I used to love this location (Fairfax) of Kaize . However, recent changes have made me decide to…read morepull my kids out and go to a different location. My kids are in the youngest age group (under 7). They used to be taught by adult Sempais, and I could see them gaining skills, self control, respect, etc. But this location recently changed to allowing older kids to serve as Sempais and run the class. These kids don't have any experience with teaching children - they're still children themselves. The focus of classes has shifted from learning skills to just "conditioning" - running, sit-ups, push-ups, etc. And these child instructors just don't have the self-control to serve as instructors. At the end of most classes, the Sensei/Sempai ends with a fun game to conclude on a fun note. But recently, the child Sempai leading a dodgeball-type game got carried away and way too competitive and was throwing the ball full force into little kids' faces. I saw a 4 yr old get slammed in the face (by the Sempai) so hard she fell down. And the Sempai appeared to like it and continued to throw full full force at other 4, 5, and 6 year olds. That was the breaking point for me. The other Kaizen locations are good, and we'll stick to those ones.

I am enrolled in the Muay Thai program here at Fairfax Karate. It is a great program and I am in…read moremuch better shape than I was before. I may even consider taking an amateur fight. Najim, the coach is great. He is very technical in his instructions but still very understanding that it takes time to learn the techniques. Plus he has a strong competitive record: Multiple Sabaki (full contact Enshin Competition) wins and multiple Muay Thai Titles. It should be noted that some of the techniques are modified compared to pure Muay Thai to more of a Dutch style of Muay Thai. The classes run one hour, with about 10 minutes of warm up and stretching, about 40 minutes of technique training, and then about 10 minutes of calisthenics at the end. The varieties of techniques vary class to class ranging from the very basics to sparring for the more experience students. Also available are: Children and Adult Karate - I don't know a ton about these but have seen Najim coaching the children's classes and the kids seem to be learning alot of good techniques and still having a ton of fun. Also Enshin Karate, being a combination of kickboxing and Judo, does teach many techniques that are very real world usable should the students need them in an actual self defense situation. Gracie Jiu Jitsu - These classes are taught by Toney Waldecker, a blackbelt under Relson Gracie, son of Helio Gracie - the inventor of Gracie Jiu Jitsu. I don't know a lot about these classes either but Toney seems to be a very good trainer and Relson visits the dojo a few times a year it seems.

I was worried when moving from Los Angeles to the Washington DC area that I wouldn't be able to…read morefind a good Brazilian Jiu Jitsu school for myself and my two kids. I am thankful that I found the Yamasaki Springfield location. I tried out several different schools in the area and finally settled on Yamasaki because it felt like the perfect fit between the kids and adults programs. My kids train both judo and jiu jitsu at the school and both programs are great. Coach Mo is a great judo coach and they have a dozen or so black belts able to assist the kids classes on a regular basis. My son's take downs and standup have improved dramatically since training judo there. Professor Neto does a great job teaching both the kids classes and the adults class. The kids classes are the perfect balance of discipline and fun. Neto explains the various techniques with an extremely high level of detail and thoroughness. The adult classes have a good mix of beginners and advanced students. There are several black belts that attend class and can lead the class if Neto is away. The academy is air conditioned and comfortable in the summer months and Neto is a stickler keeping the mats clean.

My son has been coming here for over a year now and without a doubt has been a great experience for…read morehim. The facility is clean and the instructors are professional and very experienced. Most importantly they make it fun for a 7-year old. Another big plus is the number of senseis available per student. The small ratio gives a more in-depth teaching per student which at times may be required. Overall a great place to train and grow! Looking forward to seeing my son advance! Enjoy.

The best martial arts studio in Virginia! I studied there for years and would still be there but…read moremoved too far away.

Don't waste your time Kung Fu doesn't work in a real life self defense situation especially Wing…read moreChun.

My daughter has attended a birthday party, a day camp, and spring break at Incourage. Every single…read moretime she had a great time and I've been so impressed with how friendly and organized the staff has been. During the birthday parties all attendees have a chance to break a board. Huge highlight for the majority of the children. They also have different themes for the various camps which makes it more unique and interesting for students and instructors. They have great communication prior to the event and share pics during the day for the camps. During drop-off and pick-up they greet the children with bows. The instructors clearly love working there. They know how to balance having fun with teaching new skills and/or providing instructions. Plus, it's very impressive how quickly they learn the students' names. I love watching the children learn the value of respect and discipline. We've already signed up for some weeks of their summer camp too! Lastly, they are a great community member, giving back to the local schools, hosting parents' night out, and always offering deals and promotions.

Starting off to say my daughter is not interested in martial arts ... AT ALL ... so when she was…read moreinvited to a birthday party here I was already thinking that she would be spending a lot of time on the sidelines. Imagine my surprise when she joined in the activities easily and even saw a smile crack on her face! The instructors were so engaging and fun and I felt like they really did a great job encouraging and teaching the kids in a respectful manner. They truly run a tight ship here and I was impressed with the way they were able to easily flow from one activity to another while keeping up with a rambunctious group of second graders. They have a nice seating area for parents to watch, as well toys, coloring sheets, and crayons for siblings. I have walked by several times when they are doing their morning/after school camps and have always noticed how each kid seems truly excited to be there. If my daughter was interested in joining, I would sign here up in a heartbeat.

Solid school, no pressure, laid back, worth checking out…read more Selling points - no gimmicks or pressure to join (unlike most of the schools in NoVa) - the two instructors are skilled.... very skilled. Taekwondo and BJJ backgrounds - male / female / kid friendly - one instructor is female, both are super approachable - the age range is good. i'm in my early 30s and i'm happy to be surrounded by students of all walks of life - pricing is competitive, especially if you bundle in 2 classes - fellow students are super friendly School style - relaxed. they can push you when necessary but you don't feel like the bad guy from the Karate Kid movies is screaming at you. - belt test at your own pace - good mix of ground and standing training - punches, kicks, breaks and grappling - full sparing at appropriate rank - good, balanced self defense focus Additional bonus - they cater to what you want. If you want a calm atmosphere to train in, if you want to become a champion, if you want something to do with the family, they can surprisingly do any of that. it's a well run program and worth dropping in. First class is free!

Oriental Sports Academy is an excellent martial arts school that serves all ages, from young…read morechildren to teens to adults. The school teaches four Korean martial arts styles: Taekwondo, Judo, Hapkido, and Sword. It has a before and after school program for kids, as well as summer, winter, and spring break day camps. There are numerous social events that help the students, families, and staff connect with each other, and additional special training opportunities are available. I earned my black belt in Hapkido here, and now my son is learning Taekwondo. We both love OSA!

I recently joined Andrew Gause's Martial Arts, after several years away from a dojang. I grew up…read morepracticing Taekwondo, and I got to compete at a certain level in forms and sparring, so it had always been a fundamental part of my life. Going back to practice was, therefore, a significant decision for me, and the fantastic staff at Master Andrew's school have made it very easy to feel welcomed and integrated in their family. Classes are varied, never the same, and they help me so much to relieve stress from my working day at the office. In just a few weeks, I can feel I am back in shape, and have regained my passion for martial arts. Every week, lessons include basics, forms, sparring, self-defense and physical fitness, so there is no space for boredom or repetition. Facilities are immaculate, and equipment is all high end and new. The Taekwondo curriculum is very well organized, and allows every student to remain engaged and make progress. For me, however, the main differentiating factor of the school is the incredibly knowledgeable and skilled masters, as well as the dedicated and supportive instructors. They instill a strong sense of discipline, respect and seek for excellence which I feel very identified with. Having been in the world of Taekwondo for over 25 years, I can definitely say that I would recommend joining Andrew Gause's Martial Arts to my family and friends.

My grandson goes and enjoys his Karate classes. The trainers are really devoted and experts in…read moreteaching. They focus on every single child which is such a motivation for not only children but the parents too. I enjoy watching his class as the teachers are experts in teaching. I would definitely recommend my friends and family.

My daughter also just started here after really enjoying a trial class. Her brother has been going…read morehere for a while. The instructors are all so kind and patient. It is such a great experience for kids, both physically and mentally.

My son Loves the classes here…read more Knocking off a star because they offer a week free to try out the classes, BUT you need to sign up the first class you try in order to get a significant discount on the registration fee. Not a discount at the end of the week when you've had a chance to see how your child fares, but the first class you try. I was really hopeful this would be an activity both my kids could do at the same time, but my daughter 8 does not love it. They did a great job the first class giving her lots of attention and positivity to enjoy the class. After class, trying to discuss with daughter how she is feeling about it, in a very loud gym environment with lots of distractions, we were both overstimulated and I made a bad choice to sign her up. This is the reason for the 4 stars instead of 5. Too much pressure to decide after one class for the discount in a loud overstimulating environment. That all being explained. My 5 year old son LOVES it and we are upping our membership to 2 classes a week instead of 1 class.

Elite M.A Center is the best place around! The instructors are extremely knowledgeable and…read moreprofessional. Sanitary facility, excellent front desk staff. I have two children in the program and it is excellent. Classes are taught in a challenging manner, also discipline, perseverance, confidence and respect. Students earn their belts and are not simply given a belt because they have attended the school for a certain period of time. They learn at their own pace until they master a level and achieve a belt. It teaches boys and girls the skills they need to handle or defend themselves in any given situation.

My son loves going to his taekwondo lessons here. The instructors are awesome and patient with…read moretheir students. The best thing I love about the instructors is that they keep the students right in that magic spot of learning where the students get confident in their current learning level and yet introduce things subtly where it keeps the student challenged. I highly recommend this place irregardless of age and ability. For kids, its a great way to learn discipline and focus. For adults, its a great way to challenge yourself while getting fit and healthy. And they offer family classes which is great for a family who is looking for a great way to bond. The rates are also reasonable and they have flexible plans that will fit right into budget and schedule.

Sifu Michael is a masterful teacher. He is incredibly knowledgeable about the proper technique, and…read morestill able to break it down to the basics for the fresh beginners walking in off the street. He has endless patience, and will show me the same technique countless times, until I get it right. While class is highly focused and can become intense, there is always an informal and lighthearted attitude shared among the students and teacher. We help each other out and get stronger every class. I highly recommend coming to try out a class. He has an offer of the first month free which is unparalleled in any other martial arts studios in the area.

This class focuses on the application of Wing Chun while being ever so mindful that Wing Chun is…read morebased on principles and ideas that must be adhered to. The instructor is there before and after class for questions and more in-depth analysis of techniques.

This a great place. I highly recommend World Champion Taekwon Do to anyone interested in…read morepracticing, whether as a beginner or perhaps picking it up again after years off (as in my case). I started up at the age of 50 and was fairly nervous about trying to keep up with a class of fairly advanced students. The expert instructors, who are all wonderful, knowledgeable and approachable, were very supportive and encouraging. They worked with me individually and gave me great tips to help me adapt gradually to the pace of the class. There is a great sense of community in this school, with students of all ages and backgrounds. I've made great progress after a year here so far and look forward to years more. I strongly recommend World Championship Taekwon Do!

Make sure you are prepared to pay for an entire year even if your child hates it. I put my…read moregrandchildren into this because I read that Tae Kwon Di was good for kids with ADHD. This instructor consistently skipped over our granddaughter and kept saying she wasn't prepared. In one class he actually spanked another child. The is no way I can afford paying for another place while paying for this place. I'm am totally not satisfied.