Villari's Martial Arts Cooperative

I have been taking classes at Villari's for well over a year now, and what started as "the closest place to exercise near my house" has now turned into a place I spend a hefty portion of my time at every week. I can honestly say the staff at Villari's is the most genuine and welcoming bunch of people I have ever dealt with at a business. Each instructor makes you feel at home and tailors each class to the needs of every student. Villari's has certainly changed my life for the better, not only in my physical fitness, but my self-confidence and discipline as well.

I've always been hesitant to take a self defense class. I was worried about getting an instructor who perpetuated rape culture while attempting to be helpful. Ali, who led the self defense class I took at Villari's, was exactly the opposite. She was extremely knowledgeable, very aware of the myths around sexual assault and careful to avoid them, and also very sensitive to the needs and experiences of her students. She did a wonderful job of making sure that all of us were comfortable, even though the experience of physically defending ourselves against the male assistants (also really terrific instructors) could have been very daunting. All in all, it was a very empowering and educational experience. The opportunity to practice physical aggression was kind of a revelation! I left the class feeling reminded of the fact that yes, I have the ability physically fight back if necessary (how did I forget this?) but with the knowledge and skills to really make a hit count if I need it to. I feel more confident being on my own than I did before. Can't recommend enough!

I started searching for a workout that would keep me interested for longer than a month... I was interested in kickboxing because I heard that you can lose weight like nobody's business. I compared ~3 different kickboxing classes to Villaris, and ended up at Villaris. It was a no-brainer. It's not just a dance aerobics. They go at a pace that everyone can join in on. Every class is different. Their schedule is great for even the busiest of people... I HIGHLY recommend you go here!! I started working out at Villaris to get the beach body I had always wanted, for a trip to Brazil (you know what their bikinis look like!). I wanted to feel proud of my vacation photos. 6 months of cardio kickboxing at Villaris and eating healthy, and I was at my personal best, lost a pant size, had improved/high self-esteem, and I absolutely LOVE (for the first time ever) my beach vacation photos! Not only was kickboxing at Villaris a great workout to lose weight, but it also vastly improved my self-defense capabilities! In the past, I had no interest in karate, however, after they showed me what it was like in my Cardio workouts, I realized just how much fun it was to learn! Especially as a woman, I feel so much safer with this knowledge and muscle memory under my belt! Now, let's throw the cherry on top! Villaris is located in downtown Madison, a great convenience. Their people are incredibly helpful! Every class we do something different, and if you're interested, you learn something new and work on new skills every day! I love the way no two classes are EVER the same. It is by far the most fun workout of my life and something I know I can stick with. Respect. You don't have to be a pro. You don't have to be fit. You don't have to be good at it. The people who teach, as well as the students, are incredibly respectful. I have never felt uncomfortable in the atmosphere they have created. It is not an intimidating atmosphere what so ever. I am very impressed at the quality of people who go to Villaris. They also offer kids workshops! Some day when I have a kid, I hope they are interested in Karate too because it is great to have self-defense, but it's also so wonderful to have such a structure for learning respect and being a good person. They are a co-op, so everything they do for improvements is because everyone cares so much about making the place better! They have made quite a few improvements over the past year to making it even nicer of a facility. There are loads of punching bags and new equipment. They sell some starter items for new kickboxers. Their schedule is great for a really REALLY busy person. I am able to fit it into my daily routine to keep in shape. You won't regret coming here!

Villari's helped this lifelong exercise hater change her 'tude! The instructors are friendly, encouraging and really good at keeping things interesting. I actually look forward to going to kickboxing, and I feel strong and powerful. If you're looking for a fun and encouraging environment in which to get in shape, you should definitely join us.

I love Villaris and I miss it so much! I moved across the country and now I am searching frantically for a place to do kickboxing. They focus on getting an amazing workout and keeping your body safe at the same time. Everyone is super nice and no matter if you are big or small it is a safe and fun atmosphere :) Not to mention you feel like a bada**....