Sensei Chuck is a very patient and knowledgeable teacher. My children have been involved in this…read moredojo for about seven years. One of my them obtained his black belt under Sensei's tutelage, and the other one is well on his way. At this dojo, children learn more than just the karate moves. They are taught important lessons regarding character and rewarded for community involvement. I highly recommend any beginner karate student to check this dojo out.

This is the place to bring your children so they will learn respect and self-confidence. This is…read morethe place to bring your family to study together and to live a peaceful and healthy lifestyle. There are three black belts in my family and another on the way. Our lives have been blessed from our involvement with this dojo and especially by our contact with Sensei Phillips who is a true master in body, mind and spirit of karate-do. This is the place to come to meet the most amazing people on the planet. They have become more life family than casual acquaintances. These are the people that I trust. We help each other through difficult times and we celebrate the victories and successes of life. This is a sacred place!! Bring yourself here and see for yourself if I am not right!!

My daughter and I spent nearly two years training at Hive Martial Arts, drawn to the supportive…read morecommunity fostered by Mr. Froeming and other members, which quickly felt like family. With over a decade of experience coaching all ages--especially youth--I also served as an assistant coach and videographer at Hive, supporting the school in any way I could. Unfortunately, a recent incident with a confrontational parent, Andrea Deshone, exposed serious gaps in the school's approach to conflict resolution. After a class, Andrea aggressively approached me over a complaint from her daughter, Stella, an instructor at Hive that day. Instead of addressing her concerns professionally, Stella went to her mother, who then confronted me. Despite my calm requests for space, Andrea refused to back away and even stepped closer when I expressed that I felt threatened, effectively cornering me. She got so close that I could feel her breath and spit. Mr. Froeming and another student approached, and I pleaded for help, explaining that I felt attacked and trapped. It can be as frightening for a man to feel threatened by a woman, knowing that defending oneself could have serious consequences. Unfortunately, this nuance was not acknowledged here. A trusted adult student witnessed the exchange, observing that I had simply asked a question of the only instructor in my group. Later, this student confirmed to Mr. Pallesen that I had done nothing wrong. Despite this corroboration and texts supporting my account, Mr. Pallesen never acknowledged this and chose not to address the issue. Initially, he agreed to mediate, but after I submitted a personal account explaining the incident's impact on my CPTSD--which affected me severely for two weeks and still affects me--he declined to read it and suggested I pretend the incident hadn't happened. When I asked if he would take the situation seriously if the genders were reversed, he confirmed that he would, highlighting an inconsistency. In our exchanges, Mr. Pallesen shared his own experience with Andrea, recounting how her family aggressively confronted him in 2017 about his treatment of children, saying, "What the f--k happened? Why are you treating the kids like this?" According to him, this intervention forced him to self-reflect, helping him save his business. He also explained that Andrea's family threatened him with a bad review, which he acknowledged could have impacted his business. This may explain his reluctance to address my situation directly, but I genuinely hope he learns from this experience as he did with his previous encounter so he can grow as both an instructor and a leader. This experience reflects broader concerns about leadership and standards at Hive. During one leadership lecture, Mr. Pallesen stated that "both political parties are basically the same," a comment that bothered one student, Beth, so much that she responded, "That is the definition of white privilege," highlighting a lack of sensitivity in a group that includes people of color and people of the LGBTQ+ community. While Mr. Froeming and most of the community were wonderful, the lack of professional support from leadership ultimately left my daughter and me feeling disconnected from a place we once considered family. I share this review in the hope that Hive Martial Arts can reflect and grow, strengthening its community for all.

Great school with amazing teachers. My son has been going here for five years. I would never go…read moreanywhere else! I will follow this dojo anywhere if they ever move! Best dojo ever!!!!! :)

My kid is going to this place for almost 3 years. Mr. Raeberg is a 5th degree black belt and very…read morepatient man. He is not only a karate instructor but also a great motivator. He gives his students little lessons on homework and discipline. I do like it. The facility is not real big, just the right size. Sometimes it is little crowded with all the students and parents. My kid loves his karate class. He loves to get rewarded for doing his chores at home ( they earn stripes). I think the recognition is the best motivator. Great idea. I think the only thing that is steep is the cost. But at the end keeping my kid focused and interested can't be measured by money. He likes it a lot and he likes his teacher. He is earning his black belt tomorrow and he is excited. So if you are looking for a great karate school, you should put this place on top of your list. They are sincere and great for kids. By the way, if you sign up 2 kids, mom and dad is in for free.

This is a great place for kids to learn respect, discipline get in shape and have a great time!…read moreHighly recommend!

The last place one would expect to find such immense knowledge and practical application of the art…read morebecause it is in the outskirts of the Twin Cities. Most people think that martial arts are for kids but this is an all ages environment. Adult classes are about learning the art, how is can be used effectively and learning from one another. It's not 50x this move, 50x that repetition and dry activity. No two classes are the same and you always come away feeling that you learned something and gained a skill. If you are over 40 and wanting to regain mobility, flexibility and self confidence with people who "get it", this is your place. If you have kids or teenagers or just young at heart and want to start learning without having to buy a ton of gear or sign a contract, this is your place.

Experts in Okinawan martial arts that are open to sharing their knowledge with martial artists of…read moreall backgrounds. Always helpful to show most physically sound approach to application of kata.

Our kids love coming and were so excited to earn their belts. Our eldest is neurodivergent and fits…read moreright in. We love that Mr. Kahn doesn't "dumb down" lessons for any kid. They are all expected to achieve. We love the emphasis on respect and also how Mr. Kahn and his staff connect with each child. He's so good with kids --- he's a terrific young man! He challenges our boys to be their best. Sometimes the lessons are a few minutes short, and we wish they went the full 30 minutes, and also the email communications can be a bit much, but overall we are impressed and happy to have found this studio. As a mom of boys, I also love that there are female instructors. Way to go Kahn Martial Arts!

Great atmosphere for kids! Started bringing my child there to help learn focus and control and the…read morefirst month has been great. The schedule is super flexible and such a great price to teach the young ones some life skills and valuable lessons while having fun. The teachers also make the whole experience that much more enjoyable! Would recommend to anyone with a little one that has some phsycial and mental energy to burn in a healthy positive way!

There are several closer, more convenient options for kids jiu-jitsu from our Golden Valley home,…read morebut we choose to attend MKJA for two reasons. First is the instructor David. He works incredibly hard to make MJKA a successful martial arts training center, communicates very well with and truly cares about the kids. We have also been impressed with Ben and Devante, his junior jiu jitsu instructors. Second, MKJA is one of only 3 Gracie Certified Training Centers in Minnesota where the Gracie Bullyproof program is taught, with the option of moving into the Gracie Combatives course as teenagers. Both the Bullyproof and Combatives courses have unique aspects to them, including prioritizing jiu jitsu as street self defense over jiu jitsu as a sport. We definitely recommend MKJA for anyone.

We love Mr. Toft and his team of instructors. Our son is 8 and has poor coordination (sensory…read moredelay) as well as attention deficit. He has done so well and increased he confidence and agility at Metro Karate in Eden Prairie. We are amazed at how well he does and his dedication and believe it is a reflection of the instructors.

They need to put a better description of what style of karate it is and introduce the instructorsread more

Definitely a top notch environment for learning karate. The team of instructors here have a strong…read moreknowledge and ability to pass on their knowledge of the art. Highly recommended!

Poor communication and poor customer service. Owner called and yelled at me when I inquired about…read morepausing membership. He immediately cancelled the membership but charged me an additional month. We did NOT use their service during that month. Others have confirmed this business has done this to them. Owner displayed a threatening tone. I now wonder if my child was safe there.

Excel Martial Arts historically has had some of the best Instructors in the business that can keep…read morecolored belts energized and excited to train. However, once reaching Black Belt...the advanced training simply isn't available and isn't a focus of the school owner. Ever since COVID and Excel's downsizing remodel which reduced the training space by more than 50% and the flexibility of the training schedule (does not put into consideration students-athletes that compete in other school/club sports), the classes simply haven't been the same. Membership prices are all over the board and inconsistent across families. Overall ownership and day-to-day operations (or lack thereof) lead to a poorly run business that continues to fail on delivering against the basics such as communication and customer service that everyone should expect. There was a time years ago this could have been a 5-star, but unfortunately that is no longer the case. Sad.

I am writing to express my most enthusiastic recommendations for the Unified Martial Arts Academy…read more Upon my reflection of my nearly nine years at Unified Martial Arts Academy earning a Black Belt. I can confidently state that becoming a student at the school was one of the most productive and positive decisions I have made. I started as a student in my early thirties. Many adults feel uncomfortable about beginning a commitment well into their career since they have not been in a "learning" environment for a long time. That is a big mistake. Personal growth and knowledge should never end, no matter what your age. The benefits I have received at Unified Martial Arts Academy are many and it is a classic case of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. The diverse training program put together by Sensei Albert makes every class interesting and exciting, so that there is never any excessive repetition. One of the things that makes the program special for me is that it incorporates physical, mental, and spiritual elements. I have taken many lessons learned at the unified martial arts academy and incorporated them into my everyday life. Finally, the key ingredient of what makes Unified Martial Arts Academy unique is the spirit of the teacher Sensei Albert. He teaches in the way you learn and will take the time to make sure you fully understand the training. He puts heart and passion into every class. Sensei Albert is the proprietor of the school and has practiced karate for many years. and he teaches every class. Also, the bonding that comes through sharing the spirit and training of the other students meeting shared challenges is not found often, but it certainly exists at Unified Martial Arts Academy. I hope others take advantage of all the special benefits of martial arts training provided and taught by Sensei Albert. It is a great program that offers physical fitness and self-defense tools wrapped in a fun and motivating environment.

Very welcoming and is like a second family. I don't think I will ever come across a better dojo…read morethan this one.

I went to the Ultimate Martial Arts studio when I had been seriously injured also had a broken…read morefoot. The instructors were very understanding allowing me to work through at a pace I could handle. Grand Master Malone is very knowledgeable and works well with all ages of students. The cost was nominal, the support here is well worth the investment. Tae Kwon Do is a new form for me, here I have the ability to work on form, movement, and healing.

Great with kids and very knowledgeable about the history of taekwondo. I have been training here…read moresince 2011, and the instructors are very flexible with the needs of students of all ages. Sparring is Kukiwon style, forms are Chang Hon and Kukiwon. The Hapkido curriculum covers standing grappling with some groundwork. And very competitive pricing!