Take the trial! You'll be hooked!…read more I have not had such personal attention from other 'sport' studios that my children have been involved in as I have had at Arizona Karate Academy. My 13 yr old son wanted to start a martial arts. After some research he wanted to try the 'trial' at Arizona Karate Academy. He was hooked after he first class. The first time the owner met us, he knew us by name, after having​ only spoken to us once by phone. Very impressed. The owner makes it a priority to know each student individually. The other senseis are also good, kind and personable, yet they teach us discipline and respect. They correct with encouragement and take the time to walk around and give individual pointers. Emily at the desk is very friendly, very helpful and patient with my family with our many questions. Plus AKA teaches life skills. Skills about confidence, respect hard work and perseverance. Things we all need, but I especially want my kids to learn. Now my 8 yr old son wants to join the same Karate studio and I'm considering it for myself.

AIKA is amazing! Not only have I learned how to defend myself, but I've learned how to be more…read moreconfident in myself. All of the Senseis are amazing and they teach me and inspire me every time I go to class. AIKA is like my second home and whenever I enter the dojo, all of my worries from the outside world go away. I highly recommend doing karate at Arizona Isshinryu Karate Academy!

Paradise Valley School of Karate is the best in the Valley!…read moreAlong with teaching karate basics the instructors emphasize discipline, structure and manors through games and training! Whether you are a beginner or an advanced student, both boys and girls are encouraged to excel and earn higher skill levels. The instructors are top notch! I highly recommend PV School of Karate!

I have been going here for years, the Karate class is great for both kids and adults! However the…read moreKali class is where I ended up spending most of time. Double stick, knife defense, empty hand and padded stick sparring! So much fun and good for you! Maybe just maybe you may catch some lightsaber sparring ......

I am absolutely in love with this place. It has a family feel, you feel like people who are…read moreappreciated, remembered, missed and welcome each time. I have 2 kids on spectrum who I'm always nervous can't stay on task like the typical kids, or who may look different. Everyone is appreciated for their hard work. There is no criticism, there is always praise, recognition and corrections are done in a discrete private way so kids don't even feel like they're doing things "wrong". Karate dave is a kid whisperer! Heck he's a people whisperer, the kids and parents can't help but hang on every word and direction he gives. He's stern but fun and he "sees" each kid, and the kids recognize that. He makes connections with them that come so natural to him. You can tell that he is all about the kids. I love listening to my kids being taught integrity, responsibility and self control. I currently have 3 kids enrolled and we are going on 2 months loving it! There are tables for parents to sit at, or chairs around whole mat. They welcome parents to help kids or hold up sparring mits for kids. There's an area with a fish tank, books and little chairs for siblings who may need to be kept busy and I believe they have a playground out their back door too :)

Karate Dave is super fun while teaching the kids respect and obedience without the child even…read morerealizing they are actually learning some great skills. My son loves his style, and so do we! My son says, "he helps us do cool stuff, and break boards", and "he has really cool parties at his dojo", and "he tells cool stories sometimes". ;)

My kid signed up for a six month contract of classes at Goshin. The classes were pretty good but…read moreshe couldn't continue them for medical reasons. We told the owner we were quitting early because of the back condition. After the contract was completed he continued to charge us a monthly fee. When I asked, he said, "Read your contract -- it says I will continue to charge you." I feel like his business practices are fraudulent. we would not recommend this school to anyone.

Came here last Thurs. for a trail class as my friend's son is also taking karate here…read more The owner of the academy greeted my son warmly and spoke to him with kindness and treated him with respect. He and my son had quite the conversation going over what was expected from my son during class, what my son can expect to learn while taking karate. My son really enjoyed talking to Bob (I believe that was his name). Class started right on time and my son had a great time. After class, he came up to me and told me how much fun he had. Which is important to any parent! There were 3 instructors on the floor the day we went with around 12 students. With 3 instructors, I am sure the class could accomodate more students~ it was nice that the day we were there, it was not too crowded. I'm not sure who Shantel spoke to but Bob was not pushy at all. He simply handed me the class schedule and asked me to contact him if I was interested in having my son take karate. Overall, a very good experience!

We absolutely love SMAC. We started with them with one of our sons before COVID, then tried our…read morebest to stay with them virtually for the first few months of lockdown. Now we're back and it's better than ever. Our other son, who is a year younger, is there too and they both love it. The best part is the confidence building--especially for my older son who works through his ADHD. I just love how Sensei Ray and his other teachers keep things light, but adhere to traditions and the idea of respect for others. There's no place I'd rather take my kids.

This place is the best. Clean, professional and the nicest staff ever! Sense Ray is kind, caring,…read morehumorous and very patient while working with his students! We tried other martial studios for our boy but this is by far the best (and also the one that's been around the longest). It's the perfect atmosphere for learning karate. You should have zero hesitation sending your children here (or joining yourself)!

Why is there only one review?…read more Best martial school in AZ. I only stopped going coz I moved to Chandler. Waiting for them to open a dojo in Chandler or Gilbert some day...

From the owner: Best Martial in peoria azread more

Our son has had the privilege of attending AKF for the last several years. Over that time he has…read moreloved the opportunity to learn, grow in confidence, and embrace the martial arts. Master Mullis is absolutely amazing and truly cares about each of his students. We can't speak highly enough about AKF.

I waited TWO years before writing this review. Our journey…read morewith AKF Blackbelt Academy began with something no parent ever wants to experience. My son transferred to Tavan Elementary School in the Scottsdale school district mid-year during the 4th grade. On his second day at school, he was attacked from behind with a full-on chokehold by very large student he did not know. He came home with broken skin from fingernail marks, bruising, and red handprints completely around his neck. And what did the school administration do about it? NOTHING! Their excuse? The attacker was "disadvantaged" and "has it rough at home." I was furious. I started searching for a martial arts school that could teach my son (a child who wasn't naturally athletic) self-defense skills. After a lot of research and a recommendation from a friend, we decided to try AKF Blackbelt Academy. The school is led by Grand Master Tim Mullis, who has over 40 years of experience teaching Kyuki-Do, a mixed martial art that blends techniques from Karate, Taekwondo, Judo, and Hapkido. This style is incredibly effective because it teaches students how to defend themselves both standing and on the ground. (BTW: ground fighting skills are important because 80% of street fights end up being fought on the ground.) Two years later, it's like someone waved a magic wand over my son. My once non-athletic child has become a strong, confident young man. He's physically fit, disciplined, respectful, focused in school, and bully-proof. His grades have improved, his posture and confidence have completely changed, and most importantly-- he loves going to karate class. If you live in the Arcadia, East Phoenix, or Old Town Scottsdale area and are looking for a place that not only teaches self-defense but also builds character, confidence, and resilience, this place gets my highest recommendation.

This review is for the children's Kung Fu Class. My daughter is a student and loves everything…read moreabout the Hung Fa Kwoon. Sifu Mark and Sihing Mike do a fantastic job teaching the kids the correct form and the importance of each movement. They're both very humble, patient, and always take the time to work with each student. Unlike some facilities that teach martial arts, this is not a "one size fits all" method of instruction where the teacher is up front shouting out commands and everyone is doing the same drill. Sifu Mark and Sihing Mike are great at keeping the kids engaged in their training--training which is focused on the individual and each student is assessed on their own abilities. I think it's important to mention a few things if you're thinking of enrolling your child in this Kwoon, so please keep in mind that Kung Fu is all about the merits of hard work. First, the warm-up, it's a 15-20 minute HIIT workout starting with laps around the room followed by a combination of exercises involving variations of push-ups, crunches, power jumps, squats, burpees, and different types of lunges to increase muscle strength for the legs, core, arms and shoulders. It's go time with one evolution after another. There's about a 30 second water break worked into the PT session, but the pace is designed to keep the heart rate up for stamina. If your kid needs to stop for a breather it's no big deal, there's no criticism, dishonor, or penalty, this is about building up their fitness level and these workouts are intended to push the envelope physically and mentally. This concludes with static and dynamic stretching for the cool down before your child's martial arts training really starts. Your kid will not be learning Wing Chun right away, every child must learn the basics of Chinese martial arts which involves training methods that are rooted very deeply in their tradition and inspired by Chinese philosophy. In this case, it's the mimicry of the Five Animals--physical training aimed at developing grace, power, speed, flexibility, and precision, all paired with balance. The basics are made up of rudimentary techniques, conditioning exercises, stances, breathing, simple movements, and proper body mechanics that are performed repeatedly. No matter what skill level your child is at, the basics are constantly revisited since they are the foundation for strong and flexible muscles that will enable your kid to progress to the more advanced stages. To succeed in this discipline, your kid will need patience, energy, practice, and time to learn every stance, block, strike, and kick. There are no shortcuts, but I believe you'll see the difference in your child's fitness level and self-confidence as time passes and they acquire new skills. Second, Hung Fa isn't limited to the biomechanics of a self-defense system, Sifu Mark and Sihing Mike actually spend time with the kids sharing the meaning of Kung Fu and its origin, and on the philosophical level, the importance of respect, integrity, and hard work. They show the kids the connection to daily life...that balance isn't just about staying on your feet, it's also about having balance and harmony in all aspects of one's life--family, school, friends, work, and play. Hard work isn't contained within the walls of the Kwoon, it's needed for everything if one wants to achieve. That's some pretty heavy dope for the kids, but they get it. Now with all this PT, Kung Fu training, and exposure to cultural diversity happening, Sifu and Sihing somehow manage to make it fun for the kids by keeping up the energy level when they demonstrate their own skills and explain how combinations can be put together with the moves the kids have been taught. This Kwoon is very supportive and encourages children to always be attentive, careful, and not be afraid to try something new. It's trendy for parents to enroll their kids in karate, it's almost a cliché. However, how often do those kids go the distance in such programs before they lose interest and become one of those teens who've forgotten everything they've learned as they hang out at the food court and tell their friends in passing "Yeah I took karate lessons once when I was a kid too..." Your child deserves better than that, if they've expressed an interest in martial arts why not give them a gift that will serve them well in life? I highly recommend the Hung Fa Yi Kwoon and hold the highest respect for Sifu Mark and Sihing Mike for passing on their experience to my daughter..."Yat! Yee! Saam!" "Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all." -Sam Ewing

Instructor is incredibly knowledgeable and a talented teacher. Such a pleasure to train with!read more