Jorge is an excellent instructor and has a very welcoming and helpful group of dedicated students…read more His classes are good for beginning to very experienced practitioners. The tone of the class is serious and respectful. I highly recommend for anyone interested in learning or practicing Tai Chi.

Wonderful human and instructor. Highly knowledgeable and goes the extra mile. He teaches beginners…read moreand advanced students.

Let me start by saying that if I could give more than 5 stars to a place, this would be it. Shifu…read moreChris and his wife manage and instruct students in this family-owned dojo. Shifu (master in Chinese) Chris is an excellent teacher. He has been doing martial arts for almost his own life, and he is very knowledgeable. He had spent 13 years in China working with different masters. As a result, he is an expert in different styles of martial arts such as Chinese boxing, Kung fu Shaolin. Following his mission to keep Shaolin kung fu alive in the US, he started this dojo in VA. Currently, they offer two free sessions to let people experience the school before joining. I joined this class after participating in two free sessions. The environment and students in the dojo are great. Everybody is friendly and respects each other. From a covid standpoint, everybody wears a mask throughout the class, and there are sanitizers for both hands and equipment. Each session includes warmup, practicing the basics, form, partner work, and meditation at the end. Shifu Chris changes the structure of the class and always has new activities and challenges in each session. After two months of going to this class, I already feel really accomplished. I am able to do basic techniques and self-defense. It had even effects on my day-to-day life and helps me to be more focused. I recommend this class to whoever is looking for martial arts or even looking for a fun and effective workout class.

Wonderful experience, great exercise, friendly classmates. The sessions have everything I enjoy --…read morestretches, warm ups, boxing, defense, individual and partner work, meditation, some qi gong... lots of variety and progressive mental/physical challenges so you're never bored and always growing. I started this class three months ago feeling very out of shape -- and as a total beginner to martial arts. Now, I feel like I have energy enough for classes, plus I'm starting to hit the gym more too and feel less stressed during the work week. It's definitely the kind of work out that isn't a chore -- it's energizing. Come take the two free lessons and try it out for yourself to get hooked too. Shifu Chris and Weiwei, who assists, are patient, thoughtful teachers who care about culture, health, and overall wellbeing. Class is always a positive, welcoming environment.

We've been going to Yoo's for years. The instructors are top-notch. They expect a lot from their…read morestudents. They're wonderful role models. They really emphasize the importance of respect, family, and hard work. Yoo's is competitively ranked nationally. Master Jon and Master Brad work with students to build their strength, endurance, and confidence. I highly recommend Yoo's. They offer a free trial so you can come in and observe the class and try it out before you commit. Come give them a try. You won't be disappointed.

I started training under GrandMaster Yoo in 1990. To this day, I take a part of him with me. He was…read moreinspirational in my life, teaching the highest level of discipline and respect.

Posting my review again because I had a whole fiasco with my yelp account and it was deleted…read more I trained private lessons in Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) sporadically with Gus over 2022 and 2023. My lessons were sporadic due to my move, car issues, and general scheduling conflicts on my end. My sessions with Gus were great - he is super patient, kind, and an excellent teacher. My years in grappling have taught me that there are many people who are very good at their chosen discipline who also make crap teachers. Gus is not one of those people. He was even great with my pre-teen niece who joined for a few lessons. I really appreciated my time learning with Gus and feel that it set me up to continue my training even after I moved away from the area. Note: I was originally wary of going to Gus, since my preference was to learn Filipino Martial Arts from someone who shares Filipino heritage, but Gus is respectful of the material and so knowledgeable about the history of FMA. He made many great "homework" recommendations that helped me grasp the truly amazing context behind the development of Filipino Martial Arts. I am glad that FMA is being taught and spread by someone who cares about it!

Have a fun Zen Crafternoons for a relaxing afternoon creating art either solo or with friends!…read moreYou'll walk out confident, accomplished, and relaxed! I have attended their lantern making and mountain painting class. Both were taught by Allison and she was a superb teacher! She's clear, welcoming, and helpful, and makes you feel right at home. Over a soothing cup of tea, we learned to use sumo ink to create beautiful works of art inspired by nature. No pressure at all. I walk out feeling happy, relaxed, and accomplished (since I didn't spend the afternoon scrolling on social media!) The space is beautiful with a nice seating area, martial arts classes during the day for kids and adults, decorated in Japanese inspired art. There's client parking in the back. Beautiful, hidden gem!

I had no experience in martial arts at all and signed up for an intro class. It was wonderful, and…read morethe 3 intro classes were very affordable. Alison was my teacher and was a very patient and excellent coach. Everyone at the center is very nice and very skilled/knowledgable. Would recommend!

I have been training with Master Dyer for over a decade and cannot say enough about him as an…read moreinstructor or as a person. He has taught me, my wife, and both of our daughters. In the process we have all improved greatly physically and mentally. The principles you see come through on the studio's website are not just hyperbole. He lives the principles he teaches. He is an amazing martial artist but more than that he is an amazing teacher. He can break down the complicated into small practical applications and explain the "why" behind them. His personal training background is great for both someone looking to martial arts to improve mobility and fitness, but also to someone looking to understand why an old kung-fu form's supposedly impractical movement actually makes sense in the context of a fist fight. I would also like to add a personal note that I have made so many friends through martial arts. Most of the friends I have made as an adult have come through martial arts connections. If you train with Master Dyer you will improve in all aspects of your life. I have. And I hope you find the same community I have through martial arts.

I have a black belt from Potomac Kempo, and I have witnessed a rapid deterioration at this school…read moreover the past few years, with very troubling developments at this dojo. Here are some highlights of what has gone wrong. 1. Martial arts skills no longer seem to matter. The most shining example is the new instructor hired at this dojo last year. She is really, really bad at martial arts. At another karate school, she might be a yellow belt at best (the instructor of one such school said as much), but at Potomac Kempo, she was promoted to black belt and then full-time instructor. It's a slap in the face to every student who takes martial arts seriously. 2. Along with numerous other students, I have witnessed this woman crying monthly, weekly, and even daily over the years--about everything from her personal problems to her poor kempo skills. Deceptively, all the crying masks a whole lot of spite, and all the tears are a vehicle to bring forth endless lies and dumb drama. She once made a brazen attempt to ban a student in good standing from another Potomac Kempo dojo, and went about her scheme by doing what she does best: crying and lying. Said student had triggered her venom by unfriending her on Facebook (!!!!!). Instead of reprimanding her, Potomac Kempo offered her a job as a full-time instructor at this dojo shortly thereafter. Not surprisingly, the falsehoods and vitriol have continued to ensnare students and infest the school. 3. Potomac Kempo's shortcomings go beyond just a bad hire. One problem is the volunteer instructor program that runs across all dojos. At this school, you have to pay to become a volunteer instructor. Yes, YOU PAY Potomac Kempo to WORK FOR Potomac Kempo. It's a deal many fine martial artists simply won't accept. In turn, it has attracted more than a few "instructors" whose skills are mediocre at best. Every student can get better, and some who volunteer bring respect and humility, and make vast improvements through the experience. But for certain others, they puff themselves up with false pride and a sense of entitlement. The new hire at this dojo personifies the worst of both: As a volunteer instructor, she made a habit of disrespecting dojo rules and etiquette and other students, believing that she had the "status" to do so. It is quite a bad look for students to behave this way but it's much, much, more outrageous when so-called instructors do so. Sadly, this has occurred with regularity in the past few years. Instead of insisting that all behave professionally, Potomac Kempo coddles the offenders. Hiring the worst offender as a full-time instructor has sent the unmistakable message that this dojo, and the school in general, will elevate bad martial arts, and even worse character. 4. Martial arts is ultimately about becoming a better person. If all you want is fitness, you could get yourself a beefy trainer at a gym. At a dojo, time-honored values like honor, courage, and loyalty should matter. Potomac Kempo does not impart or emphasize these values. A while ago, I stuck my neck out to defend the school's reputation. I would've preferred never to have been involved, but the situation was serious and action was required. Though the chief instructor at another dojo has offered his appreciation for my intervention, the management for this dojo has enabled and empowered those who, lacking any common sense or business judgment, have sought retaliation. 5. I used to enjoy training at this dojo. I have attended class here many times, trained with its students and instructors, and participated in school-wide belt tests, seminars, and other events with many of them. A former instructor here was Sensei Dan, and I regularly came here and sought him out when I had trouble mastering new material. He was simply fantastic. How times have changed. 6. For a long time, my friends and I at this school paid our dues, went to class, stayed committed to our training, made sure to be welcoming to new students and helpful to lower ranks, and cared about our dojos. We didn't agree with everything the school did, but overall, we enjoyed being students here. Looking back on the past 2-3 years, it feels as if we blinked and the school went downhill and became barely recognizable.

I have been studying Shaolin Kempo at Potomac Kempo - Fairlington for about seven months now. I…read morelove it. I studied MMA at another gym but never felt like I mattered. People did not speak. No one knew my name. My questions often fell on deaf ears. At Potomac Kempo - Fairlington it is the exact opposite. Sensei Cassie is the best. She greets everyone by name. My dojo mates always greet each other and we make sure you know you were missed if you miss a few classes and have returned. If i have a question, anyone who knows the answer will help. Our black belts set the tone of helping, answering questions, helping one another learn, and just being good people. I have about 18 years of experience working with kids. I have seen some horrible teachers. But Sensei Cassie? Her patience is phenomenal. She is great at teaching them to control their bodies, listen to and follow directions, and at the end of classes, often discusses the finer points of character. Just the thing a parent needs to ADD to the parenting already being done. If I had any little kids in the family in the area, they would be at Potomac Kempo studying. This is more than a place to come work out. It is a place to come relieve stress, gain a sense of accomplishment as you earn higher belts and do exercises you have never done before, meet good people, and just have fun.

Stopped by Testudo while in National Harbor for a conference so my hubby and I could get some Jiu…read moreJitsu in. I was only able to drop by once for the women's class and adult class after but my husband was able to go several times and had a great time. Great people. Professor Ervin was great and made us feel welcome. Seemed like he had a nice organized way of instruction and used class time efficiently. We walked in as the kids class was wrapping up and it looks like he is great with the kids. If we lived here we would definitely make it our dojo.

My very sweet and wiggly ADHD child was only enrolled for a month before they kicked her out…read morebecause she couldn't follow instructions 100% of the time. Coach Ervin also made an example out of her during class for something she didn't actually do (but he thought she did). We were willing to work with them, but they clearly were not willing to work with us even though they talk a big game about their experience with kids.