My son has taken lessons here for almost 2 years and absolutely loves it. It's a serious school…read morethat isn't too over the top - the kids have fun and learn a lot!

I've been studying martial arts for more than 35 years. I can say with confidence that Steve…read moreNugent's Karate Institute(SNKI) provides a level of instruction that is second to none. It all starts with Grandmaster (GM) Nugent by setting the tone that quality, professionalism, respect and attention to detail are of utmost importance. GM's instructors are the best around. They all have been handpicked by GM Nugent to uphold his standards. Those studying at SNKI learn effective self defense and the additional benefits that studying martial arts brings. It's difficult for most people to know how to pick a good martial arts school for themselves or their children. This problem is easily solved by joining SNKI. Among the thousands of martial arts schools which deliver varying degrees of proficiency and results SNKI is light years ahead. SNKI is literally in a class of it's own.

I am 58 years old. I have been involved with martial arts since I was 8 years old. I have been to…read moremany schools over the years. I have been to some mediocre McDojo's and I have been taught by some of the best teachers in our area. I have to say that Pence Self Defense Academy is the best school that I have had the pleasure of attending. They have all the amenities that a good school should have but what separates them from their competitors is their uncompromising love of the art that they teach and the passion and dedication they have in passing the art along to the students. They love what they do and it shows. We have a lot of fun in the process of learning and the classes are open to everyone in a friendly and non judgemental environment. They offer anyone a free trial period. If you do not believe my review then try it out for yourself. You will not be disappointed.

Great Academy for young and old ran by incredible martial artists my grandson is7 years old and it…read morewas the best thing for him .

Best karate class I've seen! The instructors are students themselves and under the instruction of…read moretheir respected teacher Rocky, they pass knowledge on. The environment is welcoming and everyone has a place. Parents are allowed to be spectators, fresh coffee is brewing and a table full of communal healthy treats are present for all. I love it...

Prof. Rocky DiRico is an amazing, gifted instructor, as is his son, Sensei Chris DiRico. My…read moresix-year-old son has responded to both instructors and it has done wonders for his self-confidence (we are still working on self-control). I can't say enough good things about this school. The instructors are positive and spend time both on physical awareness and forms as well as having a responsible, respectable character. The classes are set up in such a way that the lower belts learn from the higher belts and everyone develops respect for each other. My son is eager to attend his classes each week.

this place is NOT COOL. my kid went here 1 year ago and all he did was punch air and random things!…read moreThis is carate not yoga class. Not cool

Mr. and Mrs Calahan and the experienced staff are a real class act, they care about the students…read moreand do a great job with Kids and Adults alike. The best for miles around.

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.

My son has been attending Elite Freestyle Karate for ~4 years or so. He has progressed from a…read morewhite belt to a purple belt over this time period. While the belt progress is great, what's more is the mentorship he has received from the staff. We started with Sensei Nick, who now teaches at another location (Arlington?), I believe. Senseis Henry and Jasmine are our most recent instructors. All 3 have been amazing to our family and to our son. Sensei Henry in particular has taken our son under his wing and instilled confidence in him (which has been the primary purpose of us doing karate). The instructors are really great about keeping the kids focused and keeping their attention, but also making karate fun and educational. Our son was recently invited to join black belt club, which is an additional 10 minutes after each class but they get to learn how to use additional equipment like kali sticks, nunchucks, and do some light sparring. There are a lot of extra things that EFK does too, like bootcamps and tournaments. You can opt in to whatever you'd like. A big thanks to EFK (including leadership, Shihan Gary and Sensei Ryan) and our amazing instructors (Sensei Henry and Sensei Jasmine) for providing such a great and positive experience for our son.

I am deeply disappointed with the business practices here. My son trained here for over 4 years,…read morebut our experience ended on a terrible note. Upon leaving, we were hit with over $800 in cancellation fees. It feels like they care more about profit than the kids. What's worse, they are now encouraging children in class to promote the dojo at school for sign-ups. It seems more like a marketing machine than a place focused on teaching leadership. If you decide to sign up, read the fine print very carefully--do not get locked into their contracts. This final experience left a black mark on the last 4 years. Not recommended.

Amazing school ! I have had nothing but the best of experience here. I would highly recommend it…read moreto anyone. My son has been at Elite Free Style for almost 3 years now. You not only get very professional karate teaching but an excellent emphasis on important life skills including self control, leadership lessons, and great discussions about strong values. This place has instilled confidence, and perseverance in my child. I really appreciate the focus on growth mindset style of teaching. The staff is very helpful. The sensi pays great attention to each child. I am so happy that I chose this Dojo for my son.

My son attended this studio for about five years, and I wanted to share our experience for parents…read moreconsidering enrolling their children. I'll start with the positives. The instructors are energetic, genuinely care about the kids, and do a great job creating a fun environment. They also emphasize discipline and respect, which is one of the main reasons we kept our son enrolled for so long. Unfortunately, after five years, I don't feel like my son truly learned karate to the level I expected. As a black belt myself, I was surprised that many students in the advanced classes had not mastered basic techniques that I was required to learn before advancing. Even some black belt students did not know how to properly tie their belts because they had never been taught. The studio has a sign that says, "A black belt is a white belt who never quits." While perseverance is certainly important, that philosophy seemed to carry over into belt advancement. My impression was that consistent attendance was often valued more than mastering the required material. I attended several belt tests where students struggled with the curriculum, were coached through the test by an instructor, and were still promoted despite not demonstrating proficiency on their own. Another downside is the constant upselling. There always seemed to be another optional class, event, seminar, or program that required an additional fee. While none of these were mandatory, the requests came frequently, and the extra costs added up over time. Overall, I think this is a studio that does an excellent job helping kids build confidence, discipline, and have fun. However, if your primary goal is for your child to develop strong martial arts skills and earn promotions based on mastery of the material, our experience suggests this may not be the best fit.

We love Alan Kessler's. We have been going for a year now and my Daughter still loves the classes…read more This is a great karate center for kids and adults. For kids I really recommend the karate Pals program.

This is a great dojo! My Daughter has been taking classes here for two years. They offer morning…read moreclasses for preschool/K kids which works out great for us. The instructors are wonderful with the kids and the class sizes are small. The preschool/K class has both a karate class and an activity session (craft, storytime, food project etc.) I come from a martial arts household, my Mom taught Judo and my brother is a black belt. I wanted the very best martial arts instruction for my child. I also wanted a safe and fun dojo with a family feel. I believe I have found that with Alan Kessler's Karate Center. The dojo is very welcoming to newcomers, give them a call and ask to try a free class or two. Let me know if you have any questions!