Great gym with amazing people. Always talent in the room, and always tough rounds. Bernie and the…read moretop level team do a lot for the MMA and Martial Arts Community.

Last review of the decade! Gotta make it for one of my favorite businesses of all time. Top level…read morehas a little bit of everything for everyone. From kids to adults of all ages, beginner to training for matches or competitions, they have it all. They offer Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, Boxing, conditioning classes and a yoga class. The owners, coaches and professors are knowledgeable and eager to share and teach. Every one is so welcoming and it's like one big family here. From time to time they also have seminars with professionals in Muay Thai, Kali; I've been to several and they were such great experiences. If you're looking to compete, looking to get in shape, looking to learn some self-defense, or all of the above this is the place to go! Love Top Level!

This place has been an amazing experience for my 4 year old, Jevon. We've seen an huge impact in…read morehis discipline and focus, and he is always excited to go to class and see Master Yoon. The positive structure and encouragement make this program truly special.

I love bringing my 6 year old daughter here after school, she is learning discipline, respect, and…read morelife skills that are helping with her confidence and strength. Master Yoon is SO great to work with---he is the perfect balance of strict and kind, he gives students the grace they need while they master their skills. My daughter enjoys going, learning, and never gives up!

I love to train here and I would definitely recommend going here if you are in the area and want to…read morelearn martial arts. Professor Catherine and Professor Nick are very nice people and I hope to keep training here!

Pure BJJ has a cool vibe. I visited from out of town for a week and had the pleasure of training in…read morethe gi classes. The instructors, Catherine and Nick, are very welcoming and attentive to their students. They give verbal during the rolls. I found all their students - white, blue, and purple - to be intelligent and courteous partners. On the nights I was there, it was 15% instruction, 40% drilling, and 45% open rolling. I thought that was a great distribution. The school is home to both hobbyists and competitors. I also greatly admired that there were almost equal numbers of women and girls in the class compared to the men. It seems to be an environment in which women can flourish. Lastly, I was impressed with the willingness of the instructors to teach leg locks to their white belts with proper instruction and safety. I look forward to returning to Pure BJJ in the future.

My son just signed up. The dojo space is amazing and the people are respectable, polite and very…read morewelcoming!

I am surprised that I am the first one reviewing Tohkon, which is one of the oldest, biggest, and…read moremost prominent judo schools in Chicago. I have been studying judo here for about three months, and I nothing but positive things to say about instructors and fellow students. All the instructors are volunteers, who donate their time to teach, following the educational spirit and tradition of judo. They are very attentive and kind (as could be when teaching you how to toss and slam someone) Plus, they are extremely knowledgeable. There are more than a dozen of black belts here, some of whom have been studying judo for more than thirty years. Fellow students are friendly and very interested in seeing you improve. The school has a very friendly atmosphere, and because there are many students, you get to try your moves against a wide spectrum of body sizes, weights and technical expertise. If you are interested in learning judo in Chicago, I cannot think of a better place. The school has a free parking lot, although it tends to fill up fast.

Phenomenal people and instruction. Sensei Maje is a library of knowledge and is patient. It is a…read moregreat place!

Maje is hands down one of the best martial arts instructors regardless of discipline in the city…read more As a Jiujitsu guy in my late 30's I found Maje's style of teaching very helpful. You would think someone w his credentials (Multiple Olympics....and still an active competitor) would be unapproachable and intimidating. I couldn't have been more wrong. If you want your kids to do something other than play video games this summer get them into the kids classes. My 6 year old daughter thinks he is cool too. You are reading this because your are interested.....walk in the door and check them out.

I've been a regular member here for 13 years. The training you get here is top notch as we learn…read morefrom people who have been doing Aikido for 20, 30, 40 years! Not only is will you learn self-defense, but you'll be part of a community. Practice is challenging as it can take a while to figure out how to move in a way that is safe for both you and your training partner. What you learn here is also applicable to the world of daily life in things such as how you approach work and your relationship with others. There are many classes you can go to, 2 or 3 a day. Rank tests are every 4 months and we celebrate with beer and pizza after. There are three seminars during the year, taught by highly regarded instructors, coming as far as Japan. It's a great place to train and you will make good friends here as well!

A wonderful space to practice with thoughtful instruction and a dedicated, supportive community.read more

I've been an adult student at Kennedy's for nearly 10 years, and I have nothing but great things to…read moresay about the school or the family which owns and operates it. It's been thrilling to see them expand and certify new instructors, then bring in new and complimentary martial art styles. This school is the epitome of traditional martial arts professionalism, philosophy, and integrity. If you stick to it with these instructors, you or your child will be better for it.

I love this place! It has amazing instructors. They are all Nice and funny. They get the moves…read moreinto our heads. Make sure we are disciplined. One day is review. The other is learned. This place is the best for martial arts

We have been part of the Fonseca family for over 3 years now. Sensei Jaime has an amazing ability…read moreto joke / mess around with the kids while still requiring them to focus and do their best while in class. For our 3 year old, I am genuinely shocked at what he is able to do during the tots class. A few weeks ago, Sensei Jaime had an entire class of tots successfully walk their feet up the wall and go into a wall-supported handstands. They have so much fun, all while building confidence and practicing impulse control. It has been really incredible to watch Sensei Jaime work with our 9 year old and the various ways he keeps his lessons engaging and motivating. Both of our sons love going to class and to say they are elated whenever they reunite with Sensei Jaime would be a huge understatement. While most of our experience with Fonseca has been with youth karate, we often have the opportunity to watch the adult classes as we are coming and going and from what I have witnessed, the adult classes share the same infectious, positive energy as the youth classes. I cannot finish this review without highlighting the warm, friendly community that comes with Fonseca. We are so grateful to know the fellow Park Ridge families and for the whole team of instructors at this dojo.

On a whim we did a free introductory karate class at Fonseca in Evanston. Seeing our son with as…read moremuch intensity and focus as he had during that first class was inspiring! We knew almost immediately we would be enrolling! When we heard they were opening a location in Park Ridge, we were excited about the shorter commute! Sensei Jaime teaches the kids' classes in Park Ridge and is absolutely incredible with them! He knows when to challenge them to try harder and when to be humorous. It was at the top of my list to find a dojo (Karate school) with a sensei (instructor) who connected well with kids, making learning fun but also challenging each child. Sensei Jaime has exceeded that. The studio itself is clean and minimal, which I think is the norm. It just opened in December and I can't wait for them to peel the paper off the windows! Your kids will learn about more than karate in class. At the end of each class they kneel, breathe and say, "Be the best person you can be! Respect the rule! Be truthful! Never give up! Self-discipline!"