My son has been training at Ernie Reyes West Coast World Martial Arts since 2010. I joined him in…read more2011 after I turned 40. We are both now second degree black belts in the system. This studio and system has some unique advantages over others. As part of a national association led by Martial Arts Hall of Fame member Ernie Reyes Sr., the curriculum is very practical, constantly evolving and improving, and quality of both technique and teaching is closely managed. This is true all the way from the Little Dragon (5-8 year old program) through to the Mastery (4th and higher degree black belt.) While color belt tests are held at the studio in Austin, Black Belt tests are in California with all the other schools creating an event and life changing experience for testers. Imagine testing with 300 other candidates and the spectacle involved. Members of the studio feel like a family. It is a supportive, engaged and caring group. Instructors are focused on teaching correctly but understand that each student is different and adapt approaches to stretch and grow the individual. Classes are a good, whole body workout - and due to the breadth of the curriculum, it's never the same and certainly not boring. Citizenship and life skills are also part of the requirements. This studio produces well rounded, confident students with practical self defense skills.

We could not be happier with Ernie Reyes World Martial Arts. My wife found this place and suggested…read morewe put our child (Calian) into the school. Since doing so, we have seen a huge difference with our kid. He's already a great kid. But to have people other than the parents reinforce great values such as manners, integrity, discipline, moral values, etc. is an amazing thing, particularly in today's society. Kids become parent deaf, as we all know. And, obviously, he is learning to protect himself and gets exercise at the same time. Lastly, it's a community. You meet new people, great people and there are always things happening with the school that you can all participate in. Love this school. Can't wait to start myself.

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!

Judo - it's the art of folding clothes perfectly... ...while…read morethe people are still in them. This is a great opportunity for you and your kids. I have been bringing my daughter here and she has learned a lot and enjoys every single session. I now have started my second daughter and again so much fun for her especially with this being new for her in the grappling arts. The instructors are very patient and that is the biggest thing, you want to be in a place where they actually care about the growth of your child and your child having fun. Almost every time that they have a kids class they even play a game for them so I really like the commitment to fun.

Great local non-profit judo club open to all from beginners to competitors - friendly Austin-style…read morevibe!

It been a while since I have visited, but the memory of how our class was conducted set a precedent…read moreof how I view other kwoon operations today. I also base my appreciation of the kwoons sifu/student interaction of exceptional attention to detail. Practice does not make perfect, only perfect practice makes perfect. You Will Be Intrenched In Perfect Practice I Am Positive.

I've been in Kung fu si I was 5 so I really love it my fist two years I was scared but then I just…read morenoticed that there was no reason to be scared kung fu helped me a lot

master won & master park are such incredible and caring masters and people. its a real pleasure…read morebeing able to learn from them and be apart of their tkd family!

I highly recommend WWTT! My 10 year old tried 3 other sports in the past and they never clicked…read more Taekwondo has given him an achievable curriculum that has built strength, discipline and respect. The Master trainers at WWTT (who are Olympic medalists by the way) are engaging, dynamic and fun. There is no time to get bored. If your kid is obsessed with video games like mine, these classes will hold their attention & challenge them. In fact, the advancements from one belt to the next are like gaming achievements that they work towards however they are learning a top notch TKD curriculum along their journey. The location itself is very spacious & clean. We are so grateful for Master Park, Master Won & the office Manager Angela who together run a professional operation. We can't say enough about Won's White Tiger! Photo of my son breaking 3 boards.

Our experience with South Austin ATA began when my daughter won a silent auction for a free month,…read morefree uniform and free registration from her school. From the very first class, Mr. Schaefer, Mrs. Schaefer and Ms. Lallier were encouraging, helpful and made her feel at easy. In the very first class, Mr. Elizondo, a recommended blackbelt at the time, went out of his way to work with her and make sure that she understood the moves and was doing them they correct way. A few months later, our youngest daughter joined the Tiny Tigers program and has loved it. Ms. Lallier is a great teacher and has loads of patience with the little ones. She always has enough helpers to make sure that each student gets the attention that they deserve. Jump ahead another few months and now both myself and my wife have joined up. To say that South Austin ATA is a true family friendly environment is an understatement. The vast majority of the 50 - 60 students are part of a family. All and all it's a good group and the instructors truly care about their students. The biggest advantage I can see to South Austin ATA is that the owners are the instructors. They have a vested interest in making sure that the curriculum is administered correctly and they students are having fun! Highly recommend checking them out.

Great place to get in shape. I am pushing 40 and I am thankful I found this place. The instructors…read moreare very friendly and work great with kids. Their tiny tigers program definitely keeps my kindergartener's attention and their leadership program is great in helping tweens and teens develop leadership skills and confidence for adulthood. One of the things that sold me on this school was their Masters Club. This club offers all the benefits of traditional Songham Taekwondo but the fun part is the additional classes every Wednesday night. We learn other martial arts and street self defense including jiu jitsu, judo, Muay Thai, wrestling, grappling, and knife self defense. This class is affectionally called Wildcard Wednesdays because it could be anything! And it's all fun!! I have always been a fan of learning multiple disciplines but as you can imagine the cost of doing all of those at once can be tremendous. Mr Jason Shaefer brings it to us at a very reasonable price and makes it fun, fresh and entertaining. I truly recommend this place not only for anyone wanting to get back in shape but also if you have young ones that you want to keep active and engaged. It has a great family atmosphere and we all encourage and push each other to be better. I don't know many other places that offer this kind of environment, let alone with the ability to do this with family. My wife and three kids as well as brother, sister in law, niece and nephew are all taking classes here. It truly is a great place!

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!

Michael from Shaolin Martial Arts is an incredible teacher with passion that absolutely pours out…read moreduring his lessons. I was a first time martial arts student last month and he led me at my level while sharing his passion of Shaolin-do through basic techniques (my level) while giving me a glimpse of potential through postings in his studio as well as showing a few himself that he continues to master. He also shared tidbits of Shaolin-do and Chinese history which was completely fascinating! He is the most passionate professional I have ever worked with in any field. If you are looking for a teacher, mentor, workout, friend, life balance, then I would put my trust and energy into Michael and Shaolin Martial Arts. He will take a personal interest in guiding you to what you want to accomplish and where you want to be. I could not recommend him more.

Outstanding school, Master Mike is an excellent teacher. Open for training in person or via zoom,…read morewith material that is life changing for adults and kids. I've been a student of Shaolin-Do since 2009, and am glad to call the Lakeway location my home school now. Strong program for adults, kids, and tai chi. The location is great, I highly recommend.