"We couldn't be happier with our experience at Apex Martial Arts Center! Watching our three…read moreboys--Miles, Dante, and Justin--grow through the programs has been incredible. Miles has especially thrived as an Apex S.T.O.R.M. member, developing real leadership skills and discipline that carry over into school and home. It's more than just a dojo; it's a supportive community that truly cares about every student's personal progress. Apex Martial Arts Center is an amazing environment for kids to learn and grow. Our boys love the training, and we've seen a huge boost in their confidence and leadership skills since joining. The instructor, Master Ian, is top-notch and truly invested in the families. Highly recommend!"

Master Ian Mclindon is beyond great at what he does ! My daughter absolutely loves it ! It's such a…read moregreat atmosphere each and every class , my daughter has already learned so much ! I'm so happy we choose Apex !!

I found the best dojo! Samurai Academy of Kobudo in Weymouth, Ma. Soke Grand Master Tsuji teaches…read morehis system that his family developed in Japan for more than 300 years. I've always been interested in the martial arts and a couple of years ago I was looking for a dojo. I tried it for the first time as I was approaching 50 years old. Soke Grandmaster Tsuji is teaching me the ancient art of the samurai that includes open hand and weapons. He shares his wisdom around self defense and his deep knowledge of the history of the Samurai. Soke and his dedicated instructors, T.K., Alvin and Dee have taught me lessons for a lifetime including patience and respect. As an adult learner I like to experience new things. I was easily talked into competing at a regional tournament. Lots of different schools attended and it was great to see how martial arts has a large community. I've been taking the adult classes for the past couple of years and and have always found Samurai Academy to be a welcoming dojo

This place is unbelievable. I've been going several times a week for over a year now and I can't…read moreget enough. Not only is this school good for learning martial arts but everyone here is so nice and welcoming. Unlike the other schools in the region, this dojo doesn't just teach one technique. You can learn how to use jujutsu, moving meditation, dakenjutsu (karate), aikijutsu, kenjutsu (samuarai sword), and even samurai drumming techniques. Also, no where else can you receive training from someone who has literally been practicing Kobudo his entire life. The person I speak of is Soke Grandmaster Tsuji and no one else like him exists in this country and probably not in Japan either. In addition to the top notch training I've been receiving as an adult, I've also witnessed a bit of the children's programs as well. The children love it there as well as the parents. I can also say that unlike other martial arts schools, Samurai Academy isn't run like business. They won't try and sell you expensive packages or lock you in to a year long contract. If you want to be there you can be there and if you don't you can leave (few ever leave). This place has not only made me feel more confident in my physical abilities but it has also made me stronger mentally as well. Being surrounded by such a positive environment has made me a much better person in just one short year and my training has only begun. I don't give five star ratings very often but I'd give Samurai Academy in Weymouth a 10 if I could.

I have been a student at AKKA south weymouth for 2 years. I started in their Fitness Kickboxing…read moreprogram and then merged into their adult karate program. The place is always clean, staff is fabulous- always courteous, always pleasant, and so hardworking. I highly recommend this academy to anyone looking for a karate academy with structure, wonderful staff, and great students.

From the owner: AKKA has been building confidence and fitness in students since 1995. Our programs develop…read morediscipline, respect, focus, and self defense.

I would't give such a low rating, but after being promised to be prepared and cornered for a…read morecharity fight by the owner and gym. The owner was never there and the trainers couldnt promise they could be in my corner for the charity fight. I wasted a 10 dollars for the month membership and a private lesson. To make matters even worse MY ELECTRIC BIKE WAS STOLEN right outside the gym, No one has checked the cameras or even got back tome right after it happened. It was a $400-600 dollar bike that I used to get to the gym and train station. And still no word on the bike or them looking at the cameras. You can't even get a in touch with the gym. Save your money. A ll they care about is your money. Not one bit of information about my bike

I like this place a lot. Down stairs they have 2 full rings, 8-10 heavy bags, 6-8 speed bags, 5 or…read more6 double end bags, an uppercut bag, weights, jump ropes, treadmills, and pretty much everything else you would need for an intense boxing workout. Upstairs they have a full octagon, some wrestling mats, and some speed bags. Needless to say, that is where most of the mixed martial arts training happens. Additionally, there are lockers and shower (one in each bathroom) on site. They run classes everyday for all ages. You get a good mix of people here with men and women ranging in age from 12 - 60+ of varying abilities. There is sparring if you are interested and a number of pros workout here, most notably Joe Lauzon. It doesn't really have the traditional sweat stench of a boxing gym which I am completely fine with.

I'm sure like most, I was intimidated of the thought of going to a Muay Thai gym to get in shape…read more I mean it's just easier to go to a gym and jump on an elliptical for an hour while watching TV, right? WRONG! I tried for years to go to the low cost gyms but I never saw the results I wanted. At Sitsuphan you get results! Sitsuphan got me in the best shape of my life which I owe to their top notch coaching staff. The coaches/trainers at really help you get in shape and keep you motivated. They also have a number of classes and in the variety training that worked for my hectic schedule. I highly recommend you give them a try. You won't be disappointed.

I went in with high hopes. A lot of the reviews make this place sound great. I still really want…read moreto like this place because all the research I did made me believe I was going to get an authentic training experience which can be tough to obtain. The trainers were nice enough, but it was disappointing that during the workout they seemed very distracted. It was difficult to focus on the warm up exercises they assigned while they were gossiping about students with each other. I believe the trainers are knowledgeable and I would get a good education, but the lack of focus and lax attitude just really made me unmotivated to go back. If you are not excited about Muay Thai then how can you make me excited? I also didn't like that they are somewhat secretive with their pricing scheme. I asked several times about price and was never given a straight answer. Makes it seem less legitimate. UPDATE: The owner reached out to me and I got the impression my experience was the exception and not the rule. Having said that I have already moved on to a new exercise venue and won't be giving sitsuphan another chance, but I am going to upgrade my rating to reflect my interaction with the owner.

Our son has been a student at AKKA since this summer and we couldn't be happier. The discipline…read moretaught in class has even helped us at home with behavioral issues. Pete and his instructors are wonderful! We have been so impressed how they show the students same level of respect that is expected of them. Long term, I can see this program giving our son confidence and skills that will last a lifetime.

My son has been a student at AKKA in Hanson for a year now. It was the best choice we could have…read moremade for him. He has grown as a person in this past year. He has demonstrated leaderships skills, learned how important it is to take care of his body, self control/discipline, confidence and focus. He has learned how to set goals for himself and work hard until he reaches that goal. His instructors are amazing! Pete, Andrew and his instructors in training are all focused on the best for these kids. The attention to detail and the encouragement they are able to give to each student is remarkable.

Love this school!!!…read more Very legitimate instruction with classes that always leave your head spinning with knowledge and the sweat pouring from your face. Very friendly atmosphere that stresses the positives of a martial arts program, for children and adults alike. Both kids and adults will always be challenged while having fun. There are extra curriculars for all age groups ranging from the movie nights, to seminars, camps (kids AND adults!), to week to week classes. Thurston Academy has taught me that there is no end to martial arts. You can learn what was taught hundreds of years ago, in a time where martial arts was practiced for life preservation (maximum efficiency of the body, weapons, and more). They will provide access to all the tools and knowledge, you just need to put forth the effort! They also offer the knowledge of Chinese Medicine. As there is many ways to destruct the body, there are many ways to heal it. THANKFULLY, they offer both! There's oils, braces, energetic healing, and other countless therapeutic recipes to put your body back together! Not only do they maintain the best traditional training with direct lineage to Okinawa but they also offer some of the best training in the sport aspect of martial arts (kickboxing, BJJ, point-Karate, XMA). Whether you're looking to win your first fight, compete in a grappling tournament, or surpass your personal best in an athletic competition (or in general!), they've got you covered! Thurston Academy has changed my life. With their guidance, I have become much more positive. I have accomplished personal goals that I had only dreamed of before and have had my world turned upside down. Previous to becoming a member, I had NO idea how deep the rabbit hole of martial arts actually goes. With their guidance, my health has improved tenfold, not only physically, but on the mental and spiritual level as well.. And as I have learned thoroughly, HEALTH IS THE FIRST WEALTH! They have the best martial arts programs around, hands down. I still remember the moment I decided to start my journey... It was the most positively influential moment of my life and I couldn't be happier that I made it. Start yours today!

I want to preface this with saying that I wrote this review in September of 2020, and have not…read moreedited it. It is in present tense. Things may have changed since then- I do not know. I've been with Thurston for a few years now, and I truly love the staff. The teachers are fantastic and I've learned so much from them. They push me in all the best ways and always make me want to do my best. The owners however, can be really concerning about money. They're great teachers, but they haven't treated me well in the past when I was in a position where I couldn't necessarily pay. The instance that immediately comes to mind is when the pandemic started in March. This was something that put all business owners in a bad situation, and so I don't begrudge them for having a difficult time of it, but the way they went about it was all wrong. They begin having online videos and one on one zoom lessons, which was fine, but they charged everyone the same price they charged for the regular in person classes. They also gave no compensation for the time in which there were no classes at all, and no financial help. When we said that we may have to cancel my lessons and join back once covid got less severe, they threatened to demote me back to white belt. Since they opened up their gym, they are training us in a way that is completely against covid guidelines. There are no masks, and everyone is within six feet of each other. And it's very easy to spread illness in a sweaty environment. The owners are greedy, and that definitely puts them in a different light to me than they used to be. That instance made me realize that they cared more about our money than my ability to defend myself, because if I'd been dropped back down to white, I'd be relearning techniques that I could do in my sleep, and nothing valuable would have come from the lessons. Not to mention, I payed a lot of money to be able to test up to where I am (yellow belt). I believe it was $75 dollars just to test, plus once I reached yellow I had to buy all the sparring equipment, which came up to around $200. Plus, the three years worth of training that I've paid for. So not only would they be taking away my rank, but they'd be taking away several thousands of dollars and considering them useless. I would also like to mention that when I told Joe, one of the owners, that I was leaving the dojo, he tried to intimidate and pressure me into staying, and interrogated me about my reasons for staying in a very demeaning and condescending way. When I went in today for my lesson, I was told that my membership cancellation was effective immediately, despite the fact that we had paid for the month of September and my membership renews in October. Following this, my father called him and told him he was going to write a bad review and tell his clients not to go to Thurston, and Joe responded with indirect threats, saying things like "you better not leave a bad review, I own a house near where you're moving." Which was not only incredibly unprofessional, was a terrifying thing to say, as now we don't even feel safe in our own town. Joe is cruel, and he treats people terribly. And from what I've seen of Alison, she has two sides. The sweet, kind teacher side, and the greedy, money hungry side. Another very big issue with Thurston is that they are not at all organized with the testing. There are three adult martial arts taught at Thurston- Krav Maga, Karate, and Ju Jitsu. (Well actually four, but unless I am mistaken, I don't believe kickboxing tests) It is extremely obvious that the owners care much more for the other two, and much less for Krav Maga. Which left me and the other Krav students at the short end of the stick. I've been there three years, and only been able to test twice. The second time (for my orange belt) I was very sick, and could not attend. They promised me they'd have a make up test, they never did. Meanwhile, I have friends in the Thurston Karate program who went up at least three levels (possibly more) in six months. Us Krav students are just an afterthought for when they remember that they have to test us. The other marital arts go up to black belt, Krav Maga only goes up to purple. They do not care. Basically, if you are considering going to Thurston, I wouldn't recommend it. I will say that the instructors are fantastic, and truly care about their students. I'm lucky to have gotten to train with both DeAndre and Adam. And they are also fantastic with kids, from what I've seen. But don't make the mistake of thinking that the owners will treat you like family. They may care about you, but in the end, it doesn't matter how they feel about you, because you are just a source of money to them.

My oldest daughter has been a member for over 8 years and recently my 2 youngest joined as well,…read moreBUKA is part of the family we even drive 45 min since we are so loyal to the school and instructors, they have excellent programs and is priced very affordable, we will continue for years to come. Thanks to all the wonderful instructors!

My daughter started karate when she was five years old she's she's on our eighth year she loves it…read moreand the instructors are great in very orientated . The Brockton public school loves the program that he's doing the kids get really involved in their school work and having respect for others in themselves not to mention the confidence.

As a therapist and as a parent I feel this place is great. Tim, the owner and instructor, is great…read morewith kids and will accommodate your child's needs, whatever they are. Being part of AKKA has empowered my daughter so much. This place is especially great for kids with ADHD and attention issues as it teaches them the focus and discipline they need.

I can't say enough about what AKKA Rockland has done for my sons. The discipline and confidence is…read morenoted by friends, family and teachers! They have been able to deal with various (minor) issues utilizing lessons they have learned at karate. The instructors show personal interest in each students' motivation and achievements! Being part of the AKKA family is something they have for themselves outside of school activities and friends.

Today's Workshop Yoga at the Wall was so great!!!…read moreInformative, safe and incredibly effective. Thank you very much, Feeling powerful, Jude

This was an unexpected outing, and Jess was so fantastic leading us in yoga practice. More…read moreeffectively than most people who do what she does, she found a way to focus us on controlling our breathing in order to hear our thoughts. It was therapeutic and powerful.