One of the best choices I have ever made was joining Team Redzovic. I joined early summer of 2015…read moreand am still very much a beginner, but everyone, from the instructors to the higher belts and my peers at white belt, have created a positive attitude of learning and respect. I often am partnered with a higher belt and each time, without fail, that person has taken the time walk me through our lesson without ego and with the utmost patience. The philosophy of every class is to get better each day, and not let a bad day of training deter you from the journey. The atmosphere is one of respect and teaching. I missed a few classes due to an serious illness and twice I got a call from the school wishing me a speedy recovery and welcoming me back whenever I was ready. This demonstrates the character this school exemplifies. I had already paid for my classes, those calls weren't about the money it was about keeping me on track and checking in on a student. Class organization. I recommend this school to anyone. It's a great workout, a challenging and humbling art that pushes your limits and requires one to step outside their comfort zone and test their own resolve to learn. Great experience-truly one of the best decisions I ever made.

Joining Redzovic Jiu Jitsu 6 months ago has truly changed my life. I was badly out of shape, always…read morewanting to do better - but failing constantly to get started, stay committed, or make real changes. I keep the "free trial class" tab open on my browser for 6 months before coming in - I was nervous I'd be too out of shape, too old to get started, just no good... Then I finally hit a breaking point and decided to just try one. While very very hard and extremely humbling - I was hooked right away. Felt incredibly motivated to get better... the kind of motivation you can only achieve by being repeatedly choked, swept, and submitted by people much smaller than you. Professor Greg and Coach Sandino have provided me consistent encouragement, education, and drive - they are great coaches, and if you are just starting out, their "fundamentals" weekday classes get ton of 1:1 instruction and depth. I've lost weight, improved my fitness levels, and generally feel a much happier and more confident person. Also been able to bring my 6yr old daughter along with me. She loves the kids classes, the hands on attention from the coaches, and learning self defense and discipline. I strongly recommend coming in for a trial class - the gym is welcoming, a great community, with tough competition but support along the way.

If you want to study Kung Fu directly from a 8th Dahn Chinese Master then go to CGFI…read more Master Zhang offers classes in TaiJi, Wushu and External martial arts. Zhang has plenty of credentials in Kung Fu and Tai Ji- its rare to study directly from the master so If your into Kung Fu then you should go train here!

Looking for the best tai chi in Chicago? The Chinese Gong Fu Institute at Western and Wilson may…read morejust be it! Choosing a tai chi teacher is tricky. To reap the many benefits of the art, one needs to learn it correctly. But students don't know enough to evaluate the skill level of instructors, so what's the answer? For me, it was to find the most experienced, credentialed tai chi teacher I could find--Grandmaster Zhang of the Chinese Gong Fu Institute. Grandmaster Zhang is the real deal. Trained in China under elite and rigorous martial artists, he brings a technical insight and wisdom to his teaching that ensures his students will receive the proven rewards--strength, health, flexibility, and peace of mind--of tai chi practice, rather than waste their time doing it wrong. Anyone can wave their hands around in a slow motion dance, but tai chi is so much more than that! For example, after just 12 classes with Master Zhang, my balance and posture have improved tremendously and I am amazed at how this has reduced my daily stress level. I feel more "grounded" going about my daily life, with the result of less anxiety and more confidence. For those with flexible schedules, the weekday morning classes avoid rush hour and are great, but there are evening and Saturday classes, too. In addition to tai chi, classes in fighting-style kung fu (/gong fu) are also offered. Master Zhang (pronounced "jong," rhymes with "long") teaches all of his classes personally with a section of each class devoted to working individually with students. The other students are a friendly, helpful bunch, and his top student--a woman named Molly--is positively inspiring to watch! After 20 years of studying tai chi with Master Zhang, she is the embodiment of strength, flexibility and grace. Another thing I love: sometimes, during warm up or while we're doing the forms, Master Zhang will sit down and play the zither, a horizontal string instrument that I had previously only seen played by zen masters in martial arts movies. It is quite beautiful. We are very lucky to have Master Zhang here in Chicago, as tai chi teachers with his training, lineage, and artistry are becoming increasingly rare. Learn with him now, while you still can. Someday he'll retire and you'll have missed your chance!

This is a great place to learn Hapkido. Hapkido is a korean martial art that uses fun stuff like…read morekicks, strikes, and joint locks to immobilize your opponet. Hapkido is easier to pick up and use than some other martial arts and they aren't above teaching you some quick and dirty ways to ruin someone's day (which I will leave to your imagination). Master Kevin is the main guy and he is really down-to-earth and patient with total rookies like myself. The hours are great - they have classes seven days a week and evenings. The first class is free and if they see someone new they'll teach some quick, easy-to-learn self-defense stuff along with the regular class. Even if you don't sign up, you will have a new trick or two up your sleeve in case you ever need it. Try it out!

Truly awesome martial arts!!! This is Hapkido as intended without crazy aerials designed to woo…read morecrowds of S. Koreans or writers from Black Belt Magazine... a good indication that a Hapkido school is actually teaching something else. Here the emphasis is placed on learning the techniques correctly intertwined with basic street knowledge and a good dose of common sense which is refreshing. Master Kevin has been teaching Hapkido since he was in his teens, holds his BS in Education, has years of experience bouncing Chicago nightclubs and performing security/bodyguard work for major names in the Hip Hop world, and is now the premier instructor for the Jung Ki Kwan Hapkido in the Midwest. This is a man who understands fighting, self-defense, and the psychology of what happens in a confrontation and is able to teach why the techniques work based on his experiences rather than just teaching material without ever having tested its practicality. Now that I have been training here for the last 6 months, I can't imagine studying Hapkido under anyone else. Also available are classes in Kuhapdo which is a Korean sword style as well as women-only classes in Self-Defense and the new female instructed FitCut class that focuses heavily on core strength through the use of the sword, cardio, and coordinated movement. As Mark noted, Hapkido is a Korean martial art and is commonly translated as "the way of coordinated energy/power". It is also frequently described using words like "dynamic" and "eclectic" because it combines so many different types of response that are all based on redirecting your opponent's energy and returning it in a circular motion, typically along with a final strike or series of strikes intended to end the fight. In addition to basic strikes and low kicks, you learn joint locks, pressure points, throws, and some weapons at more advanced levels. Finally, Hapkido is not a Korean version of the Japanese Aikido whose techniques typically end short before leaving the realm of defensive measures. Simply put, Hapkido is street fighting which also helps distinguish it from competitive arts like Karate, Tae Kwan Do, Kickboxing, Judo, or BJJ. I have nothing but respect for other arts but competitive martial arts generally consider our final strikes "dirty" or "illegal" because they focus on how to score points in a match. In my eyes, if you're in a real fight, I'll skip over anything designed for competitive back-and-forth point scoring and do whatever I need to in order to walk away in 1 piece. Realistically, that may simply mean running but if my back is against a wall, this is a martial art that just may save my neck. This is a great school. Pricing is fair and Master Kevin will never try to get you to sign a lengthy contract. To my knowledge, he doesn't even have contracts other than asking that you let him know 30 days before leaving. Also worth noting, the entire syllabus is available on DVD in English being performed by the current Grandmaster in Korea (http://jkkmedia.com) and is a great way to supplement the material you get in class and reinforce your understanding so that you can train at a more accelerated pace. Check out the International Hapkido USA website (http://jungkifamily.com) for class times and any additional information.

Great place to go. The staff is very nice and it's a great workout where your picking up great…read moreskills. I wish I would have started a long time ago. Give it a shot.

Five stars all around! My only regret is that I didn't start 20 years ago. It's been more fun than…read morehumans should be allowed, and it's apparent that, if I stick with it , I will learn Muay Thai skills that could be very effective in a real world situation. I run marathons, Spartan Races, strength train and am in better condition than the average 55 year old. But hey....I'm 55, and a relatively fit 55 year old is not as fit or flexible as a 25 year old. I was very nervous about being too old to start Muay Thai. The owners have been fantastic and encouraging. Tony made it clear from day one that skills take a while to develop and not to judge myself against anyone else. I wrestled and did some Judo in the past, but have never formally trained in boxing or kicking. I have only been at EKF a month and already feel that with enough time, practice, attention, and repetition that I will be able to use my Muay Thai skills effectively. One of my major concerns before starting martial arts was that the other students would be a bunch of gruff, tough guy types. Nothing could have been further from the truth. The other students have been fantastic and patient when working with me. I still am surprised every day when one second another student is throwing punches and kicks that could do some real damage and the next second they are smiling at you and partnering up with you to show you something very basic. The facility is all business, and I mean that as a compliment. It has all the essential equipment and is really functional. On the days I drive, parking has been easy to find. With COVID, the owners at EKF have gone out of their way to keep the facility and equipment clean and disinfected after each use and have scrupulously followed all guidelines to keep their students safe. I am hoping to be at EKF for years to come.

Love to folks at bender! Its my home away from home! I went in with no experiance, and everyone was…read morevery understanding and welcoming, highly recomend!

If you are looking for an amazing space with a coach who creates a welcoming environment, look no…read morefurther. Jason is dedicated in helping you optimize your fitness routine, whether in his functional fitness class or his jiu jitsu class. Jason is thorough in his explanations and understands the need of his students. I was new to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and Jason welcomed me with open arms. Most of the students are fairly new, and we all learn and grow together. I'm an adult learner and new moves (whether easy or complex) takes time and repetition. Jason incorporates that into his classes, and builds on what you learn from the previous week. He is very thoughtful on the structure of the class and the way he teaches it. Melody, a phenomenal purple belt, is a welcoming presence at BMAF and helps with answering questions as well. As you progress, both Jason and Melody will challenge you a little bit more because they see the potential in you. It truly feels like a family when you visit BAMF.

Noted as kids under 8 friendly but not really. Reasonable cost but be older or vet your kid firstread more

Kiku Matsu is a great place to learn aikido, my daughter Sloan loves it here. She's obsessed. She…read moreloves the sensei's and students. She's been doing aikido for almost year now and she never wants to quit. I recommend this place very much. (This is totally not Sloan writing this)

Been going for about a month which is the longest I have been able to take a fitness course. Their…read morevariety in fitness classes and the positive atmosphere keeps me pushing forward. Forteza Fitness is a supportive group who pushes you to do your best and work with whatever you can do. Taking any kind of class can be overwhelming especially when you have difficulties with the exercise. Everyone from the teachers to other students are so patient and work with my abilities and support each other as we go through the classes. I have struggled with classes because of trying to train my muscles to work a certain way or having the stamina, but the support at Forteza keeps pushing me and helping to make me stronger/heathier.

Strength and fun in a no-frills/no-fuss atmosphere…read more This is a fitness studio with two core training sets: an extensive coursework/community of historic European martial arts (swords! swords ! swords!) and a more fitness-focused schedule of classes geared around Spartan races. The space is set up mostly for the martial arts, so that it feels like a set for period movie about Queen Elizabeth. It's a very comfortable space for bookworms to come work out. The fitness classes are very fun. They tend to be small, with lots of personal, gentle attention. Trainers get to know the regulars and the regulars get to know each other, which makes each workout friendly and welcoming. And I got a great deal on personal training. The workouts themselves are usually a bit more focused on strength and flexibility over cardio/endurance. The one drawback (for those who use the space more for fitness) is that it really is more of studio than a gym. There's no showers and no treadmills. Somehow I'm far more motivated to work out here than I was at other places I tried, where I'd just end up donating my gym membership month after month. At Forteza I feel like I'm getting a personal training . . .in a class setting . . three times a week. Like it's gym class again but for fun people with nice teachers. It's a gym class that's redeemed itself. They've fixed gym class. It's glorious.

Not beginner friendly or welcoming at all. I felt like I was intruding. The students also seemed…read morefrustrated with me when they couldn't even explain the movements and nothing I saw from them was impressive (despite training there for years.) When you've played sports your whole life and have been trained a certain way, you're not going to be Samurai Jack day one. Oops. The instructor was all crabby because I corrected him on my pronouns. Too simple minded to realize he was already using they/them as a singular pronoun when describing a proverbial attacker, so it's not like he had to make a huge adjustment in his speech. Probably another bigot who doesn't know the difference between sex and gender identity. He spoke of "Zen" but his energy with me was the opposite. Some people should do more soul work before they elect to service the public. Other than that, I respect Aikido a little more after one class. I like that everyone works together to honor the space by cleaning up after training. I can see how it sharpens the mind. However, I'm finding Muay Thai (somewhere else) more effective and aligned with what I'm looking for. I'll stick with that.

What a wonderful community of practice!…read more Having taken five classes, I can honestly say that each experience at Shinjinkai has gotten better and better. The students are warm, welcoming and deeply committed to their practice. Jason is an encouraging, thoughtful, patient sensei. I really like that classes are drop-in and that parking is free and convenient. Whether you're brand new to Aikido like me or advanced, you'll love being a part of this community.