Best decision ever!! I signed my twin seven year old boys up…read morefor their first karate class in late September. Almost immediately, both their teachers and I noticed dramatic improvements in their behavior. Prior to karate, they couldn't focus on tasks and often got in trouble for impulsively acting out. There was a dramatic improvement right away, and I still continue to see improvements with focus, week after week (now just over 4 months in). The focus and respect that they have learned has really allowed our family to spend more time enjoying each other and less time focusing on behavior correction. I can't thank the Brian Mayes team enough!! For the last month, I've been taking the adult kickboxing class here. It's really fun, motivating, and I can already see a change in how my clothes fit me. I leave each class feeling (sweaty and) great. I was hesitant about signing up for a 3x/week class, but I find myself wanting to go each time. I can't say I feel the same way about my home gym equipment. These instructors keep me moving and keep me wanting more. I love it.

Karen was an amazing instructor when I went to go try kickboxing for the first time. Will keep this…read moreplace in mind. Very helpful and keeps you in mind and makes you feel warm and welcomed when you are arriving, during, and after.

Mr. Burns is an amazing instructor. He is very passionate about having a quality program and has…read moreall the best qualities you you would hope for in a martial arts instructor. They have a nice facility, friendly staff, and a family friendly environment. I have trained in the martial arts for almost 15 years and see many schools and instructors and Mr. Burns is the real deal :) I hope you check the school out.

Mr. Burns and all the teachers are great. Even with all this craziness going on in the world they…read morestill make this a safe place to study martial arts. My kids and I love it here plus glad that it brings some normalcy in our daily routine. BRMAA helps with teaching my kids not only about self defense but how to also be responsible, respectful, caring, disciplined, and focused.

We are incredibly grateful to Senseis Dave and Ellen and to the entire school for creating such a…read morewonderful environment for our children to learn, grow, and thrive. It has been a truly wonderful place of learning--not only for our children, but for us as parents as well. Our children have thoroughly enjoyed being part of such a welcoming, positive, and supportive group. We have seen them grow not only in their karate skills, but also in confidence, discipline, respect, and character. A sincere thank you to Senseis Dave and Ellen for their dedication, guidance, and positive influence on our children. We feel very fortunate to have found such a great community. 1,000% recommended to any parent looking for a place that will help their children grow into confident, respectful, disciplined, and upstanding individuals!

My son has trained at Charlottesville Shotokan Karate Club for three years, and it's been such a…read morerewarding experience. Kids and adults train together on the same dojo floor - the kids mostly have their own program, but there are also times when everyone works together, which gives the kids real role models to look up to in the senseis and the adult students. What really sets this club apart, though, is the community. The owners are an amazing couple who've built a genuine sense of friendship among the families here - it's never felt like just a place to drop your kid off for class. There are outings and several parties throughout the year that bring everyone together outside the dojo, and the whole atmosphere is warm and open. On top of that, the pricing is very reasonable - it's hard to find activities in Charlottesville for kids at this price point that offer this much value. If you're looking for a traditional martial arts program that builds real skill and discipline alongside a real community, I can't recommend this dojo enough.

Great family atmosphere. The instructors are very knowledgeable and do a great job teaching people…read moreof all ages.

From the owner: Here at Ignite, we teach life skills through martial arts and gymnasticsread more

I was staying in Fishersville for six weeks and came across Augusta Health Fitness. I mainly went…read morethere for the weight room; however, their facility has a plethora of amenities. If you're looking for a place to be active in Fishersville, this is the place for you!

I love Augusta Fitness, they have a wide variety classes and machines to workout on. They also have…read moreOlympic size pool and heated therapy. The staff is always friendly but I do love the quick check in process. I love it there and have been a loyal member for awhile, I need to start putting it to good use again!!

There is a great team that leads the Laughing Dragon studios. The facilities are not great but it…read moreis right out of a Bruce Lee film where the technique takes center stage over the looks of the place. Our kids love the lessons and I am impressed that it isn't a belt-driven system. We have friends whose kids are testing for belts constantly while at Laughing Dragon it is about form, style, and the Shaolin method. I am impressed.

From the owner: The mission of Laughing Dragon Kung Fu is to combine practical self-defense skills with a total…read morebody workout and inspire a lifelong love of Chinese martial arts. Our training is available to anyone interested, provided they have a sincere desire to learn and are of good moral character. We offer free trial sessions for every class!

Renaissance Academy of Martial Arts is an amazing martial arts gym, respectfully the best gym to…read moretrain at in Lynchburg, and perhaps the best place I have ever trained at. What makes this place stand out from other gyms is the how welcoming and family oriented this place becomes. I know that is a common thing that most people say about their place of training, but let me explain why. Many people use martial arts as a getaway from their real life troubles. Maybe it won't solve your problems, but it helps keep you distracted for at least an hour in the day and gives you something to look forward to every week. With that being said, this place may have rescued me from being in a really dark place in my life. I had just lost a lot of things I cared about prior to joining and had to find something to keep myself occupied. My 1st actual day signing up, one of the coaches was very kind, infectiously cheerful, and very knowledgeable. His attitude set a high bar and expectations of what was to come, and man did things change. Normally the honeymoon phase of anywhere you go to train/work/etc fades in time and that expectations bar starts to come down to the point where you feel you're just going through the motions. This place was different because instead of the usual routine of showing up, train, and leave, that the average person would do, this place takes things to another level. On the competition side of things, the comp team coach gives world-class instructions and dedicates time both on and off the mats to know his teammates. Whether is it training during his office hours (basically open mat) on Tuesday nights, hosting a UFC/ADCC fight night dinner at his family's home, or meeting out in town for a meal, he will make time. The coaching staff all have their own style of teaching and training, but their explanations and details really change the game. If you want to compete, they will always travel with you to the comp, even if you're the only 1 competing, and will corner you no matter what (this is sadly not the case with every gym, especially for the beginner/intermediate/advanced leagues). On the hobbyist side of things, whether you show up 1-3 times a week, since there are many competitors, you will progress faster than most hobbyists in other schools because your competitor teammates will always work with you. If you want to go easy and light, they will do that. If you're hurt or new, they will be extremely gentle, but give u a sense of accomplishment when you are able to do a technique correctly to get yourself in a better position. If you want to ask technique questions or even roll with more intensity, they are happy to oblige. At the very least, you will get in a good workout. The best takeaways that I had from this place over the last 4 years is that everyone wants eachother to get better and will support one another. The training here, even though it's on the unknown side of notable gyms in the US, it stacks up pretty well against some of the most known schools/franchises in America, in terms of training instruction from coaches and strong competitor pool. The teammates you make here will inevitably feel like family. So much so, that they assisted me in planning a surprise to get engaged on the mats with my fiancé.

FORMER STUDENT This…read moreplace is far more about money than martial arts. Advancement here has very little to do with skill, effort, or actual improvement. If you want to "grow," you have to pay -- for every single belt, test, and step forward. Progress feels locked behind a paywall. The owner shows little genuine interest in developing students' abilities. Instead of coaching, mentoring, or correcting technique in a meaningful way, the focus is constantly on the next fee, upgrade, or payment. It becomes clear very quickly that your value as a student is tied to how much you're willing to spend. Martial arts are supposed to teach discipline, humility, and growth. What I experienced here felt transactional, manipulative, and discouraging. Students who question the system or costs are brushed aside, while those who keep paying move forward regardless of actual skill. If you're looking for a school that truly invests in its students and prioritizes ability over profit, I would look elsewhere. This academy feels like a business first and a martial arts school second -- if at all.