When my kids finally expressed interest in taking taekwondo, we checked out 4 schools and had a…read morelist of criteria: good teachers and classes, clean, good philosophy, and not a black belt diploma mill as most schools are. We found all of that and more in DCSDKA. The teachers and classes are great. The kids not only learn taekwondo but also Krav Maga self-defense, and how to be safe in everyday situations, especially for little kids. The school fosters respect, responsibility and camaraderie and my children have found lots of good friends in the school. I'm very particular about what school they go to since I have experience in taekwondo, and I highly recommend this school.

GrandMaster Sensei Carol Middleton is a world-class martial artist. I get chills when I see her…read moreskills in action. As a student, I love that the dojo is a welcoming and friendly atmosphere, that the values of respect, responsibility and leadership are taught and displayed by the instructors and students and I am thankful for the the precision of training I get. DC residents are lucky to have this incredible resource at their fingertips. I hope others will take advantage of these classes, whether they are looking for self-defense, fitness, social opportunities or just wanting to learn a valuable new skill.

Trained here for almost four years and was approaching my shodan test. I used to think of aikido as…read moremy organizing principle. That all changed when a third-degree black belt instructor dropped me on my head. He was showing off for his buddy, the chief instructor. Both those men are no longer at this dojo, but regardless I cannot train any more as I used to - following my concussion, I tried to come back (after time off for recuperation). But after weeks/months of headaches, and trying various sorts of accommodations, my doctor strongly recommended that I discontinue training. Aikido may be called the "art of peace" and its practitioners may say that good ukemi will neutralize any throw. But it is still possible for a careless person to injure you badly. I used to think (see my previous review) that if I spoke up, was careful about whom I trained with, and practiced diligently, it would protect me from harm. Not true. Being a good driver does not always save you from the bad drivers. (I decided to update my old review, after much time and thought, so that newcomers will have a more complete picture. It's hard to ask questions of people who have left.) As with any endeavor: caveat emptor. Do your research. Visit multiple places and compare them, before you choose. Ask around - what is the reputation of the place you are considering? What is their record for follow-up when someone gets injured? How long have the most senior students been training at this place? Are classes made up of mostly newbies - i.e., does the student body turn over regularly, or are there a lot of stalwarts? How many black belts come to practice regularly? (an indication of whether the place continues to offer room for growth, once that first black belt has been attained). How often is the chief instructor present and instructing? What precautions are in place when junior (smaller/younger/inexperienced) students train with senior (stronger/faster/aggressive) students? How long has each teacher been teaching? (Being a skilled practitioner is not always the same as being a good teacher.) Pick your partners (and teachers) carefully. (Even if everyone says "but he's such a nice guy!" - if you break a collarbone because he attempted a too-ambitious throw, you will be the one in a sling, not the nice guy.) How often does the dojo host community events? Do senior staff/teachers show up for community events? I have visited from time to time. (I still hang out socially with many friends from here.) With all my heart I still miss the practice and the community I used to have. But I have had to step back from both.

NEEDED to find a social outlet for my 5-year old grandson while he is on an extended visit from out…read moreof state. NEEDED to find a safe, social, in-person way for him to spend time and energy with little people his own size. So perfectly pleased to have found DC Aikido --- perfect fit. He was hooked from the first class. 3x a week - in the dojo - with 30 minute sessions is exactly the right prescription. Right across the street from the Red Line Metro --- and free parking garage for drivers like us. The most important part: The instructors are amazing. Patient like saints but with an eye toward discipline. Great instruction at the 5-6 year old level mixed with discipline and exercise. The classes are very disciplined for spacing, too --- all of the students and staff are good about wearing their masks and keeping the students on "their own square" to keep social distance norms intact. So sorry my grandson is going home at the end of this month. Thank you, DC Aikido!

This is a hidden gem of martial arts studios that genuinely cares about tradition. I took a long…read moretime to sign on to a studio and was happy to find Sensei Hunter. (I definitely wanted to avoid taking my kids to a studio that use splashy stock photos or advertises kid's birthday parties or parents night off events.) I loved the smaller class sizes of Samurai Training Academy which allowed for Sensei Hunter to break down complex moves into their fundamental components. I loved that the studio had adult classes and was not just a dojo daycare. I loved that they did not pass all students for their belt testing. All good signs of a studio with integrity, which sadly, is more difficult to find these days. Sensei Hunter won over the kids with his irreverent sense of humor, his kindness, and his deep love for sharing his practice with his students. My son looks forward to every single class (even going embarrassingly early to classes just so that he could absorb as much as he could from his instructor).

From the owner: Karate, Jujutsu, Sword, Kendo, Kids Karate, Women's Self Defense, Police Self Defense and control…read moretactics

While I don't know much about any other Karate Schools, I can tell you that Seichou Karate is…read moreabsolutely amazing for children. Richard Romero takes a fatherly approach to each child focusing on their mental and physical development. He teaches Karate and life lessons with a passion for making children better not only at Karate but life as well. Additionally, he doesn't give his students anything and makes them put in the work and truly earn their next belts. If you are looking to enroll your kids in Karate, you really should check this Dojo out. Richard Romero is exceptional and the reason we drove 20min plus several nights a week for our kids to attend. I really am at a lost for words on how lucky we were to find this Karate Dojo!

This past weekend we had an awesome birthday party for our now five year old son. He and all of…read morehis guests (and parents) were very impressed by the entire experience the dojo provided. Thank you. We are also thankful for the photos and all the other extra touches the staff and Shihan Romero provided. We will highly recommend the dojo to others.

This place is really great and the Senseis have a real gift with children especially Sensie Sean…read more I'm so happy to have found this place.

One of my items on my bucket list can now be marked as 'in progress.' #4) Earn a black belt in a…read moremartial art discipline. I've been going to Urban Kempo since July 2014, and love, love, love it. I've become obsessed. Urban Kempo is more than a dojo; it's a place to workout, a place to make friends, and because of the dedication and hard-work the Owner/Sensei has put into his business, it's become a community meeting place with dedicated and loyal members. As a recent west coast transfer with no familiar ties, I've finally found a place where I feel accepted and at home in my new environment.

I can't recommend Warrior Fusion Karate highly enough! My daughter has been practicing with Sensei…read morePatrick for around two years, and it has been a fantastic experience. She feels challenged and supported and is so much more self-confident. Sensei truly cares about each child and helps them become their best selves, both in karate and in life. Five stars!

Best place to learn karate for your children. My daughter absolutely has gain a lot more confidence…read moreand awareness since she joined in April 2017. Sensai Patrick is an amazing instructor, knowledgeable, patience and fierce. I highly recommend this place for your children.

My 5 y/o kid recently joined classes here and I am thrilled Infinity Martial Arts is here in Chevy…read moreChase. Master Breunig and other instructors are all so welcoming and offer a terrific experience. My kid gets to learn new skills, get great exercise, and have a lot of fun with other kids. It's also wonderful the classes incorporates skills and values like respect, self-esteem, self-control, and responsibility. The 'Tiny Tigers' class is excellent and does a great job of making the activities and instruction fit well for kids of different ages and skill levels. Even small things, like at the end of class Master Breunig will put his hand up high (depending on how old the kid is) and each kid tries to jump up to hit him with a high five. The kids love it, and it's something that can be tailored to small and bigger kids. I also appreciate the different class times for for the Tiny Tigers class and that it is centrally located in the Chevy Chase Arcade building.

This is what the Chevy Chase Arcade needs which is a place to cater to KIDS and grown up and what…read morebetter thing to do for them then to teach them.how to defend themselves. I have witnessed what goes on in this place and I'm happy with what I see The instructor is a humble man who teaches his students not only the art of self defense but to respect themselves as he proudly encourages them walk around outside proudly in their karate GI This what the neighborhood needs

My background is in karate, so when I began training with Ben, his particular style of Wing Chun…read morethat incorporates pressure blew me away! I have really enjoyed taking a completely different perspective on my martial arts training, learning to deal with an attacker who is large and close simply by leveraging my own body structure. Ben and his senior students are extremely encouraging and supportive, so the classes have a real community atmosphere. I wholeheartedly recommend you take a class, whether you are a lifelong martial artist or absolute beginner.

I've trained in a number of different martial arts, including boxing, muay thai, and other forms of…read morewing chun, but Ben's blended approach and focus on structure has been a whole new level of practice for me. I've never really understood or believed in the application of internal power for practical use but, after one session of chi sao with Ben (and being thrown into a wall a few times), I had to concede that there was something real there. One thing I've always appreciated is that Ben is very clear where Wing Chun does and doesn't work. He teaches boxing, wrestling, and some MMA, but always in the context of where Wing Chun fits in. Full disclosure, this is not for everyone; it's not a quick fix, it's not a cardio workout, and it's not showy. This is a long process of understanding internal structure, physics, and how to exert your body in a different way than you're used to. If you're interested in gaining a new understanding of your own body and how to weaponise your posture (yes, posture can be a weapon), give it a try. Or, if you think this isn't real and doesn't work, come and try it anyway. The only way to know is try it out and we're always ready to welcome people with an open or curious appetite.

Took classes there many years ago. Sifu Ramos is phenomenal. Sifu Ramos taught me various art formsread more

Paul Ramos is an amazing instructor who addresses the talents and needs of each individual student…read more I attended several tai chi classes and learned much about the patience and skill that Paul has for the Pushing Hands form of tai chi. His guidance was encouraging but neither demanding nor unreasonable. During class, he would always warm up with everyone and then guide students individually to improve their skills based on his or her own pace and success thus far. I was always impressed at the calming strength of these classes in providing a balanced workout- though in a non traditional sense. If I had more time in my schedule, I would be back! If you want to learn this traditional art, coming to Wu Shen Tao with Paul Ramos would be wise!

This is a legitimate Shotokan Karate school. If you are looking for Taekwondo after school care you…read morewon't find it here. I am a brown belt and have trained around the world and have trained here many times. Kata techniques are well instructed here and some sparring techniques on Saturdays. The instructor is the highest ranked on the East Coast and is very fun and entertaining classes but still very effective and serious when needed. This is the only "real" Karate studio in Northern Virginia. They follow the true tradition of Gichin Funakoshi, the father of Japanese Karate. Oss!

My husband and son attend karate classes at this Dojo. The…read moreAdult and Child class is a wonderful chance for them to do something together that they enjoy so much. The sensei here is very knowledgeble and patient with all the students, especially the younger set. But he also pushes them. We've especially seen my son's confidence flourish and I'm convinced it's because of his success in karate at this Dojo. Know that it's a bare bones gym - there's no afterschool programs, childcare but if you're looking for serious karate instruction this is a good program.