Just skip this place. Zero patience…read more Very expensive Who calls anyone master? Very little space to observe, sit etc. Extra cost for testing and belts.

Location: Convenient/easy access by buses such as "41," "43", Cambie "15" or Canada Line. Parking…read moreout front on Cambie street. Service: Excellent Taekwondo School!! Been training here for 1 year and it's the best exercise - physically, mentally, spiritually, cognitively etc I've ever experienced in my whole life!! Master Alan Azizi is inspirational beyond words & highly supportive all around. The Instructors are friendly, patient, kind & wonderful Leaders. Safe & family-friendly environment for all ages. Training at Vancouver Martial Arts builds self confidence, improves self esteem, improves physical fitness, practical for everyday self-defense, builds or hones leadership skills and so much more! Truly life changing......highly recommend for anyone, any age, any fitness level! Value/Pricing: Completely comparable with other similar Martial Arts schools.

A great place for kids and adults to learn Gracie Jiu-Jitsu within a safe, welcoming, and fun…read moreenvironment.

I have been to some of the more expensive gyms in town, and while towel service and mirrors are…read morenice, this place will get you in shape faster than anything else. If you have a sense of humour, you'll also have a good time. The most popular class is cardio kickboxing, which is a fitness class with a focus on core, legs, and pushups. In addition, there's some partner drills. Two things make it way better than the other boot camp style classes I have taken. First, George has spent years training as an Olympic swimmer and then kickboxer in Russia, and he brings these advanced techniques to the gym, so the workout is more efficient and more effective than the typical trainer who got a three month personal trainer certificate. Second, this is really functional: it's the drills you would do if you were planning on kickboxing. You will get a lean, toned kick boxer body very quickly. One girl who has never worked out started just after me, and in two weeks I could see the difference. My partner last week was a young looking fifty year old guy, who lost twenty pounds in six weeks doing this workout. The people in the class range from out of shape mom types, to SFU students, along with a few kickboxers who stay for the kickboxing as well. Mostly women in the class, but I can usually find a guy to partner with. The best deal is the monthly unlimited, and for an extra $20 or so, it lets you try all the classes. Just for fun, I have also tried the kickboxing class, which turned out to be great. I had taken a few martial arts (karate, judo) classes as a kid. These classes focus on the basics, and he teaches it so the techniques really make sense. He usually throws in a story about some guy getting hurt in the ring for doing the wrong technique, but it comes off funny, not scary. I don't plan on ever stepping into the ring, but it's very cool to finally learn the right way to throw a punch and a kick. The third option is the self defence class, which is very different. You won't sweat in this class, but you will learn practical moves, which appear to work. Again, I hope to never get in a fight, but it's fun to learn. I'm a firm believer that a good teacher makes all the difference. I really like George: he's highly qualified, he's definitely tough enough, but he's also very funny, in a very Eastern European way. Even if you don't live in the neighbourhood, it's worth a trip to check this place out.

I hate working out. I'm the one happily sitting in the pub scarfing back nachos and beer while…read morewaiting for my friends to finish their hot yoga/boot camp/crossfit classes. I reluctantly decided to start exercising, just to try to avoid all those yucky medical conditions that attack couch potatoes. A friend suggested kickboxing so we tried out Reality Martial Arts and... I can't believe how much I like it. It's a great workout that's also super fun, which I honestly believed to be impossible. It's nice to know that all the exercises we do are specific to kickboxing training, instead of the random moves you do in regular fitness classes. Don't expect the bells and whistles of a fancy gym - this is for 'real' training. The instructors are great and welcome guys and gals of all shapes, ages and fitness levels - no need to feel intimidated here. The schedule is very convenient, with loads of evening classes. For those who want to focus more on fitness than technique, they have cardio kickboxing too. Definitely the place to go to have fun, learn a new skill and get a complete workout in a friendly and supportive environment. Never thought I'd say this about a gym but I love this place!

On Saturday, October 11, 2014, Gracie Barra Vancouver & Raz Chan Fitness presented Women's…read moreSelf-Defense Seminar as a fundraising event for Battered Women's Support Services. Seventeen women attended and it was excellent!! Much gratitude to Raz Chan, Anica Simon, Max Rathburn, Norm Leung, Andrea, Robert and Carla. It was excellent!!

Before coming to Gracie Barra, I had already been a hardcore MMA fan for years. That said, I'd…read morenever really trained in martial arts before and the few attempts were awful: I tried wrestling in college, but the program at my school consisted of doing around 600 crunches and countless push-ups while rarely actually receiving any instruction on techniques. The judo program I tried was filled with "alphas" who were more intent on putting new guys through the floor more than anything else. As such, you can understand my hesitation about joining a martial arts gym again. It was something I was naturally curious about but, given my prior experiences, extremely nervous. So after doing a LOT of research about all the various schools in the Vancouver and Richmond areas, I settled on Gracie Barra and now, a year later, I cannot imagine having chosen any other gym. One thing that really sets GB apart from other gyms is how beginner friendly their method of instruction is. New students are paired off with more experienced students who are more interested in helping and encouraging more than anything else. If you're not in the best physical shape or have never trained in a martial art, this is hugely beneficial. It'll encourage you to keep going and ensure that you keep getting better, learning all the time. GB emphasizes the "family" aspect, which means that all the students are there to help each other grow, not crush each other to satisfy their egos. Because of this, GB has a really, really positive atmosphere that makes it easy to learn and that'll keep you coming back until suddenly, you realize that you're not the new guy anymore. That's another thing too: Gracie Barra has fantastic people. Whether it's the instructors or your fellow students, these are all people that you'd genuinely want to hang out with. Even if it wasn't at all something you were expecting or looking for when you joined, you WILL end up making friends here, from all walks of life. I cannot overemphasize how huge a boon this is, especially for beginners. The bottom-line is this: if you're really interested in martial arts and want to get in shape, give this place a try. It doesn't matter if you're grossly out of shape or laughably uncoordinated and clumsy; GB WILL make you better without EVER annihilating you or making you feel badly about yourself. If you're nervous about trying a martial arts gym, there is nothing to fear about GB: just great people and great instructors. As for the technical aspects: Gracie Barra's bread and butter is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and there are students and instruction at all belt/skill-levels, with classes divided accordingly. There are also classes for muay thai, boxing, and conditioning. The average Gracie Barra class follows this structure: Warm-up (5-10 minutes genuinely geared to WARMING YOUUP, not making you puke) Technique 1 (usually a takedown, demonstrated, then drilled back and forth with a partner) Technique 2 (something on the ground, either a transition, escape, or submission) Technique 3 (again, something else on the ground, generally a natural extension of technique 2) Sparring So yeah, if you're at all interested in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or curious GO TO GRACIE BARRA! You will not regret it. There is no gym that is more supportive to your growth both as a person and as a martial artist.

i started not to long ago and I already love it. the coaches are nice and supportive. it is an…read moreenvironment that makes your mental and physical strength grow.

Excellent instructors for both kids and adults. Very high tempo great workout and good technique!!read more

Excel Martial Arts has had a powerful positive impact on my son's life! 5yrs now and soon to be a…read moreblack belt! Highly recommend!

This is a very good martial arts experience for kids here. Autism friendly. Affordable. And they…read morepick up kids after school.

I signed up my son for the Taekwondo classes a while ago before the dojang opened this new…read morelocation. The dojang is very spacious and always kept clean. The masters and instructors are very helpful. The kids have fun. They gain self-confidence and discipline. Adult classes are great as well. We get a good workout, learn self-defense techniques and fun way to keep fit. Ask them for a free trial lesson.

AMAZING place to learn Tae Kwon Do and keep fit. My children have been students of Master Kook for…read moreyears, first at their North Shore location, and now at their beautiful, spacious, bright, new East Van location. They offer classes for all levels and all ages and do everything they can to make you comfortable. Head Instructor, Master Woo, is kind, patient, crazy-amazing at TKD and FUNNY...the kids all gravitate to him, but also respect him at the same time (I have kept my kids in line with the simple phrase "What would Master Woo say right now?"). He is so good at what he does: keeping his students (young and old) motivated, keeping classes fun and informative, and instilling core values of discipline and respect. How he keeps a class of 20-25 children in check is beyond me, but he does it! Another gem is Program Director, GRACE! She is so good at making you feel welcome and at-home. She always has a smile on her face (it lights up the entire room) and she is always ready to do what she can to make your experience a good one, including swapping pants with you when your own pants are too short, so you don't feel like a complete moron (ahem, that was ME) during class. This is just one example of the many, many, things that Grace does to show you that she cares and wants you to be comfortable when you train. Everyone here, not just Master Woo and Grace, are fantastic instructors, each bringing their own uniqueness to how they teach. Never a dull moment, lots of laughs, being in better shape and a new extended family is what you will get if you train here. Can't say enough about how amazing everyone is!

Tomari Martial Arts is fun and save Martial Arts instruction for all age and fitness levels…read more Incorporating the best from Karate, Kickboxing, Boxing and street self-defense. Easily applied for Men, Women and Children.

Kinda frustrating; 3 phone calls, left 2 messages, the last call, why bother?…read more Probably too busy or don't care.

Love this place, and the amazing staff. Killer workout that…read moreis fun, you learn a lot, and keeps you coming back for more. I did Champions on Lonsdale for 2 years, but this place is my new home. Love it and can't recommend it enough.

I've been a member here for a few months now and so far it's the best gym I've ever visited…read more I think the difference is that it's locally owned - not a huge chain. The staff are great. Very helpful. The other patrons are friendly and welcoming. The class sizes are small and I really feel like I'm getting the most out of every session that I can. It's got a great location and the class schedule works really well for people who work 9-5 - lots of early morning and evening options to choose from as well as daytime classes.

An affordable gym for people in the area that has plenty of weights, machines and a big room for…read moreclasses. It helps that they keep the room open all the time, so you can go in and use the exercise balls, jump ropes, mats, etc., when there aren't any classes. If you're looking for some five-star gym, this isn't it. If you're looking for a place that has super buff people who love looking at themselves as they become even buffer, this isn't the spot either. What you will find are people of all ages and body types. You won't feel intimidated or out of place. It does get hot easily because it's underground, but hey, just think that you're sweating faster.