Martial Arts

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My son has been with sensei Bucio since he started karate. He is a great instructor. Great place to teach your kids self defense and discipline.

Champyon has some great instructors and offer many different programs/classes

Fantastic location and excellent instruction. I have been training under the instructor here for just over three years and compared to other instructors I've tried, I can honestly say that Chuong is top notch in combining a great balance between gi and no gi, and stand up with ground training. In addition to great instruction, the members here are respectful and patient with beginners. If your looking to develop a strong well rounded Jiu Jitsu game, I strongly recommend giving this location a try.

My son and daughter has going to this dojo for 2 years now. Sensei is so encouraging and supportive. This dojo is clean and the staffs are super friendly. My daughter tried dancing, ice skating, piano lesson, etc. and karate is the only thing that she loved. My son used to be shy, but after two years of karate with Sensei and other children, my son speak up for himself more often. This Dojo helped my son built up confidence. I really like this place and the knowledge my children learn from Sensei, will follow them for rest of their life.

I had the privilege of training in Jay’s class recently and really enjoyed the experience. All the members were extremely helpful and accommodating ! The atmosphere was very welcoming to all skill levels and I learned a lot from just one day in the gym. I recommend these classes to anyone looking for a great Jiu Jitsu gym.

Gingarte is by far my favorite place to train in the city. They really foster the concept of each individual making capoeira their own. There are multiple people teaching for the group, so I get exposure to a range of ideas about and approaches to the art form. Every class is different. Plus they have classes in a few different locations around the city, which is nice accessibility.

Somewhat recently, I was asked what I have gained from practicing Ving Tsun with Matt Johnson over the last 10 years. I could state the obvious- self defense techniques, fitness, confidence, etc. But, upon further reflection I came up with so much more than that. Originally, I started learning and practicing Ving Tsun for self defense purposes. That is still my primary goal. But, I did not realize there was so much more to it than that. Of course, first, you have to learn how to throw a punch and block. But, what I learned after obtaining some of the skill was surprising to me. It's not as much about "How" to throw a punch as it is about "When." Or, rather, when not to, which is most of the time. Knowing the skill of kung fu, actually, puts you in a much stronger position that enables you to NOT use the physical attributes of it. You don't, actually, get into "fights" where you have to use blocks and strikes. You walk different. You look different. On a primal level you put out "signals" that you are not a victim and the "predators" sense that and stay away. Kung fu has, also, made me more compassionate. When I'm practicing regularly, I find I have more patience and tolerance in frustrating situations. I think this is because my tools are sharp and I feel a responsibility to not unleash them unnecessarily. I’m very fortunate to have found a school that fosters this positive kind of mindset. My original purpose of learning to defend myself remains. But, the additional perks were unexpected and are even more valuable than what I thought I was going to gain from this school. If you’re even just a smidge curious about this, I encourage you to come and check out the school for yourself. You have nothing to lose and more to gain that you realize.

I'm a petite woman with two left feet and zero martial arts background. The prospect of showing up at a Dojo was pretty intimidating. I came to a free Sunday introductory class with my husband and I've been training now for 6 months. The environment at Chicago Aikikai is so inclusive and encouraging. The Senseis (instructors) do an excellent job of explaining and demonstrating the movements. If you've been on the fence about learning a martial art, I would highly encourage you to check out Chicago Aikikai. You might even see a petite woman throwing a man twice her size.