Last night, I was made aware of the dishonorable, flagrant and extremely disrespectful actions by one Mr. Costley, the chief instructor at CFMAF. These events happened to my 14-year-old daughter who was attending a youth group event as a volunteer for Pikes Peak Suicide Prevention, where Mr. Costley and other CFMAF members put on a demonstration that followed the presentation from her group. While her group were waiting to facilitate the next activity, they were seated as bystanders during Mr. Costley's martial arts demonstration. Apparently, to set the stage for his demonstration, this man made comments about how "females need to experience pain too" and how prospective students can learn to "wield power". He then approached their table an WITHOUT ASKING FOR IR RECEIVING CONSENT, grabbed MY DAUGHTER by the arm to "demonstrate" a martial arts move. She was understandably shaken, as were the students who witnessed the interaction. Immediately after, Mr. Costley turned to another young person in her group who was audibly saying, "Do not touch me." Despite this clear refusal, Mr. Costley grabbed the student, pulled him from his chair, and knocked the chair to the ground. Observers reported that the student appeared to be injured. One of her teammates was so affected by witnessing this incident that they experienced a panic attack. Not that I need to justify anything, but I will let it be known that my daughter is a tough gal and not dramatic. In fact, when relaying these events to me, she very much tried to downplay it and had bitten her tongue during the events because she didn't want to "cause a scene". After some silence on the way home, she became more and more upset, and she cried as she told me she felt "manhandled" and "humiliated". Her volunteer group leader also corroborated the events l, and to say I am enraged is an understatement. My daughter's boundaries were VIOLATED by a complete stranger and there was no apology whatsoever. Shame on you, Mr. Costley. Your actions go completely against what a good dojo should represent...honor, respect & humility. To anyone considering enrolling your child at this practice, I strongly recommend you look elsewhere. read more

Our children have grown up here, having attended for the last 16 years. I am continually amazed at the character development in each one from their experiences. They have pushed when it was difficult, and as they enter adulthood I am watching how well-grounded they are. It is not easy to make this a priority with 6 children, but our faithfulness has paid off in the inner discipline and strength exhibited in every area of their lives. Number four is preparing to test for his adult black belt- and I can see the man he will become in the next few years. I praise God for the gift of CFMAF in our lives. read more

My son is LOVING summer camp at CFMAF! He is learning a lot, the staff are amazing and the cost for summer camp is very affordable, especially if you sign up in advanced for multiple weeks or the whole summer. We will definitely be back next year! read more

I took my kids here and was mislead the entire time. I was told that they would be flexible and would be helpful. They did not do any of those things. Every time I emailed for help. I got the response..."you signed the contract and per line such and such you are bound by this". However when signing this contract Master C promised he was a family man and would do whatever was needed to help a family. I lost my mother and am a single mother, was having a difficult time paying rent much less paying the dues. They did not care. The dues were owed and I signed this contract. I did not step foot in his gym for over 8 months and continued to pay the fees and still this organization refused to be flexible with my family and threatened to sue me for the fees rather than help my kids. I have no good experience with these people. I watched Master C yell at his wife and demand her to get out of training and go to the front to take a family because he was busy. When she calmly explained she was training he raised his voice at her and said "did you not hear me I told you to get up front and help those people. Move now". I don't know about you. However, I do not want a man talking to me in that manner. Much less showing me children that is ok. You treat people with respect. Not talk to them like a dog. Much less your wife!!! This organization is not one I recommend. read more

We love our CFMAF. My grandson has learned real life skills, the staff cares about my child on a personal level, the get to know each child so they can adapt to the child's learning Style. CFMAF is a very good locally owned family business. My grandson lives going to his classes, especially hir black belt Club where he learns advanced techniques with weapons . The instructors i defiantly recommend CFMAF read more

I cannot say enough great things about this place! I have been a student for almost 8 years and the skills I have acquired to keep not only myself safe, but my toddler as well, are priceless. Classes cover so many important points EVERYONE needs to know in this day and age. Everything I have learned there has been worth all the time spent, injuries had, and money made! I could never go anywhere else and feel as passionately about it as I do at CFMAF. My extended family has grown because I was lucky enough to find them. If you are looking for REAL WORLD training for you, your children, or your whole family, this is the place you want to be. Hands down the BEST!!! read more

My family and I have been so impressed with CFMAF! We switched from a different school and we have been amazed at how much we've learned in just a few months. Master C has a black belt in multiple types of martial arts, and he took the best of each along with his experience in the military and police and made it into a program to teach his students. The result is skills that can be used for self defense in real situations, which is exactly what I was looking for. All of the instructors - Master C, Miss Heather, Jake, Zeke and Zane - are all excellent teachers. They are great at explaining the skills, teaching to all levels and amazing with my kids. The adult classes are my favorite, though. It's a different (and intense) workout every time and so much fun! We have really enjoyed training at CFMAF and are so glad we joined. I highly recommend them! read more

My family will NOT be coming back to this establishment. We were told about a free class with no commitment or added pressure and wanted to bring our son... he enjoyed the class, however, After the class we were guided to the owner, by his wife to talk about membership options. We did not want to let our children down, and ended up signing an agreement. We did not physically have our card with us, and gave them our bank account number to sign up. They called us about a payment, and we forgot we even signed up. We never went to one class, and they are suing us via a lawyer for roughly $4,000. For a family owned, military veteran, this is a shame. Will not recommend to family or friends, and I will post this review on other social media platforms so no one has to go through what we went through. Veterans should have each-others back, Not try to screw the enlisted folk for "quick money". read more

Awesome sums it up! Has provided my kids with discipline. Master C and Heather are like family. Staff supports all the members. We have been here for over 4 years and love it! read more

CFMAF provides excellent real-world training and conditioning. Master C has years of practical experience, as well as advanced training in a number of disciplines, and he applies it all to his teaching. The staff and students are supportive of other students and disciplined in their training. I have trained in several other styles of martial arts, including Tae Kwon Do and BJJ, and tried a few self defense classes, and this is by far the most effective style I've seen. The conditioning is exhausting and enables you to quickly develop the stamina necessary for effective self defense. The self defense moves are practical, and you train with them often enough to be able to apply them if necessary. I would highly recommend CFMAF for anyone looking to develop skills in martial arts, self defense, or fitness. read more

I really love this place. The first time meeting the staff and instructors was a complete pleasure. everyone was inviting and involved. The students were attentive and ready and truly having a great time and on top of all of that learning from very skilled individuals and taking care of business. . . If you're looking for just somewhere to goof off, keep looking! This is REAL martial arts and fitness. read more

CFMAF - You can't just show up here to get a belt. You have to show OUT! - Martial Arts Near Me - Colorado Springs, Colorado

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We absolutely Do NOT recommend. We trained here for two years. This is based on my family's personal experience. Find another school, not worth the time or money. I don't like leaving negative reviews, check my review history. The good: Mr. Jordan was fantastic with all 3 of our kids who attended here for 2 years; Mrs. Heather was attentive and took time to show students how to correct their movement during each class. Hats off to them both. The Bad: No uniformity for testing. In other words, the testing revolves cycle to cycle making it difficult to determine what will be on the test for the same level at any given moment; ad-hoc testing requirements. Also, teaching people a defense on Thursday then expecting them to have it mastered for a test the same Saturday is silly. When you ask "whats on the next test for XXX belt and get told to look at the whiteboard or Facebook, that is unacceptable. Basic communication is noticeably missing, aside from the stories of his childhood making every class run later than usual, or pitch to buy something. No suggestion box and when you make suggestions, he discounts them as if this is your 1st school (hint: wasn't mine), and that you are "trying to run" his school. It is as if everyone's opinions don't matter. 6 months in, I had to teach my kids how to tie their belt correctly as showing up twice a week for 6 months, there was no instruction on this day 1 requirement. I even provided him an example from House of Discipline for him to think about using. Failing kids in front of the school and using logic like "this is how it was done in the Army" adds no value to a (child's) student's life. If they wont/don't make the correction in class time, then allow the student to test knowing they were not ready, that is absolutely irresponsible management and a waste of money. The UGLY: Most of the 5 star ratings you see are driven behind his incentive to enter people into drawings for playstations/xboxes, new bikes, or a Vegas vacation if they leave 5 star reviews on google/yelp/fb ect (we have a picture of this incentive). Even seen reviews by peoples children as young as 5? (little warriors class). When we dealt with a serious family issue and took a couple months off, which he was paid for, he removed my kids from Black Belt Club, told us we could sell their BRAND NEW sparing GEAR on his Facebook page. When my wife attempted this, she was banned from the Facebook group (now out$500+), and even as paying members, he removed us both from the Facebook group where he told us repeatedly to go there for videos the kids needed to practice their classroom instruction at home. They even tried to buy 50% of our remaining contract at one point if we'd sign an NDA. ~$400 a month for classes, and he discounted every question I ever asked and even told me at one point he didn't have time to read an email; when I was asking class related things a business owner should be able to answer. In conclusion, there are many schools in the area that don't marginalize you as a customer, and value you for more than what you pay them monthly. I should have followed my own rule and refrained from signing with a school who required a 1 year contract up front. I've always felt that if you have to force people to sign a contract to train, then the training probably isn't worth it. I should have followed my instinct as I deeply regret subjecting my children to this horrible 2 year nightmare they endured, that added NO value to their lives (aside from Mr. Jordan, he is a great instructor). Again, if you like to be fully involved in your training, I'd find another school. We paid for a training and the experience was horrible. I was never hostile, I simply wanted a positive environment for my kids to learn and grow with a "tribe" we could trust as family. This was not that place for us. Wanting me to sign an NDA, should convey to anyone reading this that I'm not exaggerating. Was a waste of our time and money and turned all three of my kids off to the martial arts. read more

It's a good school. It makes work hard to meet your goals.

For the past year or so, I've been telling myself I'm going to write an awesome review for the folks at CFMAF. Each time I sit down and write something out, I find myself editing and re-editing because I just cant seem to find the words to express just how truly amazing CFMAF, their staff, the training, and the family really are! Let me start by saying that I have been training with Master Isaac Costley at CFMAF since April of 2014. Our paths crossed after I returned from my third combat deployment to Afghanistan. After perusing the interwebs in search of a quality martial arts experience, I had 3 simple requirements: The first, a practical self-defense style that focuses more on real world scenarios rather than the pretty jump kicks, forms, and katas that a majority of schools specialize in. After training in Karate in my youth, I was subjected and taught some forms and katas that I just didn't understand. I merely memorized some movements and did punch-punch, kick-kick to earn my next rank. Knowing what I know now, I can see there is a purpose behind that, but I certainly didn't understand it at the time. For real life, on the street, these forms and katas are very impractical. At CFMAF, they don't focus on that but rather explaining and demonstrating what techniques are effective for the street, and which techniques are merely part of the Art. The second requirement for me was to find a school that didn't focus on producing black belts. At 7 of the local schools that I checked out, they claimed that I could be a black belt in 'X' amount of years. Master C never mentioned the progression to get to black belt during our first visit. Instead, he equipped me with enough knowledge to do my own research. I found out that in Master C's decades of teaching experience, he had only promoted 16 (at the time) people to the rank of first degree black belt - something he wears as a badge of honor. This told me right away that he cares more about developing a person as a whole, ensuring their techniques and fundamentals are on the level of a black belt, and engraining quality leadership skills more than giving people belts. At CFMAF, belt ranks are earned, never given. Too many people focus on what color belt they wear around their waist instead of what is truly important. I remember watching some demonstrations at other local schools and watching their black belts perform their forms. I wasn't impressed. In fact, at CFMAF, we are taught at very junior levels not just techniques, but appropriate application of those techniques in given situations. Master C and the instructors at CFMAF do a great job of teaching concepts and allow their students to develop their own critical thinking skills that just might be the difference between life and death in the real world. The third requirement for me was flexibility and cost. Of the schools that checked out, there were certainly schools that were 'cheaper,' and some that were more expensive. My first reaction was of course to take the cheapest route; but, those were the schools that were overcrowded, offered little to no personal attention from the instructors, and just simply didn't care about their students. They were all about the bottom line and making money. The instructor staff there may only be paid for the time instructing, but they are so much more. They are mentors. I have witnessed children who lack discipline and direction come in to CFMAF and watch them turn in to respectable citizens who will be a positive contribution to society. That is something we don't pay them to do, but something I have seen them do time and time again. I chose CFMAF because I saw the value of what I was paying for. Frankly, I'm surprised they don't charge more than they do - they certainly deserve more. Additionally, they are constantly giving back to the community and their students. I remember them offering free training for an entire month to the local community; they periodically host free seminars for women's self defense, anti-abduction clinics, summer safety classes, back to school classes, and the like - ABSOLUTELY FREE! As a Senior Chief in the United States Navy, I often have other commitments that prevent me from making it to practice regularly. CFMAF understands and acknowledges my commitment to our country that they gave me 12 months of additional training for FREE to make up for the class time that I missed. This isn't something they are obligated to do, but did for me out of the kindness of their heart. I cant stress enough how awesome CFMAF and the staff have been. I will learn under their guidance for the rest of my life! I cant wait to have my son start training there in just a few short months! read more

We've been coming here every week since November 2017 and absolutely love it. The staff is friendly, welcoming, and always helpful when questions come up. My son's confidence has gone up so much since he's started and he's learning so much. We definitely get our money's worth here! read more

School is amazing and our family loves the team! Hands down the best facility to have your family enrolled in.

As of the 3rd of October I received a letter from CFMAF's lawyers. They want all the money for the balance of the contract. That contract should of been voided once my disability got worse, as per the back of their own contract says. Buyers be ware! read more

We started February 1st with district 11 fundraiser and immediately my grandson was super interested and wanted to join. So that's what I have done for him and already after one month I'm seeing improvement with his behavior, self discipline and listening skills, I believe by the end of the year I will see a significant improvement in his behavior thanks to master c amd his staff read more

Best martial arts around!!! We love this place so much! This place helped to heal my sons heart.

I started going to CFMAF on a groupon deal recommended by a friend. I only did the group fitness classes and loved every second of it, so I joined the gym. At first I thought the monthly price was a little expensive but then had to realize these amazing things about this facility: Isaac and Heather are amazing people trying to run a business and improve people's lives, the workouts I got were absolutely incredible (hard work was never so much fun!), along with the group fitness class you get to use the gym equipment whenever you want, and the best part of all... Isaac and Heather are pretty much your personal trainers included in that monthly fee! Never did I feel like they weren't there to help me improve or answer my questions. As busy as these two people are running an extremely high paced business they are never unavailable for each individual present in their gym. Unfortunately, I recently had a major injury doing something else not gym related (thought you should know that haha) and had to stop going because I'm physically unable at the moment. Through my injury and recovery Isaac has been wonderful, even offering to help if I needed it. That shows me that his character is outstanding. With the craziness going on running a business and having a family, he's willing to take time out of his day to help. Two thumbs up and 5 stars from this girl! I truly hope to make it back someday soon! read more

I love it here. My son attends Little Warriors and he loves it. The teachers, Mrs. Heather and Miss. Karina are wonderful. Master C is very attentive to each person and everyone there gets to know you. There isn't a person that I interact with there that doesn't know me or my son by name. I am impressed by how they handle children who have behavioral issues and how they work with them and figure out what works best for that child or adult. I can't praise them enough. I'm so happy I finally decided to check this place out. I've know Master C and Mrs. Heather for a while now and I was so bummed I took almost a whole year to get my son in Little Warriors, but I'm so glad I finally did. read more

I love working out here!! I've been at CFMAF for 4 months and truly have never been to the same class twice. Their boot camp is different every single night. They are innovative, so incredibly fun, challenging, and encourage you to do your best. Isaac Costley keeps you laughing during workouts, has wonderful personal trainers for us to access (Tamika is AWESOME!!), and knows his stuff! I couldn't recommend a place more! It will challenge you to be your best and make you sweat your booty off! Come join us!! read more

We love CFMAF!! All the instructors are great! You can tell they truly have a passion for martial arts, and even more then that, they have a passion for helping kids grow into responsible young men and women. We looked into other martial arts studios before deciding on CFMAF and what won us over was the feeling of family when you walk into the door. It's not just about money they truly care how your child is doing, not just at the studio, but in school and at home. Thank you CFMAF for all the love you show us every time we walk into the door :) read more

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This place is OK, but other places have better prices and include more. Also, the staff here used to be really connected but they are more concerned about making money now. As a mom, I would recommend interviewing a few other places before even considering this one. read more

CFMAF is one of a kind! Our daughters have been in their Little Warriors and Prep Warriors classes and absolutely loved them! The instructors could not possibly be any better; they are the perfect balance of strict and fun. This martial arts gym has far exceeded our expectations and we will gladly return if we live in the area again! read more

This place is awesome! I have been coming here for about a year now and recently Master C and his wife Mrs Heather went out of town for a couple of weeks. I was wondering how things would go in their absence and I just have to say that things have gone great! The younger leaders/instructors have not let us "get away with anything". Normally getting on our case and pushing us is reserved for the more senior leaders but I like that in this case the younger leaders have been consistent with Master C's message. Great job team! read more

This place is most definitely a 5 star . Got started on a groupon add now I'm starting week 3 boot camp.. I have to say it's by far the best workout ever and I've tried almost everything. From p90x to insanity and nothing compares. It's a whole new world to me and I love it. Master C and Heather are really and truly great people. They treat you like family from day one and the prices are actually really reasonable especially for what they put into everything. You have to try it out you won't regret and I look forward to staying apart of the family !!!! read more

Great instruction geared towards the entire family. More that just a Martial Arts class the fitness, discipline, and lessons on how to treat other people are great for kids and adults. read more

I was looking for somewhere for my daughter to attend classes. She has a neurological condition and we have been told that martial arts might be helpful for her. I tried to find out how much classes would be here after the introductory offer. Unlike other centers in town, who seem to understand that people have to live within their means, Isaac refused to explain their pricing system, saying "We have people paying $89 a month and we have people paying more." but he wouldn't explain how they determine how much someone pays. He was very cagey and condescending in his communications with me implying that if I needed to know how much the ongoing costs would be, I wouldn't be a good fit with their center. So, if I have to live within a budget, I am not welcome? WOW! I'm not about to be suckered in to a facility by a great introductory offer only to disappoint my daughter after I discover that I can't afford for her to continue there and I think it's ridiculous that they expect anyone to go in to something like this blindly. After my interactions with Isaac, you couldn't get me to take my daughter here if you paid me! read more

Went here on a groupon deal. The workout is good, but cust service is sketchy. They mentioned some seminars that my son was interested in and took $120- payment for those, but didn't mention you had to be enrolled in classes to attend. The groupon expired and they wouldn't give me the seminar schedule insisting I come in to hear the outrageous cost to enroll for a year. Thereafter when I asked about the seminars I was finally told about enrollment requirements. Fine, I requested a refund by check ( paid with debit card ) be mailed to me. They went on vacation. They got back and I heard nothing from them. For some reason they won't send my refund insisting I go out of my way to go to their location. Be very careful when dealing with these people. read more

I just started their 4 week Fitness Bootcamp and I have to say its some of the best fitness based service I've ever had (including other states). Some of your best resources during classes are Master C and Heather. They genuinely care that you are getting all you can out of your workout and being safe! Have Mobility issues? I do, and these guys had a routine adapted the first day in a matter of minutes. My mild cerebral palsy normally intimidates a lot of people in the fitness industry or they are simply at a loss in terms of how to adapt... or worse yet they go easy on me. Heather managed to adapt a routine for me the first day using necessary tools they already have on hand like equalizer bars and stools. I want to know my limits are respected but why would I bother to go to the gym if I am not being challenged? Challenging everyone seems to be a favorite aspect of class at CFMAF and I love it! If you have mobility issues and think you can't have a successful workout I would challenge you to try a fitness boot-camp or personal training session and see first.The free 4 week class via meetup comes with a week of self defense, an evaluation with the personal trainer and a 2nd session with the personal trainer. The only way you truly limit yourself is by not taking the time to try. If you can't then at least you tried. They have a great attitude toward adaptations which makes all the difference! There is a small gym area loaded with fitness equipment and a dojo. The fitness classes seem to be very mixed age, shape, and fitness level. Everyone is generally positive CFMAF also offers free 4 week boot-camps occasionally via meetup and groupon deals so you are really getting a great value in in trying them out. You won't be disappointed. I signed up during a deal for those participating in the 4 week class at a rate of $69 per month for 12 months for the combo of fitness boot-camp and self defense. There is a $10 surcharge for using your debit card vs. using your bank account number. I would feel more comfortable using the card or cash if that were an option but that is like because i work in the tech industry. read more

There are not sufficient words to express how wonderful CFMAF is! I took my children to three other studios and tried lessons prior to CFMAF but none of them felt right. The others didn't treat my children as individuals - they seemed like just another student and income potential. These other places were just ok and professional enough but there is something unbelievably special at CFMAF! Master C, Mrs Heather, and the rest of the staff are wonderfully professional and unbelievably caring! From the second we walked in we were welcomed with a warmth that can't be explained! They hold their students accountable in a fun and healthy environment! If you're looking for just anywhere to train, this is not the place for you! If you want real world training from professionals who take your needs and that of your families to heart, look no further! I am constantly amazed at how wonderful they are and how much of an impact they continue to make in my children's lives! read more

"What a marked improvement - not only in your techniques, but also your self-esteem and your discipline." These are words spoken to me by my close friends who would only ever compliment me in jest. Since joining the CFMAF family, I have felt better than ever. My energy has risen, my confidence has spiked, and my drive and motivation has gone through the roof. Master Isaac Costley and his training staff are the real deal. Not only are they well versed and more than qualified in martial arts, personal fitness/training, nutrition, even massage therapy, but they also bring an added value to the table - morals and ethics. Over the past 3 years, I have personally witnessed children go from being troubled and delinquent, to thriving and successful. I have personally seen adults go from being scared to go out at night to having the confidence to defend themselves should the need arise. Further, we don't just learn to defend ourselves, but we learn to not put ourselves in situations where defending ourselves would be necessary. "The best fight ever fought, is the one never fought." These are words I live by thanks to the teachings of Master "C" and his crew. His techniques work! Even with my previous experience in the Navy and being deployed to multiple combat zones with the Special Warfare Community, Master Costley has built upon and improved my techniques, tweaking them for my personal application. His knowledge of the human body and application of joint locks, pressure points, striking, and weapons are simply unmatched. Given the opportunity to train with more senior 8th and 9th degree black belts, I would still choose Master "C" in a heartbeat! He teaches real-world techniques that provide real-world results. This is not a school for playing around or to "buy" your black belt. This school is for those who are ready to improve their way of life, their confidence, and their ability to defend themselves and those they care about! read more

This place offers great group fitness classes taught by very knowledgable and friendly staff, personal training, reality self defense, kids programs, family programs, specialty weapon training, community outreach, and they bring in the most amazingly talented specialists and world champions to teach, inspire, and challenge the students. Comparatively, they are very affordable and family friendly and offer rates that are locked in and don't increase on you. They also offer monthly parents night outs that are creative and such fun for the kids. They offer birthday parties as well. The facilities are clean and well kept with bright colors and a wonderful gymnastics floor, free weights, circuit training, massage room, tons of wave master bags and cage fitness bags. Plenty of seating for spectators as well as storage cubbies for your stuff. Plenty of parking and pretty convenient location being off academy and across Palmer Park. Schlotzsky's is next door and will gladly replace the calories you burned with a Cinnabon or other delicious fuel. Only complaints I have are the pot holes at the entrance and night time lighting could be better for getting out of late classes. Whew! Having said all that, you just have to experience it for the full effect. It's like the Colorado Springs fitness and martial arts version of Cheers. Friendly and welcoming and full of characters! Okay, now I feel old referencing Cheers. read more