Martial Arts Schools near Cranford

“My son who is almost 5 has been in Satori for almost 2 years. He absolutely loves the instructors and going to karate. They make learning fun for the kids. He has learned to be more focused. As a parent, I appreciate the chats the instructors have with the kids during class to help them strengthen their minds and bodies by doing the right thing and eating healthy. I would highly recommend parents putting their kids in Satori.“

“My twin daughter’s are having amazing experience at Cesar-Kai Academy! The instructors are incredibly patient, professional, and truly care about each child’s growth.
The discipline, focus, respect, and self-confidence they teach are reflected in everyday life as well. It’s wonderful to see how excited my kids are to attend every class. The progress in confidence, behavior, and overall enthusiasm has been incredible. I highly recommend Cesar-Kai Academy to any parent looking for a supportive and high-quality martial arts program for their children!“

“Great experience! I visited Fight and Fitness MMA during the Wednesday sparring Muay Thai night. Everyone was very polite and friendly. All levels from advance and beginner. Very safe and friendly environment. Walt (the owner) extremely experienced and knowledgeable in his craft. Following Saturday I stop by on Saturday for open mat. I have zero experience in BJJ and I was welcome by Walt and his students. Walt even did a couple of rounds of boxing knowing that I don’t do BJJ. I end up rolling with some students and I learned a few techniques. I felt so welcome and encouraged to keep rolling! I highly recommended as gym to train or a quick visit if you are in town. Walt and his students are a pleasure to train with ! I had a great time. If I ever come back to the area I would stop by to beat up Walt again!! Be ready Walt.“

“My son and daughter are going for a year. We loved the environment and their caring of our children.
Specially their flexibility for timings and makeup classes is amazing“

“We’ve been training here Master Curry Karate Jujutsu Ryu for about two years, and I felt it was time to leave a review. This place has been great for my son Jayden. He’s become more confident, more focused, and much more disciplined. The instructors are patient, supportive, and really know how to work with kids. Jayden actually looks forward to every class, and we’ve seen real progress both in his skills and his attitude. Highly recommend to any parent looking for a solid martial arts school.“

“My son has been going here for about a year and I absolutely love it here. It is the perfect mix of discipline and fun for the kids. They make every child feel confident and strong while teaching new skills. I have watched my timid 3 year old son turn into a more assertive and confident 4 year old. All the instructors are amazing with the kids. We are so happy we sent him here and cannot thank them enough!“

“Very friendly and welcoming! Staff are supportive and extremely knowledgeable. I’m learning so much and having fun.“

“This review is long overdue. Professor Mike and Rita, thank you for everything. Your kindness, guidance, and dedication gave me the skills and foundation to become a successful MMA fighter — including winning a championship belt. I still think about the academy and training there often. Even though I’ve moved to New Jersey, I’ll always be grateful for what you gave me on and off the mats. Thank you again.

— Brad“

“Great Instructors. Very knowledgable of what they teach. Excellent BBJ Classes and Instructors. Highly recommend for any age.“

“Both my daughters love this place. Everyone is very friendly and welcoming. The prices are reasonable and timing are good.“

“Great dojo. My son has been here about 8 months and we’re extremely happy with it.

The senseis are the real deal—firm, structured, and clear with expectations, but still patient and great with the kids. There’s a level of discipline here that you don’t see at a lot of places.

What stood out to us right away is that it doesn’t feel corporate or watered down. It’s focused, authentic, and you can tell they care about developing the kids, not just running classes.

We come 3–4 times a week and my son genuinely wants to be there. He’s improved a lot in his judo, but more importantly, his confidence, discipline, and overall attitude have noticeably leveled up.

If you’re comparing schools, this is the kind of place you want your kid in.“

“When you think of karate, you usually think of physical activity and learning self-defense skills. Moo Duk Kwan is certainly that, but for us it has been much more.

My son has been going there since he was five years old, and I have seen how much it has helped shape him. The instructors teach respect, discipline, confidence, mindfulness, and personal responsibility. Those lessons carry over into everyday life.

One thing I particularly appreciate is that children can attend as many classes as they want. Unlike places that charge per class, Moo Duk Kwan gives every child the opportunity to learn and progress at their own pace.

We signed up for karate, but what my son has gained goes far beyond karate.“

“Our daughter has been attending Martial Arts for Life, and we have had a wonderful experience. The instructors are patient, encouraging.

Since joining, we have seen a noticeable improvement in our daughter’s confidence, discipline, focus. The classes are structured, engaging, and fun, which keeps her excited to attend every week.
Recently, our daughter was promoted to her next belt, and she was incredibly proud and excited. Seeing her happiness and sense of accomplishment made us realize how much this program has helped her grow.

We would definitely recommend Martial Arts for Life to other families looking for a supportive, fun, and rewarding activity for their children!!“

“I can’t recommend White Tiger Dojo more. I’ve been taking my granddaughter for the past year and it’s incredible how much she’s grown. Darren is direct yet warm and it’s obvious that he loves what he does and genuinely cares for each and every student. Under Darren’s guidance, karate has encouraged my granddaughter to be strong, confident and respectful.“

“We came across ATA during Scotch Plains week back in 2024. My son was 2 turning 3 at the time but I really wanted him to try it out and see how he would do. It was one of the best decisions we ever made for him. He is now 4 turning 5 and ATA has been a consistent factor in his life. The instructors are all amazing, I can't brag about them enough. ATA has helped encourage his maturity, discipline and respect. He looks forward to every challenge and belt advancement. When he first started he couldn't even bow and now he's learning to spare with his classmates. We love this place so much that we brought our neighbors and after one class they signed up their boys as well. If you're looking for a place that will balance fun and discipline for your child, then you don't need to look anywhere else. I can't wait for our younger sons to be old enough to join their brother out on the mat one day. Thank you ATA for all you do!“

“Wonderful place to learn martial arts! All the instructors are caring and showcase strong discipline. My son loves coming to class and I see so much growth in him!“

“My three year old loves this class. The instructors are wonderful at getting a room full of toddlers to pay attention and they make the class engaging and fun. I’m excited to see him grow in the program in the coming years!“

“My son has been attending classes here for several months. Not only does he love it, but he feels more confident.“

“I go to this class, and I love it so much. Taekwondo is something I really like and the master is also really really nice“

“We’ve had a wonderful experience at Master Yoo Summit Taekwondo! The instructors are outstanding — patient, encouraging, and truly dedicated to helping every child grow. They not only teach excellent Taekwondo skills but also focus on important life lessons like respect, discipline, and confidence.

The classes are well-structured, fun, and full of positive energy. It’s clear that the instructors care deeply about each student’s progress.

Highly recommend Master Yoo Summit Taekwondo to any parent looking for a program that builds strong minds and strong bodies!“

“I attended here about 20 years ago, when I was a youngster. I worked my way up to a Brown High belt before stopping. I have since returned with my daughter, taking classes together, and am very grateful Grandmaster Lee is still here every day without fail. Once my youngest is old enough, she will join us as well. I am so happy to be back!“

“Love Dragonfit. My daughter has been going to them for years. Coach Jess and Master Matias are loving and awesome!“

“My 9-year-old son became interested in the sport, so we decided to stop by and check it out. The staff was incredibly generous and offered him a complimentary 45-minute class. He was hooked from the very beginning!
The owners and staff are professional, welcoming, and respectful. They create a positive environment that makes you feel comfortable right away. I highly recommend this business to anyone interested in learning and getting involved in the sport.“

“We have been coming here for couple of years and I have seen my son’s confidence shine! He loves coming to his classes and gets rewards for his hard work! He also makes friends in his class. I also signed up my daughter who is in high school for kickboxing and she is also having a great time! She likes her exercises and she also made a friend. All the teachers are great! They are focused, helpful and friendly. They make it fun for kids but they can be serious when need be. They also host Laser or Nerf Wars every quarter so it’s a good Friday night to drop off your kids and have time to yourself! Their schedule is very flexible so we don’t have any problems when we go on vacation or miss classes. Mr. C is a wonderful human being! Great teacher and mentor to these kids!! I highly recommend UKF Springfield!!“

“The instructors here are so informative and skillful, both during in-person classes and virtual classes, they're funny, and they are so accepting and helpful. They don't laugh at you or berate you or force you when you're nervous or if there's something you can't do--they meet you where you are and help you work up to what you need and give you something you can do in the meantime. I highly recommend them. I just wish there was a dojo closer to my neighborhood. I'm so happy I found their virtual classes during the pandemic; this school turned 2020 around for me.“

“When my parents were looking for an aftercare to place me in, they found Tigers Martial Arts Academy. There, I learned the basics of taekwondo such as poomsae, sparring, and power kicks along with life lessons such as discipline, focus, perseverance, and patience. Through rigorous training from my instructors, I reached the first and second degree black belt. Currently, I teach younger students and contribute to the taekwondo community. I will continue taekwondo because success in taekwondo is a journey, not a destination.“

“My grandson has been coming here for a year now. He has gained so much confidence and really enjoys it!“