Bastion Defense

1.9 km

Aw man, I guess I'll start with the good things first. The people there are genuinely so friendly…read moreand seem to really care about their students. The brief time my son went there, he enjoyed it and they seemed to really care about teaching him. The place was clean, and everyone I spoke to was friendly. Bathrooms were spotless. However, when I signed my son up, the girl explained that I could do 4 weeks of class for like $79ish I want to say, could be more or a little less. Can't remember. Or she said I could pay an additional $50 to go ahead and get the 4 weeks of classes, AND his uniform. I went ahead and did that deal since I knew he would need a uniform. I wasn't expecting to be charged for his uniform every month since I had already bought it once, and it was his now. Anyways. My son decided early June after a few classes he wanted to try something different. I called them and explained that he would not be in any more classes and that I needed to cancel. The fella on the phone told me "Welllll we need a 30 day heads up." I said okay. Reluctantly, I paid that month even though my son was no longer in classes, but understanding their policy, I paid. He also asked me for an email address as well, and I gave it to him. Here it is October, and I've been charged $129 for months. I have called them several times. I have emailed them. When I called after I noticed two charges came out of my account, they said "well did you submit cancellation forms?" I said HUH? Nobody sent me anything but the previous guy said he notated my account. The girl I spoke with told me that she saw he notated it BUT failed to send any form over. I guess maybe he forgot. However due to him not doing what he was supposed to, I have been charged since and they WON'T FIX IT. I ended up having to close my bank account. The girl told me she would get my money back, but never called back. I called and spoke with someone (Maybe named Jennifer...?) who said she would call me back after discussing with others. No call back. Called back and sent an email of this same length. No response. No reply. She had sent me the cancellation forms and I dated them back to June since that was the last authorized payment. Nothing has been said, no help. They have completely ghosted me. I did my part, I wish they would do theirs. I'm incredibly frustrated with the company, and I hate it so much that they won't make it right. I am HOPEFUL they will, but they've ignored me. Next step is going to the location, but I doubt they would do anything.

On June 5th I spoke to Jennifer about signing my son up for summer camp the week of July 1st. She…read moresaid I would be receiving a registration packet in the email. I received an email that day confirming my payment. Since that day I have yet to receive any other email from them. I reached out the week before camp to ask about a registration packet, and they said they would be sending it soon. Days later, after still receiving nothing, I contacted again, and they said maybe it sent to the wrong email. I confirmed my email, and then never heard anything back. I never received an email or a text or a call. I called them Monday, July 1st. I spoke to someone about my experience and she was quick to apologize. She offered to make it right, but at this point I dont trust them with my son. She said she would have to speak to the owner about a refund. It is now July 4th and I still have not heard from them regarding this issue. The place is not run well and completely disorganized. I have exhausted all other efforts - so review it is!

LionHeart Academy Martial Arts

(5 reviews)

7.0 km

I've been coming here almost a year now. The experience has been great. Professor George teaches…read moreyou more than just technique, he puts a lot of focus the concepts behind jiu jitsu. The environment is very welcoming and it's a great place to train whether you are a colored belt or a brand new white belt.

Great family atmosphere, wonderful place to train. Instructors teach the Jujitsu concepts like no…read morewhere else I've been. I'd give it ten stars if I could.

Free Women's Self Defense Workshop May 2016

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World Oyama Karate

(3 reviews)

5.5 km

I love the feel of this dojo so much. It's an old-school, minimal bells and whistles place. I…read morecannot recommend Karl highly enough-- he is FANTASTIC with kids. I also really like that there doesn't seem to be a lot of emphasis on testing and promotion on a schedule, which I've experienced with other places in the past. My kiddo loves this "ninja school!"

This is a little know gem in the city of Birmingham. Growing up here as a Japanese/American, I…read moretook karate at World Oyama, during my high school years. This was the default place to go for anyone in my family and it was obvious that there was a rich history in the Oyama tradition. I certainly enjoyed being able to learn from a grand master, but perhaps didn't appreciate the magnitude of it until years later. As an adult, I lived in Japan and witnessed just how big the organization really is. There are World Oyama tournaments held there and they are big events. Despite the international fame of this school, you will find it very approachable, practical and welcoming to all. There is no fluff, it's just about strength, conditioning and being the best you can be. I know the organization has received accolades for its contributions to the state of Alabama and that it is something I will always value having had access to.

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USA Martial Arts

(6 reviews)

6.0 km

This place has had such a wonderful impact on my son. He shows more confidence and takes every…read moremessage to heart. We highly recommend!

USA Martial Arts should be a staple in your child's life. The amount of confidence, discipline, and…read moreself control gained from their training is amazing! With typical smaller class sizes, they get a more hands on approach to instruction. They teach you how to grow as a student, but also how to grow as a person!

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North Star Martial Arts

5.5 km

Fantastic martial arts school for the ENTIRE FAMILY. Wonderful instructors- "the family that kicks…read moretogether, sticks together "

Tiger Rock Martial Arts of Hoover

4.5

3.5 km

Tiger rock help teach me to fight and to have great flexibility. And the classes have a really…read moreenergetic atmospher.

My 5 year old son has been attending the Hoover location for about 4 months. He is a transfer,…read moreTiger Cub (ages 4-6) from the Gardendale location. There is a big difference! The studio is much larger with bigger classes. The monthly fee depends on how many days a week you want your child to attend. The instructors are very skilled and stern. Even though classes are large, the instructors have complete control and holds the attention of each student. They are strict on adherence to rules and obedience. Classes help build good character, self defense, and self control/focus. Parents aren't allowed to intervene in teachings, but during the last 5 minutes of class; parents practice techniques with their student. Classes are always on time, and rarely goes over.

Life Time

2.9

(91 reviews)

5.3 km

I love going to lifetime. It elevates the gym experience for me and makes me want to actually go…read moreworkout.

It's an okay gym, but there's nothing even close to "luxury" about it. You'd genuinely get better…read moreservice at the YMCA. The women's sauna is constantly broken or smells like sewage, and it's been that way long enough that it's clearly not a priority to fix. They also completely erased a huge part of the club's community when they removed the basketball courts. That space brought people together, and replacing it with indoor pickleball--without asking members--says everything about how decisions are made here. Most of the events are geared toward the senior population, so calling this place an "athletic country club" feels misleading. And the last‑minute changes to heated classes, suddenly moving them outdoors when it's 60 degrees and cloudy, make no sense. It feels like they're sacrificing quality just to squeeze in more bodies. It was heartbreaking to lose the cycle classes as that was the only community I had been able to build there. When the gym is crowded, it's barely usable. I've seen the saunas so packed that people are standing shoulder to shoulder. It's uncomfortable and defeats the purpose entirely. And while most of the staff are friendly, it's hard not to notice that some employees show up smelling like weed, which doesn't exactly match the "premium" image they're trying to sell.

The lounge area in this facility is unique

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Majestic Caverns

3.8

(66 reviews)

49.7 km

Two of us visited Majestic Caverns and took the cave tour. Our tour guide was Josiah and he was…read moregreat! He gave us lots of information about the cave's history, took pictures of us, gave us time to look around at features he pointed out and answered all of our questions. I have trouble with tight spaces and this didn't bother me at all. The cave is very open and wide. There was a beautiful laser show at the end, we saw the liberty show and it was breathtaking. We enjoyed our visit and Josiah made everyone feel welcome and appreciated.

Staff were okay. I guess they were working as part of some summer thing? So maybe volunteers. I…read moreasked one guy where we should go to find the caverns and he had no idea... Honestly, the only staff I liked is our tour guide Char! She gets a 5 star. The caverns are amazing. It is a must-see for anyone in the area.

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Blue Water Park

4.7

(7 reviews)

15.1 km

Not only do they have a wide range of scuba certification classes, but they rent paddle boards as…read morewell! The water is bright blue and absolutely beautiful, it's such a great place to learn how to paddle board (no waves, no current). The rentals are fairly reasonably priced (~$15/hr) but you can also bring your own and just pay the usage fee (~$6). The dock is well maintained and so are the paddle boards, the owner/staff are incredibly nice and welcoming. Note that they're only open on Saturday's and Sunday's. Can't wait to come back and one day get scuba certified here!

Came here with my friend on Saturday (mid-morning) to paddle boat. It was our first time attempting…read moreto do so and also at this site (never would have expected to find this quarry in the middle of an industrial area). We rented our paddleboards for $15/hr and went right for it. They also have life vests available to borrow if you need. Kayaks were also available for rental as well as diving gear etc. This is a well run, organized and very pretty diving area, would definitely recommend for an outdoor adventure!

Divers of all levels welcome

Evening at BWP

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Paddle boards available for rent

Geaux Play Sports & Fitness

4.8

(4 reviews)

13.6 km

Trainer, Keith Washington, is always dependable and ready to work out. He is the absolute best!!!…read moreGym owner, Lisa Hall, is always kind and helpful. The gym is clean and the bathrooms always has adequate supplies. Besides Keith and Lisa, my favorite part of the gym are the two friendly doodles who let me hug and pet them every time I see them. It is my happy place.

great facility! my son loves getting in cage work there! It is well kept, expansive and Lisa is so…read morevery helpful!

Love my Geaux Play Family

Speed & Agility for all sports

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Free weights, Cybex, and cardio machines

D-BAT SW BIRMINGHAM

4.1

(8 reviews)

4.8 km

Great people great staff clean facility. They made the reservations super easy if in the area again…read morewill definitely go.I'm

We absolutely love this place. It's always so welcoming, and the coaches actually care about…read moreteaching our son the mechanics of baseball. His swing has improved immensely!

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Big Time Entertainment

3.6

(14 reviews)

90.6 km

Big Time in Oxford, Al for my best friends son's birthday overall I would give it an 8.5/10 and…read morethat only because I thought the area for small kids would be a little bigger it was literally a corner, but I forgot to get a photo. The highlights of the day were laser tag and go karts; next time I think I would also like to maybe check out the bowling. I love arcades in general so this is definitely a place I will be visiting again. Facilities: I wish they had more to offer for children under 4. As well as maybe just overall a larger arcade area. Also in laser tag they need to have it marked I actually tripped and fell when going up the ramp. Atmosphere: Definitely family friendly Crowd: Not overly crowded able to enjoy everything

Big-Time Entertainment has amazing staff, but the pricing and game quality are way too expensive…read more The cost per play is sky-high, and credits vanish fast on short, low-quality games. It's significantly more expensive than Dave & Buster's, which offers much better value and promotions. Compounding this, many games are constantly broken or malfunctioning, which is unacceptable at these premium rates. Even buying credits is frustrating; the kiosks only highlight rigid options like $10 for 80 credits instead of displaying a full, transparent price list so families can budget effectively. Management should introduce half-price Wednesdays and a summer season pass to provide better value. The best part is definitely the workers--they are incredibly kind and accommodating to guests with vision loss. However, placing the best prizes, like the big colorful balls, exclusively inside visual claw machines excludes blind students. They waste money on games they can't equitably play. Thanks to the staff's sided help, I was able to get one, but these items should be redeemable via tickets at the counter so everyone has a fair shot. The great staff deserves a venue with a fairer, more accessible pricing model.

Bowling lane

Front

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Led Zeppelin III pinball

Putter Up

3.5

(13 reviews)

11.8 km

I'm involved in a ladies group and we enjoy trying new activities. We decided to try put her up on…read morea Saturday afternoon. You should make reservations and sign a waiver online. Because there was a large group of us we did make a group reservation. The only thing I did not like was that it was very stuffy in there and I had jeans on. It was like the air-conditioning was not on. Also, you can go to either beer hog or half shell oyster house and get a green solo cup and walk around with your drink at putter up. I will be back, but I will wear less clothing. It is $14.99 for a round. This is located in an old elementary school, which is really neat. Parking can be difficult we went on a day where there was a pool tournament at beer hog

Unique electronic indoor putt putt. It is easy to play once you get instructions because it's a bit…read morehigh tech. It is nice to play indoors and not be hot. Grandkids enjoyed it

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Matthew H.

0

1

0

7 years ago

CounterStrike is led by veteran instructor Nate Acton, and is part of the IKMF--one of the original organizations created by the founder of Krav Maga, Imi Lichtenfeld. Here you will get solid training in the techniques and principles of Krav Maga to prepare you for various types of attacks. Whether you want a short-term women's course or want to be involved for the long haul (to sharpen your skills and prepare you for more increasingly difficult situations), this is the premier Krav Maga training center in all of Alabama. I have benefited personally from Instructor Acton's knowledge and skill. Matthew Holder read more

Bastion Defense - martialarts - Updated August 2026

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