I remember my first day in Chris's class. I didn't know the first thing about self defense; I couldn't throw a jab, didn't know how to parry or deflect a blow, and my defensive stance looked like I was standing on two very awkward left feet. I'm thankful to be able to write this review for prospective students to let them know how helpful his class was in transforming me into a more capable fighter. To start, Chris doesn't assume anything about his students - he will either ask you about your previous experience, or by simply observing you, learn what type of pupil you are. He will not only identify your strengths and weaknesses, but tailor every lesson to build on your individual progression in a variety of martial arts. Not only will you be able to receive individualized training time with Chris, but he will pair you up with other fighters-in-training from novice to expert, so that you can monitor your own progress. Class is not just about learning technique, but practicing it with people so you can develop your reaction speed, combinations, and defensive capabilities. It's as close to a real fight as you can get. The class itself is structured in such a way that while everyone is learning the same things, each person is moving at their individual pace, and building on their individual mastery of the previous lesson. Each technique is practiced until it is second nature to you before moving on, because the lessons are cumulative. In other words, absolutely nothing you learn is discarded. The basic skills you begin to master from the first day are part of the curriculum of the second day, and the third, and the thirtieth, and the sixtieth, and so on. It is not a random collection of different exercises, but a clearly visible evolution of your abilities. For example, once you begin to perfect your jab / cross, you move on to a more sophisticated attack combination that incorporates the jab / cross. As you perfect this new use of your jab / cross, you will begin to incorporate it into the next, more complex combination. The previous lesson is an integral part of what you learn next. But no matter how far along you are, you never stop working on bettering that simple jab / cross, or your basic footwork, or your counterstrikes. Those basic maneuvers you learn to develop from the FIRST DAY OF CLASS will stay with you throughout your entire training. And as you use what you learn from the first day in every class, you can see very clearly how well you are progressing. Besides the effectiveness of the class, Chris is an incredible teacher. Not only is he equipped with an enormous lexicon of different fighting styles and the origin and application thereof, he is an intelligent, well-educated, approachable,and down-to-earth person. I've had discussions with him that range from the political, to the metaphysical, and the just plain funny. Getting in a good workout can often seem like a chore, but after the first week, I looked forward to every single class. I just started my fourth month, and I don't see myself stopping any time soon. To say that I highly recommend this class is akin to saying the ocean is damp. read more

As a (nearly) 40-year-old guy with no previous martial arts background, I wanted to try something like this before I was too old. I have a professional career and spend most of my days sitting down and only managing a bit of a jog on the weekend, so I also wanted to add some real regular exercise to my week. First off, classes are a terrific workout every time. I certainly work harder than jogging around in the park. So far, about six months in, I've found it to be a great mixture of a practical and serious fighting system and at the same time an art with a rich tradition that people have really thought about. It feels smart; it's not just hitting people. I also like that it can really become your own martial art. If you discover that you have a long reach and a strong jab (who knew!) that can be a big part of your thing. If you really love trapping, or are great at kickboxing, or sticks, or whatever, that can be a big part of your thing; it's up to you. Chris Moran is a friendly, funny, down to earth guy, who loves martial arts and teaching them to all kinds of people. Classes are kept small, so you get to know your training partners, and most importantly you often get to work with Chris. He isn't just at the end of the room telling you things; he works directly with you and that makes a huge difference compared to having to try to figure something out with your fellow students. When you work with him you also get to appreciate what it's like to be really, really skilled at this, and that's motivating too. This part also interests me and might interest other people: that you get to learn things about yourself from training in this way: what it's like to be physical with someone in ways adults usually are not, ways that you haven't since you were a kid; how you are at getting and giving feedback with your training partners; how you react to fear when someone's coming after you looking like they mean business; how you control your anger when you're going after someone yourself. I think it's probably hard to do much with all the techniques in the world if this part isn't there, and the regular hands-on experience, as Chris puts it, of sparring with different people is invaluable. read more

It's been a long and strenuous day of school and work. From 7am to 5pm, I slave away and fight off the temptation to sink into the sand pit of dreamland, finding solace only in momentary handfuls of salted almonds and dried apricots. Delicious, but not very fulfilling. Then my day ends, and it's time for Jeet Kune Do class. I can barely contain my excitement. I enter Roy Arais studios and after being greeted warmly by the receptionist, I make my way through the lobby full of aspiring actors and actresses waiting for their auditions. It's all eyes on me when I exit the elevator, and everybody knows why. That's right, amateur leading lady; hardcore martial artist coming through. They can tell by my aura of pure testosterone fueled confidence. I swag my way down the narrow hallway into room 401c where the humble Sifu Chris is already working my comrades into a sweat. He hits me with that smile that says "Carter, you're twenty-six and a half minutes late, but I still love you." I greet my fellow classmates and immediately leap into action. Foam knives whiz through the air with deadly intent. The thrill of combat sends euphoric chills throughout my body. My favorite Mos Def song plays in the background. I start to get tired and slack off, but Sifu Chris notices everything and makes sure I give a hundred and ten percent, a hundred and twenty percent of the time. There's only four other people in the class, and we're all the best of friends. I'll probably write on my sparring buddy's Facebook wall later, and we can talk about how much we both love Jeet Kune Do so much, just like every night. Jeet Kune Do brought my life in a really positive direction. I used to smoke menthol cigarettes and watch Netflix in my spare time. Now, I do push-ups and listen to Erykah Badu. After doing JKD for only 5 months, I look and feel better in general. I've made some real friends in this class, and honestly, if anyone is looking for a real, hands-on, and casual yet combative martial arts class, hop on that train to Times Square, grab a slice of dollar pizza, look both ways before crossing the street, and come on upstairs. You'll be glad you did. read more

so let's start with this. i started to learn JKD under Chris.M when i was 17 years old. i just turn 18 years old. As one of the longest students in his class, i am going to write something true about it. Chris was and is a good person. Having a really nice personality and patient sometimes made him care the students more than himself. He will not let you go until you understand the concepts, even the times already up. He will make sure that you understand and know how to apply the techniques. Sometimes when i did the demo with him, i learned more. He is a definitely funny and responsible teacher. i was around 160lb, even though it was not fat, but not in shape either. Because of JKD NYC, i got little shape, and i weighted around 145lb now. it was really useful for me to learn it. JKD NYC not only teach me about Martial Arts, but also teach me the most important attitude towards your life when you face a problem. i came from the country, which contain the most types of martial arts----China, 3 years ago. i was studying something in China as well. so the first class for me, i just wanted to check out how an American Martial Artist can teach JKD which created by Bruce Lee. However, after the first class, i was amazed. i loved it and it was so applicable. Because of that, i continued the class until now. Therefore, for me, it was worth it for me to study this class. i will continue to attend the class until Chris.M DEAD, lol (jk) SO: if you want to loose weight, the "Suicide Drills" will kill the fat; if you want to be more smart in the fight, "Knife Drills" will train your fixable; if you want to be like Bruce Lee, it is a great opportunity to start. THANK YOU FOR READING THIS, HOPE YOU MIGHT ATTEND THE CLASS FOR UPDATING YOURSELVES! Johnny Wang read more

As a young woman taking college classes with a lot of late night commutes back home to Brooklyn, I feel extremely lucky to be learning self defense and Jeet Kun Do from Chris at JKDNYC. It is unbelievable how much I have learned in only two and a half months from attending class just twice a week (even though class is offered usually five times a week.) When I came to my first class, I understood fighting foremost as an act of speed, aggression, and competition. Chris taught me to slow down, stop panting and flailing, and stop panicking. We work each class to develop a sense of calm, directness, and specificity while building strength, discussing the importance of self defense, and becoming much more aware of how much our bodies can actually do. I had no idea that I would, at 125 lbs, be able to gain control over a fighting partner that weighed twice that and stood two heads taller than me. The atmosphere of the class is not at all egotistical. Chris trains smart fighters, humble fighters, and there is a great sense of respect for both instructor and class mates. To me, the class is more than getting into shape, and learning to protect myself and fight well. It is a stress relief in so many ways from daily life in New York City. It is a great atmosphere to really practice being in the present, because you must be totally present in order to succeed in a fight. And its really, really fun. The day I got my first pair of boxing gloves I went home and practiced the moves I learned that day. I punched the couch pillows until the gloves were broken in. Take this class if you're just getting into JKD or martial arts! Take it if you're very experienced. JKDNYC is one of those amazing New York secrets, but I hope it won't be for long. read more

Hello kuyo : How are you today? I just want to make a statement. This is someone's reputation we are talking about here. I'm a part of JKDNYC since the beginning of its birth . I'm not here to defend nor being aside of anybody neither , but I'm here definitely defending JKDNYC. What I'm sure of is . That man has been the most professional and descent and trusted human being all this entire time that I have been there . My whole family trains there . I don't think there is a bad word that can describe him . Kuyo . I think you are a wonderful human being . I've met you , I've spoken to you . I thought you are one of the nicest people on earth, well , I still think you are . But my dilemma is : Why did you wait for two years to talk about this Why now ? you said he kicked you out , means if he didn't kick you out you would not talk ? I find it a little absurd and strange. My wife and I were talking about this, by the way she is the same culture as you are, and I asked her. I said: if your gym instructor harassed you sexually, what would you do? She said, he is not my boss , I pay him , he doesn't pay me ,I'll leave right way, no more classes for me , I'll find somewhere else . So some of her friends said. Staying there for two long years is no good with that harassment. Really ? harassing you ??? hmmm. Your story is true in your end , but in the other end is going to be your story, and the truth will prevail . You are watching too much TV. read more

This instructor is amazing...my friends and coworkers are always telling me that he doesnt need advertising with the likes of me singing his praises...lol!! However he is truly an amazing instructor and the RAT system built on a Jeet Kune Do platform is truly something that can be used. I have taken various martial arts such as Taekwondo and Isshin-Ryu in the past and none of them can compare to this system. I have been attacked in the past as I am sure most of us have been and neither of those systems helped me and even worse left me vulnerable to the attack. I decided this time I would search for something that the military was taught or actual military training similar to what was taught to my dad when he was in the military. The fighting system I needed had to be fluid and reactionary as well as offensive. I searched far and wide and this system kept popping up in my search results. I figured I would try and from the get go we were sparring and learning to move fast and defend while also creating openings. This is an amazing system and I am truly blessed to have found Chris and I will keep on singing his praises. You honestly would be foolish to not try this....it has changed my life, my physique and most importantly my mind. The best money I have ever spent and will keep on spending. read more

Being new to the whole martial arts scene, i did in depth research on what style, school, and instructor i wanted to take up. After 2 weeks i had made up my mind as to which school i wanted to join, JKD NYC. Sifu Chris Moran is a phenomenal instructor, with over 10 years of experience just stepping into the first class you sense the martial arts atmosphere right away. I've been a student at this school for about 5 months and i can honestly say that it has been one of the best experiences in my life. Sifu Moran takes his time with each individual student, making sure that everyone excels. He is very professional, knowledgable and respectful in every aspect. One of my most memorable moments had to be when we were told that Sifu Singh was to be conducting a seminar which we co hosting! Those were one of the most important weekends in my life. I encourage anyone who is looking for a hobby, new form of exercise or someone who is just willing to try something truly great, to consider JKDNYC. What JKD in general brought to my life is a sense of responsibility and courage to defend myself not only in the streets, but in my life. I hope to continue my studies at this school and to hopefully train with new students in the future. Thank you sifu! read more

Chris is a smart, gifted man with a genuine desire to help people learn to develop their skills. His patience and intuition make class relaxed and fun, but also challenging. Jeet Kune Do involves balance, speed and precision among other skills, and you will find these traits integrated into your everyday life in surprising ways. Even if you never find yourself in a physical confrontation outside of class (which would be ideal), the knowledge and confidence you gain is invaluable. The environment is friendly, and new students are always welcomed by the rest of the class. Definitely take a night to come by and check it out. You can always watch if you want, but you'll probably wind up jumping in. If you already have experience with martial arts, Chris will quickly determine your skill level and begin helping you improve your technique, while introducing you to some new styles. I'm very fortunate to have found this class. I've tried several kinds of martial arts, but JKD NYC is exactly what I've been looking for all this time. (It's also pretty affordable...) read more

First day of another week of JKD martial arts/self defense with the one and only Chris Moran. I can always look forward to not only releasing my day but gaining more strength, power and confidence than I did before and who would think in the beginning I remember my very first day of class I was panting like a dog after the first hour now I can go 3 hrs straight, after two hrs my energy is still pumping and I'm ready for the third hour but due to transportation and a 6:30 morning shift I gotta just put it in my back pocket and then let it rip at the next class. It's amazing to know that my body is capable of gaining such strength and stamina to be able to train like that for such a long length of time, it surely didn't happen over night but it was definitely worth the wait. I continue to be thankful for the way JKD martial arts and self defense program has changed me physically and continues to uplift me and motivate me mentally more and more each time as I continue to learn how to conquer and defeat and simply WIN WIN WIN. read more

I started taking JKD/Street MMA classes in JKD NYC with absolutely no background in Martial Arts or any type of fight training at all. It only took about 2 weeks to get really comfortable with the idea of fighting and the type of contact that it involves. After only 3-4 months I learned a lot more than I thought I would in a year and I owe it all to Chris' teaching methods. He not only explains what we need to do, but why we need to do it and all while encouraging us to question what we don't understand. The environment in all the classes is very fun and friendly but still sticks to the seriousness of the goals at hand and to say the full-body work out is a huge plus would only be a huge understatement. It's a great way to learn realistic self-defense that actually works on the street and isn't just for show or for sport. I'd recommend this class to anyone, whether you're goals are to become a fighting machine or just for fitness. It's been about a year of training with JKD NYC and I wouldn't ask for a minute of it back! read more

One of my closest friends and college buddy who is also an instructor at the dojo recommended me to train with Sifu Chris Moran. I gotta say its one of the best decisions Ive ever made. Chris Moran is not only one of the leading martial artists in the world but also an amazing teacher. His instructions are direct, simple and it sticks like glue. Yes, starting out it may be overwhelming but I personally can guarantee you that in one year everything will fall into place and will work automatically. Just keep sparring and you will see the difference as time progresses. Even some of Chris's phase 2 students were really helpful in my journey. I remember this one dude who used to wait every Monday after class just to spar with me and help me get somewhere (its hard to find people like that in this busy city). Forever grateful to JKDNYC, to Sifu Chris Moran and to the people who have made me dangerously fit. read more

Chris Moran is the real deal. I got more out of a one hour private lesson with Chris than I did training one year at a previous martial arts school. He paid attention to detail and immediately identified the holes in my stand-up game. In one lesson, Chris completely reconstructed my jab, gave me some great footwork drills, and all while making it fun. I swear I left the gym bobbing and weaving. The best part of the service is how affordable it is! Chris offers great rates for private, semi-private, and group classes. If you're serious about getting better at self-defense, or improving your martial arts skill as a whole, look no further. Been throwing that jab for days now! Thanks Chris read more

Always being interested with martial arts since young, I never found an art or "style" that would fit my personality the most. Until i read on JKD mma and the overall fighting techniques and history grabbed my attention from the get. Chris is a great, patient instructor. He will slowly, patiently demonstrate the moves, which makes it easy to learn. But he will also challenge you in ways to keep it interesting and see what you've actually learned. This class will not only test you physically, but mentally as well. The knowledge and experience gained from attending these classes are invaluable and priceless... You always leave class a better man/fighter. read more

JKD with instructor Chris Moran is a skilful training progam experience. JKD is a variety of vary arts such as Self Defence, Brazilian jiu jitsu, Boxing, Kick Boxing, etc. JKD is a wonderful program that gave me knowledege of different technique's which I will be using thughout my life for any situations. JKD also helped me gain strength in my injured knee after rehab. I can say through my experience with Sifu Chris Moran, JKD is an awesome program that can help people protect themselves from vital situations, also health wise, mentally wise, and physically. Thank You, Sifu Chris Moran for the JKD experience. I will be continuing learning from JKD. read more

Chris is a really gifted teacher, with an obvious commitment to his students and to imparting a genuine understanding of martial arts. He effectively integrates the teaching and practice of core concepts, technique/form drills, and various kinds of sparring. Learning in his classes starts in minute one and flows naturally from there, a testament to both Jeet Kune Do and Chris. I could go on and on, but if you're reading this and looking for serious self-defense, martial arts training (whether or not you have experience), or just a new challenge, I highly (HIGHLY) recommend you come in for a class. read more

I had been speaking with my friends who are martial artists. Normally that ends with me being bruised! My co-worker suggested I look up Chris Moran. I wasn't looking for a serious commitment, I just wanted to learn some basic self defense moves. This way I wouldn't be a walking bruise when I hung out with my friends! I couldn't be happier! I couldn't believe how confident I felt after a few sessions. The man knows his stuff!!! He has awesome prices for private sessions and he offers group classes if that's your bag. Over all I am extremely satisfied and would recommend Chris's training to anyone! read more

Great self defense class, work out class, mixed martial arts class, all in one. You can't really ask for more. If you dont get something righ away, Chris breaks it down for you and then does it with you until you understand it. Classes are never more than 10pp, therfore, the learning process is so much faster because you get a lot of one on one time with Chris and you see results the very first day of class. I've been doing it for 6 months and never though i could do the things i can do now. All i know is that if i ever get into trouble, i'll know how to protect myself, and that is priceless. read more

Chris Moran is an excellent instructor, an amazing martial artist and the most humble person I know. I've been training in Muay Thai for years and always thought it was a complete self-defense system but after training with Chris I've learned that there is no one perfect style for every situation. That's the beautiful thing about JKD concepts. It utilizes the best tools for any given street self-defense scenario. It's a complete fighting system that anyone can learn and apply. I would recommend JKD NYC and Chris Moran to anyone from beginners to even the most advanced martial artist. read more