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!“

“National karate has a great karate program that is open to all ages and abilities. One thing that has been great for our family is the way Mr. Hill supports each karate student's individual goals. We could not be happier with the high quality of instruction from all of the Eden Prairie instructors.“

“We've loved our experience with Crossover! Master Youngman does incredible job instilling values, training, and keeping things fun! I would highly recommend!“

“Love this place and Mr Roell. My son is neurodivergent and even in this short time his confidence and his focus has improved by leaps and bounds! His special ed and regular teacher have commented on his level of growth in those areas in the recent months and I attribute it to USA Karate and Mr Roell. He has the patience to work with kids that are neurodivergent and can really connect with them.“

“Master Moon’s Shakopee location is excellent! The instructors are highly talented, genuinely care, and grow their students in the virtues of TKD (and life) such as confidence and respect. My son has been a student for years and loves the strong community!“

“My children started going to UMA Lakeville when they were 4 years old (now ages, 7 & 8). They started in the Super Kids program. They are now in the junior program with Master Childs. My daughter is an advanced brown belt and my son just got promoted to blue belt. The instructors are not only incredibly skilled but also patient and encouraging. They are wonderful with kids and their ability to understand each student’s strengths and push them to their fullest potential is truly exceptional. If you’re seeking martial arts training, I highly recommend UMA Lakeville! Don’t hesitate to give it a try!“

“Had a great experience with the cove back in late 2000s early 2010s. Lots of good partners and instructors.“

“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.“