses fun stuff like…read morekicks, strikes, and joint locks to immobilize your opponet. Hapkido is easier to pick up and use than some other martial arts and they aren't above teaching you some quick and dirty ways to ruin someone's day (which I will leave to your imagination). Master Kevin is the main guy and he is really down-to-earth and patient with total rookies like myself. The hours are great - they have classes seven days a week and evenings. The first class is free and if they see someone new they'll teach some quick, easy-to-learn self-defense stuff along with the regular class. Even if you don't sign up, you will have a new trick or two up your sleeve in case you ever need it. Try it out!

Truly awesome martial arts!!! This is Hapkido as intended without crazy aerials designed to woo…read morecrowds of S. Koreans or writers from Black Belt Magazine... a good indication that a Hapkido school is actually teaching something else. Here the emphasis is placed on learning the techniques correctly intertwined with basic street knowledge and a good dose of common sense which is refreshing. Master Kevin has been teaching Hapkido since he was in his teens, holds his BS in Education, has years of experience bouncing Chicago nightclubs and performing security/bodyguard work for major names in the Hip Hop world, and is now the premier instructor for the Jung Ki Kwan Hapkido in the Midwest. This is a man who understands fighting, self-defense, and the psychology of what happens in a confrontation and is able to teach why the techniques work based on his experiences rather than just teaching material without ever having tested its practicality. Now that I have been training here for the last 6 months, I can't imagine studying Hapkido under anyone else. Also available are classes in Kuhapdo which is a Korean sword style as well as women-only classes in Self-Defense and the new female instructed FitCut class that focuses heavily on core strength through the use of the sword, cardio, and coordinated movement. As Mark noted, Hapkido is a Korean martial art and is commonly translated as "the way of coordinated energy/power". It is also frequently described using words like "dynamic" and "eclectic" because it combines so many different types of response that are all based on redirecting your opponent's energy and returning it in a circular motion, typically along with a final strike or series of strikes intended to end the fight. In addition to basic strikes and low kicks, you learn joint locks, pressure points, throws, and some weapons at more advanced levels. Finally, Hapkido is not a Korean version of the Japanese Aikido whose techniques typically end short before leaving the realm of defensive measures. Simply put, Hapkido is street fighting which also helps distinguish it from competitive arts like Karate, Tae Kwan Do, Kickboxing, Judo, or BJJ. I have nothing but respect for other arts but competitive martial arts generally consider our final strikes "dirty" or "illegal" because they focus on how to score points in a match. In my eyes, if you're in a real fight, I'll skip over anything designed for competitive back-and-forth point scoring and do whatever I need to in order to walk away in 1 piece. Realistically, that may simply mean running but if my back is against a wall, this is a martial art that just may save my neck. This is a great school. Pricing is fair and Master Kevin will never try to get you to sign a lengthy contract. To my knowledge, he doesn't even have contracts other than asking that you let him know 30 days before leaving. Also worth noting, the entire syllabus is available on DVD in English being performed by the current Grandmaster in Korea (http://jkkmedia.com) and is a great way to supplement the material you get in class and reinforce your understanding so that you can train at a more accelerated pace. Check out the International Hapkido USA website (http://jungkifamily.com) for class times and any additional information.

My son has come here for years for the kids classes. Great training. Great sifu. Great master…read more Highly recommend

Great school and great instructors. It's a small traditional school that teaches the system of…read more7-Stars Praying Mantis. Very reasonable. Went there for over a year and plan to go back after my schedule changes back to normal. I would recommend this place to anybody interested in Kung Fu. I guarantee that you won't be dissapointed. This place is actually located in Rogers Park.

I have been going to class here for a few months now and it has been a life changing experience…read more It's everything I was looking for in getting back into martial arts. I feel stronger and healthier than I did when I played Rugby in high school. Sifu Kennedy is a natural teacher who adapts to each student individually. I am so happy I signed up to learn and train Kung Fu with this great school!

I have been training at Chicago Tao under Sifu Kennedy for 6 years, not only has it benefitted my…read morelife in ways I could not have imagined (I began to live a healthier life in all aspects, diet, excessive, spirituality), but the camaraderie developed by sifu and his school has given me a support system of people willing to help me an my family achieve our goals.

I messaged to the gym and I got a call back from coach Jim for a same-day private lesson in Muay…read moreThai late at night because of my job driving into town. He was able to make it happen with Coach Ryan and I trained with Coach Ryan for over an hour and it was great. Thanks for the accommodation I will definitely be back if I'm ever back in town.

As a martial artist in my second year of training, I was disappointed by how little this gym seemed…read moreto value culture or tradition. I signed up for a free trial class to get a sense of the environment, but the owner told me I couldn't attend unless I was fully ready to purchase a membership. It's impossible to make that kind of commitment without experiencing a class first. The policy felt unwelcoming and sales-driven. If you're looking for an authentic Muay Thai experience rooted in respect, humility, and tradition, this may not be the right place.

Great gym with super nice folks and good instruction. Would be happy to train there again next…read moretime I'm around. Thanks, Coach Frank!

I recently signed my 5-year-old son up for Jiu-Jitsu at Renzo Gracie. I could not be happier. The…read moreclass is teaching him flexibility, body awareness and control, disciple, respect, in addition to fundamental jiu-jitsu techniques in a fun learning environment. The instructors are amazing with kids. He is super excited to go to class, and is learning real skills that will not only help him protect himself in the future, but the life lessons Jiu-Jitsu teaches practitioners like mental toughness, humility, perseverance, and confidence. I know this firsthand as I have been training Jiu-Jitsu for over 8 years.

We've been coming to this dojo for several years. My 10 yr old daughter is now a blue belt. My son…read morewas doing the peewee program. Many parents practice alongside their kids. It's a great environment for kids to grow up in. It's very impressive watching the black belts do their katas in unison. We've been very happy with the teachers and the program. The owner/sensei is very friendly and welcoming. No complaints!

If you're at all interested in karate, Hu Shin Kai is the place to go. Whether you want a stress…read morereliever, a healthy workout, a competitive sport, or a look at a philosophy based on discipline, this dojo is great at offering training for all ages and levels of experience. After about eight years and a bunch of different schools, Hu Shin Kai is now the place where I hang my hat. I've been learning from Tony Sensei off and on for the last two years and, really, he's the best.