My son has been coming to Okinawan Karate Dojo for almost a full year. Sensei Stan and the rest of…read morehis team do a really wonderful job teaching the kids! This school is very family oriented and maintains an educational yet fun environment. The pricing here is very fair for the classes as well as their branded merchandise. The class schedule is also very easy to follow. The daily class schedule for each level of students is different for every day of the week. However, this schedule is the same every week. Once you input the dates into your calendar you can put them on repeat and you'll never miss a beat. The belt testing here is also done well in my opinion. The testing dates are announced well in advance and I've also seen them posted throughout the Dojo. As long as the students attend, participate and learn the different blocks, punches, etc then they should pass their tests each time. My son has moved up to the next belt each time he has a belt test. The new location is really cool too! They now have two floors which allows them to accommodate more classes as well. I really am glad that my son attends Okinawan Karate Dojo! I'm lookong forward to him earning his black belt here one day.

A young family member attended the summer camp program. This was his 3rd year. He looks forward to…read moreattending every year. Although the kids were not able to get to the pool this year, the camp was able to make up for the temporary change. The price was reasonable and manageable. The program included valuable karate lessons taught by certified instructors. This has always been a great service. The diversity of the program has always been reflective of the county. Overall, the Okinawa Dojo summer camp program met and exceeded expectations by providing my little family member with a fun, healthy and safe environment.

With so many martial arts schools available in the Northern Virginia area that cover a wide…read morespectrum of styles and disciplines, Master Folta's Traditional Uechi-Ryu Karate stands out among them. Seriously, this is the real deal - this school is probably the closest opportunity outside Okinawa you'll get to learning authentic traditional karate from a master practitioner as it was originally conceived by Kanbun Uechi back at the beginning of the 20th century. This style of karate is practical for both self defense and physical fitness, and promotes self-discipline and a healthy life style. Progressing through the various ranks is well structured and meaningful, and you absolutely get a sense of accomplishment as you do so. The staff at Okinawa Karate and Cultural Center make learning karate easy and fun, for all ages and abilities, with hands on classes at the Okinawa Karate and Cultural Center and at various Parktakes rec centers throughout Fairfax County. My whole family signed up for karate classes during the pandemic on a whim, but it only took just a few short classes to realize what a gem of an opportunity we have right here in northern Virginia. I cannot recommend it highly enough! Give it a try and join a great karate community!

I've been a long time student of Master Folta since 2005. I started at Oak Marr Recenter, before…read moremoving up the ranks, and eventually teaching for his dojo. I'm very pleased to see that he finally was able to open his own independent dojo to celebrate traditional Okinawan Uechi Ryu Karate, as well as the rich cultures that Okinawa brings. The Cultural Center has many artifacts in a museum style in a side room. There's also many people from the community like the DC Okinawan Kai who utilizes the space. It is a safe and welcoming space for not just Okinawan people, but those interested in learning more about the culture and tradition. This spacious dojo has two kicking/punching bags ready for training, many talented instructors, and classes for children and adult alike! I am excited for what's to come for this OKCC! I hope new students can find their new karate home like it's been for me throughout the years!

Trained here for almost four years and was approaching my shodan test. I used to think of aikido as…read moremy organizing principle. That all changed when a third-degree black belt instructor dropped me on my head. He was showing off for his buddy, the chief instructor. Both those men are no longer at this dojo, but regardless I cannot train any more as I used to - following my concussion, I tried to come back (after time off for recuperation). But after weeks/months of headaches, and trying various sorts of accommodations, my doctor strongly recommended that I discontinue training. Aikido may be called the "art of peace" and its practitioners may say that good ukemi will neutralize any throw. But it is still possible for a careless person to injure you badly. I used to think (see my previous review) that if I spoke up, was careful about whom I trained with, and practiced diligently, it would protect me from harm. Not true. Being a good driver does not always save you from the bad drivers. (I decided to update my old review, after much time and thought, so that newcomers will have a more complete picture. It's hard to ask questions of people who have left.) As with any endeavor: caveat emptor. Do your research. Visit multiple places and compare them, before you choose. Ask around - what is the reputation of the place you are considering? What is their record for follow-up when someone gets injured? How long have the most senior students been training at this place? Are classes made up of mostly newbies - i.e., does the student body turn over regularly, or are there a lot of stalwarts? How many black belts come to practice regularly? (an indication of whether the place continues to offer room for growth, once that first black belt has been attained). How often is the chief instructor present and instructing? What precautions are in place when junior (smaller/younger/inexperienced) students train with senior (stronger/faster/aggressive) students? How long has each teacher been teaching? (Being a skilled practitioner is not always the same as being a good teacher.) Pick your partners (and teachers) carefully. (Even if everyone says "but he's such a nice guy!" - if you break a collarbone because he attempted a too-ambitious throw, you will be the one in a sling, not the nice guy.) How often does the dojo host community events? Do senior staff/teachers show up for community events? I have visited from time to time. (I still hang out socially with many friends from here.) With all my heart I still miss the practice and the community I used to have. But I have had to step back from both.

NEEDED to find a social outlet for my 5-year old grandson while he is on an extended visit from out…read moreof state. NEEDED to find a safe, social, in-person way for him to spend time and energy with little people his own size. So perfectly pleased to have found DC Aikido --- perfect fit. He was hooked from the first class. 3x a week - in the dojo - with 30 minute sessions is exactly the right prescription. Right across the street from the Red Line Metro --- and free parking garage for drivers like us. The most important part: The instructors are amazing. Patient like saints but with an eye toward discipline. Great instruction at the 5-6 year old level mixed with discipline and exercise. The classes are very disciplined for spacing, too --- all of the students and staff are good about wearing their masks and keeping the students on "their own square" to keep social distance norms intact. So sorry my grandson is going home at the end of this month. Thank you, DC Aikido!

When my kids finally expressed interest in taking taekwondo, we checked out 4 schools and had a…read morelist of criteria: good teachers and classes, clean, good philosophy, and not a black belt diploma mill as most schools are. We found all of that and more in DCSDKA. The teachers and classes are great. The kids not only learn taekwondo but also Krav Maga self-defense, and how to be safe in everyday situations, especially for little kids. The school fosters respect, responsibility and camaraderie and my children have found lots of good friends in the school. I'm very particular about what school they go to since I have experience in taekwondo, and I highly recommend this school.

GrandMaster Sensei Carol Middleton is a world-class martial artist. I get chills when I see her…read moreskills in action. As a student, I love that the dojo is a welcoming and friendly atmosphere, that the values of respect, responsibility and leadership are taught and displayed by the instructors and students and I am thankful for the the precision of training I get. DC residents are lucky to have this incredible resource at their fingertips. I hope others will take advantage of these classes, whether they are looking for self-defense, fitness, social opportunities or just wanting to learn a valuable new skill.

Sensei Roberto is a great sensei, funny, and really care about his students. Love going to this…read moredojo, all the teachers and students are very friendly and always happy help lower rank students.

BEST dojo in the State of Virginia (one of the best in the world, I am sure). If you want to learn…read morefrom a great Sensei (Roberto) and other blackbelt instructors, then Virginia Dojo is the only choice. I am so happy to be a part of this dojo! Sensei Roberto is quite simply AMAZING. He truly cares about his students and teaching karate. The atmosphere at the dojo is welcoming and friendly--from beginner to advanced! Everyone participates to help others learn. The women's class with Denise is fantastic as well! Denise is an inspring third degree blackbelt instructor who is passionate about women's karate and karate in general. As a student, you can take her classes and or the mixed group classes with Sensei Roberto. Check out this dojo for yourself. I signed up a little over a year ago with my kids and we love it and highly recommend.

This is a hidden gem of martial arts studios that genuinely cares about tradition. I took a long…read moretime to sign on to a studio and was happy to find Sensei Hunter. (I definitely wanted to avoid taking my kids to a studio that use splashy stock photos or advertises kid's birthday parties or parents night off events.) I loved the smaller class sizes of Samurai Training Academy which allowed for Sensei Hunter to break down complex moves into their fundamental components. I loved that the studio had adult classes and was not just a dojo daycare. I loved that they did not pass all students for their belt testing. All good signs of a studio with integrity, which sadly, is more difficult to find these days. Sensei Hunter won over the kids with his irreverent sense of humor, his kindness, and his deep love for sharing his practice with his students. My son looks forward to every single class (even going embarrassingly early to classes just so that he could absorb as much as he could from his instructor).

From the owner: Karate, Jujutsu, Sword, Kendo, Kids Karate, Women's Self Defense, Police Self Defense and control…read moretactics

This place is really great and the Senseis have a real gift with children especially Sensie Sean…read more I'm so happy to have found this place.

I'm not normally the person to write reviews, but this is one time where I feel like I need to…read morewrite one. When I brought my daughter to Urban Kempo for her introductory lesson, my little girl was backward and shy, not willing or able to stand up for herself. She was too embarrassed to even admit when she didn't hear or understand an instruction from teachers. I wanted her to have the (a) tools and (b) confidence to stand up for herself. That was as far as I was thinking. Full disclosure, I am THAT mom. At our first visit, Mike listened. He wanted to be our partner, to work with us as her parents. He sincerely listened to our goals, my daughter's needs, her history, and the little things that helped him to really connect with her. And she has connected with Mike, Matt, and every other instructor at Urban Kempo. You see, they don't just create a class, they create a family. It is different. The minute that you walk in, you feel the laughter and the genuine concern that everyone has for each other. From my daughter's ER visit to the loss of her dog, from her bad day at school to the Princess of the day (her dojo name changes constantly), Mike and the other instructors really wants to hear about it. The instructors have a way of making learning fun. My daughter now has the goal to be a black belt. I see her more confident, less frightened of new situations. Yes, she is gaining in coordination, but what was more important was that she has gained confidence in herself and pride in the ability in her efforts. Last week, she told me that Mike and Matt needed to talk to the Prince in "Mulan" because they would be able to explain that girls could be strong and fight as well as boys. In that moment, my goal for Kempo was met. And it couldn't have been done without this family that is unique to here, that has been created by the leaders in this dojo.

I can't recommend Warrior Fusion Karate highly enough! My daughter has been practicing with Sensei…read morePatrick for around two years, and it has been a fantastic experience. She feels challenged and supported and is so much more self-confident. Sensei truly cares about each child and helps them become their best selves, both in karate and in life. Five stars!

Best place to learn karate for your children. My daughter absolutely has gain a lot more confidence…read moreand awareness since she joined in April 2017. Sensai Patrick is an amazing instructor, knowledgeable, patience and fierce. I highly recommend this place for your children.

Instructor Ibby is an awesome teacher! He's very patient and encouraging. He has a way of…read moreintegrating many different skill levels in one class so we can learn from each other and he gives attention to everyone. I also have a bad ankle so this class has really been helpful in incorporating exercises to strengthen it. There's various classes for all age groups and the first class is free in case you'd like to try it but you're unsure. I'd say give it a shot! You learn great technique, form, and sweat up a storm. Most of all, it's a fun environment for everyone. I really enjoy coming here. We do different exercises so it never gets boring. I look forward to improving my technique!

Finding Victory Karate was fate! I originally walked in just get information and quickly recognized…read moreMaster A. He taught my brother over 10 years ago when he also had a cardio kickboxing class that my mom and I enjoyed very much! Now, I take my 4 year old and although Mr A usually instructs the older kids and adults, Ms Rachel is fantastic with the younger children. Mr A often joins Ms Rachel in instructing the younger kids and they make a great team together. If you'd like for your children to learn Karate and have fun at the same time, this is the place to be!

I was only here for a week, but this place has been amazing. Keep in mind that this location is one…read moreof the few places I would confidently recommend to anyone who is serious about training in Muay Thai, Jiu-Jitsu, MMA, and overall physical fitness. I'm from Chandler, Arizona, and I train at a different facility back home. Even so, I was surprised by how familiar and welcoming this location felt from the moment I walked in. The atmosphere reminded me of the kind of environment you hope to find in a high-quality gym--serious training, but with great people and positive energy. The people here are solid. Everyone I met was respectful, hardworking, and focused on improving their craft. That kind of environment makes a big difference when you're training, because the culture of a gym can push you to become better every day. The energy in the room is strong. Whether you're a beginner or someone who has been training for years, you feel motivated to work harder. There's a real sense of discipline and camaraderie that makes training enjoyable but also challenging in the best way. Another thing that stood out to me was how clean and organized the facility is. A clean training environment shows professionalism and respect for the athletes who train there. On top of that, the coaches and fighters here are high-ranking professionals. Many of them are top-level athletes and active competitors, which means you're learning from people who truly understand the sport and what it takes to

I've been training at Beta Academy in Washington, DC for 5 years, and it's one of the best martial…read morearts gyms I've ever been a part of. I primarily train in Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and I love that both disciplines are offered with a wide range of class times and skill levels. Before moving to DC and joining Beta, I trained 5 or 6 years at District Martial Arts in Arlington, Urban Boxing in DC and Arlington, Fight Academy in Pasadena, CA, Gracie Barra in Glendale, CA, and Muay Thai USA in Hollywood, CA. Beta Academy stands out among them for its consistency, quality, and community. One of the biggest highlights for me is that they offer classes on Sundays, which is a rare and much-appreciated option. They also have classes specifically designed for those 40 and older (I am 45), which shows their commitment to accessibility and community. The coaching staff is top-notch--many of them actively compete and bring real-world experience to every class. The facility is always clean and well-maintained, which makes a big difference in the overall training experience. The men's restroom has two showers, which I use after every training session. It's a small detail, but incredibly convenient. If you're looking for a serious, supportive, and well-equipped place to train Muay Thai, BJJ, or MMA, I highly recommend Beta Academy