Love the place! My son is thriving there. For the first time he is excited to go to an activity…read moreevery week!

I've been learning jiu jitsu here for the last 3 months, and the experience has far surpassed my…read moreexpectations. It's a very supportive and ego-free environment that's perfect for beginners. There are also a lot of advanced students who you can roll with if you're a more experienced practitioner. If you're looking to learn martial arts and you want a supportive environment to learn where people aren't going to make you feel like crap for being new to it, or if you just want to take your training to the next level, this really is your place. BIPOC and LGBTQ+ friendly.

One or two nights of any given week, I put on whites and kick ass with an electric sword at a…read morefencing club. One night recently, I put on a gi and hakama instead (blue and blacks?) and tried iaido at New York Budokai. Iaido is essentially what happened when the samurai class got eliminated in Japan - all the tradition got funneled into kendo (combat sport) and iaido (drawing/cutting). From NY Budokai's website: Iaido "involves controlled, precise movements of drawing the sword from its scabbard (saya), striking or cutting an opponent, removing blood from the blade (chuburi), and then replacing the sword in the scabbard (noto)." HOW can you resist something where WIPING BLOOD FROM A BLADE is part of the art. ??!?!!?!?!?!!! Let's be honest - I wanted to try it because it looks really. really. cool. But I was also wondering how it might inform my coordination and distance awareness in regular fencing. Eastern swordsmanship and footwork is totally different from Western (separated by several centuries and thousands of miles, duh). NY Budokai offers a $20 intro class for the curious. All clothing and equipment is provided; just give them a call to let them know you're showing up (Tues/Thurs 7-9pm). Tuesday is better for beginners since the classes are bigger and they'll have someone to focus on you and any other newbies: helping you dress, explaining movements and rituals, etc. Mitchell was endlessly patient, helpful, and easygoing despite the disciplined nature of the practice. The club itself is legit and is affiliated with a dojo in Japan. Each class varies, but most seem to focus on "kata" - practice forms, rather than sparring. From an exercise perspective, it's almost like fast-paced yoga: You'll improve body awareness and control, but sweat is more a result of the thick cotton gear than intense cardio. Aside from being 90% men, the group is a great mix of ages, races, professions, etc. Everyone seems very committed to their practice and the club, but also friendly and welcoming. Full membership is not for me - specifically, my wallet - right now (fencing ain't cheap, either!). But if I could, I would. If you're just a bit curious, go go go take the intro class!! It's a great way to try out something fun and different with a whole lot of history behind it. And, let's not forget - it looks awesome. (Nota bene: If you're lefthanded, sorry - either deal with using your right hand as your sword hand, or don't bother. No allowances are made for lefties. On the plus side, the footwork doesn't bias the right leg being forward nearly as much as Western fencing does, so you could probably swing it.)

I observed a class summer 2012 and fell in love. But I wasn't ready. I spoke to Sensei Ortiz and…read morehe suggested I check out other styles and schools. And I did. So when they offered a special on Signpost, I signed up and back to take my classes. On my first night, I learned how to cut and actually got to cut a mat with a real sword. To say it was a thrilling experience would be an understatement. Just writing it doesn't do this experience justice. It was like your first time shooting live ammo. Intense. Although it was a happy coincidence of timing, I was hooked. I was ready. Instruction, depth of seniority, uniform and equipment lending, everything was top-notch. Exactly what you'd expect for the oldest sword school in NYC. Highly recommend. Note that classes meet at a dance studio facility. It would be nicer if they could meet in a space they own. However, they more than make up for this by organizing tournaments and other excursions off-site.

Amazing instructors to help create balance and fitness at any age and skill level . A great balance…read moreof form , discipline and history.

At 67 years of age, & barely 4 months after joining), I am still SMH at the astonishing increase in…read moremy energy & my health-awareness. The (volunteer) Kung Fu Masters are paying forward a priceless gift bequeathed them (& to countless others) by Grandmaster Alan Lee, himself a figure of unquestionable international repute atop the martial arts world. The boot-camp style old-school physical workout would (admittedly) challenge an 18 y/o marine recruit (I know, I was one half-century ago), but the lessons in breathing, form, and movement have improved my bearing, overall confidence, health awareness, and inner strength. "Fighting" is 10% of Kung Fu, mental and physical health being the main goal. Most priceless of all, students are allowed to attend the rare Sunday afternoon health lectures offered by (92 years old) world renowned Grandmaster Lee as he shares 3000 years of Chinese martial arts & health wisdom accumulated by his 8 decades + of vigorous research, pursuit, and practice. IMHO this "once-in-a-lifetime" (albeit under-the-radar) treasure to be VIGOROUSLY pursued by anyone seeking an alternative to doctors, drugs, and expensive "gyms".

Whatever martial art you learn, in my opinion, they're all good. What it comes down to for me is…read morehow it fits my personality and natural abilities and most importantly who the teacher is. When I want to do something that i plan to dedicate 110% of my time and effort to, I do my homework. I found Sifu Militano after trying out 4 other Wing Chun classes. I found him to be a sincere man who is very passionate about the art and even more passionate in teaching you Wing Chun. And in exactly the way his teacher taught him. I also like (and respect) the students in his class. I am proud to call them my "kung fu" brothers. Especially his most advanced, dedicated students. They too are very sincere, kind and willing to help you if you are willing to learn and train (hard!). They are direct reflections of Sifu Militano's training and teachings. Sifu Militano will put in the amount of effort to teaching you, equal to the amount of effort you are willing to put into your training. He's a great instructor and a marvelous human being.

I've been studying Wing Chun with Sifu Michael Militano for about a year now and I am completely…read moreaddicted. Sifu is absolutely amazing, not only in his unmatched technique but also in his teaching style and ability to connect with and motivate students. The school is a great community. I found a new family here when I moved to NY. Everyone is friendly and willing to help you understand the drills and improve your technique. I feel like I've improved a lot in a year and became more fit, in general. I recommend it enthusiastically to anyone who wants to learn Wing Chun. He teaches from beginners to very advanced students of all ages. The prices are more than fair at 150$ per month for 2 sometimes 3 classes a week. Check out his website http://www.militanowingchun.com/. He is now also offering classes in Brooklyn.

We've really enjoyed the class. It has been a wonderfully positive experience for my kid and we…read moretruly appreciate the care and encouragement from the teachers. My kid just love it!!!

Such a wonderful program with excellent instructors! The classes are fun, fast paced, and engaging…read more Highly recommend

Its been 25 years since I last attended a martial art school. The onslaught of arthritis made it…read moreabundantly clear I was destined to become limited if not completely compromised. Physical ag and the return of dexterity in my hands is paramount. Once a martial artist always one, therefore the introduction to Tang Soo Do has become my remedy. I cannot emphasize how under the tutelage and discerning eye of Sah Bum Nim Rodney V. Ralph what a pronounce difference it has made in my agility and dexterity. I look forward to my commitment to Tang Soo Do and Sah Bum Nim Rodney V. Ralph. William Harrington

I haven't had formal martial arts training since the 90's. However, I've been incorporating all the…read moretechniques that I've learned and absorbing what is useful. I had the privilege of trying 2 trial lessons from Mr. Ralph and his Assistant instructor, Ms. Strong. Words can't express how fun and informative the training from them was. I hope to continue training w/ these 2 when the time comes and I'm ready to commit. Tang Soo!

My 5 year old son has been taking karate lessons from Sensei John Adams for ~6 months, and he loves…read moreit! Sensei Adams is an expert who genuinely loves the art of karate. He is very patient with my son and has been able to generate the same excitement for the art. Karate lessons are one of the highlights of my son's weekends. I highly recommend classes with Sensei Adams.

My daughter has been taking Karate with Mr. Adams for over 3 years. I can't tell you how patient,…read moreinsightful, kind, dedicated, and easy going he is! Starting with a 7 year old could not have been easy! He is extremely professional, clearly an expert, but even more than that, he is the perfect instructional representative for Martial Arts in general! I recommend him, and this studio for private instruction as well as the group classes that he teaches all the time.

Anyone who rated this above a two was paid to. The instructors egg on cheating and are biased…read moretowards some children and totally neglect others.

I've never exp such an unwelcoming club. I flew In and thought I could make a class. I was willing…read moreto pay and respect all the rules but I was told to leave because I had my luggage. The front desk person would not be the welcoming committee at my club. This is out of frustration but may no other bjj players get treated the way I did. OSS