We joined the Elite M.A. Center with both of our children. Their instructors are great!…read moreOne child got injured, and due to long-term travel, I wanted to cancel her membership. They were hesitant and wanted me to continue paying the monthly fee until we returned, offering to use the credit towards our future payments instead. I kept my son enrolled, but when he missed one of his two sessions, I kindly asked if he could attend three times the following week to make up for it. My son loves his classes! However, they declined my request. Their customer service is very poor, and I wish they were more understanding regarding injuries or when children are ill and miss classes. I would not recommend them.

We celebrated my son's 7th Birthday at the Burke Elite M.A. and his friends had a lot of fun, and…read morecouldn't have been any happier. Mr. Chris and the other member of the staff are great with kids, and can strike a balance of being serious and at the same time fun which is a hard combination to strike. Great facility with great compassionate staff. Highly recommend it. .

Took my 5- and 8-year-old to Six Blades Jiu Jitsu Nova for a free trial. The environment is…read moreno-nonsense and clearly built around serious training-- which as an Army veteran is something I personally respect and felt at home in, especially given the military-style banter. That said, I didn't find the tone ideal for younger kids. There was language and phrasing ("kick his ass!") that I didn't feel was appropriate for children, and I was disappointed by comments made toward boys being beaten by girls ("You'll walk home if you lose to a girl")--not exactly the message I want either of my kids internalizing. The instructors are absolutely skilled and committed, but they treat the kids like mini adults, which may work for some families, but not ours. We ended up going with another gym that's more youth-focused, closer to home, and offers more affordable memberships with military and family discounts. I think Six Blades would be great for adult students or older teens looking for high-level instruction, but it just wasn't the right fit for our young kids. Edited for further context: For further context, what the owner describes as "jovial" banter included quotes from coaches during the kids' training session: * "Kick his ass!" * "Whoop his ass!" * "You better not lose to a girl!" * "If you lose to a girl, you're walking home!" * "Pay attention, dammit!" "Banter" implies the kids could respond with witty comebacks--but what would they realistically say to grown men in a position of authority? They simply complied. That said, I truly appreciate the owner's openness to constructive feedback. It makes me feel more confident in my decision as a parent. For now, we'll stick with the more "budget" and kid-friendly option -- at least until my children are old enough to clap back at demeaning and misogynistic comments with confidence and humor that comes with maturity.

My son has been training at Six Blades three times a week for seven months. He's had the best…read moreexperience! The instructors are extremely skilled at jiu-jitsu and are natural teachers. The kids children's classes are full of super sweet kids and friendly parents. The community is very welcoming and I'm so grateful to have found it.

I had the pleasure of meeting the awesome staff at Kaizen MMA/Enshin Karate a few weeks ago when I…read morepicked up my nieces from their Day Camp Program. My sister had searched high and low for a reputable place to put the kiddies in and happened upon the Karate Day Camp. With all the foolishness in the world, this Auntie is happy to know that her nieces are protected and cared for by "Handsome" MMA trained professionals that could snap an assailants wind pipe with one quick karate chop. (Yep that's how I feel .. smile) The girls get the required exercise time and calorie burn that most American children refuse to get with that unhealthy connection to tablets and video games that prevent them from riding bikes and visiting playgrounds. I watched through a glass window as children completed sessions of bear crawls, mountain climbers, side rolls and various other exercises that would make the average child cry (small laugh). They listened to their Sensei and showed him respect during his instructions... another attribute lacking in our youth today. My nieces seemed happy as they engaged with other staff and older school aged teenagers hired during the summer for additional help. This establishment reinforces discipline and the instructors convey any and all concerns to the twin about the girls. A perfect co-parenting relationship. The nieces informed me that they also attend fun-filled field trips and also have many trips to the pool. The Dojo Mommy helps the little ones change so no parent need fret about the thought of their little girls interacting with male staff in the bathrooms. Also of note, the facility is super clean, offers an activity area upstairs and rents their space for Birthday parties. My sister invited me to her Boot Camp session and after one hour of circuit training I was sweating up a storm. Instructor Mike had these legs, arms and thighs on fire. I was glad to know that while the girls received their workouts, classes here, were created to keep parents and aunties Just as Fit. We know that all great things must come to an end and I hate that my sister will have to leave this amazing place when she moves with her military husband next year. Next year my nieces will be more fit, more confident and prepared for self defense. You can tell the instructors love what they do, love the children and know that the children love them. On my last day of vacation we picked up the girls and I watched some MMA students completing warm ups with their instructor and created some new fitness goals for myself. Kaizen MMA has what you're looking for and more, highly recommended! Da Islandgal29412

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.

My grandson goes and enjoys his Karate classes. The trainers are really devoted and experts in…read moreteaching. They focus on every single child which is such a motivation for not only children but the parents too. I enjoy watching his class as the teachers are experts in teaching. I would definitely recommend my friends and family.

I've hesitated to post this review but I feel I need to. About two years ago, after my son turned…read more4, we decided to try Andrew Gause on some neighborhood recommendations, thinking it would help him with some coordination and balance issues. We were asked to come a half hour early for our free trial class, so we did. When we got there it was quite crowded and busy with all of the evening classes, but I filled out all the paperwork and talked to Andrew. Andrew didn't really meet my son or talk to him - just me. I didn't realize how long we'd be sitting there so I didn't really bring anything for my son to do, and he didn't have a spot to sit since it was so crowded. He was on the floor, bored, wiggly, and excited. I should have brought something for him to do but I didn't realize he was supposed to sit there waiting for a half hour. He was four. As time went on he got pretty wiggly and started complaining that he wanted to go in, but I told him he had to wait. He wasn't behaving badly - just restless because he was sitting there for so long and kept getting bumped into. Again, he was four years old, and excited. Don't tell parents to bring kids in a half hour before class - it's just setting them up for failure. Finally the students for the class started coming in, and I asked Andrew if we were supposed to go in too. He then loudly stated "based on what I've observed, your son is NOWHERE near mature enough for this" and told us that we should just observe the class. My son was devastated after waiting nearly a half hour for this, other parents were staring at us after Andrew loudly chastised us, so we left. My big regret is that this experience kept us away from Taekwondo for two years - I thought the sport just wasn't the right fit for us. I was wrong. The sport is a fine fit. This studio is not. My son is thriving at a different studio now, is focused and works hard, and is building his confidence and coordination. I am sure Andrew Gause is the right fit for many kids, but I would caution families with particularly energetic or young kids about going here. I don't think anyone who understands young children would expect an excited 4 year old to sit on the floor of a crowded, noisy room for a half hour and be perfectly calm.

Don't waste your time. I've quit while signing up for the trial class. The owner is paranoid about…read morecovid and shows irrational hostility towards new members. This is the only gym in the neighborhood that makes you QUARANTINE for 14 days just to start your trial class. You are not allowed to drop in, have to make 48 hour prior appointment for a class because of covid. It's 2022. Even our government doesn't have restrictions anymore. Why are they being paranoid? Their website said I can provide a negative result to take the class faster so I told them I'm willing to provide negative test result. Then the management literally replied with a threat saying "we will ban you if you show up before 14 days." Then they sent me another email saying they won't accept me as a member and etc while I was writing this review. How do you expect to teach people martial arts when you are this paranoid, rude, and irrational? I've been to few local gyms here but this is by far the worst experience just by contacting them. Glad I didn't even waste my time attending here.

I just had my first class, and I absolutely loved it. Kru Carlos and Instructor Jeff were very…read morewelcoming. I am not the most athletic person, but the atmosphere of the class and the energy of the instructors made me feel like I absolutely did not want to give up when I was tired- which happened pretty quickly . I have never felt the motivation to push myself to the degree that I felt tonight. If you are having any doubts, don't! Go ahead and sign up for a class. You won't regret it.

My 5 yr old has been going to LBE, South Run for almost a year now and we have been very happy with…read morehis progress. Taking classes has given him a sense of confidence that we greatly appreciate. We originally signed him up with the hope of helping him learn to listen and get his wiggles out. Mission accomplished. He is becoming a better listener and also loves learning new stretches and activities. He really enjoys his time at the dojo and looks up to all of his instructors (who are all kind and knowledgeable). A huge perk for us was that they offer a free birthday party, which allows you 90 mins of games, TKD, and eating. All you have to do is bring the food and decorate. They have instructors there to ensure that your child and the party group will have a blast. My kid had such a great time and all of his friends did as well! They even let them break boards at the end for an awesome photo op. Highly recommend TKD here at LBE!!! Also, they have an afterschool/before school care program. I can't speak about the program yet since my kid won't be going until this Fall, but I appreciate the flexibility of the program! You can do as little as 1 day per week or more. This is great for parents who do not need to have a full week of afterschool/before school care. Mike has been great to work with and is very prompt with questions. Again, highly recommend!

Had our daughters 4th birthday here! Special shouts out to Miss Catie, Mister Tan, Sarafina, and…read moreanother younger gentleman for all their support in orchestrating the games and making this an unforgettable and seamless party for our daughter and all our guests. We appreciated their support and hard work and dedication, every family that came as our guests left with only nice things to say about the cleanliness and helpfulness of the staff. A HUGE thank you to LBE for allowing us to use their space and be treated as family. We highly recommend any parent to have their kid's birthday party here. Our kids came home exhausted from all the exciting activities and games they learned and shared with their guests/friends. Well worth it!

Coaches with huge egos. Do you want to learn jiu jitsu or join a cult ? They like to yell at their…read morestudents and make cringe jokes. Honestly any other gym has been a better experience than this one. The coaches have favorites and won't progress you if he doesn't like you.

Nothing fancy, pretty basic, some equipment, and a decent amount of room for their different MMA…read moreclasses (including two large matted areas for you to flip on, be pushed on, and fight/dance it up!) If you're unsure about it all, breathe in, breathe out, and woosaa - 1st timers get 2 free weeks of whichever class they want to pop into. Try them all if you want. They even have classes for kids. I once knew nothing about the many different forms of martial arts and I honestly have nothing to compare Fairfax Jiu Jitsu to, but I strongly believe it is the people who can make or break any kind of establishment. Needless to say, it is everyone here, from Dave (one of the managers) to the students in the [I'm not telling you what I took!] class, that make this place amazing. Classes will challenge you, you will learn, and you'll enjoy it all. I think I found my 2nd family. Try it out, let them know you saw my review, and that you're ready for some ass kickery!

The quality of instruction, as outstanding as it is, is secondary to the quality of character of…read morethe family that teach there. Their consistent emotional investment in their students' development as whole people, not just martial artists, speaks to the sincerity of their efforts. There is an intentional culture of excellence throughout the school that is supported by encouragement tailored to the age and development of the students. Both of our children have been with the school for several years, even through covid and having to relocate. While we miss the luxury of training in person, the instructors went to great lengths to continue classes online, and have transitioned to a hybrid model with great success. We enthusiastically endorse Yong In, and would encourage anyone interested in training to take the time to meet the Lee family in person and let them prove us right.

(dictated by Sebastian who is 7 years old)…read more Fun before class because there're balls. And fun class. Good teacher because he teaches new stuff sometimes. I like it with two languages.