I've been wanting to train here for years so the bar was high and it exceeded expectations from the…read moreminute I walked in the door! The environment was so friendly and welcoming. Family oriented with kids and parents all there to hang and train. Snacks and some play areas for kids and a beautiful bright matted area with amazing pictures from Ryans career fighting and cornering the most recognizable faces in the game. The instruction was absolutely incredible I cannot recommend Ryan and his academy more. Definitely check it out if you are in the area I wish I could train here more! - Nick Lamagna

High recommend this martial arts academy!…read more Our kids have been going here for about 10 months and love it. Started with BJJ, but then switched to capoeira which they enjoyed more because of the acrobatics. The coaches and staff are really supportive and patient with the kids. The gym is pretty big and they have cameras so parents can observe from the lobby. Parking can be tough if you don't get there early, but there's room on the neighboring side streets which aren't too far away. Typically there's always people leaving between classes so I have always been able to find a stall. The prices are reasonable. Upfront costs may seem high, but it includes the uniform and which they need anyway. Otherwise it's a great price. They also offer discounts for siblings, military, etc.

I'd like to thank the entire staff here. Truly some of the kindest, and best people with folks of…read moreall ages. Without a doubt Mr Jason is the classiest man you'll discover. He started martial arts as a young person, and now owns and runs this establishment. He remembers every name. If you see this could you teach me how? A gentleman in every way, and he was instrumental in helping my son's confidence. He is really a diamond in every sense of the word, and now although he's moved on to football, a lot of the vigor and enthusiasm he brings on the field started here. If you want your kids to be valued, along with finding an affordable place, this is a "win win." Rarely do I give a business or place five stars. Yet World Karate is that good. It starts with honesty, respect, kindness, and understanding we are all wired differently. Mr Jason and staff will have your son or daughter learn martial arts, but they will also find important lifelong lessons here too. My full recommendation, and thank you World Karate! You really are where it's at, and a positive experience, along with being a place for all to learn at their speed.

I can't say enough good things about this place! Both my…read morekids have spent time at world karate. My oldest did the after school program for a year and a half, my youngest has been doing once a week classes for 2 years or so. I recently joined class with my youngest for fun. Mr. Jason runs a great program. He has realistic expectations of the kids, its not one size fits all. He encourages each child to do the best they can do. For some (like my youngest) it may be to just pay attention in class or (for my oldest) to really perfect the skill they are working on. He keeps order in class but keeps it light, fun, and humorous. They are flexible and easy to work with. The black belt students they have assisting in class are great. They were flexible with me starting so i could join my kid in class. They have teacher work day camps, its just fantastic all around.

Coach Lima was one of the best parts of my experience at Kaizen…read more He's super level-headed, honest, and actually takes the time to help you improve, no matter your skill level. You can tell he genuinely cares about the people in the gym and isn't just going through the motions. I really respect people who are straightforward, patient, and helpful. and he checks all those boxes. If you're training here, you're in good hands with him.

Kaizen MMA has been apart of my life since 2020, and it has changed me for the better. It helped me…read moregain confidence for myself, during a time where I was lacking such. This place challenged me, and ultimately made me a better fighter and better person both mentally and especially physically. The MMA/Kickboxing classes are top notch, and I've made many friends during my time there. If you want good exercise and good teaching (shoutout coach Jay, Eduardo, and sensei nima!) this is the place to be at. I'll never forget kaizen and all it's done for me. Highly recommend! 10/10

With so many martial arts schools available in the Northern Virginia area that cover a wide…read morespectrum of styles and disciplines, Master Folta's Traditional Uechi-Ryu Karate stands out among them. Seriously, this is the real deal - this school is probably the closest opportunity outside Okinawa you'll get to learning authentic traditional karate from a master practitioner as it was originally conceived by Kanbun Uechi back at the beginning of the 20th century. This style of karate is practical for both self defense and physical fitness, and promotes self-discipline and a healthy life style. Progressing through the various ranks is well structured and meaningful, and you absolutely get a sense of accomplishment as you do so. The staff at Okinawa Karate and Cultural Center make learning karate easy and fun, for all ages and abilities, with hands on classes at the Okinawa Karate and Cultural Center and at various Parktakes rec centers throughout Fairfax County. My whole family signed up for karate classes during the pandemic on a whim, but it only took just a few short classes to realize what a gem of an opportunity we have right here in northern Virginia. I cannot recommend it highly enough! Give it a try and join a great karate community!

I've been a long time student of Master Folta since 2005. I started at Oak Marr Recenter, before…read moremoving up the ranks, and eventually teaching for his dojo. I'm very pleased to see that he finally was able to open his own independent dojo to celebrate traditional Okinawan Uechi Ryu Karate, as well as the rich cultures that Okinawa brings. The Cultural Center has many artifacts in a museum style in a side room. There's also many people from the community like the DC Okinawan Kai who utilizes the space. It is a safe and welcoming space for not just Okinawan people, but those interested in learning more about the culture and tradition. This spacious dojo has two kicking/punching bags ready for training, many talented instructors, and classes for children and adult alike! I am excited for what's to come for this OKCC! I hope new students can find their new karate home like it's been for me throughout the years!

This is a legitimate Shotokan Karate school. If you are looking for Taekwondo after school care you…read morewon't find it here. I am a brown belt and have trained around the world and have trained here many times. Kata techniques are well instructed here and some sparring techniques on Saturdays. The instructor is the highest ranked on the East Coast and is very fun and entertaining classes but still very effective and serious when needed. This is the only "real" Karate studio in Northern Virginia. They follow the true tradition of Gichin Funakoshi, the father of Japanese Karate. Oss!

My husband and son attend karate classes at this Dojo. The…read moreAdult and Child class is a wonderful chance for them to do something together that they enjoy so much. The sensei here is very knowledgeble and patient with all the students, especially the younger set. But he also pushes them. We've especially seen my son's confidence flourish and I'm convinced it's because of his success in karate at this Dojo. Know that it's a bare bones gym - there's no afterschool programs, childcare but if you're looking for serious karate instruction this is a good program.

Solid school, no pressure, laid back, worth checking out…read more Selling points - no gimmicks or pressure to join (unlike most of the schools in NoVa) - the two instructors are skilled.... very skilled. Taekwondo and BJJ backgrounds - male / female / kid friendly - one instructor is female, both are super approachable - the age range is good. i'm in my early 30s and i'm happy to be surrounded by students of all walks of life - pricing is competitive, especially if you bundle in 2 classes - fellow students are super friendly School style - relaxed. they can push you when necessary but you don't feel like the bad guy from the Karate Kid movies is screaming at you. - belt test at your own pace - good mix of ground and standing training - punches, kicks, breaks and grappling - full sparing at appropriate rank - good, balanced self defense focus Additional bonus - they cater to what you want. If you want a calm atmosphere to train in, if you want to become a champion, if you want something to do with the family, they can surprisingly do any of that. it's a well run program and worth dropping in. First class is free!

Oriental Sports Academy is an excellent martial arts school that serves all ages, from young…read morechildren to teens to adults. The school teaches four Korean martial arts styles: Taekwondo, Judo, Hapkido, and Sword. It has a before and after school program for kids, as well as summer, winter, and spring break day camps. There are numerous social events that help the students, families, and staff connect with each other, and additional special training opportunities are available. I earned my black belt in Hapkido here, and now my son is learning Taekwondo. We both love OSA!

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.

I am enrolled in the Muay Thai program here at Fairfax Karate. It is a great program and I am in…read moremuch better shape than I was before. I may even consider taking an amateur fight. Najim, the coach is great. He is very technical in his instructions but still very understanding that it takes time to learn the techniques. Plus he has a strong competitive record: Multiple Sabaki (full contact Enshin Competition) wins and multiple Muay Thai Titles. It should be noted that some of the techniques are modified compared to pure Muay Thai to more of a Dutch style of Muay Thai. The classes run one hour, with about 10 minutes of warm up and stretching, about 40 minutes of technique training, and then about 10 minutes of calisthenics at the end. The varieties of techniques vary class to class ranging from the very basics to sparring for the more experience students. Also available are: Children and Adult Karate - I don't know a ton about these but have seen Najim coaching the children's classes and the kids seem to be learning alot of good techniques and still having a ton of fun. Also Enshin Karate, being a combination of kickboxing and Judo, does teach many techniques that are very real world usable should the students need them in an actual self defense situation. Gracie Jiu Jitsu - These classes are taught by Toney Waldecker, a blackbelt under Relson Gracie, son of Helio Gracie - the inventor of Gracie Jiu Jitsu. I don't know a lot about these classes either but Toney seems to be a very good trainer and Relson visits the dojo a few times a year it seems.

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.

Evolve All is awesome and I am pleased to leave a review of them…read more I recently checked out Evolve All since I was in town but wanted to train (muay thai/striking) in a friendly learning environment. I was in town for such a short time that it'd be better for me to drop-in classes rather than buying a monthly membership. Evolve All was just the place for that. The owner, Emerson, made me feel welcome when he responded to my inquiry saying that he'll find me someone who'll work with me. That special attention to individuals is definitely what separates a warm/welcoming gym from the rest of the pack. When I went to train, I saw how beautiful the space is. Green and white mats lined practically everywhere. Coach Elijah worked with me and another student and I can honestly say that if I were still in Arlington, VA (I returned to Philly), I would be a member of Evolve All because of my interactions with the staff/coaches, the facility, and the training + community there. Overall, Evolve All is a great family-oriented gym. I can't recommend it enough for anyone who is searching for their next spot to train and looking to level up while still feeling like part of a friendly/welcoming community.

This review is from the perspective of someone new to DC and new to martial arts. I tried two other…read moregyms before settling on EvolveAll. There was hardly a contest, in terms of the welcome my roomie and received, as well as the kindness of the staff and owner. I chose a BJJ membership where I have the opportunity to join about three classes per week (as a beginner, more as you grow), access to a weight-lifting space, and free reign to practice rolling when there is a free mat. I CANNOT speak enough about the amazing crew that runs EvolveAll. The owner and general manager take the time to truly make you feel welcomed and excited to be in their space. The instructors are of the highest level and ensure that you understand new moves and drills on an individual level. They make sure to invite experienced members to the beginner classes so that way new members can train with someone who's comfortable with the movements. I HIGHLY recommend EvolveAll for individuals of all ages, skill levels, and fitness. Every class starts with some conditioning, goes into a couple of moves, and ends with optional free rolling.