I originally met Sensei Gagne 31 years ago. I have been privileged to be taught by him and his…read moreinstructor Sensei Coffman. There are no harder working traditional karate instructors anywhere I have ever seen. Believe me, I have looked. But it is more than that. They are also decent, compassionate and most importantly humble men. I have the highest respect for both of them. With all that said, this is REAL karate. The strikes are true and effective. You will actually learn to defend yourself if you ever find yourself in the unfortunate circumstance. Interestingly I learned that I did not really know how to fight as well as I had thought when I first started. Something you don't come to understand until you meet someone like Sensei Gagne and his years of expertise and dedication to the art and craft of Karate. I highly recommend that if you are interested in learning martial arts that you take a look at the Okinawan Temple. I would also suggest that you take a look at other schools in the area and watch really carefully too. You'll see that was is being taught at the Okinawan Temple is much much much more effective, even to the untrained eye. We, all of who have taken Karate with Sensei Gagne, are honored and privileged to be taught by one of todays greats in martial arts. I can not recommend the school enough. One last thing. I, myself, have never had to use what I have been taught to any other degree but as to diffuse a situation. Much of that I attribute to the confidence gained from Sensei Gagne. I have, on occasion, had to use some force. But it was minimal as the opposition quickly learned that I actually had some knowledge of fighting. That I can only credit to Sensei Gagne and Sensei Coffman.

I first started training at the Okinawan Temple Karate Studio in 2003 when I was 16 years old. This…read morewas my first experience in a professional martial arts setting. Let me preface this was a personal background: My plan was to join the Marine Corps shortly after High School. I felt that martial arts training would instill discipline, help get me into shape, and prepare me for the combative aspect of joining the Marines. I did not realize HOW MUCH the training I received at the Okinawan Temple would carry into my military career, not only through boot camp and Infantry training, but to a combat deployment to Fallujah, Iraq in 2006. "Muscle memory" was something I was already familiar with as a student under Sensei Gagne's direction. Having a "combat mindset" and "situational awareness" were all terms and mindsets I had already embraced, thanks to my training at the Okinawan Temple. Since having trained at the Okinawn Temple, I have never had to utilize my karate training against someone outside of a monitored atmosphere. Not once. I've had people get in my face and attempt to get me to throw down, but when they look me in the eyes, they see something they've probably never truly seen before: Confidence. Fearlessness. Inside, I'm shaking, because that's what adrenaline does to the body, but outside, I'm cool as a cucumber, thanks to Sensei Gagne's training. Even after several years of being outside the loop, my body KNOWS what to do, thanks to the muscle memory type of military training that Sensei Gagne instills. It is really incredible. Sensei Gagne's leadership abilities are unquestionable and top notch. I have seen him work with young, young children, all the way to senior citizens. Sensei Gagne is patient, compassionate, and humble; all qualities of a true warrior. He will never show frustration, anger, or impatience. He works with men and women of all backgrounds, skill sets, and levels of athleticism. If you enter his dojo with an open mind, you WILL take something away. That's what kept me going back 3 - 4 days a week for almost two years straight. I kept learning more and more, not only about the martial arts, but about my own body, the human psyche, and what happens to us when we are in high stress situations. You will NOT find "Angry Old Men" or Black Belt Bullies at this Dojo! Some dojos are indeed run by huge weight lifters with a "martial arts" background. They have their pack of higher level students that they use to beat on the new students in an attempt to break them. The Okinawan Temple is a dojo built upon RESPECT and HUMILITY. Sensei Gagne is NOT a bully, nor would he ever allow bullies to be promoted within his ranks. We trained HARD. We were training for real life situations against potentially life threatening attackers. But never, not once, did I feel that the higher authorities within the dojo were out to break any of us. Never. The leadership encouraged us to work at our own pace, and we did. But when you look up and see a 40-something-year-old-man sweating right through his uniform, giving 150%, striving to reach a new level of athleticism and discipline, well, you can't help but want to fall in line right behind that attitude, whether you're 70 or 17. The martial artists that I've met at the Okinawan Temple are truly inspiring individuals. People who want to learn how to "beat someone up" or "do back flips" do not last very long. They do not fit in with Sensei Gagne's level of practicality and the way he trains his students to be prepared not only physically, but mentally, for life threatening situations. Go sit in on a class. Watch the discipline and the hard work Sensei Gagne's students put in. You will see an elite level of martial arts mastery that is incredibly hard to find in this part of the country. This truly is a place where highly trained, disciplined, humble warriors are created. This is not a day care for kids or play time for adults; you go there to train. Sweat a little bit. It'll do your body good.

Been travelling to Team Santos in Providence from Connecticut for a few years now. If you want to…read moretrain in BJJ learning from a great coach with lots of great team members, this is the place.

Excellent instruction and my home away from home. Coach mat is a local legend in jiu Jitsu as well…read moreas mixed martial arts and is a patient well versed instructor. If I could give it a six star rating I would.

Amazing. Let's…read morestart with that. Rick Wilmott has done an amazing job with RI Martial Arts and ILoveKickboxing.com in North Providence. This is one of the times when Groupon really came through! I started out with 10 classes to Rick's classes and now have become an official member of the school. I used to go to the gym and work my ass off -- most of the time not really knowing what I'm doing. When I came to my first class at RI Marial Arts, I was nervous since I had never done kickboxing before. Rick assured me that I'll be just fine and it was a hell of a workout. Since then, in every class, my technique has improved and I found myself doing extra pushups, crunches and punches with ease. It's a great combination of cardio and conditioning. Not to mention, punching stuff is fun. Brenda, the latest edition to the school is fantastic. We sat down and discussed my goals in detail and came up with a plan to make it happen. She now cheers me on at every class, I love it! I try to go to class 2-3 times a week and I get more out of one hour here than I do two hours at the gym. The facility is new, intimate and clean. The other aspiring kickboxers are so nice and definitely make the hour fun. Another thing I love is that Rick created a private FB group just for everyone who attends the kickboxing classes. It's a great way to keep up with news, schedule changes, and videos for things like the right way to wrap your hands. It's also an easy way to contact Rick or Brenda if a question comes up. Give them a try, I promise you'll get a wicked workout.

Love, love, love it here. Nothing beats kicking butt at an awesome kickboxing class!…read more Rick does a great job instructing the classes, giving you an awesome workout all while having a great time. Be sure to check out their website for some pretty sweet online deals for the classes. New to kickboxing, don't have no fear, they spend extra time with the new people welcoming them too the program. No matter how little or much experience you may have RI Martial Arts does a great job making sure everyone gets an equally awesome workout. Def someplace worth checking out!

I am a student at this dojo. The teachers are amazingly patient and understanding of each person's…read moreabilities and skill levels. I was looking for a personal bucket list item to fill and Providence Aikikai was the perfect fit for my personal goal(s). I recommend Aikido for anyone that is looking to improve their physical conditioning and find a balanced martial art practice.

I got into aikido to get myself off the couch and out of the house. I learned about aikido when i…read morewas younger but never got around to actually doing it,and can't believe what an incredible opportunity I've come across. A real aikido dojo with instructors teaching aikido the way it was meant to be taught. One of our chief instructors learned directly from an aikido master instructor who was in turn taught directly by the the founder of aikido himself. An unbelievable lineage for the dojo and stroke of luck for myself! Classes are taught in a relaxed non competitive manner and every student is able to learn at his or her own pace and comfortably . Aikido is a martial art that uses the momentum and energy of the attacker against them,through joint locks and throws and blending with the attack to gain the optimal position on ones attacker. Based off of samurai sword technique it is a true Japanese martial art or budo. Very cool! Aikido has been a great place for me to get active! I have no former martial arts experience. At almost 40 and living with a severe nerve injury that affected my right leg literally from top to bottom,I've been able to get a great workout without any pain and at a pace that's right for me. I quickly found out that adjusting the training to the experience and ability of ones partner is a key principal to a safe and fulfilling workout in aikido. For those looking for a good workout aikido can definitely fulfill that roll as well. I end every class drenched in sweat and definitely hitting my target heart rate something I myself desperately needed. I've also meet some really great people and made some great new friends as a result of studying aikido. I really couldn't have asked for much more!

My son has been training here for over a year. This is not just a dojo, but also a community. The…read moresenseis really care about their students. From day one they call every student by their name. They work with every student on an individual level - challenging some, building confidence in others - knowing just what the student needs at that particular time. This dojo has taught my son so many things in just one year: coordination, confidence, self control, pride in accomplishments, how to accept criticism, how to win and lose, how to follow directions, how to stand up for oneself or others, patience, persistence, and flexibility, balance, and strength. They develop the whole person. He has had so much FUN learning those things. Martial arts has really become a part of our son's identity and a great source of pride for him. This is not a dojo out to take your money and do the minimum. They do not have contracts. You just pay as you go and it is worth every penney. This dojo has already had such a positive influence on our son's life! Just check it out! Update: My son has now been there over two years. We are still very happy with the personal care he gets. He has had so much fun training and competing in tournaments (and winning some, not others), learning martial arts forms, weapons, and discipline. He also loves playing dodgeball (with soft foam balls) and other games the senseis use to train the younger children. We love the drop off movie nights where the senseis watch the kids, have a movie night and have a pizza party while the parents go on a date! The kids love seeing their karate friends and senseis in street clothes! There are so many nice families here. I also love the convenience of running into Dave's for a few things while my son is training! Very convenient!

The best thing I've ever done for my son is to send him to consider kenshu ryu. There's a community…read moreof teachers there that support and love and courage their students. While also providing a quality martial arts curriculum. Also by comparison their prices are some of the best I've ever seen.

We have been here more than a year now and both of my kids, ages 4 & 6, are in the Little Tigers &…read moreLittle Dragons class. This is a great dojo and Senseis Raffi & Susan truly care about their students and their families. We still LOVE it here and I'm impressed with how my children have been enriched by DAMA. Definitely try them out if you're looking for a high-quality martial arts studio.

I did a lot of research for a couple weeks for the best martial arts Academy and I'm happy to say I…read morefound it ! Raffi and Susan are very nice,caring,respectful, I can go on and on. My son has been going twice a week for a half hour each class for about 4 months and he loves it so much! Everytime I take him it's still like the first day we went full of excitement and happiness !

I couldn't be happier with EP Martial Arts! It's more than just a place to get a great work out…read more The camaraderie as a whole is great, the instructors are all well trained, experienced, and masters of their crafts. Bart (the owner) personally answered the phone the first time I called, and welcomed me to take 1-2 weeks and check out all the classes I might want to get involved in, which, I did. I enrolled for the Krav Maga classes, which are fabulous, and was quite quickly persuaded to try Jeet Kun Do, Sancho, Striking, Wing Chun, Kickboxing and my favorite, Jiu Jitsu. There's a reason this gym has 5 stars. I encourage you to check it out, you won't be disappointed!

I came for the Krav Maga classes and I've also given BJJ and Sanshou a try. I'm a beginner and from…read morethe start, I've felt welcomed by the instructors as well each and every member. All of the instructors are excellent and I've been enjoying the small class sizes and the individualized instruction that comes along with that. There are a variety of skill levels catered to in each class and I enjoy both the opportunity to work with others closer to my skill level and to learn from those far more experienced than I. I couldn't recommend more highly!

Our son started training at Mastery a little over a year ago and it has been one of the best…read moreinvestments ever made! When we started, our son struggled a bit with sportsmanship. Losing at anything was a very hard thing for him. Focus was also extremely difficult. We didn't realize the impact of his training with Mastery until he participated in a Mastery competition shortly after he started. He tried his absolute best and did great...however, he did not win any medals. Instead of getting frustrated or reacting negatively, he fist bumped the winners and congratulated them. We left soon after with him smiling, laughing and simply happy! This meant so much to us! We have watched so much growth since and are incredibly proud of how hard he works! Mastery is so much more than "just" martial arts. They teach core values that our children aren't learning outside of our home. From birthday parties, to summer camp, to family events, to tournaments and so much more....we have developed amazing relationships with other families and our son has created lifelong friends that have the same mindset and determination as my son. We are grateful for this special experience for our son and look forward to his journey to black belt with the Mastery team!!

Our family has trained with Mastery Martial Arts for 13 years. The journey has been amazing, and…read morehas resulted in our children (who began at ages 3, 7, 10, and 12) are now strong, confident leaders. Their store is not just physical (though that is impressive). Their strength is also in the emotional,, mental, and social aspects of their lives. Much of this is due to the incredible mentorship of the well-trained instructors, who lead by example, every day. Thank you, Mastery, and especially Mastery Cumberland, for all you do to help your students become inspiration for a new generation of children. My granddaughter is now in the program, and I couldn't be more proud or happy.

Sadly, I was never able to experience an actual class at American Martial Arts, and it was a…read moretremendous disappointment to say the least. I was so excited about attending my first class, as my life is so incredibly busy and I was thrilled to think that I had potentially found a wonderful place to relax. My first class was setup by Kerri, who was an employee at American Martial Arts. We had been in contact for months, but my schedule was so busy that I simply didn't have time to connect. When I realized that there was finally an opening in my otherwise hectic schedule, I immediately reached out to Kerri. We were able to schedule a class, and I was beyond excited. On the day of the class, I nervously entered their facility and was immediately impressed by the size. There was a lot of activity all around, but I found what I thought to be the Reception desk and waited while the woman behind the desk finished with a group that was there. I observed a upbeat and friendly conversation amongst them, and waited patiently for them to finish. Once done, I stepped up to a smiling woman who, upon seeing me, suddenly looked surprised, if not shocked. I was a bit thrown off by her sudden change in demeanor, with her smile completely leaving her face and that smile becoming what could best be described as a scowl. The energy in that space and in that moment became negative and unbalanced, in a way that was uncomfortable. What came next should not have surprised me as the woman's facial expressions were absolutely leading up to it. The now "smile-less" woman looked at me and said "do you need something"? No hello, no niceties, just "do you need something"? I barely knew how to respond, but one thing was abundantly clear, this wasn't a place where I was welcome and I felt an overwhelming need to leave immediately. I attempted to respond with a full sentence, but I was too taken aback to even think, I asked the woman if she could please let Kerri know that I had stopped by, as I had absolutely no intention of spending even another minute there. I then began to leave, but of course this exchange would not be complete without the requisite sarcasm that is to be expected from someone who greets a potential customer in such a manner. No surprise here. When I went home and told my husband what happened, he calmly and quietly explained that I did the right thing by leaving immediately. He said "babe, that wasn't a place for you, and that woman at the front desk was making sure you understood that you were not welcome.". Of course I understood exactly what he meant, but it still saddens me to my very core that people of color are not always welcome. I never, ever, ever pull the race card, but something went very wrong at this place of business, and that woman seeing my face in person ignited it. There was no hiding her contempt and obvious disdain for me, she didn't even try, and I am guessing that she behaves this way because someone has set the tone for that behavior within this place of business.

Excellent Martial Arts school. My son loves it. We were…read morereferred by a school friend and never looked back. It is a family run business and all classes are run by family members . Each instructor excels in teaching techniques and also respect and values.They show dedication and passion. There are varied class times to fit most schedules. The school manages to maintains very reasonable tuition costs. Also worth mentioning they are very active in the community and annually put together Thanksgiving dinners for those in need once again teaching kids the importance of helping people.

This high quality martial arts studio has one goal in mind, to teach the next generation to defend…read moreitself! The instructors and fellow students are supportive, encouraging, positive, enthusiastic, thoughtful, and complimentary! The masters love to share their wisdom, experience, and love to teach the techniques to perfection!

Truly great place. Warm and inviting, super clean, and the instructors are fantastic. Our 13 year…read moreold loves it -- gets lots of instructional attention (usually several instructors there even with the smaller classes), a lot of cameraderie (the students really form a 'group', even despite being of different ages), and the karate itself is so great for self-discipline (not to mention self-defense). They have a ton of fun while working hard. Highly recommended.