IMPACT is a unique personal safety and self-defense curriculum that teaches students effective…read morestrategies to resist threats, intimidation and violence perpetrated by strangers and people they know. Students care be young teenages, women, men, of all ages and ethnic backgrounds. Classes are taught by a team of two instructors, one of whom takes on the role of a perpetrator. He wears a full suit of body armor so students can safely defend themselves using the same force needed in a real attack. IMPACT also teaches how to get away or descalate a potental threat or situation. The intructors of IMPACT are fantastic. A variety classes are held are various times and locations through each semester. The website is www.impactboston.com

One of the best things I've ever done for my self-confidence was to take classes at Apex. My…read moreawareness of my personal surroundings has increased and I feel equipped to keep myself and girlfriend safe from potential trouble makers when we're out and about. Students are friendly and the culture is one of helping others and continuous improvement. The instructors are professional and give direct, but kind feedback . The weekly conditioning classes are a MUST if you want to see improved endurance fast. And if you're single, what better picture to put on your dating profile than one in your Krav uniform?

In a word: respect. The team at Apex respect my age and my abilities. I'm allowed to progress on my…read moreself defense journey at my own pace. They create a welcoming and encouraging atmosphere for both me and my son. The instructors are highly skilled and knowledgeable. They provide the opportunity for everyone, every type of person, to become proficient in Krav Maga. Through their example, students learn the importance of gratitude and gratefulness; as my fellow students and I complement each other on our successes and reassure each other when we stumble. Krav Maga self defense is a lot of different things for a lot of different people. But no matter what your reason is, this team is there to help.

Twenty years in, and after a substantial hiatus due to a job that wouldn't let me get to this…read morestudio in time for class, I'm back here. These instructors, and these classes, are fantastic. I love how everybody here is friendly, supportive - but also won't coddle you along if you're just stuck in a rut of self-pity. The beginner class is usually divided into four sections: 1. warm up, where you actually stretch out just about every part of your body. Great if you've been sitting at a desk all day. 2. basics, where you work on some basic aspect of kicking, punching, or stances. 3. forms, where you do what would be kata in standard karate; this is my favorite part. The class usually splits into several groups at this point, depending on experience. There's almost always at least one or two beginners in the back working on Long Fist I, so don't worry if you don't know what you're doing - you're not alone! 4. self-defense, where you work on drills to deal with things like wrist grabs, punches, and kicks. I have *used* these (alas) twice, and in both cases, the hours of drilling I did took over while my brain was locked up. Instructors Mark, Karen, and Jonathan are fantastic, and I was classmates with Instructors Melissa and Jason until I had to drop out. They're terrific people, and there is none of the "buy-a-belt, learn to master the soooper seeeekrit martial arts" vibe I've gotten from other dojos. You sweat, and you learn, and everybody's supportive of that. They are also supportive of the fact that people may come in with pre-existing conditions, and will not make you do the idiotic "push through the pain" thing when you're actually hurting yourself. (I've had teachers who did this, and am very grateful not to be putting up with that anymore.)

This is a fantastic place, and a wonderful community, both for kids and adults. The instructors are…read moreexcellent teachers, but what I love most is their commitment to each student. For adults, they meet you where you are in terms of fitness and knowledge, from absolute beginners to students who been practicing for years, and they then figure out how you can improve from there. For the kids, I have never seen a team of instructors invest such attention and care to every child in every class and then achieve success through positive encouragement. I've been a student myself for over ten years, as has my child, and I'm still learning and growing. Can't recommend highly enough!

During my glory days in Tae Kwon Do at age 12, I really loved the physical activity and stress…read morerelief that came with punching and kicking. So recently I've been looking to get back into martial arts. I found Oom Yung Doe on Yelp because of its great reviews and its proximity to my house. I'd never heard of this form of martial arts, but the website claimed I could take a complimentary introductory lesson. Why not? I called on Sunday afternoon and was signed up for a free class the next day at 8 PM. That was quick. Not knowing what to expect, I showed up to the small studio in workout clothes, looking very out of place among the robe-clad martial artists. I signed a liability waiver and was led into the practice room by the instructor, John. There were a few people practicing individually in the room with wooden swords and fans. I had no idea what they were doing, but they sure looked cool! Where were the other students in this introductory class though? John starts by explaining the many benefits of practicing Oom Yung Doe. It focuses on connecting the mind and the body. He used to have asthma and back pain, and now they're gone. It improves your strength, flexibility, and focus. With regular practice, people start excelling in other parts of their lives as well (high GPA,s promotions, the works). Sounds great! Turns out I'm the only one in the class. Unexpected, to say the least. And pretty intimidating. But John was very supportive and great as leading and explaining each movement. We started out with some breathing excercises, then moved to some strength and flexibility movements, punches and kicks, holding positions, and finished with some self defense training. At the end, he did two full forms, a beginner and a dragon form, to demonstrate what you will work toward. He's been practicing for 7 years so is very committed and pretty incredible at it. The entire lesson took almost an hour, and it was completely free. The individual attention and professionalism was so impressive. From experiencing this class, I'm wondering if this form of martial arts is for me. I'm definitely lacking some of the strength, focus, and flexibility required, but I'm sure those are all things you work toward. I'm also not sure I'd be able to work it into my schedule, as John told me that they encourage people to come at least 3 times a week in order to improve. The introductory month is $150, which includes 3 private lessons and unlimited classes at the studio afterward. I liked seeing the space, learning more about the practice, and witnessing the personal connections the instructor has with the others practicing. It seems like a great environment to try something new and improve your physical and emotional well-being. I very much enjoyed the introduction and encourage anyone to try it out. What do you have to lose? (Except maybe your dignity.. if you care about looking like an idiot as you tremble trying to hold difficult positions or unsuccessfully fend off a fake attacker.)

Starting training in traditional martial arts is the best thing i've done for myself. The…read moreinstructors here are patient, knowledgable, and warm. Movements are challenging but results are almost immediate, no doubt there was a huge improvement by the end of one month. Just like all exercise , consistency is key and instructors are good at reminding you of this without being intrusive or self promoting. This place makes me feel i belong there and i am so glad i've brought it into my life

Every instructor is phenomenal, with adults and children. It is a gift that for more than 50 years,…read morestudents in Boston have daily access to Grandmaster Kim. ALL skill levels are welcome here. I have been coming for three months and I am giant fan of the Boston location.

If I could give 1000 stars I would. I love this place, the teachings, the atmosphere, the…read moreinstructors, the whole community. I can't even think of one bad thing about this place. It's amazing and Mr Song runs it perfectly! I can't wait to some day meet Grand Master Kim!

This is a great place to train! The instructors are friendly, knowledgeable, and tailor instruction…read moreto your level. The instructors invest equally in everyone from white belt to black belt, whether those students are competing, learning a new sport, or just trying to get fit. As a new student, I never feel pressured to purchase uniforms or equipment directly from them. From an outside perspective, academies like these can seem intimidating. However, Florian's is the most inclusive environment I have participated in over my 30 years of training in different styles and at other academies. Although I have only been there briefly, I feel part of this group because everyone goes out of their way to be welcoming. It is an excellent place for women to train together as well.

Amazing practice for young children. Our son, now almost 9, has been attending BJJ classes for 2…read moreyears now and has loved it. As parents, we are impressed with the instructors skill and methods of teaching children, and encouraging the students to respect themselves, others and the practice.

I've had a great time at the American martial arts gym. I've had fun training and doing special…read moredrills. It's fun to have a little game at the end. The instructor, Bobby, is very nice, always encouraging me and helps me out when I'm in a pickle. I've had a great time so far and hope you come and join us! -Student

If I could give zero stars I absolutely would!…read more I have never done this before.... But.... I am sooooo completely blown away by this customer service I had to! I am attaching a text thread that I had with the owner of the studio Bobby. I found him completely professional and insulting. If you like people like that you will love this guy. He has a business practice not to provide prices over the phone, you have to come into the studio. Ok totally fine, even though I explained that I needed it in order to budget and that coming in just for that info was inconvenient. He proceeded to tell me that if that was too inconvenient then it would probably be too inconvenient for me to take my child there 2 or 3 times a week. No - sorry sir, I am business owner and single parent who needs to manage my time and money wisely. If I went to every studio that I was interested in I would never have time to make a commitment. He then compared himself to jewelery stores and car dealerships... Which we all know, everyone hates dealing with these 2 types of businesses due to their shady business practices - though now a days - car dealerships have caught on and have their prices plastered all over their website... For what reason? Oh, to attract customers! Then knocked the name of a VERY reputable martial arts studio which has been in business for over 30 years! Take a look at this thread and then tell me if you want your child training under someone who is so combative, unprofessional and plain rude. He is the type of person I am trying to protect my child from. I mean he mocked the name of another studio to make his studio look better?! Who does that?! Then when I told him that this was going to be posted on Yelp and Google, he said people like me love to do that... No sir, I do not love to do that... It's my duty to inform those of extremely poor experiences so that I can save someone else from having a similar experience. If you look at another reviewer they also mention that he has shady business practices and would not honor the Groupon's that he has already sold! It's sad, I see he is a good instructor but integrity is everything. Also, isn't humility a characteristic that martial arts is supposed to teach? How can one learn humility from someone like this? Read the texts...

I do not recommend this gym for woman. To me, it felt like this environment revolves mostly around…read moreego and machismo, that's about it. It doesn't feel like they truly care about your progress. I believe male coaches here to be disrespectful toward female students. I feel that any concerns are dismissed. Although they promote themselves as a "women-friendly" space, based on my experience and what l've seen happen to other women here, I would not recommend this gym

Professor Hugo has created a true jiu jitsu community - over the years this place has become a…read moresecond home to myself and my daughter. Love the teaching style - no bs, just jiu jitsu. Train as hard or as light as you want. World class athletes with no ego. 617 is perfect for everyone - beginners, advanced, competitors, and kids. Positive attitude of this place is infectious. Osss!