My daughter started at HK Taekwondo as a Tiger (5 years old) and over the last five years has…read moreearned her Red Belt. HK Taekwondo has been the one to take her through this entire journey so close to reaching the top. HK Taekwondo is probably the best experience I've not only had with a martial arts studio, is has been and still remains one of the best family owned businesses I've ever had experiences with. Master Kim and his Teachers are firm, consistent, teach discipline but not through aggression or anger rather sternness and firmness at a level the child can comprehend and understand. I believe this is why over the last five years, I have seen other kids also grow up in the same program. If you want to start this journey as adult or with your child I very much highly recommend this school. PS - I also know this school follows guidelines and teaching standards for a path to the Olympics.

Most of the high reviews are from years ago…read more Master Kim, the owner, is missing and rarely interacts with students. The instructors are hit or miss. If you get one of the 2 that actually teach they have different approaches that contradict each other. A 3rd teacher is a student that has no business teaching. He has no leadership ability and the students have no respect for him. At one point in 2022 their main instructor at the time went on vacation and then was out sick for an extended time. During that time, the owner, master Kim was still no where to be found and the classes were taught by students. When the instructor came back most of the classes were a disobedient mess. No one was prepared for that round of testing so they had the students repeat the previous test since they went 2 months without learning anything. When you look at the calendar it is packed with classes, but that is not up to date. They teach multiple experience levels at the same time in a relatively tiny studio. There is no common space, for parents, gear, backpacks or shoes. Just a narrow walkway with a row of benches right off the mat. Students get close enough to hit spectators. Kids are stacked too close to each other and run into each other while practicing forms. There is so much confusion about which class is at each time, you almost always end up with lower belts in the advanced class. They take 30 minutes to warmup, split into groups, maybe do 5-10 minutes of Taekwondo, and then spend the last 15 minutes of class playing a kids game like tag or jump rope. The week before each test they realize how under prepared most students are and suddenly get serious. They need everyone to sign up for the test because it is a revenue generator. You get to the test, where master Kim makes an appearance. His rambling and confusing comments drag the event beyond the expected time, usually running an hour late for 1 hour time blocks. The test devolves into him referring to everyone as "you" since he doesn't know any of his students names. He starts teaching a class during the test. It is really more judgement on the poor quality of instructors rather than the students trying to pass. The parents sit there asking themselves where this level of instruction has been the prior 3 months. Ultimately the students try multiple times, take breaks to have 1 on 1 training sessions before they try again. Eventually after enough attempts most of them pass. I wrote this review while sitting at a belt test, watching multiple students fail even though they required a testing form to be signed in advance by an instructor, acknowledging they were ready. Master Kim determines if the kids pass the test, but the instructors somehow have no idea what his standards are. In the weeks leading up to the test, us and other families were requesting help on specific aspects of the test but the help provided by the instructor (who is actually a student on the performance team) was minimal and provided no constructive feedback. Over half of the students failed and the owner told those families that he would personally guarantee to work with them for 2 weeks and they would retest and pass. From Friday to Tuesday master Kim forgot about the promise he made. It turned into assigning a different instructor to work with them which turned into students (who were not instructors or black belts) working with the kids for about 15 minutes in one of the classes. The most frustrating part of the re-test was an instructor telling the kids if they worked "this hard" before the original test they would have passed the first time. Absolutely disconnected, if the instructors were consistent every class, rather than just the week before a test, their students would have actually been prepared. But keep letting the kids run around playing tag with pool noodles.

Sensei Alec and Sensei Miles are outstanding instructors who genuinely care about their students…read more Their holistic approach to martial arts--strengthening mind, body, and spirit in every individual--is a refreshing change from most schools. This is the real deal: a true local gem. I can't recommend it highly enough. Words don't do it justice--just go see (and feel) the difference for yourself.

I have been attending Krav Maga and Brazilian Jujitsu classes at The Mat for quite a while now. The…read moreinstructors are great and very patient. Overall, it is an excellent place for people of all ages to work.

TL;DR version: great instruction, excellent value!…read more It can be very difficult to find a good place to train in martial arts. Some places focus purely on getting money out of their students, others try to teach "modernized" or "distilled" martial arts, some take themselves too seriously and some have an awesome combination of the above. Rockhold Karate is not such a place. Master Rockhold is very knowledgable and you can tell he has been doing martial arts for a long time. He has a passion for martial arts and gladly shares what he knows with all his students. His classes are fun, but he always challenges students while ensuring that their technique and form is correct so don't that they don't hurt themselves, something that's very easy to do in martial arts. In addition the classes have fitness and conditioning built in, but it never feels like you're "working out." As someone that's out of shape and in dire need to get in shape his classes are having a very noticeable positive effect on my health and energy levels. The value for what you get at Rockhold Karate is great as the schedule is very good as a working professional.

We signed up our daughter who became interested in Karate and we couldn't be more pleased with…read moreRockhold Karate! We've seen her practice at home on her own without being asked and her confidence grow in just a couple of months. We're so happy we found the right place for our daughter.

Sensei Chip is a great instructor and allows all ages and abilities. He focuses on respect,…read moretechnique, and skill, not a bunch of belts that don't mean much. When you earn a belt in his class, you know he thinks you're ready. Both my son and I signed up for the class and have been attending for a year. We have both advanced and gone to tournaments (something I would have said was flat impossible 18 months ago) and done well.

Sensei Chip is a wonderful instructor. I am very glad that my daughter has begun going to this…read moreclass (north location) in addition to the classes held in the south location. She has grown as an individual physically, and in terms of cognitive development (focus, concentration, attention etc) since she began learning karate from Sensei Chip in September 2013. Sensei Chip is dedicated to his children; he puts his heart and soul into training his kids and making them the best they can be. He is a no nonsense person, who calls it as it is. He does not like to waste time or fool around in his class. His honesty and diligence in training his kids is wonderful to see. I could not be happier with the classes and/or my daughter in Sensei Chip's class. He is dedicated, hardworking and it shows. Take a chance, visit his south or north location, you will not be disappointed.

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!

My 8 year old daughter loves going to PMA. The instructors and staff are very knowledgeable and…read morefriendly. The welcome package is well equipped for students to start from the get go the uniform and equipment is all included. The classes are not too big right now so each student gets 1:1 attention. Great program to teach student respect, responsibilities and self defense.

PMA is awesome. My 3yr old joined 2 weeks ago and he loves it. Teachers are very patient.read more

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

This is a great place!! It's very well taken care of and a comfortable place to be at! The owners…read moreare wonderful and very family oriented! They also have great classes for all ages!

My wife tried to get in touch multiple times with your studio via email. There was no reply…read more Obviously you don't need any new students but a little communication would be key. The studio is a blink and you will miss it off old 183. I'm giving the rating because of lack of communication. I can't judge it on anything else.

Sensei Moises Quintero is great with the kids. We are lucky we found this class. I highly…read morerecommend his karate class.

I started training in iaijutsu back in spring of 2021, right at the beginning I was impressed by…read morepositive energy and attention to minute details during the class, since then I continued and although still a beginner made quite a bit or progress thanks to Sensei Burkett patient and deliberate teaching style. Seeing great deal of other dojos in last few years, signing up for iaijutsu at Cedar Park Dojo was a great choice.

(There is also a Kid's Kung Fu program now - at both school locations)…read more I enjoy the classes and the people and have made many new friends, including friends with the instructors and job leads. The instructors are great and come from a variety of martial arts backgrounds. They respect the students and instill confidence in your ability as a student to learn the style and as a student you have confidence in their ability to teach. Of the three styles I have taken Ving Tsun (Wing Chun) has proven to be the most fun and is at the same time challenging enough so that you can't get bored. The classes are usually a mix of starting with your forms (there are 2 for students) or punching exercises as a warm up and then moving into practicing what is required for your student grade by either working with students of the same grade or higher ranked students. You also get to practice the other stuff you have previously learned by working with the newer students and nearly everything has an application in the real world of defense. Do we not spar (unlike other styles, such as Tae Kwon Do), Ving Tsun is not a "sports" martial art, it is for self-defense, you defend yourself and stop the other person before they can hurt you (in the real world, not in class) so there is no gentle, safe way to spar (Google Wing Chun if you have doubts). There are also few forms; actually there are 3 empty hand forms, 1 wooden dummy form, and 2 weapon forms, and students only learn the first two forms until the end of the student grades. Not that there isn't plenty of stuff, do such as Chi Sao and Lat Sao, both of which require a partner and help built technique and reactions, while "teaching" your muscles how to react (check out Wikipedia for more information).

This is a fine martial arts studio that provides you just that, the ability to study a…read morewell-designed martial arts system meant for practical applications, not performance arts. You will build upon your reflexes and ability to deflect and deliver strikes with each passing class, and if you work hard, you will feel it. I've joined as a student of Sifu Jeff Webb, the head of the National Ving Tsung Organization, to learn as much as I can during the time I have remaining in Texas, before transferring to a student of his in the North who is now also a Sifu (instructor or master, I'm not quite sure really which term is most appropriate). Thus far I have learned a great deal, and observed the high level of skill possessed by each of his students ranked from low and high, with the higher ranked students also working as assistant instructors to provide valuable input and more skilled training partners to guide your development. I attend classes in both the North and South locations to experience a broader range of instructors and training partners to build upon my understanding more comprehensively. Classes consist of an initial period of taxing and difficult form practice that appears hella easy when done well, followed by exercises with a partner that exhibit and employ the techniques learned in the forms, generally taking up much of the class. Very straightforward, but not at all simple, with only heavy effort bringing about real improvement. Ving Tsung/Wing Chun, made famous by Bruce Lee and Ip Man, is a center-line striking style created by a woman for close-quarters combat that requires one to be relaxed excepting the points of impact, allowing strength to be overcome by angling and reaction time, making strength all the more powerful once the style is understood, something my boxing and other training is making difficult as I'm relatively rigid and tense, so this style is helping me to learn fluidity and to better employ my power at appropriate times rather than wasting energy when it isn't essential. Yoga oddly enough I approached as a strength and stamina-building exercise, so it has done little to improve my flexibility, just power and reaction time, as I am not zen enough apparently. The wing chun perspective I will transfer into my legal studies and eventual practice, as it is an expansive philosophy useful elsewhere in life that helps you not waste energy, and have the push-through when it counts. One of the key precepts of the system constructed by Sifu Webb is something to the effect of "If the way is open, move forward", something entirely in tone with the Norse ideology of the Vikings, and I appreciate this. The studio is absolutely worth checking out if you are serious about your training, and definitely is not a lunchtime cardio or high-flying acrobatic activity, it is a place to go to learn a fighting style with hard-working and committed fellow students and teachers that follows a logical progression and isn't going to waste your time.