Martial Arts Schools near Prior Lake

“My 10 year old son has been training with them for 4 years. Before he joined, we found out a year after the fact that he was being bullied at school (he was in kindergarten) by a kid much older/bigger than him. There were little signs that something was going on, but it took a year for him to tell us.After joining American Top Team, he quickly gained back his self confidence! They do an amazing job teaching the kids self defense, focus, discipline and hard work all while having so much fun!Fast forward to last year: a kid randomly comes up to him on the bus and punches him. My son does nothing, which confused his friends. He knew he could defend himself but didn’t feel like he needed to. So instead, he ignored the kid and told a teacher when he got to school. Now this year he’s starting to compete and is loving it!“

“My son has been attending Mr. Roell’s karate classes for seven months now, and I’ve seen such a positive transformation in him. He’s become more confident, focused, and disciplined, all thanks to the valuable lessons Mr. Roell teaches. Not only does he provide top-notch instruction on self-defense, but he also has a great sense of humor—his jokes keep the kids entertained while they’re learning. I highly recommend his classes to anyone looking for a fun yet structured way to build confidence and life skills!“

“I love going here all the instructors are incredibly talented and knowledgeable about the sport!!! It is an amazing place to get to be at!“

“Our experience with Ultimate Martial Arts (UMA) has been fantastic! My daughter looks forward to her lessons each day, and it’s easy to see why. Not only does UMA teach all the cool martial arts techniques and postures, but they also focus on valuable life skills like routine, discipline, and calmness.

Each lesson is thoughtfully structured, and the instructors are incredibly skilled and patient, ensuring every child feels supported and encouraged. We’ve seen such a positive transformation in our daughter’s confidence and self-discipline, and we couldn’t be more pleased with our choice in UMA.

Highly recommend for anyone looking to enroll their child in a comprehensive, supportive martial arts program!“

“My entire family (two grade school kids, my husband, and me) have been going here for about six months, and it's really enriched our lives and improved our health. This school fosters community really well, and I feel like we're all in it together, helping each other pursue our goals.Personally speaking, I'm forty years old and have some chronic health issues. That I'm able to study martial arts with my family alongside twenty-year-old men in peak health speaks to this school's ability to encourage people to grow from wherever they are in life. It has also been a blast learning martial arts as a family (a feat only allowed thanks to this school's pricing structure). I'm able to have fun with my kids while we learn, and sparring with my husband feels like date night.Having never studied martial arts before, I can't compare this place to anywhere else, but here are a few of the things I find striking...The school uses a volunteer format for their instructors. It helps keep the costs low--nowhere else I called could compete with their price--but it also creates a built in sense of comradery. Instructors teach for passion, not a paycheck, and have a personal investment in your success. The instructors rotate on different nights, and students are able to learn from multiple perspectives.Teachers are actively invested in your success regardless of your belt color, but they also care that your belt color *means* something. Students are not bumped up from level to level to make them feel good (you won't find any twelve-year-old black belts here), but as a signifier of knowledge and advancement. It makes this a great place to learn for both beginners and those who are already serious about martial arts.On one recent Thursday night, our two kids received focused instruction in self-defense from a four-time kickboxing world champion, while my husband and I went through our one-steps (a kind of belt-level-based series of movements) with the school's lead teacher. In the background, another black-belt helped students go through form. It all felt so personalized and thoughtful, and I feel privileged to be part of it.This place, in a strip mall basement with aging carpet, is a hidden gem. Give it a try.“

“Our son has learned so much at EP National Karate and is really enjoying working with the teachers.“