I used to love this location (Fairfax) of Kaize . However, recent changes have made me decide to…read morepull my kids out and go to a different location. My kids are in the youngest age group (under 7). They used to be taught by adult Sempais, and I could see them gaining skills, self control, respect, etc. But this location recently changed to allowing older kids to serve as Sempais and run the class. These kids don't have any experience with teaching children - they're still children themselves. The focus of classes has shifted from learning skills to just "conditioning" - running, sit-ups, push-ups, etc. And these child instructors just don't have the self-control to serve as instructors. At the end of most classes, the Sensei/Sempai ends with a fun game to conclude on a fun note. But recently, the child Sempai leading a dodgeball-type game got carried away and way too competitive and was throwing the ball full force into little kids' faces. I saw a 4 yr old get slammed in the face (by the Sempai) so hard she fell down. And the Sempai appeared to like it and continued to throw full full force at other 4, 5, and 6 year olds. That was the breaking point for me. The other Kaizen locations are good, and we'll stick to those ones.

I am enrolled in the Muay Thai program here at Fairfax Karate. It is a great program and I am in…read moremuch better shape than I was before. I may even consider taking an amateur fight. Najim, the coach is great. He is very technical in his instructions but still very understanding that it takes time to learn the techniques. Plus he has a strong competitive record: Multiple Sabaki (full contact Enshin Competition) wins and multiple Muay Thai Titles. It should be noted that some of the techniques are modified compared to pure Muay Thai to more of a Dutch style of Muay Thai. The classes run one hour, with about 10 minutes of warm up and stretching, about 40 minutes of technique training, and then about 10 minutes of calisthenics at the end. The varieties of techniques vary class to class ranging from the very basics to sparring for the more experience students. Also available are: Children and Adult Karate - I don't know a ton about these but have seen Najim coaching the children's classes and the kids seem to be learning alot of good techniques and still having a ton of fun. Also Enshin Karate, being a combination of kickboxing and Judo, does teach many techniques that are very real world usable should the students need them in an actual self defense situation. Gracie Jiu Jitsu - These classes are taught by Toney Waldecker, a blackbelt under Relson Gracie, son of Helio Gracie - the inventor of Gracie Jiu Jitsu. I don't know a lot about these classes either but Toney seems to be a very good trainer and Relson visits the dojo a few times a year it seems.

I signed up for the conceal carry class on Groupon. I then signed up for range sessions with Keith…read moreJordan. The Trouble Defense team is very professional! Sheena is very responsive to schedule sessions and Keith is very patient. He has a very calm teaching style that made me feel very comfortable. Since my training, I am more educated on self-defense laws, have my conceal carry training certificate and feel comfortable going to the range by myself to shoot my personal firearm. The instructor helped me choose my first firearm that I fit my needs. I recommend Trouble Defense to anyone. From individuals not comfortable with firearms to experienced people that want to sharpen their skills. As a result of my awesome experience, I plan to continue to use their services!

I highly recommend! The instructors are phenomenal! They are very knowledgeable, professional ,…read morefamily oriented, and friendly. They were able to answer all of my questions and helped me face my fears. Not only were they kind but they were extremely patient with me. They made sure I was comfortable and guided me every step of the way. If you are looking for firearm training, safety seminars, etc; Trouble Defense is the place to go!

Coach Dave Carter is amazing. He has the rare ability to teach you basic concepts and string…read moretogether various concepts all within one session. As someone new to MMA, I am finding myself accelerating my learning at a rapid rate. The private sessions are a perfect complement to the group sessions. I highly recommend taking lessons from Coach Dave, he can adjust his teaching to all skill levels.

Relentless MMA!!…read more The gym has changed locations this past year, very close to the original. Same owner, same students. I've been going for 3 months now. I eased in with 1-2 classes per week, now I am committed 5 days a week. Each class is so different, yet they blend well into each other. Coach Dave Carter does an outstanding job with training all the many students he has. Nighttime classes are a little fuller than his daytime ones, so both have their perks. Do you like to kick? Punch? Train hard? Want to learn self defense and disarm weapons? Want to grapple? Learn Jiu Jitsu? There's even a boot camp available if you just want to condition and get your foot in the door. So I'll include the latest schedule, but naturally it could change so check out the website.. Come train with us!

Solid school, no pressure, laid back, worth checking out…read more Selling points - no gimmicks or pressure to join (unlike most of the schools in NoVa) - the two instructors are skilled.... very skilled. Taekwondo and BJJ backgrounds - male / female / kid friendly - one instructor is female, both are super approachable - the age range is good. i'm in my early 30s and i'm happy to be surrounded by students of all walks of life - pricing is competitive, especially if you bundle in 2 classes - fellow students are super friendly School style - relaxed. they can push you when necessary but you don't feel like the bad guy from the Karate Kid movies is screaming at you. - belt test at your own pace - good mix of ground and standing training - punches, kicks, breaks and grappling - full sparing at appropriate rank - good, balanced self defense focus Additional bonus - they cater to what you want. If you want a calm atmosphere to train in, if you want to become a champion, if you want something to do with the family, they can surprisingly do any of that. it's a well run program and worth dropping in. First class is free!

Oriental Sports Academy is an excellent martial arts school that serves all ages, from young…read morechildren to teens to adults. The school teaches four Korean martial arts styles: Taekwondo, Judo, Hapkido, and Sword. It has a before and after school program for kids, as well as summer, winter, and spring break day camps. There are numerous social events that help the students, families, and staff connect with each other, and additional special training opportunities are available. I earned my black belt in Hapkido here, and now my son is learning Taekwondo. We both love OSA!

My kids have been going for several months now and enjoy it. The coaches are patient, kind, and…read moremake the class a fun and safe environment to learn. The class schedule is flexible which works well for us. The gym is a decent size and has a good amount of seating for parents. There is also a lot of parking which is nice! Highly recommend this place!

I have attended introductory classes and woman's self defense classes with them in the past and, if…read moreI lived closer, I would've definitely continued to train with them because I believe they're the best in the NOVA area. The instructors are patient, helpful and they teach really well. I highly recommend them!

Having trained under for Jeff for over a year in various self-defense practices, I cannot recommend…read morehis services highly enough. The lessons and teaching are individualized, well-paced, and of top quality that is unequaled by other self-defense trainers, gyms, etc. in the area. Further, Jeff takes the time to get to know you and your specific needs, situation, etc. Not only does this help him optimize training plans for you, it ensures that you leave each training session with something relevant and practical that you can use in your day to day, even if this means having a plan (that you'll hopefully never have to use) if **** hits the fan. His self-defense training provides the confidence to feel secure and prepared. I am sure that his strength & nutrition services offer similar experiences.

A legit privilege to have a Navy SEAL patiently impart his technical expertise and philosophical…read moreguidance to a humble civilian. He taught me the fundamentals of an amazing edge weapons system- MBC, Martial Blade Concepts...an ideal methodology for me. I will also look to his tutelage and training for firearms and effective home defense. This fella is the real deal, bar none.

Real-world self-defense is CLEARLY a passion for all the instructors here. I appreciate when the…read moreinstructor says that he's not teaching us "THE WAY," he's teaching us "A WAY." Everyone's body and skills are so different, and these instructors fully embrace that. Their goal in Krav Maga is not to teach us pretty kicks and impressive moves - their goal is to make sure we get home to our loved ones safely. It is all about developing your mindset, muscle memory, and instincts so that, when it really counts, you avoid the deer-in-headlights effect. Even as a beginner, I feel like I walk around my community in Manassas with more confidence and awareness and have learned how to reduce my chances of being a victim in the first place. If for some reason you don't feel like you have the time to commit to classes, I HIGHLY recommend you check out their monthly seminars! Women's Self Defense, Edged Weapon Defense, Car Jacking Defense, and the list goes on!! After watching many of the kid's classes, I love what I see! They're teaching kids how to use their voice, how to stand up for themselves and when it is appropriate to take physical action.

Amazing experience- went for an hour and a half class for moms and daughters. The instructors were…read moreincredible, the atmosphere was friendly and inviting. I left feeling so much more confident in protecting myself. I had so much fun I'm going to sign up for the adult class! Highly recommend for adults and especially kids - the tactics you learn could save your life and it was interactive and super fun great workout on top of it as icing on the cake DEFINITELY at least go once to experience it yourself you won't be disappointed!

Awesome program available for kids 4 days weekly, amazing instructors, very friendly, helpful,…read morerespectful and dedicated! Proper training and protective equipment is also available. Thank you for everything you do!

I visited Kore Krav Maga last year for a week of instructor training, and I was totally impressed…read moreby the way that the McCrackens run their school. First thing I noticed is that everything is clean, which is really important when you're training in close contact with people, and especially if you ever do any training on the ground. Next, I noticed how friendly all of the students and instructors were. The culture of the place is very welcoming. I can be a bit shy at first, so having people go out of their way to say hello and show me around was pretty great. Lastly, I want to mention the huge amount of knowledge the instructors bring to their students. For instance, the lead instructor, Tammy McCracken, is the Director of the US Women's Division for Krav Maga Global, and she's constantly going to seminars and conferences and the like to learn more about how people can defend themselves. They have created an environment where all people, regardless of size/age/ability, can train together and not feel awkward or like they don't belong. The benefits of making this your regular gym can't be understated - fitness, self defense, friendship, empowerment... the list just keeps going. Love this place!

My teenage daughter and I were looking for a physical activity we could do together, and liked the…read moreself-defense benefit that Krav Maga could add. We had never taken a class, but I had read about CDK Krav Maga and we decided to give it a try. It was a great decision (especially as we have tried many different types of classes). We met with the owner DJ who took real time with us -- listening to our goals and explaining how Krav Maga builds confidence and practical self-defense skills, especially for women. We took a complementary class. Everyone made us feel so comfortable. The classes are instructional, not competitive, and people go at their own pace, which is something we also liked. The instructors are great. David worked with us initially and was knowledgeable and encouraging. DJ's wife Emma made the onboarding process so easy and welcoming. They were also incredibly flexible in helping us find a class schedule that worked for our busy lives. If you're interested in Krav Maga, CDK is a great place.

I had an uncomfortable experience with the sales process here and think it's important for others…read moreto know what to expect. The pricing was not transparent; I was quoted $200/month over the phone, but in person, the price jumped to $270/month plus a $200 initiation fee. When I asked to try a class before committing, I was told that wasn't possible. The meeting focused heavily on "closing the deal" that day, using high-pressure tactics. Most concerningly, when I asked about the schedule for female instructors, the tone shifted and I was asked, "Why are you asking that?" It felt like a dismissive response to a reasonable question about a training environment. The salesperson also disparaged other local gyms, which felt unprofessional. In an activity where physical vulnerability and trust are key, this environment felt neither transparent nor supportive.

Henry is an awesome teacher for kids. He is very patient with my 3.5 year old who is the youngest…read morein class. He takes his time teaching him. He made sure my son does understands the activity. Would def recommend for tots ninja classes!

The more involved I become with Black Belt, the more impressed I am…read more The teachers are amazing, the manager, Mr. E, is incredible and the culture of this studio is that of a family - they literally want what's best for you. My preschooler started and months in, says it's the best part of his day. My elementary school daughter started taking classes here, and has become so strong that I started to wonder if she was going to have to protect me should we ever become unlucky enough to be stuck in a dangerous situation. I started taking adult classes two weeks ago for self defense (I'm petite and female - I always feel like a vulnerable target) and fitness (gyms are not my thing) - I couldn't be more impressed. From the first class, I walked away feeling powerful, capable, and confident that I was learning tangible skills - I was punching a punching bag (never in my life have I ever...) and kicking dummies. I walked away with at least 2-3 pearls that knew I could use immediately, and my muscle soreness implied that I got a good workout. I love that taekwondo is not a cardio-driven sport. Mr. Henry teaches kids and adults, and contextualizes the class and content to the skill level of every person in the class. Even though a class may have students at different levels, they are able to make each class propel students forward but at their own pace. The discipline your kids will pick up will amaze you. My kids ( on their own) started saying 'Yes, Mama. Yes, Daddy.' like they were responding to a drill sergeant, and while it was weird for a sec, I gotta say, I really appreciate it now. Their after school program is great - they will bus your kid from a handful of schools in the area, and will provide a snack, then many kids work on homework. STEM classes are an add-on. But what someone else said about the culture is totally true - they foster a familial culture - older kids help younger kids with homework and the younger kids have great role models ('She's a black belt. When I become a black belt.....') to look up to. This program includes taekwondo classes every day. Their summer camp is a hidden gem - the rates are extremely reasonable and includes field trips every day (at least during the non COVID era). The other thing I love? This sounds so stupid, but they have a microwave and a fridge, and will take your kid around University Mall to buy lunch if that's what they want - this means no more panic attacks at 10:30 PM about what shelf-stable/no-heat lunch you can make for your kid out of your cabinet (or 'OMG I can't believe I forgot to freeze the ice pack' mornings), and it also has taught my kids some life skills about being able to order meals for themselves. This program includes taekwondo classes every day. It's free to try a class. Try it and decide for yourself if it's for you/your kid or not - most kids are hooked after the first class. There are 'Bring a parent to class' days so you can get a feel for it yourself. They are so confident in their program and teachers that they offer a $40 for a free uniform and 2 weeks of classes deal. If it's not for you or your child, they are happy for you to part ways. But the pride that these kids have for the stripes and the belts that they (and myself) earn - that value is immeasurable. As they get older, they will have more formal tests to move onto the next belt. Early on, they will get experience with being judged, critiqued (where their only opponent is themselves, not another) and provided with constructive criticism - all crucial life experiences. I could go on and on. If you've ever given it a thought - give it a try, you have nothing to lose but everything to gain.