Martial Arts Schools near Vernon Hills

“Highly recommend. The facility is impressive, there is a consistently high turnout with a good mix of sizes and skill levels which seems to make it easier to pair them up with the right partners, and the coaches are incredible kids' coaches. My kids are new to grappling and love it.“

“It’s a wonderful place to learn basic self-defense. The instructors are very welcoming and teach many skills you can use in your daily life. Our class was made up of many different ages, and everyone had a great time!“

“Love the experience the trainers have! Very well taught.. Controlled dojo.. Krav has got easier because of the amazing trainers“

“My 5-year-old daughter has been attending classes here, and I’m genuinely impressed with how well the instructors treat the kids. This is a true family-run school, and you can feel the balance between discipline, kindness, and motivation in every class.

In just the first month, my daughter made strong progress — both in technique and in confidence. The instructors know how to keep kids focused while still making the training enjoyable. They also give out small intermediate awards, which really encourages the children to work harder and stay excited about learning.

The atmosphere here is supportive and positive, and you can see that every child receives attention and guidance. For parents, it’s incredibly reassuring to watch how respectfully and patiently the staff works with the kids.

Parking is easy and never a problem.

I highly recommend this martial arts school for families looking for quality training, structure, and a caring environment.“

“I've been attending classes through KH Kim at my location park district and at the main school in Northbrook since 2022, and I love it! The instructors are incredibly knowledgeable and supportive, and it's a fun learning environment for kids and adults of all ages and fitness levels.“

“It’s a really great lace for kids and for all age. It’s great to learn self defense and different skills“

“We’ve been coming here for the past 7–8 years, and it has truly been an incredible journey for our family. Both of my sons started their martial arts training here and have grown tremendously—not just in skill, but in confidence and discipline. One of my children has proudly earned a 3rd degree black belt, and the other has achieved a 1st degree black belt. The instructors are dedicated, patient, and genuinely invested in each student’s progress. The environment is positive, structured, and motivating. We’ve seen firsthand how much this place focuses on character development along with physical training. We’re grateful to be part of such a supportive and inspiring community.“

“We’ve had our son here since the day he turned 3, and he still gets excited every single time we go, which probably says more than anything else I could write.
All of the instructors strike a really impressive balance: they’re patient with the kids, push them to work hard, and still make sure they’re having fun. They know how to get the best out of each child while building confidence instead of pressure. Over time we’ve seen our son become noticeably more confident and disciplined, and he’s even learned ways to center and refocus himself that we now use at home.
What we also appreciate is that it feels like more than just a place to train. They put effort into creating a community- hosting events and parties and making families feel welcome, not just enrolled.
We’re honestly grateful for how they’ve treated our family, and we’re confident this experience will have a long-term positive impact on our son. We’d recommend this place to anyone without hesitation.“

“I highly recommend this tea kwon do school. Master Miguel & Master Sandra are very honest, respectful people with many good values! They try very hard to teach students the right way! almost 4 years of knowing them, and my children have learned a lot of discipline, responsibility and how to defend themselves! I am very happy that you are in our community! If you are looking for tea kwon do school this one is the right one for you!I really recommend this tea kwon do school. Master Miguel & Master Sandra are very honest, respectful people with many good values! They try very hard to teach students the right way! almost 4 years of knowing them, and my children have learned a lot of discipline, responsibility and how to defend themselves! I am very happy that you are in our community! If you are looking for a martial arts school this is the right one! Very flexible and patient!“

“I had a great experience in the adult learning classes! First the building and areas are kept nice and clean, as well as the tools/materials. All the instructors and staff were always respectful, patient, and fun to learn from. It’s definitely an active class and hands on, I would recommend to anyone who wants to improve their physical health. I’d also recommend for anyone who wants to get their families involved in learning Jujitsu or Taekwondo, it’s an very family friendly place and close knit which made it all the much more welcoming“

“Northshore Academy of Martial Arts has been an incredible blessing to our family. We’ve been sending our kids there for almost five years now, and three of our four sons are currently enrolled. The youth program led by Alex Jovica is outstanding. His discipline, consistency, and genuine investment in each student’s growth is why we’ve remained committed year after year. The adult kickboxing program with Amir DeLeon has also been a phenomenal outlet for focus, conditioning, and personal development, and it’s been an honor to help prepare one of our kickboxing students for amateur fights.

What truly sets this academy apart is the camaraderie and synergy among the instructors and owners. Guru Mark Halleck, Jason Gough, and the entire team create an environment that feels less like a gym and more like a family. While we’ve dedicated time to specific disciplines, there is always more to learn and that depth keeps us inspired. Our family is half Filipino, so the opportunity to train in Filipino Martial Arts was a major selling point for us. The celebration of intercultural arts and traditions here is second to none in this area. Add in the seasonal celebrations and community festivities, and you have a place that builds strong bodies, strong character, and strong families. We’re truly grateful to be part of it.“

“We love our karate place. It's been 10+ years we are going there. My older son grow up here and it is absolutely best place to get your kids moving. Sensei Veronica is very dedicated and she knows how to handle even not so easy kids. She is very professional and great in organizing classes, camps and birthday parties. It is not only beneficial, but always fun too.“

“My daughter has always been passionate about tennis, and finding the right environment to nurture that passion was incredibly important to me. From the moment she joined CPAC, I knew I had found something special.The coaches are exceptional—not only in their technical knowledge and professionalism but in the way they truly connect with their players. They saw my daughter's potential, believed in her, and challenged her to grow—while always making sure she enjoyed the process.
She looks forward to every session and has developed not only as an athlete but as a young person through the values of discipline, resilience, and sportsmanship.
Watching her thrive in such a positive and professional environment has been an absolute joy for me.
The positive, professional environment has made a huge difference—I couldn’t be happier!“

“Lee’s Taekwondo is a really nice place! The instructors are very professional and clearly have a lot of experience. They are extremely patient with the kids, making the classes both fun and educational. You can really see how much they care about each student’s progress. On top of that, the pricing is very affordable compared to other locations in the area, which makes it a great choice for families. Highly recommend!“

“Great training sessions and better coaches. Rodrigo is a great coach. Truly recommend it.“

“Best place for growing community friendship. Master Lee is the best! My son got better attention, speed and positive vibes! And summer camp is great too, they had fishing, golf, swimming pool and other activities! The best part is that all instructors are so friendly and tolerant to kid’s messy behavior. BEST BEST BEST“

“The gym is one of the best for starting your martial arts training. I have been going there for years and the levels of experience the instructor Jose has is incredible valuable. It continues to be a great way to train your mind, body, and spirit with every training session. If you want to make something of yourself or just trying to better yourself, this is the place to go. Be confident, be consistent, and most of all trust Jose as your instructor“

“My 6 y/o son takes Tae Kwon Do classes here and it's a wonderful program for young kids. Master Jeong is great with the kids and teaches them discipline but does a lot of fun things with them to keep them involved and engaged. I'd highly recommend this place for active kids who need an outlet for their pent up energy.“

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“I enrolled my grandson into Core Martial Arts In Libertyville two years ago. The instructors have extreme patience with the little ones and watching the progress that this now 6.5 year old has made is commendable. He comes home with what may seem like little things, like being able to count to ten in Korean or showing us some of his "moves", but they are big things to be proud of in his little world. I can't recommend Justin and Therese enough.“

“This place is the best!Seong Heas Martial Arts Academy has been great for me and my son!“

“Both my son and I take classes here. The Master and Instructors are all very friendly and eager to help you learn. You won't feel too much pressure to be perfect but they will help you find better ways to perform. Very reasonably priced and lots of availability for classes.“