This bjj school has been around for a long time and rightfully so. They've got such a welcoming…read moreatmosphere that it makes it easy to keep coming in. If you're interested in the jiu jitsu, definitely come by.

Best jiu-jitsu dojo in the valley. Been training with these guys for years and it's always a…read morepositive experience. The people at the gym are cool, amazing instructors and plenty of mat space to have fun. Highly recommended!

This review is for the children's Kung Fu Class. My daughter is a student and loves everything…read moreabout the Hung Fa Kwoon. Sifu Mark and Sihing Mike do a fantastic job teaching the kids the correct form and the importance of each movement. They're both very humble, patient, and always take the time to work with each student. Unlike some facilities that teach martial arts, this is not a "one size fits all" method of instruction where the teacher is up front shouting out commands and everyone is doing the same drill. Sifu Mark and Sihing Mike are great at keeping the kids engaged in their training--training which is focused on the individual and each student is assessed on their own abilities. I think it's important to mention a few things if you're thinking of enrolling your child in this Kwoon, so please keep in mind that Kung Fu is all about the merits of hard work. First, the warm-up, it's a 15-20 minute HIIT workout starting with laps around the room followed by a combination of exercises involving variations of push-ups, crunches, power jumps, squats, burpees, and different types of lunges to increase muscle strength for the legs, core, arms and shoulders. It's go time with one evolution after another. There's about a 30 second water break worked into the PT session, but the pace is designed to keep the heart rate up for stamina. If your kid needs to stop for a breather it's no big deal, there's no criticism, dishonor, or penalty, this is about building up their fitness level and these workouts are intended to push the envelope physically and mentally. This concludes with static and dynamic stretching for the cool down before your child's martial arts training really starts. Your kid will not be learning Wing Chun right away, every child must learn the basics of Chinese martial arts which involves training methods that are rooted very deeply in their tradition and inspired by Chinese philosophy. In this case, it's the mimicry of the Five Animals--physical training aimed at developing grace, power, speed, flexibility, and precision, all paired with balance. The basics are made up of rudimentary techniques, conditioning exercises, stances, breathing, simple movements, and proper body mechanics that are performed repeatedly. No matter what skill level your child is at, the basics are constantly revisited since they are the foundation for strong and flexible muscles that will enable your kid to progress to the more advanced stages. To succeed in this discipline, your kid will need patience, energy, practice, and time to learn every stance, block, strike, and kick. There are no shortcuts, but I believe you'll see the difference in your child's fitness level and self-confidence as time passes and they acquire new skills. Second, Hung Fa isn't limited to the biomechanics of a self-defense system, Sifu Mark and Sihing Mike actually spend time with the kids sharing the meaning of Kung Fu and its origin, and on the philosophical level, the importance of respect, integrity, and hard work. They show the kids the connection to daily life...that balance isn't just about staying on your feet, it's also about having balance and harmony in all aspects of one's life--family, school, friends, work, and play. Hard work isn't contained within the walls of the Kwoon, it's needed for everything if one wants to achieve. That's some pretty heavy dope for the kids, but they get it. Now with all this PT, Kung Fu training, and exposure to cultural diversity happening, Sifu and Sihing somehow manage to make it fun for the kids by keeping up the energy level when they demonstrate their own skills and explain how combinations can be put together with the moves the kids have been taught. This Kwoon is very supportive and encourages children to always be attentive, careful, and not be afraid to try something new. It's trendy for parents to enroll their kids in karate, it's almost a cliché. However, how often do those kids go the distance in such programs before they lose interest and become one of those teens who've forgotten everything they've learned as they hang out at the food court and tell their friends in passing "Yeah I took karate lessons once when I was a kid too..." Your child deserves better than that, if they've expressed an interest in martial arts why not give them a gift that will serve them well in life? I highly recommend the Hung Fa Yi Kwoon and hold the highest respect for Sifu Mark and Sihing Mike for passing on their experience to my daughter..."Yat! Yee! Saam!" "Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all." -Sam Ewing

Instructor is incredibly knowledgeable and a talented teacher. Such a pleasure to train with!read more

We absolutely love SMAC. We started with them with one of our sons before COVID, then tried our…read morebest to stay with them virtually for the first few months of lockdown. Now we're back and it's better than ever. Our other son, who is a year younger, is there too and they both love it. The best part is the confidence building--especially for my older son who works through his ADHD. I just love how Sensei Ray and his other teachers keep things light, but adhere to traditions and the idea of respect for others. There's no place I'd rather take my kids.

This place is the best. Clean, professional and the nicest staff ever! Sense Ray is kind, caring,…read morehumorous and very patient while working with his students! We tried other martial studios for our boy but this is by far the best (and also the one that's been around the longest). It's the perfect atmosphere for learning karate. You should have zero hesitation sending your children here (or joining yourself)!

Arizona Combat Sports is AMAZING! The staff is so incredibly kind and talented! All the coaches…read moretake the time and effort to help improve your skills and will answer any of your questions! I was so lucky to find this place and I just want to say that if you're interested in martial arts, specifically Jiu Jitsu or Muay Thai, LOOK NO FURTHER! This is the spot! Thank you for everything AZ Combat.

Outstanding gym and they promote a culture of bettering yourself while leaning on each other with…read moreout any attitude

I recently came here to try out a hot yoga class. The first…read moreclass is free which is always great. They offer a few other programs and services here including jiu jitsu. The parking lot is huge, and there was someone at the front lobby desk to help us sign in and complete our waivers. The hot yoga class was great! Genesis taught that evening, and did a great job at walking us through all of poses and breathing exercises. The class did get up to 100 degrees (F) and there were humidifiers throughout the room, so it was steamy! Definitely bring towels and lighter clothing. Since this is not exclusively a yoga studio, you could hear outside the studio walls, which was a tiny bit distracting during savasana, but during class it wasn't noticeable since there was music playing. Definitely check this place out if you live nearby, or want to try out a hot yoga class!

As a proud dad watching my entire family train at South Mountain Movement & Wellness, I can't say…read moreenough good things about this place. The instructors are phenomenal with both kids and adults, striking that perfect balance between pushing everyone to improve and keeping it fun. My kids have absolutely blossomed here - their confidence has skyrocketed, and it's amazing to see them learning real self-defense skills while having a blast with their training partners. Even my daughter, who used to be so shy about wrestling, now eagerly demonstrates moves at home (usually attempting to armbar me throughout the day). What really sets this place apart is how they've created such a strong family atmosphere. My wife and I get to train in the adult classes, and we really enjoy the community here. Lots of the adults have children who also train in the community, and its wonderful seeing the entire family on the mats! The other parents and students have become great friends, and we often send each other jujitsu memes on Instagram. The facility is always clean, the schedule is flexible enough to accommodate our crazy family logistics, and they genuinely care about every student's progress. I honestly don't know how Coach Sarah and Coach Danny remember all the kids names. Sarah and Nigel have created something really special here, and signing up was one of the best decisions we've made for our family, both for our physical fitness and our sense of community. I hope as the community grows we can add more no-gi classes and continue fostering our wonderful culture. 5/5

My child has been going here only since May 1. She has enjoyed going to class and learning…read moreself-defense techniques. professor Mike is kind and makes students understand very well. He also lets them play games after a hard workout. Uniforms can also be rented on the spot. They have month-to-month-or annual memberships.

I came in with absolutely no expectations on what to expect and a little nervousness about starting…read moresomething new. Walking in, I was greeted by Mike, the owner. Such a genuinely kind and friendly dude. He walked me through courses, pricing, schedules- the whole nine yards very comprehensively. I signed up on the spot and waited for the first class to start. There's an air of sportsmanship and camaraderie the minute you step onto the mat and realize all ego is left at the door; the main goal of everyone seems to be honing each other's skill. Everyone I met my first day was extremely nice and welcoming and very much alleviates any feeling of anxiety about starting a new journey. If you are looking to start taking Jiu Jitsu or are already far along the path and need a place to continue sharpening your skills, I cannot recommend this gym enough!

Great coaches and clean environment! Had an incident back in March 2015 where my keys got lost in…read moreanother city and someone found that I went to this gym. The gym helped this person get my keys back to me which I was super grateful for. Everyone was respectful here, and I had a great experience during my tenure at this gym.

Respect, confidence, discipline, and sportsmanship--these are all incredible qualities we want to…read moresee instilled in our kids and modeled by those around them. This place embodies exactly that! My family and I have been members for three years now, and I've been consistently impressed with both the kids' and adult programs. They offer BJJ ( Gi and no-go), wrestling, Muay Thai and woman's self defense. They continue to improve, and the classes are well-structured without any of the negativity sometimes associated with "MMA culture." Just genuinely good people from diverse backgrounds coming together to get better--both physically and mentally. If you're looking for a place to train, definitely check this place out!

9 Dragons Kung Fu school is one of the BEST options you will find in Phoenix! It is perfect for…read morefamilies or individuals who want to prioritize traditional lineage and Kung fu, character development and kind community. The school has very supportive family style and atmosphere, where everyone feels welcomed and fully supported with knowledgeable Sifu Michael and Simu Tamara. I am so happy that my family and i are part of it for the last 4 years now, where we met some great people and made a lot of friends who became like family! All the instructors i have met there are kind and happy to help regardless of your level. Whether you are a total beginner or an experienced martial artist the community led by Sifu Michael and Simu Tamara is exceptionally welcoming and focused on personal growth rather then ego. They are also known for their Lion Dance team and very active participation in local charitable work, encouraging students to give back to community, and stay connected. If you want to learn traditional Kung Fu, Tai Chi, Chi Qigong, weapons, sparing, lion dance and so much more join us at 9 Dragons!

My son is 6 years old and has been coming here for over a year. I've noticed he's more confident…read more He really loves the class as well as the instructors. You can tell everyone is very attentive and all the kids love it. Every year you can catch them at Desert Ridge for Lunar New Year!