You will notice that there are no longer higher belt ranked women at this gym because this is no…read morelonger a place that women feel safe to train. If you are considering this location to train, I would highly consider a different location where all people can feel safe to train.

From the owner: Kato Jiu Jitsu grew from a college club to a jiu jitsu community. Our motivation is to help people…read morereach their personal goals, grow jiu jitsu in Mankato, and meet and hang out with a great group of people.

The last place one would expect to find such immense knowledge and practical application of the art…read morebecause it is in the outskirts of the Twin Cities. Most people think that martial arts are for kids but this is an all ages environment. Adult classes are about learning the art, how is can be used effectively and learning from one another. It's not 50x this move, 50x that repetition and dry activity. No two classes are the same and you always come away feeling that you learned something and gained a skill. If you are over 40 and wanting to regain mobility, flexibility and self confidence with people who "get it", this is your place. If you have kids or teenagers or just young at heart and want to start learning without having to buy a ton of gear or sign a contract, this is your place.

Experts in Okinawan martial arts that are open to sharing their knowledge with martial artists of…read moreall backgrounds. Always helpful to show most physically sound approach to application of kata.

I attended MKJA for over a year in the jiu jitsu Gracie Combatives program a couple nights a week…read more Through Master Toft's caring instruction I gained skill, strength, and renewed flexibility that I still enjoy to this day even though I am not training currently. The people there are family. I am excited for the opportunity when I can train with them again. Whether you have children that need direction and self esteem or you are an adult in need of a place that doesn't judge but encourages personal growth, I urge you to try out MKJA.

We love Mr. Toft and his team of instructors. Our son is 8 and has poor coordination (sensory…read moredelay) as well as attention deficit. He has done so well and increased he confidence and agility at Metro Karate in Eden Prairie. We are amazed at how well he does and his dedication and believe it is a reflection of the instructors.

My kid is going to this place for almost 3 years. Mr. Raeberg is a 5th degree black belt and very…read morepatient man. He is not only a karate instructor but also a great motivator. He gives his students little lessons on homework and discipline. I do like it. The facility is not real big, just the right size. Sometimes it is little crowded with all the students and parents. My kid loves his karate class. He loves to get rewarded for doing his chores at home ( they earn stripes). I think the recognition is the best motivator. Great idea. I think the only thing that is steep is the cost. But at the end keeping my kid focused and interested can't be measured by money. He likes it a lot and he likes his teacher. He is earning his black belt tomorrow and he is excited. So if you are looking for a great karate school, you should put this place on top of your list. They are sincere and great for kids. By the way, if you sign up 2 kids, mom and dad is in for free.

This is a great place for kids to learn respect, discipline get in shape and have a great time!…read moreHighly recommend!

My daughters started going to this School more than five years ago. The instructors are excellent,…read morepatient, and kind. Recently they both received their black belts. I cannot explain how powerful this experience has been for them - it has made them more confident, attentive, disciplined, and courageous. This is not a belt-mill, where the school basically just pushes kids through the system to charge as much as they can as quickly as they can. Every belt level, and every stripe on each belt is earned through hard work, dedication, and testing. Enrolling was inexpensive, and we were never pressured into any program. We chose a program after it was obvious my two daughters were really having fun and learning a ton. Eventually, the girls decided that they wanted to go for their black belts and I couldn't be prouder of them. The new studio is quickly taking shape, and the owners and staff are extremely dedicated. The head instructor, Stan Riser, is an amazing human being. While he demonstrates a great sense of humor - his instruction is serious and his teaching methods are beyond reproach. As the girls rose in belt levels everything got more intense, interesting, and more fun for them. UMA Centerville participates in many tournaments throughout the year (and encourages their students to compete) and some of my most amazing memories are of their performance in these competitions. We tried two different schools before we found this one, and we are lifers - the girls still love to go as much as their schedules allow. I would encourage anyone who is thinking about having their children, or themselves, study martial arts to come in a watch a class or two and see what you think. I believe you will be impressed.

From the owner: Ultimate Martial Arts Karate and Jiu-Jitsu Academy is a family friendly school offering karate…read moreclasses for ages 3 to Adult and Jiu-Jitsu for ages 7 to adult. The Superkid classes for ages 3 to 5 years old focuses on listening skills, coordination and basic self-defense. Karate classes focus on discipline, self-defense, weapons and sparring. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a grappling martial art for ground self-defense. Anyone can try a class for free! Give us a call or stop on in to get more information.

Okay, I am bias I have been a student here since 1982. My kids goes here…read more Regardless you decide BKCI as your school or not. Here is what you need to look for in a school: * How well the class interact: i.e. do all the students act well together, especially the young people vs the little kids(6-10 yrs old) and pre-teens as well as the teens. * Are you convinced you and/or your child will be trained? Although recognitions of achievements are important, can you defend yourself? Can your kid(s) handle a bad situation? BKCI not only covers both of these principles well and humbly.

Master Cote from the Waconia Dojo Karate location is an amazing martial artist and a seriously…read moretalented instructor. She has an eye for good form and has a knack for guiding people through personal growth. The classes at Dojo Karate focus on technique, but also on character, respect, and discipline. Students that train under her and her staff will improve their martial arts skills, but also receive lifetime benefits of confidence and self control. You are really able to get whatever you want out of it - improve self esteem and self confidence, learn how to protect yourself, improve your physical constitution and fight stress, or even if you are interested in competition (she has students with some SERIOUS wins under their belts!), Dojo will give you the curriculum, the guidance, and the support to do these things. All-in-all, if you want to work hard, have fun, get fit, and learn self defense, Dojo Karate in Waconia is the place for you.

I had twin boys, aged 9 that attended Dojo Karate Waconia/Minnetonka for about 2 1/2 years. They…read morewere very disappointed that they had to dis-enroll for Covid related reasons. I wanted to share what we liked about Dojo and why we'll miss it: 1. Any great experience starts with great people. Master Cote was a great leader for the kids and she genuinely cared about her students. 2. Master Cote has produced some amazing athletes. My kids were always impressed by the abilities of the older kids. I don't think they'll ever stop talking about the time one student did a backflip. 3. Both of my boys absolutely loved the head instructor. He had great patience with all the kids and seemed like one of the most trustworthy people I've ever met. 4. I thought the pricing was extremely fair and Master Cote very easy to work with in regards to tuition. 5. My kids really enjoyed the Dojo tournaments and I thought they were very well run. Something I didn't think about when we started is, because of the size of Dojo with their multiple locations, they are able to put on large events like that. 6. I always like the different community focused initiatives that Dojo participated in. Food drives and school supply drives were great ways to engage the kids; and Dojo always had a special event to show their appreciate for the kids. Those are just some of the reasons that quickly come to mind. We're disappointed that it had to end, but my boys still walk around the house doing their moves.

Our kids love coming and were so excited to earn their belts. Our eldest is neurodivergent and fits…read moreright in. We love that Mr. Kahn doesn't "dumb down" lessons for any kid. They are all expected to achieve. We love the emphasis on respect and also how Mr. Kahn and his staff connect with each child. He's so good with kids --- he's a terrific young man! He challenges our boys to be their best. Sometimes the lessons are a few minutes short, and we wish they went the full 30 minutes, and also the email communications can be a bit much, but overall we are impressed and happy to have found this studio. As a mom of boys, I also love that there are female instructors. Way to go Kahn Martial Arts!

Great atmosphere for kids! Started bringing my child there to help learn focus and control and the…read morefirst month has been great. The schedule is super flexible and such a great price to teach the young ones some life skills and valuable lessons while having fun. The teachers also make the whole experience that much more enjoyable! Would recommend to anyone with a little one that has some phsycial and mental energy to burn in a healthy positive way!

Sensei Chuck is a very patient and knowledgeable teacher. My children have been involved in this…read moredojo for about seven years. One of my them obtained his black belt under Sensei's tutelage, and the other one is well on his way. At this dojo, children learn more than just the karate moves. They are taught important lessons regarding character and rewarded for community involvement. I highly recommend any beginner karate student to check this dojo out.

This is the place to bring your children so they will learn respect and self-confidence. This is…read morethe place to bring your family to study together and to live a peaceful and healthy lifestyle. There are three black belts in my family and another on the way. Our lives have been blessed from our involvement with this dojo and especially by our contact with Sensei Phillips who is a true master in body, mind and spirit of karate-do. This is the place to come to meet the most amazing people on the planet. They have become more life family than casual acquaintances. These are the people that I trust. We help each other through difficult times and we celebrate the victories and successes of life. This is a sacred place!! Bring yourself here and see for yourself if I am not right!!

I heard this was good, I wish it was still open though. I want my son to have kickboxing and…read moretaekwondo lessons.

From the owner: Mankato Martial Arts is a trusted North Mankato, MN Martial-Arts school that offers both private…read moreand group instruction. Whether you are looking for self-defense or physical fitness, we can help you.