Martial Arts Schools near Greenlawn

“This is going to be a long review, so, buckle up.

My boys took TKD at Chris Gates TKD Center from 2016-2022. In those 7 years, they earned countless stripes and belts, including their Junior Black Belts. Yes, it's been a while since they've attended a class here, but I am inspired to leave this review.

TKD and Boy Scouts were always "non-negotiables" in our household, meaning our sons (now 14 and 16) could drop any other sport/activity they wanted except these two. We loved the morals/teachings of these two programs as they aligned with our family's values. To date, both boys are still in BS with our older son getting ready for Eagle.

When our boys first started TKD they were 4 and 7. The 4 yr old was the tiny, feisty one while the older one was a gentle, old soul. The older one sometimes got picked on because he was an easy target. He never wanted to "fight back" despite being of size and ability because he never wanted to get either himself or the other child in trouble. All it took was a couple of good talks from instructors like Sir Chris, Sir Joe, Sir James, Sir John, and Sir Bryan to boost his confidence and defend himself. After the first time he stood up to a bully, he was emotionally and mentally able to defend himself and his little brother any time something arose in the future.

Fast forward to 2 weeks ago, December 2024. My younger son has recently started playing hockey. He's on a travel team and says it's his favorite sport despite only being on this team for 3 months. There has been a few physical altercations with one player attacking other players. Each time this happened, my son was the one to step in and break up the fighting. Two weeks ago, this one boy had another in a headlock. The victim couldn't breathe and his nose started bleeding. My son was the ONLY teammate to step in and get the bully off the victim. Once he got him off and calmed them down (lots of screaming, punches, scratches, etc.), he sat the boys down and got both sides of the story. The bully even started verbally assaulting two other boys and my son got him to stop. A coach finally came into the locker room to handle the situation. My son was worried because he knows there's zero tolerance for fighting and kept saying, "I'm sorry, but I had to. I had to get [bully] off [victim]."

The next day I received two phone calls. One from the mom of the physical victim and one from the mom of the verbal victim, both thanking my son for saving [name] and if it weren't for my son, the outcome could've been much worse because that bully was not stopping despite the victim losing consciousness and bleeding.

When I spoke with my son, he kept apologizing again. I said, "Do not apologize, we ALWAYS stand up to the bullies and fight for the victims. You are a black belt in TKD and it's taught you to defend yourself and others when the time comes." My son said "Thank G-d I'm a black belt because [bully] wasn't stopping and [victim] couldn't get out of that chokehold." I said he saved [victim's] life because who knows what could've happened if you didn't stop him.

THIS is what TKD teaches! You don't instigate the fight, but, the physical, emotional, mental training you receive will allow you to stand up to those who want to cause harm. During the 7 years my boys were at Chris Gates, they learned discipline, perseverance, courageousness, etc. and these are the principles are now carried with them years later. Yes, we raised them with these values, but, this CHTKD reinforced our familial values. Without those years with Chris, Joe, John, James, Bryan, Charles, Juliana, Heidi, Steph, Aidan, (and so many others I'm sure I'm forgetting), I don't know if my boys would have the courage, valor, and fearlessness to navigate this crazy world.

There is so much ev“

“Everyone there is very welcoming and friendly. Great place to learn self
Defense.“

“I’ve been a student here for a little over five years and have loved every minute of it. Coach Tara and Professor Carlos run an incredible school. They are patient, caring, and always willing to take the time to walk you through anything you’re struggling with. Both are extremely approachable and never make you feel uncomfortable for asking questions.
The atmosphere here is unmatched — the vibes are great, the music keeps the energy up, and the community is full of professors, coaches, and training partners who quickly become lifelong friends. Whether you’re a complete beginner or have years of experience, I can’t recommend this school enough.“

“It was a great surprise to discover this establishment. Master Lee is a patient, caring and dedicated instructor. I recommend it.“

“Mike is an awesome teacher. Down to earth, very practical knowledge, and genuinely cares how much and well you learn. 10/10“

“I cannot say enough great things about Trigon and every single person who works here. After having a less than stellar experience at another “highly regarded” studio in the area, we nervously switched to Trigon. Every coach here is encouraging, positive, professional, caring and meets each child where they are. My son Leo has gained more confidence and self control since starting. The coachesknow how to focus on the positive and teach young children accordingly. Every class is fun and engaging, And age-appropriate. We are thrilled to be part of the trigon family and look forward to being here for years to come.“

“Sifu is an absolute staple in my family. I trained with him my eldest son and now my daughter. Great values they teach and an absolute wonderful environment.“

“Our child's experience thus far has been first class. Any initial nerves were addressed professionally and with caring. Within mere minutes our child became comfortable. Each week our family is excited to interact with Sensei Castillo and his Team of Excellent Coaches. Increased confidence, focus and discipline have been noticed immediately.“

“If you're looking for kids karate near me or kids martial arts in Plainview, Busto's Martial Arts is an excellent choice. They have been part of the Plainview community for over 30 years and truly understand how to work with children in a positive, encouraging way. The program helps kids build confidence, focus, discipline, respect, and perseverance while learning valuable martial arts skills. The instructors create a supportive environment where children feel motivated, successful, and proud of their progress. I highly recommend Busto's Martial Arts for families looking for a trusted kids karate program in Plainview.“

“Master Jiewoo is one of the most dedicated and caring martial arts instructors and staff I know. She creates a positive and motivating environment where students can build confidence, discipline, and strong martial arts skills.
Champions Martial Arts Syosset is a great school with excellent instruction and a welcoming atmosphere. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for quality martial arts training.“

“I’m so glad that we signed our son up for this! When we did the trial I wasn’t sure if he would be interested because he wasn’t too sure about it but once he got used to it he loved it. The instructors showed him things that I knew he was capable of, but it helped him to get more confidence and strength. The instructors are awesome with the kids and are very involved and interested in helping all of them! I can’t wait to see his future progress—would absolutely recommend it to everyone!“

“Such a fantastic program. Our children love coming to classes and learn so much. They make learning fun and provide each child with personalized care and instruction. Highly recommend.“

“My two boys have been attending classes here for about a year. The entire staff is extremely caring, friendly and down to earth. I’m so happy I found this place.“

“I remember I came to this place when I was 5 and stayed here till about 9 years old, it taught me to defend myself, get fit, and have a good work ethic. And I will probably remember everything I learned here for the rest of my life and had a great time while I was here, thank you Renshi Peter.“

“Five stars for Tiger Schulmann Syosset! The facility is always clean and the energy in the room is contagious. From day one, the staff made my kids feel like family. Whether you are a beginner or have experience, they meet you where you’re at. It’s a tough workout but you leave feeling accomplished every time. Best martial arts school!“

“Been going here with fam for several years. Amazing atmosphere... Kids never want to leave the academy. Many great instructors. Coach Matt is very protective of his students. Also there are very high level grapplers of all belt levels...very challenging ....much growth on and off the mats. Grateful for the opportunity to train here.“

“Sensei , his wife and all the instructors there are amazing they are compassionate ,you will be pushed but also have fun“

“It is more than just physical training. It is also about mental training and discipline. This is a school that strives to build all of its students to their fullest potential.“

“My son has been going to Premier Taekwondo for seven years. He absolutely loves it there! The training schedules are amazing.“