Being a martial arts instructor and school owner myself, I can tell you there is a lot of value in…read morethe instruction at this dojo. If you're looking to learn joint locks, this is one of the best places to go in the area. Michael Seamark Kyoshi is one of the most proficient joint lock masters I've ever met in any style of Jujutsu. That being said, do not walk in there expecting to master this art in a few months. Joint locks are still a fine motor skill, and it takes a lot of training to be able to use them practically in self defense situations. Seamark Kyoshi does, however, have efficient teaching methods for imparting this knowledge and a friendly, welcoming training atmosphere. He also offers training in law enforcement oriented techniques, being an Advanced Security Training instructor with years of experience as a security professional. In addition to having some of the most painful joint locking techniques I've ever experienced, Seamark Kyoshi is also a skilled shiatsu practitioner, with training in the art a requirement at the higher levels of the style of KoKoDo Jujutsu. Under his skilled hands I have personally received treatment which accelerated the healing of a muscle pull I had. I have never tried the yoga at this school, taught by Diane Seamark, but I have heard good things about it.

This dojo is amazing! From the moment you walk in the door you are made to feel like family, very…read morewelcoming teachers and a group of students who are as dedicated to helping you grow as they are to their own learning. Under the guidance Michael Seamark Kyoshi this place offers practical martial arts in a safe environment free from ego and aggression, and allows people from all walks of life to walk the path of budo. I have practiced martial arts for 30 years or so and Michael Seamark Kyoshi is not only one of the most talented martial artists I have encountered but also has the ability and charisma to translate that talent to be an amazing teacher.

I've always been fascinated yet intimidated by self-defence classes. The fear of performance…read moreembarrassment usually stops me from going any further than lurking YouTube videos of self-defence moves, and the fear of wasting my time & money on "introductory" classes usually has me skeptical of signing up for what's usually just a glorified workout class with a few punches & kicks thrown in. My fears were relieved after doing my first ever Krav Maga class with Instructor Allan. The warmup was intense yet I had the space to do it at my own pace. Within the first half hour, I was learning what I thought was an advanced gun-disarming technique and had felt comfortable with it within 10 minutes. I got to work with students of all skill levels to get a wider perspective (many other instructors lump beginners separately from advanced students) and was fully supported and encouraged all the way through by Allan & my fellow students. Water breaks were spaced perfectly to avoid complete exhaustion, and the exercises were the most engaging and exciting I've ever experienced. I'm in the process of clearing up my schedule to make this a more regular part of my life. The awesome workout mixed with life-saving practical skills & techniques had me feeling energized and more confident in myself. I highly recommend this class for anyone who wants to learn real-world usable self-defence in an uplifting & supportive environment.

Allan has been my instructor for Crav Maga for a year now and it is an awesome class. Real life…read moresituations and self defence, strength and core training and confidence building. Allan knows his stuff and enthusiastically teaches everyone at their own pace. Great fun! Highly recommend it!

I have been to some of the more expensive gyms in town, and while towel service and mirrors are…read morenice, this place will get you in shape faster than anything else. If you have a sense of humour, you'll also have a good time. The most popular class is cardio kickboxing, which is a fitness class with a focus on core, legs, and pushups. In addition, there's some partner drills. Two things make it way better than the other boot camp style classes I have taken. First, George has spent years training as an Olympic swimmer and then kickboxer in Russia, and he brings these advanced techniques to the gym, so the workout is more efficient and more effective than the typical trainer who got a three month personal trainer certificate. Second, this is really functional: it's the drills you would do if you were planning on kickboxing. You will get a lean, toned kick boxer body very quickly. One girl who has never worked out started just after me, and in two weeks I could see the difference. My partner last week was a young looking fifty year old guy, who lost twenty pounds in six weeks doing this workout. The people in the class range from out of shape mom types, to SFU students, along with a few kickboxers who stay for the kickboxing as well. Mostly women in the class, but I can usually find a guy to partner with. The best deal is the monthly unlimited, and for an extra $20 or so, it lets you try all the classes. Just for fun, I have also tried the kickboxing class, which turned out to be great. I had taken a few martial arts (karate, judo) classes as a kid. These classes focus on the basics, and he teaches it so the techniques really make sense. He usually throws in a story about some guy getting hurt in the ring for doing the wrong technique, but it comes off funny, not scary. I don't plan on ever stepping into the ring, but it's very cool to finally learn the right way to throw a punch and a kick. The third option is the self defence class, which is very different. You won't sweat in this class, but you will learn practical moves, which appear to work. Again, I hope to never get in a fight, but it's fun to learn. I'm a firm believer that a good teacher makes all the difference. I really like George: he's highly qualified, he's definitely tough enough, but he's also very funny, in a very Eastern European way. Even if you don't live in the neighbourhood, it's worth a trip to check this place out.

I hate working out. I'm the one happily sitting in the pub scarfing back nachos and beer while…read morewaiting for my friends to finish their hot yoga/boot camp/crossfit classes. I reluctantly decided to start exercising, just to try to avoid all those yucky medical conditions that attack couch potatoes. A friend suggested kickboxing so we tried out Reality Martial Arts and... I can't believe how much I like it. It's a great workout that's also super fun, which I honestly believed to be impossible. It's nice to know that all the exercises we do are specific to kickboxing training, instead of the random moves you do in regular fitness classes. Don't expect the bells and whistles of a fancy gym - this is for 'real' training. The instructors are great and welcome guys and gals of all shapes, ages and fitness levels - no need to feel intimidated here. The schedule is very convenient, with loads of evening classes. For those who want to focus more on fitness than technique, they have cardio kickboxing too. Definitely the place to go to have fun, learn a new skill and get a complete workout in a friendly and supportive environment. Never thought I'd say this about a gym but I love this place!

I went for a free trial. I had been passing by for the last 6 years and I wish I would have tried…read morethis work out earlier. It is liberating! I love it. Great circuit, good trainers, energy and the work out is only 30 minutes. It goes by very fast. I'm so happy I decided to go try something new. This is the kind of work outs I've been looking for and I love that it's women only. It's less intimidating and the trainers take very good care of you. To me, the hours work because no matter what, I know I will make it happen because I've found the kind of work out that is for me.

A complete waste of my money. I went to ONE workout, my very first, and severely sprained my knee…read moreand ankle. Like, POP and I screamed and fell to the ground in crazy pain. The trainer did NOTHING. She asked if I was ok as I sat on the floor in agony. I was the only person working out at that moment so you could HEAR the pop. I asked if I could have an ice pack or if they had a first aid kit and she said they did not. I asked if I could at least have a water from the refrigerator so I could stop the swelling and she did grant me that (but I had to give it back). I reported this and asked if I could end my contract but they did not allow me so I paid FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR. It's a year and a half later now and I'm still recovering from this. I'm still getting, "We miss you" emails from them which has engorged my rage and prompted me to warn others about this. If this doesn't stop you from signing up, check out their hours. They are absolutely HORRIBLE. For a person with regular work hours, not convenient at all. Unless you like live like right next door. Oh, yeah, another issue I had was I moved to Vancouver suddenly, like a week after signing up. Nope. Not convenient at all. They rope you in with this "woman safe space" which is complete BS when they obviously don't care about you, even when you get injured RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM.

I got a groupon to try the drop in class…read more Not bad, very small and cozy gym area. I was abit confused when I walk in because the reception area and the gym area are neck to neck. It is extremely sweaty and hot in the gym if you don't mind. I went for Monday class, there is not really any structure on the fundamental teaching (although the class description says it is adult fundamental Muay Thai class). The fitness class is good, it is a circuit and plus the heat, you will sweat like a bucket, excellent warm up for the Muay Thai class. I have done Muay Thai before so I know the fundamentals but it might be confusing for someone who has never done it before. The students and the instructors are super nice and friendly. Overall it is very bang for the buck you paid for the groupon. I would go again just because I like the challenges.

If you're looking for a great mixed martial arts workout without sass or attitude, check out this…read morelocally owned studio. I take the Muay Thai kickboxing classes but Budo also offers Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, Kyokushin Karate, X-fit conditioning classes for fighters and a variety of kids classes. The studio owners and instructors are all trained in and are practitioners of their respective disciplines, so they pay attention to and help you correct your technique. The skill set in the kickboxing classes range from newbies to trained fighters, so it's not intimidating if you want to try it out for the first time nor is it too boring if you're a trained fighter. I've definitely noticed an increase in my confidence and my fitness levels. But above all, the instructors and fellow students have made me feel more badass, which speaks loads about how much fun you have training here.

On Saturday, October 11, 2014, Gracie Barra Vancouver & Raz Chan Fitness presented Women's…read moreSelf-Defense Seminar as a fundraising event for Battered Women's Support Services. Seventeen women attended and it was excellent!! Much gratitude to Raz Chan, Anica Simon, Max Rathburn, Norm Leung, Andrea, Robert and Carla. It was excellent!!

Before coming to Gracie Barra, I had already been a hardcore MMA fan for years. That said, I'd…read morenever really trained in martial arts before and the few attempts were awful: I tried wrestling in college, but the program at my school consisted of doing around 600 crunches and countless push-ups while rarely actually receiving any instruction on techniques. The judo program I tried was filled with "alphas" who were more intent on putting new guys through the floor more than anything else. As such, you can understand my hesitation about joining a martial arts gym again. It was something I was naturally curious about but, given my prior experiences, extremely nervous. So after doing a LOT of research about all the various schools in the Vancouver and Richmond areas, I settled on Gracie Barra and now, a year later, I cannot imagine having chosen any other gym. One thing that really sets GB apart from other gyms is how beginner friendly their method of instruction is. New students are paired off with more experienced students who are more interested in helping and encouraging more than anything else. If you're not in the best physical shape or have never trained in a martial art, this is hugely beneficial. It'll encourage you to keep going and ensure that you keep getting better, learning all the time. GB emphasizes the "family" aspect, which means that all the students are there to help each other grow, not crush each other to satisfy their egos. Because of this, GB has a really, really positive atmosphere that makes it easy to learn and that'll keep you coming back until suddenly, you realize that you're not the new guy anymore. That's another thing too: Gracie Barra has fantastic people. Whether it's the instructors or your fellow students, these are all people that you'd genuinely want to hang out with. Even if it wasn't at all something you were expecting or looking for when you joined, you WILL end up making friends here, from all walks of life. I cannot overemphasize how huge a boon this is, especially for beginners. The bottom-line is this: if you're really interested in martial arts and want to get in shape, give this place a try. It doesn't matter if you're grossly out of shape or laughably uncoordinated and clumsy; GB WILL make you better without EVER annihilating you or making you feel badly about yourself. If you're nervous about trying a martial arts gym, there is nothing to fear about GB: just great people and great instructors. As for the technical aspects: Gracie Barra's bread and butter is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and there are students and instruction at all belt/skill-levels, with classes divided accordingly. There are also classes for muay thai, boxing, and conditioning. The average Gracie Barra class follows this structure: Warm-up (5-10 minutes genuinely geared to WARMING YOUUP, not making you puke) Technique 1 (usually a takedown, demonstrated, then drilled back and forth with a partner) Technique 2 (something on the ground, either a transition, escape, or submission) Technique 3 (again, something else on the ground, generally a natural extension of technique 2) Sparring So yeah, if you're at all interested in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or curious GO TO GRACIE BARRA! You will not regret it. There is no gym that is more supportive to your growth both as a person and as a martial artist.

PRO-TIP: Thursdays are cardio days! My friends and I didn't know that LOL I've never felt my heart…read morerace like that and I'm fairly active. I did a free trial beginner women's kickboxing class with my friends instructed by Kees. The boxing gloves are complimentary for session use, at least for the trial. The facilities are really nice and we had a good time. Despite the class being relatively small in size, another coach stepped in to help supervise everyone and give tips. The coaches do push and encourage you, especially when you're starting to slow down. I like the wide range of martial arts that they offer and I can tell they're top-notch. Would recommend checking it out!

Im old and tired. But the boxing coaches welcomed me in and were pleasant, helpful and educating…read more I was sore after the first day, but excited to come back. The place was clean, had relevant equipment and trainers. They were kind enough to follow up with me. I will definitely be showing up atvthe gym again

My husband and i have been taking Krav-Jitsu for about a year and we are very pleased with what we…read morehave learned so far. Sensei James and Sensei Louisa are very knowledgeable and teach with the right amount of disciple and compassion. Techniques that are not only useful on street confrontation but can save ones life. It is well worth the trip from surrey to attend these classes.

I saw a few students out side practicing with some nunchuks and other weapons. Look'n tough,…read more Segal tough. Start working on those power pony tails now. King J.

From the owner: We are North Burnaby's premier martial arts school specializing in Olympic-style and traditional…read moreTaekwondo. Our martial art programs include karate and taekwondo for kids, adult martial arts, brazilian jiu jitsu. We are also pleased to announce that we offer an adult indoor cycling program! Our staff of instructors are all mature, caring professionals who want to assist you and your family in becoming happier, healthier and more satisfied in life through your participation in our Martial Art programs. Whether its fitness, discipline or self-defense, we are your #1 choice.