Tucked away on 331 Riverside Dr, New York, NY 10025 between 105th and 106th street lies a hidden…read moregem of New York martial arts: Kokushi Budo Institute - established over 50 years ago, long before the recent burst of MMA in recent years. Founded by Professor Nobuyoshi Higashi, a 9th dan red belt, Higashi-san developed one of the premier judo academies in the country over the decades. Today, the academy is now overseen by Higashi-san's son, Shintaro Higashi - 6th degree red/white belt, and a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The top names in judo, BJJ, and MMA consistently come through the doors to fine tune their training. However, Kokushi's doors are open and welcome to judokas of all levels and ages. Shintaro runs a rigorous program amidst a relaxed, safety-first atmosphere where ego's and "tough guy" attitudes are checked away well before they reach the mats. A unique trait that Shintaro has is his awareness and ability to train with his students at precisely the level they need to be pushed. Similarly, Kokushi boasts a burgeoning children's program. Shintaro has a natural instinct with kids, and they flourish under his tutelage. Whether you are a seasoned veteran in martial arts, a complete beginner, looking for a reputable judo program for your child, or anything in between, Kokushi Budo Institute is an absolute must-try for anyone interested.

Have my kids here. Love it. Essential for kids. Sets them up for life. Gotta make sure our babies…read moreare safe in this crazy world.

I may be a bit biased as I have been a part of CBNY for a number of years. However, this is our…read morefirst year at this location and it deserves a review! Professora Joy (aka Coruja) is a high energy, motivating capoeira professional who will get you moving and pumped all throughout class. Whether you are just starting or have been practicing capoeira for years, you can train at your level that is the best fit for you. Be prepared to have fun and to sweat. Alot. The space is clean and well kept with a spacious feel. It has smooth wood floors and if needed, mats can be put down for more intense take-down training or practicing acrobatics. An MMA style cage is available in the back for students who disobey instructions. And there are two bathrooms available for changing your wardrobe. The location is very convenient since its right off the N, Q line in Astoria. It is very close to the Gato Goloso Colombian Bakery so if you are in need immediate sustenance, that is the place to go. Capoeira is a very unique practice. It is a martial art that incorporates many different forms of physical movement and culture and is definitely an adventure you have to experience for yourself.

Joy has dedicated nearly 20 years of her life studying capoeira and it shows in her teaching and…read moreinfectious passion for the art. People come to capoeira for many reasons - to get fit, be immersed in Brazilian culture, build community, learn history, and challenge themselves. Joy facilitates a class that helps you do all of the above and then some. Capoeira can be intimating to a beginner but Joy creates an atmosphere that is positive and encouraging no matter what level you are at. I highly recommend her class if you are curious about capoeira. You will be in great hands.

I began training at Aikido of South Brooklyn about 11 months ago. I'd had some martial arts study…read moreas a kid, but the prospect of re-starting at the age of 44 was daunting. I was apprehensive, hesitant at first - unsure I could learn this art or handle it, in terms of both mental discipline and physical fitness. I needn't have worried. The people are talented, supportive, and focused. Each member of the dojo has encouraged me and helped push me to better understand and practice Aikido. Every class is a rewarding experience, and I each time I go, leave the dojo in a much better frame of mind than the one I was in when I arrived. I highly recommend it.

Sensei Josh is an exceptional instructor with the ability to have rapport with both children and…read moreadults alike. Our daughter has enjoyed and excelled in learning from his instruction. The dojo overall has a strong collaborative culture which enables teaching to also come from other students at all levels. Highly recommended.

A terrific institution - led by a fabulous set of teachers - Grandmaster Chun is fabulous both in…read moreher training and her discipline, and Master Jason is incredible with kids. We are so lucky to have this place in the neighborhood!

My two sons have been going here for the past 2 years. They started at ages 4 and 6. We love this…read moreplace! Grand Master Chun is wonderful. She's stern, tough and caring at the same time. She pushes the kids to try hard. My kids have learned discipline and focus and it's a great workout for them. There's never been any sales pressure to buy things. They have holiday parties and other events that promote a sense of community. All of the masters and instructors here are very good. Highly recommend.

I've been at the school coming up on 6 years at this point. Everything I loved about the school is…read morestill going strong: * the close knit family where not only do you know everybody's name, but you know them as human beings * the camaraderie * the respect for everybody, their background and their current station in life * Tito's wealth of knowledge about situational awareness, tactics, biomechanical leverage * the focus on elevating everybody from where they are, and not on some abstract goal of where they should be (people aren't all too concerned about levels in the school, and more on deep experiential learning) The only thing I'd like to update from my initial review is that Progressive Krav Maga is no longer a part of the Krav Maga Global organization. The benefit of this change is that Tito is more free to impart his knowledge of best practices applicable for the streets and subways of NYC without being fettered by organizational bureaucracy from half a world away.

Been coming here for more than 3 months now. Absolutely love it here cause It feels like a little…read morefamily, everyone is so welcoming. And the teaching is very detail orientated which helps strengthen basic techniques. I started Krav a year and a half ago without ever doing any material arts and was really surprise by how easily it was to pick it up. The reason why I love doing it cause I'm learning how to defend myself in actual real life situations also picking up various martial arts technique (muay thai, bjj, boxing... Etc) along the way, and of course to stay healthy and fit!

I have been training with Shaolin for 3 years. I was one of the first students when he came here,…read moreand I am very happy with things. I feel like I got much better, primarily because Shaolin and Loro and other visiting blackbelts are there so often (Shaolin teaches every class and when Loro is not training for pro mma he is there all the time as well). The prices are also very competitive for NYC. I believe they are the cheapest considering the extremely high level of quality.

Great environment. Instruction was solid, with a superb workout! What a fun class. Can hardly wait…read morefor more!

Strongly recommend this kumdo academy. It's one of the best…read moredojo in NY and NJ area. I've been practicing Kumdo for 7 years, and I finally found a dojo where teaches strong fundamentals of Kumdo, and it fits to my schedule. Moreover, Master Kim is really enthusiastic and dedicated to each class, so I get motivated by him. There are many skillful masters here, so that I can learn many aspects of the Kumdo and its spirit.

I've been looking for a good dojang (dojo) to practice Kumdo in Bergen County, and this dojang is…read morebest of the best. Here's several reasons why. 1. Master Kim is very detail oriented in regards to the principle of Kumdo, and he is a member of Eastern U.S. Kumdo Association and Korean Kumdo Association. 2. It is Kumdo academy, not a club that rents gym weekly. That being said, it has a dedicated place where is optimized for Kumdo practice. 3. Floor is like 5-star hotel quality. If you are kendoist, you know the difference between the hardwood floor of Kumdo dojo and basketball court in gym. 4. Bigger scale of Kids class. Usually, kid's Kumdo class is very small, and very strict, but Master Kim leads the Kid's class very fun and active while he is instructing principle of Kumdo. 5. Prosper Advanced class. There are so many great kendo players in advanced class; male and female. So, intermediate kendoist can learn from other advanced players. I think I made the best choice for my Kumdo career, and wanted to share the spirit with other people who are interested in Kumdo.

It is now a little over 4 months that my kids, 12 and 9 have been attending Taekwondo classes…read moreoffered at Center Point for Martial Arts, and I cannot say enough about their program. Center Point for Martial Arts focuses on building the individual student while creating a sense of fun. Amazingly, my kids remain indisputably focused on discipline and confidence, while being challenged to see what they are really capable of, so that they can find their strengths, voice and sense of accomplishment. Master Moe, Jacob and Gustavo are not only great instructors with prodigious skills: they are also passionate and take time to know each student individually to guide and inspire them in a personal level. It truly helps build character and creates a very precious sense of belonging. Kudos to the founders and the staff!