We have been coming to this location (NW Austin/Research Blvd) for 4 months now & in that short…read moretime there has be a significant change in not only all of our daughters' confidence levels but also in their focus & accountability at home and school. They always look forward to class & wish they were coming more than twice a week, this alone speaks volumes to the awesomeness of these instructors. It is like winning the golden ticket to find ANYTHING that all of my girls even agree upon more or less love. The instructors here don't just talk the talk, they truly walk the walk & are fully vested in the well being of their students. We had originally bought Groupons for the girls to try the school out, especially with the needs of our oldest who is visually impaired, and it was the best decision. Our daughter is the first blind student Mr. Maldonado or Ms. Azzarito has taught and it didn't deter them in the least. She received a lot of initial one on one time until she felt comfortable & confident enough with her basic forms & moves to join in the main class. They continue to find adaptions as needed for her but expect no less than any other student in class Mr. Maldonado is amazing with his students both big & small, he is quick with praise while still teaching with a firm hand. His upbeat energy resounds with the class & is highly contagious. Ms. Azzarito is incredible, she has a passion for working with people and goes above & beyond with the kids. We had an issue arise with one of our girls and Ms. Azzarito sat down with her to not only help her see how her choices & actions impact her directly but also those around her. They discussed cause & effect, better choices and Ms. Azzarito held her accountable, following up with her & making sure she has the support to help continue making smarter decisions. Ms. Bardin never fails to have a smile for you & has the patience of a saint. My 8 year old loves to ask a million questions & Ms. Bardin always answers every single one. Thank you!

Mr. Maldonado and Ms. Azzarito are wonderful teachers and really care about their students. You can…read moretell because they remember their names (way better than I could), make sure that all new students feel welcomed and accepted, and they make the kids feel good about themselves and their abilities. They make classes fun, but maintain discipline, and I am constantly amazed at how well they are able to work with all different personalities of kids. I could go on and on about their self-defense techniques, their concern with behavior in class AND at home, and the many times when I see the little students all the way from toddler to school aged reciting the Tiger pledge and speaking confidently and in unison. It really does choke me up to hear it sometimes. :) I hesitate posting TOO good a review because I want to keep them all to myself, but they truly are wonderful people, and the more kids that learn from them, the better this world will be!

I've been going to this school for about three years, since the "bad old days." (just kidding)…read more So they just moved out of the room they were renting at the AACC, the one where you had to be careful not to crash into the glass display cases and the kids would track dirt on the floor so during class your shoes couldn't grip. The new location is fantastic! Easily triple the amount of room we had at the AACC and we don't have to worry about banging into anything breakable now. The ceiling is much higher so I don't worry so much about hitting it when I practice staff forms. There are also now stretch bars along the back wall and storage for all the things we didn't use to be able to have before: kick shields, targets, etc. And now that we're not on the tile anymore its a lot less intimidating to practice jumping techniques and break falls in the advanced and contemporary classes. The instruction is still the same as always. The material comes from Shi Xing Ying, a Shaolin Temple trained monk who now lives in Houston. The Austin school is taught by his student, Scott Pettengill, and Austin students who visit Houston can attend class there with the monk at no extra charge. I've mainly focused on the Contemporary Wushu they teach there. The only other game in town for Contemporary Wushu, I think, is David Scott's school and the UT Wushu club if you're a student there. Chris Tong (studied under Jeff Bolts, Madame Wang Jurong, and the monk Shi Xing Ying) is the contemporary wushu coach at ISWCATX and for the UT wushu club. If you come and take traditional classes he's a steal at just $30 in addition to the regular tuition, but if you take only the contemporary classes the rates are still more than competitive (especially considering how few people teach true contemporary) with everything else out there. His classes are still fairly small, I guess because they start later--around 7pm-- which makes it even more of a bargain since they end up almost being private lessons. Although I guess if I write this and it sounds inviting then maybe they won't be so small and then if I want a private I'd actually have to pay for it...but the more the merrier? I used to feel like such a klutz as a kid, I was a terrible basketball player, but I've developed so much more balance and coordination since taking Kung Fu, especially the contemporary class. I'm always spent and exhausted by the end of class. Its a great workout in a relaxed atmosphere from instructors whose pedigree can't be questioned.

My kid has been attending this school for a few months and we've been really happy. The instructors…read moreare very good and actually give out quality instructions. We tried another school before and the instructor never spent much time helping the kids who weren't doing certain forms or movements right how to do them properly. The instructors here will work with a student one-on-one if they see that the kid is struggling with something. They are patient but ask the kids for their efforts. They are strict with the kids (no goofing off!) but are friendly and fun at the same time. It's a very low key operation at a reasonable price. The instructor/student ratio can vary but most of the time it's 3-5 students per instructor.

AKA is the best! Regardless of your age or skill level, Austin Karate Academy will welcome you with…read moreopen arms, and give you a heck of a workout! I've had to dig deep and push myself harder than I ever have before, and I've made a lot of great friends along the way. Especially as a young adult, there are a lot of distractions in life, but the instructors and students have helped me develop my focus and better myself as a person. Tang Soo!

We've had a fantastic experience at AKA. A neighbor has been going there for several years (she is…read morenow a black belt), so we knew they were good people. Signed my 8yo son up almost a year ago, and I joined a few months ago. The instructors are fantastic -- they really push and challenge the students, but in a very respectful way, never condescending. They will particularly challenge kids who are not listening or behaving respectfully, but again will do so in a respectful way. At the beginner level, it's mostly kids (I believe that's the case at most studios) with a handful of adults, but don't be fooled into thinking it's going to be easy! They do a great job of catering to a range of skill levels in the class. As someone in his mid-40s, I get a great workout and have increased my strength, flexibility, and stamina even in just a few months. The main instructor (a 3rd degree black belt) has an INCREDIBLE amount of energy and passion and really gets everyone fired up, and he knows every student by name, and greets them by name as they enter the studio. I highly recommend AKA, for kids and adults alike. It has been a great journey learning karate with my son and being able to practice together outside of class. Several of the adults there also have kids in the studio and they joined because they've seen the quality of the program over the years. Join AKA, you'll love it!

They keep it real. But really it's one of the Muay Thai schools that have really good instructors…read moreand curriculums. The class times and schedules are really good. And the prices are pretty acceptable. They also have punch cards instead of monthly if you are busy and there is no BS contract fee!! My personal favorite is the Sunday morning class for drills. Theres usually something different going on in that class. Plus there's a small window for open gym after that class time.

Outstanding Muay Thai gym!…read more I've been coming here for about a month now. I try to come every day for all the classes they offer. I'm obsessed with both Muay Thai and training here. The classes are intense, physically demanding (in a good way), and the instruction is top notch. There is always something exciting to learn and the coaches do a fantastic job getting the point across and making sure everyone is on the same page and up to speed. They care about your development and well-being and I never feel stupid for asking questions or speaking up if I don't understand something. I look forward to every day and every class. I want to give a shout-out to Shawn. He was been extremely patient with me (a newbie) and has shown tremendous courtesy, respect, and grace for someone new and trying to learn. He really knows his stuff and I'm impressed with his professionalism. I look forward to training here for a very long time. I found a good group of guys in this gym, both coaches and other trainees. Everyone seems to want to help one another. I am thoroughly impressed and glad I started coming here. Thank you Ambush Muay Thai for the opportunity to train here. Even though I have a long way to go I give it my all every time I show up. -Jason Otto

This is a review of the kid's birthday package here…read more When my son told me that he wanted to be a ninja, the Asian parent in me started questioning my child-rearing abilities. Why not aspire to be a noble Samurai? What would Confucius say? After some talking, I discovered that what he really wanted was to be a Ninjago. Whew! Now, this a modern science problem--how to turn a kid into a Lego. The suburban mom in me combed the Internet for the perfect ninja birthday party theme. We came upon this location and I called to schedule a birthday party. I spoke with Martin, who was very helpful. He gave me a tour of their large, clean space and help me customize the birthday package. He was extremely helpful. We decided to have a bounce castle to pen the kids as guest were arriving. After all the kids have arrived, Martin and his team started with a short safety course to use when being approached by strangers. Next, swords were brought out and the little ninjas were trained in Kendo. Finally, they got to put on headgear and there was a sword fighting tournament. The parents and I were amazed at how Martin was able to capture and hold a bunch of 5-8yr olds attention for over and hour. We were really impressed and the kids are still talking about the party a week later! The most memorable part for my son was the fact that got to be the co-teacher and show off his moves by breaking a wooden board. He was very proud! Sword training-complete! Now, how am I going to find a place that teaches the ninja art of poisoning?

Awesome instructors that are great with the kids. They do a great job still instilling a sense of…read morepurpose and respect, while keeping the classes fun and engaging. They allow the students to advance at their own pace and offer ways of students expanding beyond the traditional martial arts forms. Can't recommend them any more highly!

Unexpected fee after cancellation + refund refused…read more We enrolled our son, Talen, at Johns Gym in Austin and withdrew/cancelled his membership in April as a result of a blood clot and condition that does not allow him to box anymore. After the cancellation, we were still charged an additional fee. We contacted the gym right away to request a refund, but we were told we missed the reimbursement/refund window, so a refund would not be provided. I understand businesses have policies, but this felt frustrating and unfair given that we had already withdrawn him. I'm leaving this review so other families clearly understand the billing and refund timelines before signing up. I'd appreciate the gym revisiting this situation and making it right.

Nice gym but more geared towards the kids. I think it's great my son is now 28 and he stated…read moreboxing @ 8.

We LOVE Premier Martial Arts in Cedar Park!! My son started in 2022, and it's been one of the best…read moredecisions we've made for him. He has had a number of instructors, and they've all added to his coffer of martial arts knowledge on his way to his black belt. The current lead instructor (Mr Mike) is a dedicated fourth degree black belt who is pouring into these students with skill, knowledge, and relational currency that is paying in dividends. I have seen so much growth in so many students at the dojo this year. It's been a great confidence booster too! Honestly I've been pretty enamored with all the instructors we've experienced over the last (nearly) two years. We began our journey into PMA as a means to add more physical activity and discipline into our kid's lives, and it has been exceeding our expectations ever since. If you are looking for a way to incorporate exercise that is accompanied by fun (first and foremost), friendships, and future awesomeness, this is the place for you (yes they have adult classes too) and your family!

We love Premier! I have yet to find another place that takes 3 year olds and they are amazing with…read morethe way they encourage the littles yet set boundaries! As a teacher/mom I couldn't be more impressed

I've been training here since August 4, 2025, that's the first day they opened. I have trained at…read morefive or six different jiu-jitsu schools in Austin prior to this school. I have been in the martial arts for 25 years and was an amateur fighter for the Marine Corps MMA team in 2008 for context. I'm now a 41 year-old, fat old blue belt, I'm retired. This is just a hobby for me. I train the 6 AM classes with Professor Luke Griffith primarily. The owner, Professor Gordon Ryan is there several days a week for the early classes as well. Professor John Danaher currently teaches the 7am Advanced Gi class. The No Gi Pro Classes start at 9am and they have no Gi classes all day from there. I do my best to attend the 930am on Saturday and Sunday when I have the energy, that is taught by Professor Helena Crevar, or by Professor John Danaher when she is out of town competing or doing seminars. The facilities are perfect. I have zero complaints there. The showers are amazing. The mat space is perfect and there is a spring board underneath the mats for more cushion and absorbing falls and throws. The coaching staff is world class. Everyone is the best in their division in the world. Which is crazy and unheard of. But most importantly, they are patient and kind throughout their teaching. I have trained with professional fighters before in the past at other gyms, just because someone is a pro doesn't mean they are good at coaching or that they have the patience to teach. I'm very appreciative for the amount of patience these instructors have for myself and my training partners. I would be here even if my coaches weren't world champions. Their patience and professionalism is what keeps me coming to class every day. I'm a big guy, so it's hard to find a uniform that fits me comfortably but for some reason the company they are working with (Breakpoint) has been a perfect fit for my body type. I'm very fortunate for that as well. The gi they sell is a pearl weave so it won't shrink from washing or become too stretched during training. It's a good quality gi. I'm very impressed with it. The cost for training here currently is very competitive compared to the other schools in the same location and area of Austin. Almost all the schools in Austin are moving to the $250-$400 range. There is a school right down the street that is charging $400 a month. So this school is actually more affordable than local alternatives at the moment. I really appreciate the schedule that is available to me as a student. I love that I can train seven days a week. I really feel like I'm getting my money's worth here. I can't think of any cons or disappointments in training here. Every day is a blessing and I'm very fortunate to have this opportunity.

Well, the head coaches are Gordon Ryan, John Danaher, and Gary Tonon. Luke Griffith teaches quite a…read morebit too. It's got a nice vibe, there's always random people from out of state or out of country who came to Austin just to train here. A lot of local school head instructors train here too It's very high level, but there's a ton of white belts too Facility is very nice, especially the bats and bathrooms If there are cons it would be the price, but then again it's a lot cheaper than attending a seminar from one of the coaches I also don't love how gi based it is, would've expected a lot more no gi classes . But if John and gordan say I need to train in the gi, who am I to argue

professor Rafael is a world class guy! nobody better than him, highly recommend checking him out!read more

Great teachers and friendly environment! Professor Rafael was skillful and helped my girls learn…read moreself defense and feel empowered.