Sifu Jue has been my Sifu for many years. I feel very fortunate to have found him. I'm a senior (Gu…read moreLao) Wing Chun student and I've practiced continuous sparring here for many years. If I had to defend myself, I could. For me, Wing Chun and continuous sparring are practical, useful, interesting, and effective. Sifu Jue teaches authentic, traditional kung fu in the traditional Chinese way ~ the way Kung Fu classes were taught in China past and present, and integrates his own method. This school is not a franchised business or part of an organization with a standardized curriculum. Having practiced Wing Chun under 2 previous teachers, I can say that Sifu Jue understands Wing Chun very well, is an excellent practitioner, and is an effective teacher with an ability to teach anyone. Over the years I've witnessed many people in his class develop into surprisingly good fighters. Sifu Jue knows many things but is a modest instructor. Everyone is comfortable learning here. As with anything, if you commit yourself you will continue to improve. Note: I chose to learn Kung Fu because I knew it offered something additional that modern fighting arts do not. There are the tangible benefits of self~defense, strength, and fitness, that come with training of any kind, but kung fu offers much more.

I have been training with Sifu Stanley Jue for about a year and a half. I trained for a few years…read morein a different lineage of Wing Chun . I also have over 30 years of involvement with the arts and have black belts in Karate and Ju Jitsu ( 1rst degree and 6th degree respectively, plus some other stuff. Having been around for a while, one develops a knack for determining if someone is the real deal. I have trained with some amazing high level martial artists. Sifu Stanley may perhaps be at the highest level I have ever trained with. He is also an awesome guy. The training is now semi private with much individual attention.

If you're looking to learn Brazilian jiu-jitsu or just looking to get in shape and meet great…read morepeople, I highly recommend Florian Martial Arts Center. Being able to find a gym with great people and great instruction is hard to come by, but here at Florian's that's exactly what you'll find. Professor Keith's instruction is top-notch, extremely detailed and is very attentive. Overall, it's been an amazing experience and I highly recommend Florian's to anyone who's ready to take the leap.

This is a great place to train! The instructors are friendly, knowledgeable, and tailor instruction…read moreto your level. The instructors invest equally in everyone from white belt to black belt, whether those students are competing, learning a new sport, or just trying to get fit. As a new student, I never feel pressured to purchase uniforms or equipment directly from them. From an outside perspective, academies like these can seem intimidating. However, Florian's is the most inclusive environment I have participated in over my 30 years of training in different styles and at other academies. Although I have only been there briefly, I feel part of this group because everyone goes out of their way to be welcoming. It is an excellent place for women to train together as well.

Twenty years in, and after a substantial hiatus due to a job that wouldn't let me get to this…read morestudio in time for class, I'm back here. These instructors, and these classes, are fantastic. I love how everybody here is friendly, supportive - but also won't coddle you along if you're just stuck in a rut of self-pity. The beginner class is usually divided into four sections: 1. warm up, where you actually stretch out just about every part of your body. Great if you've been sitting at a desk all day. 2. basics, where you work on some basic aspect of kicking, punching, or stances. 3. forms, where you do what would be kata in standard karate; this is my favorite part. The class usually splits into several groups at this point, depending on experience. There's almost always at least one or two beginners in the back working on Long Fist I, so don't worry if you don't know what you're doing - you're not alone! 4. self-defense, where you work on drills to deal with things like wrist grabs, punches, and kicks. I have *used* these (alas) twice, and in both cases, the hours of drilling I did took over while my brain was locked up. Instructors Mark, Karen, and Jonathan are fantastic, and I was classmates with Instructors Melissa and Jason until I had to drop out. They're terrific people, and there is none of the "buy-a-belt, learn to master the soooper seeeekrit martial arts" vibe I've gotten from other dojos. You sweat, and you learn, and everybody's supportive of that. They are also supportive of the fact that people may come in with pre-existing conditions, and will not make you do the idiotic "push through the pain" thing when you're actually hurting yourself. (I've had teachers who did this, and am very grateful not to be putting up with that anymore.)

This is a fantastic place, and a wonderful community, both for kids and adults. The instructors are…read moreexcellent teachers, but what I love most is their commitment to each student. For adults, they meet you where you are in terms of fitness and knowledge, from absolute beginners to students who been practicing for years, and they then figure out how you can improve from there. For the kids, I have never seen a team of instructors invest such attention and care to every child in every class and then achieve success through positive encouragement. I've been a student myself for over ten years, as has my child, and I'm still learning and growing. Can't recommend highly enough!

This place is unbelievable. I've been going several times a week for over a year now and I can't…read moreget enough. Not only is this school good for learning martial arts but everyone here is so nice and welcoming. Unlike the other schools in the region, this dojo doesn't just teach one technique. You can learn how to use jujutsu, moving meditation, dakenjutsu (karate), aikijutsu, kenjutsu (samuarai sword), and even samurai drumming techniques. Also, no where else can you receive training from someone who has literally been practicing Kobudo his entire life. The person I speak of is Soke Grandmaster Tsuji and no one else like him exists in this country and probably not in Japan either. In addition to the top notch training I've been receiving as an adult, I've also witnessed a bit of the children's programs as well. The children love it there as well as the parents. I can also say that unlike other martial arts schools, Samurai Academy isn't run like business. They won't try and sell you expensive packages or lock you in to a year long contract. If you want to be there you can be there and if you don't you can leave (few ever leave). This place has not only made me feel more confident in my physical abilities but it has also made me stronger mentally as well. Being surrounded by such a positive environment has made me a much better person in just one short year and my training has only begun. I don't give five star ratings very often but I'd give Samurai Academy in Weymouth a 10 if I could.

I found the best dojo! Samurai Academy of Kobudo in Weymouth, Ma. Soke Grand Master Tsuji teaches…read morehis system that his family developed in Japan for more than 300 years. I've always been interested in the martial arts and a couple of years ago I was looking for a dojo. I tried it for the first time as I was approaching 50 years old. Soke Grandmaster Tsuji is teaching me the ancient art of the samurai that includes open hand and weapons. He shares his wisdom around self defense and his deep knowledge of the history of the Samurai. Soke and his dedicated instructors, T.K., Alvin and Dee have taught me lessons for a lifetime including patience and respect. As an adult learner I like to experience new things. I was easily talked into competing at a regional tournament. Lots of different schools attended and it was great to see how martial arts has a large community. I've been taking the adult classes for the past couple of years and and have always found Samurai Academy to be a welcoming dojo

Great instructors for adults and kids. My two kids take classes and have made good friends, learned…read morea ton of skills and have made good connections with people. Highly recommend this place due to the wonderful level of instruction and care given to students.

Still an amazing place to train, with great instructors and an amazing environment. My son started…read moretaking karate classes about 10 years ago and now I have been a student of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for about 7 years and love every minute of it. The academy is more of a community for its students and makes everyone feel so comfortable no matter what level of experience you have. I highly recommend JPMAA for anyone looking for a great place to train karate or Jiu-Jitsu.

Such a great community of people, awesome instructors and members, and everyone is very friendly…read moreand knowledgeable. I've been to other MMA clubs before in passing and this one is by far the best. I've been coming here multiple times/week for about 8 months now. Always feel safe and included.

i've been on and off studying muay thai for nearly 5 years now, with a pretty significant lapse in…read moretraining due to a recent surgery, but i've had my fair experiences with fighter gyms in both vegas and boston. i like this gym, i LOVE the fact that they give student rates AND that they do NOT have a contract commitment. You can definitely sign a contract, but it's not required and i like that i've never been pressured into taking a contract. CSB is located on the 2nd level of the beacon hill athletic club in the north station location. it's pretty rad because when you join CSB, you also have full access to the normal gym to do your thang if you're into it. the classes and trainers have been great. maybe it was just a vegas thing, but the people going to these gyms in vegas always seemed verrrrrry douchey and more concerned with looking "tough" rather than getting technique down and getting into better shape. i don't get the douche vibe at all here, the trainers are very real, and care about 2 things, your safety and getting your technique to improve. students alike have been very cool, there's a good mix of people just starting out, competition level students, and everything in between. everyone's eager to help, and no one makes you feel stupid or intimiated if you're just starting out or are new to one of the arts. i haven't had anything but good experiences here thus far, just wish they would add krav maga so i could try that too :)

I couldn't recommend this gym more. From my first class to months later, I've done nothing but…read moreenjoy it here. Coach and Owner Jeff Perez set a high bar for a Martial Arts gym. There is a great sense of community, and everyone is welcome regardless of skill level. Whether you're looking for a workout or picking up a new hobby, do yourself a favor and try a class.

I have trained jiu-jitsu in several gyms across the country. Jeff has been the best grappling coach…read moreI have had. His ability to explain technical information is second to none. I have seen him effectively communicate grappling concepts to a wide variety of people. Jeff is very approachable and is not intimidating or scary at all. Whatever your fitness and martial arts goals are, Back to Basics is definitely the place to train at in the Boston area.

I dropped in from out of town for the day for the Ladies Jiu Jitsu class. Everyone was very…read morefriendly and I found the class informative, thank you!

I purchased a three-class trial through a special offer and received repeated messages encouraging…read moreme to schedule a class. I eventually scheduled the 12:30pm Advanced no GI class and arrived a few minutes early, but the front desk interaction was so frustrating that I left without attending. The employee was a tall man with a strong accent that sounded Eastern European to me. He did not introduce himself, so I did not catch his name. He gave me a complimentary bottle of water, which I appreciated. I told him several times that I had already purchased the trial and was scheduled for the 12:30 p.m. class. Instead of checking my reservation or directing me to the class, he repeatedly asked where I had trained, what brought me to Boston, and what school I attended. The conversation was not aggressive, but he consistently ignored or disregarded what I was saying. He told me the gym did not schedule classes and did not offer free classes, even though I never said the class was free. I offered to show him my contract agreement from the gym and the text messages confirming the schedule, but he did not meaningfully address them. He became particularly fixated on asking which specific school I attended. He continued pressing for that information even after I asked what it had to do with helping me find the class I had scheduled. The repeated questioning made me very uncomfortable. He eventually said he was trying to determine which membership to offer me, despite my already explaining that I was not interested in discussing memberships and only wanted to attend the class I had scheduled and paid for. Not sure if this was because I was a woman and he refused to believe I signed up for this class or if it was because this is the gym's brute-force, out of touch approach to selling their memberships but either way, it was just way too much trouble to even attend on a trial basis. If the 12:30 p.m. advanced no-gi class was not appropriate for a trial student, that should have been explained when it was scheduled. Instead, I received no clear assistance and left because the interaction felt disorganized, dismissive, and overly focused on selling me a membership. A bit disappointed because the BJJ gyms I've been to have been so welcoming and encouraging esp for new members. On the T or not, I would pass on this place.

I've been taking capoeira here for almost three years (Capoeira Gerais, taught by Contra-Mestre…read moreCoreba), and my review for that magnificent class can be found elsewhere. This review deals strictly with the facility and what it offers. There are a wealth of classes here, taught in a studio that boasts hardwood floors, a padded boxing ring, heavy bags and a weights area. I've seen folks train in Hung Gar, work with swords, and work in MMA. It doesn't feel like a big place, but there are often multiple classes going on at once and everyone has their own space. Also important to note is that there are two bathrooms with showers (both kept very clean) as well as private changing areas. These, combined with the friendliness of the instructors and visiting teachers there, combine to make a very relaxing and familial atmosphere.

I have been a member here for almost a year, and I love this place. The main focus here is on the…read moremartial arts classes (it's the home of Nam Pai Academy) so the machines and weight room are always free. I can come here any night after work, get dressed, get my workout done and be out of here and home at a reasonable time. I used to belong to Superfitness in Quincy because it's closest to my house, but try to go in there after work and jump right on a machine--not possible. They do not have many machines (basically one or two each of all the major ones--elliptical, treadmill, and bikes), but it doesn't matter because you never have to fight someone else for the one you want to use. There are TVs all over the place, which I've never seen anyone use. I'm sure they would let you use them, but I've never asked. The gym also offers free Wi-Fi to members, and there are two bathrooms with showers. I also like that my kids are able to come with me and just hang out and eat dinner and do their homework while I work out.

When I first wandered into Hard Knocks for my introduction session with Bill, I was hesitant and…read morenervous as I had never played sports, let alone train Muay Thai. The moment I walked in, I immediately felt welcomed. Bill asked me what my goals were and at the time, I had always been interested in trying kick boxing. I was provided with gloves and hand wraps to use and Coach Jake taught me how to wrap my hands. An hour and a bucket of sweat later, I signed up for a membership and decided to give Hard Knocks Muay Thai and MMA a try. Fast forward to almost 2 years later, this gym has become a huge part of my life in ways I couldn't have imagined. I did more than "try kick boxing". I met a group of extremely skilled and knowledgeable coaches, trainers, and fighters that have helped me take my fitness to the next level. I've begun to fall in love with a sport that pushes me to face my fears. The coaches and fighters in this gym are the epitome of discipline and hard work and it has truly been a privilege to learn Muay Thai with them by my side. There is always room for improvement and everyone is always looking out for you, to help you reach your full potential. My favorite part about Hard Knocks is the sense of family and I wouldn't want to train anywhere else! Book your free intro class now!

Awesome gym. Period…read more Bill and his staff are knowledgeable, professional and will put in the time to help you reach your goals. If you want to fight, they'll get you ready; if you want fitness, they'll get you in shape. After a few sessions, you'll be angry at all the time you wasted at your typical gym. The gym is fully equipped with a full size ring, heavy bags, pads, bands, weights and wall to wall full size mirrors. All of that for an affordable price - actually, it's the most affordable Muay Thai gym in the Boston area. Plus, they offer many other classes like Strength and Conditioning, No Gii BJJ and MMA. Seriously, why pay a similar price to mindlessly lift weights? Call Bill and schedule a training and learn something useful while getting into the best shape of your life. Young, old, man , woman, doesn't matter, come down and gain the strength and confidence to endure any difficulties you face in life.