My son has been attending EFK (Lexington location) for a few years now and is currently part of the…read moreElite Instructor Training (EIT) program. He really enjoys learning how to become a good instructor and appreciates the responsibility that comes with it. He's also been volunteering regularly, and the school has given him space to grow and develop his skills, both in martial arts and in helping others. We've found the environment to be structured and supportive, and it's been a good fit for him overall. If you're looking for a place where kids can train, build confidence, and take on leadership roles, this is definitely worth checking out.

Our daughter has had a great experience over the past 5+ years. We've loved all the instructors,…read moreespecially Sensei Manny. She is part of the black belt club and her black belt with her name on it is up on the wall to give her inspiration. Lastly, she has learned a lot about respect, discipline and determination which will help guide her in the future. We are grateful to have found EFK.

Defensive Edge is an amazing gym where our family of four enjoys a variety of classes, sometimes…read morewe get to train together. The staff genuinely cares about everyone's success. I've participated in the women's self-defense class, Fight Fit, women's Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and traditional Gi Jiu-Jitsu, and I love them all! The gym offers something for everyone and has truly become our second home. It's helping teach my children discipline and humility while they have fun, learn self-defense, and stay active. We highly recommend it for individuals of all ages!

My son started at Defensive Edge a year ago. He loves the instructors. They show the kids each…read moremove a couple times, then have the kids practice. Each time giving them praise and feedback. Thanks for all you do!

I started training with Ron when I was in HS and what a family this has grown into. There are…read morehundreds of people representing ffc and that's no surprise. Ronaldo is a technical master of the art and its a great way to get into great shape. All the coaches at fenix are great people. Any age shape or size can benefit greatly from bjj not only physically but mentally from this!

I've been training BJJ for 14 years and have been at "Fenix" for the last 4 years. The school has…read moregreat instructors, students and training atmosphere. I've trained and visited several schools and I put Fenix right up there with any of them. The head Instructor, Coach Ron is a great instructor who not only gives great technical instruction, his leadership is second to none. As far as the students go, you will meet a lot of great people at Fenix.

I recently enrolled my two sons at this karate studio, and I can honestly say it has been one of…read morethe best decisions we've made. From the very first class, the instructors made us feel welcome, supported, and part of a community. Their teaching style strikes the perfect balance between discipline and encouragement, and my boys absolutely love coming here. What impressed me most is how patient and attentive the staff is with every student. They take the time to make sure each child understands the techniques, builds confidence, and has fun along the way. I've seen such a positive change in my kids -- not just in their physical skills, but in their focus, respect, and self‑confidence. The studio is clean, organized, and clearly run by people who care deeply about what they do. Every class feels structured, energetic, and meaningful. My sons look forward to every session, and I genuinely enjoy watching them grow.

My son has taken karate here for more than two years. The entire organization is so welcoming and…read morefamily-friendly. They teach and model respect and discipline for kids (and adults) of all ages, and take their craft very seriously, while having a lot of fun and never being the least bit intimidating. It isn't a small commitment of time or money, but I haven't regretted a single minute or dollar spent here.

If you want to train & learn from the best go to Wakefield. Sensei Jimmy Pedro is not only one of…read morethe greatest judokas to ever compete but he is also one of the greatest coaches, it is rare to find someone who is an elite athlete and coach.

Awesome judo school. The Sensei are knowledgeable and engaging. My daughter learns about self…read moredefense, gets a good workout, and is much more focused afterwards. Highly recommend Also, I didn't realize this when I signed my daughter up, but this judo school is headed by Jimmy Pedro, an Olympian (I think that's the right term to describe athletes that represent us in the Olympics), and this judo school also produces Olympians.

I had a very bad experience with this school and would strongly advise against sending your child…read moreto this school. The first problem is that they require a 3 month notice period if you plan on withdrawing from the school. Effectively, this means that if you plan on discontinuing with their karate classes, they will continue to charge you for an additional 3 months. When we signed up, this point was non-negotiable with them. During the summer months, my children spend most of their time with outdoor activities (tennis, swimming, baseball, etc) and we wanted to put their class attendance on hold. When I called the school to put their attendance on hold, they informed me that they could not put my payments on hold. As an alternative, they suggested that I pay for the summer months (June, July, and August) even if they did not attend class and then they would not charge me for Sept, Oct, and Nov. In December, I would continue paying as usual. Believing that they were an honest business, I agreed to this and paid them for June, July, and August. However, when September rolled around, my children no longer wanted to attend class. So, I informed them that my children would attend Sept, Oct, and Nov (which had been paid for during the summer) and then discontinuing classes. According to the instructor, however, this was not possible because they have a policy that says that if a student discontinues attending classes, the hold time is forfeited and I would not be given a refund. Quite frankly, I did not want a refund. I wanted my children to attend class with the hopes that they would change their mind. I even told the instructor that if he could convince my children to continue classes, I would be happy to continue with their school. In fact, by sending my children during Sept, Oct, and Nov, I was giving him the opportunity to motivate my children to come to class. However, he did not want to consider this option and chose the unethical route of charging me for services he did not want to render. Beware of this karate school. They are crooks... Unfortunately, I cannot give then zero stars because Yelp's system will not allow me to do so. They do not deserve the one star they received.

Sensi Ethan is so patient and encouraging and supportive of his students and their parents.read more

Great place but way too expensive. They are asking for…read more 416.66 per month . Total of 5000k a year.

Genuine teaching and passing on the knowledge and wisdom of generations of martial artists. But we…read morewarned - this smith of warriors is not for the faint-hearted.

I can't recommend the Women's Self Defense classes enough! I have taken two now and plan to…read morecontinue with the series. There is so much to learn and you can never be too prepared. The instructors are great and provide hands on experience and real-life scenarios. SIGN UP FOR THE PEPPER SPRAY CLASS. You will be surprised by how much you don't know about using your pepper spray. The studio is a bit difficult to find and feels a little sketchy. I thought I would need to take a self defense class just to make my way into the studio. You're in the right place if you're in a dirt lot under the bridge around nothing else. Once inside, you can take these creepy industrial stairs up to the top floor or there is a massive elevator.

I have been training under Gershon ben Keren at Krav Maga Yashir since February 2012. In my opinion…read morethere are four reasons why Krav Maga Yashir Boston should receive serious consideration from anyone in the Boston area seeking to learn self-defense, learn a martial art, or simply vastly improve their physical fitness. Number 1 = Quality of instruction. This is the sine qua non of any martial arts school. Mr. ben Keren and his assistant instructors are professional, competent, and dedicated. Techniques are expertly demonstrated, remediated, and reinforced in a variety of partner-based and group-based drills. Students are always shown the "context" of a technique: what happens leading up to it, the purpose of each movement, and what happens afterwards. My belief is that when new students are able to perform a technique effectively on their first try, it actually reflects far more credit on the teacher than the learner. I see this happen all the time on the mats, and it speaks volumes for the knowledge and competency of the instructors. Number 2 = Krav Maga Yashir teaches the entire spectrum of violence, an area where other martial arts have major limitations. A striking art (boxing, muay thai, karate) may teach you to fight an imaginary assailant. A grappling art such as BJJ may teach you to escape from said assailant on the ground. Neither addresses the more important questions grounded in reality, such as: How did you get there? What if a knife or gun is involved? What if I accidentally trip and fall? Get taken by surprise? Get backed against a wall? Have a significant other I need to protect? Krav Maga Yashir teaches simple, direct, pragmatic solutions to all of the above, and more. Nobody needs to be Donnie Yen or Ronda Rousey to effectively defend themselves, and this school gives you the tools to do that. Number 3 = Value for your $$. Monthly membership rate is comparable to market rate for other area martial arts schools, and much lower than Crossfit gyms and other functional-fitness type places. The membership also gives free access to 5x-weekly cardio bootcamp classes, special outdoor training, and use of the gym at the studio. New workout equipment is constantly added and incorporated into the bootcamps, which themselves are a hell of a workout. Members also get first access to guest seminars with top outside Krav Maga instructors. Number 4 = Great social atmosphere. I'm always impressed by the respect, humility, and maturity of other students. It's very rare to have anyone beating on others in an attempt to be the tough guy, and such behavior is *never* tolerated. Students are all ages from 20s to 60s, all body types and fitness levels. Since all of class is partner or group based, you quickly pick up names and personalities of fellow students. Sometimes when you're on the brink of absolute physical exhaustion, you just can't help but look at each other and laugh at the insanity of it all. That's the kind of esprit that can't be faked, and a major reason I spend 10 hrs a week here without hesitation. Overall, Krav Maga Yashir gets my highest possible recommendation. I am constantly being that annoying guy urging my female friends to try it, and it's what I look forward to every day at work (when I'm not wasting time on Yelp reviews that will end up getting filtered anyway). You can try classes free for a week through the school website as well.

I have been a student of CMAA now for over 8 years and know their instructors. I would have not…read morestayed with the program for such a long period of time if not for the value and integrity of the staff and instructors there. I have participated in other schools and programs. I feel CMAA's are the best bar none. They listen and can accommodate many needs of students within reason. Try them for a month and talk to the instructors about your questions. They will stand up to your scrutiny.

I have been at Cervizzi's Martial Arts Academy for over four years now and can say that working…read morewith Sensei Paul was a welcome change that has greatly improved my martial Arts as well as my outlook. All the instructors are great, I have known and worked with Sensei Kris for over 15 years. I love Kickboxing with Sensei T, and have come to know the other instructors and students well also. I am proud to be a part of the Cervizzi Family of Martial Arts and Sensei Paul treats everyone as part of that family. Rich Powers

Both of my children went through the Goddard School from their infant and toddler years right…read morethrough Pre-K. We were with them through first steps, first solids, first words, navigating a pandemic, potty training, having a sibling, losing teeth, learning to ride a bike and write their name, making friends and becoming self-assured and self-sufficient 5 year olds that were ready to make a seamless transition to Kindergarten. Not only is the facility and outdoor play spaces beautiful, but the school follows a curriculum that is shared each week and brings in outside companies, librarians and more to do specialized activities onsite as well. From bike days to pizza/pj fundraisers, apple pie making for Thanksgiving, to art shows, there was always something to look forward to. When we looked at many daycares when my first child was born, this school stood out leaps and bounds above the rest for having an educational plan in place, not just child care. I can't thank the Goddard School enough for the role they have played in such formative years for my children. The teachers care about the kids like family.

We have had our two sons Alex and Maxi at The Goddard School over the past 5 years. It is now time…read morefor us to move on so i just wanted to take some time to thank The Goddard School and share my experience. The school has been a dream. My children have made great friends and many memories. The faculty is kind honest and helpful. Their development has exceeded my expectations and has them fully ready to succeed in elementary school. It is great to see my children have the confidence in themselves because of all they learned educationally and socially. We could not speak more Highly of this establishment and are so happy we made the choice to do our early education with them.