My son has been attending EFK (Lexington location) for a few years now and is currently part of the…read moreElite Instructor Training (EIT) program. He really enjoys learning how to become a good instructor and appreciates the responsibility that comes with it. He's also been volunteering regularly, and the school has given him space to grow and develop his skills, both in martial arts and in helping others. We've found the environment to be structured and supportive, and it's been a good fit for him overall. If you're looking for a place where kids can train, build confidence, and take on leadership roles, this is definitely worth checking out.

Our daughter has had a great experience over the past 5+ years. We've loved all the instructors,…read moreespecially Sensei Manny. She is part of the black belt club and her black belt with her name on it is up on the wall to give her inspiration. Lastly, she has learned a lot about respect, discipline and determination which will help guide her in the future. We are grateful to have found EFK.

Defensive Edge is an amazing gym where our family of four enjoys a variety of classes, sometimes…read morewe get to train together. The staff genuinely cares about everyone's success. I've participated in the women's self-defense class, Fight Fit, women's Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and traditional Gi Jiu-Jitsu, and I love them all! The gym offers something for everyone and has truly become our second home. It's helping teach my children discipline and humility while they have fun, learn self-defense, and stay active. We highly recommend it for individuals of all ages!

My son started at Defensive Edge a year ago. He loves the instructors. They show the kids each…read moremove a couple times, then have the kids practice. Each time giving them praise and feedback. Thanks for all you do!

I had a very bad experience with this school and would strongly advise against sending your child…read moreto this school. The first problem is that they require a 3 month notice period if you plan on withdrawing from the school. Effectively, this means that if you plan on discontinuing with their karate classes, they will continue to charge you for an additional 3 months. When we signed up, this point was non-negotiable with them. During the summer months, my children spend most of their time with outdoor activities (tennis, swimming, baseball, etc) and we wanted to put their class attendance on hold. When I called the school to put their attendance on hold, they informed me that they could not put my payments on hold. As an alternative, they suggested that I pay for the summer months (June, July, and August) even if they did not attend class and then they would not charge me for Sept, Oct, and Nov. In December, I would continue paying as usual. Believing that they were an honest business, I agreed to this and paid them for June, July, and August. However, when September rolled around, my children no longer wanted to attend class. So, I informed them that my children would attend Sept, Oct, and Nov (which had been paid for during the summer) and then discontinuing classes. According to the instructor, however, this was not possible because they have a policy that says that if a student discontinues attending classes, the hold time is forfeited and I would not be given a refund. Quite frankly, I did not want a refund. I wanted my children to attend class with the hopes that they would change their mind. I even told the instructor that if he could convince my children to continue classes, I would be happy to continue with their school. In fact, by sending my children during Sept, Oct, and Nov, I was giving him the opportunity to motivate my children to come to class. However, he did not want to consider this option and chose the unethical route of charging me for services he did not want to render. Beware of this karate school. They are crooks... Unfortunately, I cannot give then zero stars because Yelp's system will not allow me to do so. They do not deserve the one star they received.

Sensi Ethan is so patient and encouraging and supportive of his students and their parents.read more

I had done martial arts for many years, beginning with Judo training under Sensei Jim Pedro Sr. and…read morelater his son two time Olympic Medalist Sensei Jimmy Pedro, During those years I was competing in amateur boxing and taking BJJ becoming a Purple Belt and having occasional success in regional level competitions. I ended up tearing my rotator cuff, my first surgery actually caused more damage and I had 3 more additional surgeries to repair it as best they could. This was in 2013, for over 12 years I no longer trained in martial arts and I was nervous to step on a mat fully aware that my skill level was no longer equal to my belt level, I had also went from being in my prime to being in my mid 40s which doesn't help with the athleticism aspect. The BJJ Community can be harsh when the skill doesn't match the rank, my first day I was willing to start as a white belt (kinda hoping to actually) I was gassed in two minutes and I go sit next to Travis who I remember watching along with other Olympic Team members training I got to be in some of the classes they were in I was a judo Brown Belt and was amazed at the dedication and skill these athletes had especially Travis, the injuries he overcame and trained through takes a different breed of human. Obviously I'm intimidated he isn't going to remember some random dude from judo 14 years earlier. I apologized to him for how out of shape and just plain bad I was and I offered to exchange my belt for a white belt which he quickly dismissed and the fear of judgment went away I'm still amazed at his talent and nothing against my previous professor because the art had evolved since I was a Purple Belt but his Blue Belts are as good and better than the Purple Belts of 2012 and I can confidently compare having competed as a purple belt in tournaments like Naga and Grapples quest and winning medals against others purple belts, it not just the evolution of Jiu-Jitsu it's also the systematic approach to grappling, in my opinion it actually in a way makes students who don't train with intent on purpose end up training with intent by design. It's only been 2 months I still suck but suck less, and the atmosphere of the other instructors as well as training partners have made a decision i thought I might regret into the best decision I've made recently. None of the judgment happened it was actually the opposite and when I would get down on myself after getting smashed while rolling that training partner was usually also encouraging me and reminding me that it will take time for the head knowledge to get in sync with the muscle memory. The entire team is supportive of whether you want train as a hobbyist or if you want to compete & you won't be pushed one way or the other but if you have a goal they will get you there as long as you put in the effort and dedication, my goal for now is to get to a comparable level as I previously was and I know I will & I spoke to Travis about competing (when I'm back to how I was) and he is fully supportive. You get world class training, and really some of the nicest guys I've had the privilege to train with and learn from, I'm glad I didn't let my fears keep me from entering that door. If you are looking for a great place to train & you live in New England I highly recommend coming here.

Top instructor Travis Stevens is not only one of the best american grapplers alive, he is one of…read morethe best grapplers to ever step on the mats. One of the best things about Fuji and the entire team is how welcoming they are to any outsider. The intimate clases give you direct access to the great knowledge of all the instructors.

I recently enrolled my two sons at this karate studio, and I can honestly say it has been one of…read morethe best decisions we've made. From the very first class, the instructors made us feel welcome, supported, and part of a community. Their teaching style strikes the perfect balance between discipline and encouragement, and my boys absolutely love coming here. What impressed me most is how patient and attentive the staff is with every student. They take the time to make sure each child understands the techniques, builds confidence, and has fun along the way. I've seen such a positive change in my kids -- not just in their physical skills, but in their focus, respect, and self‑confidence. The studio is clean, organized, and clearly run by people who care deeply about what they do. Every class feels structured, energetic, and meaningful. My sons look forward to every session, and I genuinely enjoy watching them grow.

My son has taken karate here for more than two years. The entire organization is so welcoming and…read morefamily-friendly. They teach and model respect and discipline for kids (and adults) of all ages, and take their craft very seriously, while having a lot of fun and never being the least bit intimidating. It isn't a small commitment of time or money, but I haven't regretted a single minute or dollar spent here.

My daughter is 4 and is in the junior warrior class for about 10 months. Sheehan Marco is really…read moregreat teacher and amazingly patient. The kids start learning Karate that is appropriate for their age group. He really teaches good listening, patience, and other skills that are great for the kids.We are looking forward to her development in the coming years.

This was the best party ever. My 6 year old and friends had a great time, were fully engaged in all…read morethe games and activities. The decorations, attention to detail and excellent customer service. I had no idea what to expect and was completely blown away by Shihan Marco and his team. Thank you for such an incredible day!! I'd give more than five stars if I could.

I can't recommend the Women's Self Defense classes enough! I have taken two now and plan to…read morecontinue with the series. There is so much to learn and you can never be too prepared. The instructors are great and provide hands on experience and real-life scenarios. SIGN UP FOR THE PEPPER SPRAY CLASS. You will be surprised by how much you don't know about using your pepper spray. The studio is a bit difficult to find and feels a little sketchy. I thought I would need to take a self defense class just to make my way into the studio. You're in the right place if you're in a dirt lot under the bridge around nothing else. Once inside, you can take these creepy industrial stairs up to the top floor or there is a massive elevator.

I have been training under Gershon ben Keren at Krav Maga Yashir since February 2012. In my opinion…read morethere are four reasons why Krav Maga Yashir Boston should receive serious consideration from anyone in the Boston area seeking to learn self-defense, learn a martial art, or simply vastly improve their physical fitness. Number 1 = Quality of instruction. This is the sine qua non of any martial arts school. Mr. ben Keren and his assistant instructors are professional, competent, and dedicated. Techniques are expertly demonstrated, remediated, and reinforced in a variety of partner-based and group-based drills. Students are always shown the "context" of a technique: what happens leading up to it, the purpose of each movement, and what happens afterwards. My belief is that when new students are able to perform a technique effectively on their first try, it actually reflects far more credit on the teacher than the learner. I see this happen all the time on the mats, and it speaks volumes for the knowledge and competency of the instructors. Number 2 = Krav Maga Yashir teaches the entire spectrum of violence, an area where other martial arts have major limitations. A striking art (boxing, muay thai, karate) may teach you to fight an imaginary assailant. A grappling art such as BJJ may teach you to escape from said assailant on the ground. Neither addresses the more important questions grounded in reality, such as: How did you get there? What if a knife or gun is involved? What if I accidentally trip and fall? Get taken by surprise? Get backed against a wall? Have a significant other I need to protect? Krav Maga Yashir teaches simple, direct, pragmatic solutions to all of the above, and more. Nobody needs to be Donnie Yen or Ronda Rousey to effectively defend themselves, and this school gives you the tools to do that. Number 3 = Value for your $$. Monthly membership rate is comparable to market rate for other area martial arts schools, and much lower than Crossfit gyms and other functional-fitness type places. The membership also gives free access to 5x-weekly cardio bootcamp classes, special outdoor training, and use of the gym at the studio. New workout equipment is constantly added and incorporated into the bootcamps, which themselves are a hell of a workout. Members also get first access to guest seminars with top outside Krav Maga instructors. Number 4 = Great social atmosphere. I'm always impressed by the respect, humility, and maturity of other students. It's very rare to have anyone beating on others in an attempt to be the tough guy, and such behavior is *never* tolerated. Students are all ages from 20s to 60s, all body types and fitness levels. Since all of class is partner or group based, you quickly pick up names and personalities of fellow students. Sometimes when you're on the brink of absolute physical exhaustion, you just can't help but look at each other and laugh at the insanity of it all. That's the kind of esprit that can't be faked, and a major reason I spend 10 hrs a week here without hesitation. Overall, Krav Maga Yashir gets my highest possible recommendation. I am constantly being that annoying guy urging my female friends to try it, and it's what I look forward to every day at work (when I'm not wasting time on Yelp reviews that will end up getting filtered anyway). You can try classes free for a week through the school website as well.

I can't say enough about Tread. It has changed my life and not only have I lost weight and made…read moresome life long friendships.. Its a community built from the heart and soul of woman, who truly care about you and your well being..

Excellent classes, great instructors, best bikes in the business. Classes are a fast 45min. Lori…read moreand Kristen will make you sweat! Almost perfect in every way. I love that class cards expire in a year, not 3 months like at other places.