Students at Pure Energy Marital Arts in BoCoCa

Remember the movie The Karate Kid? A boy moves from New Jersey to Los Angeles and gets bullied. His new neighborhood and the kids he has to go to school with actually make him miss New Jersey! This goes on until the gardener/handyman gives the boy some chores, which vaguely resemble karate moves. Thirty minutes later the boy beats the bully, gets the girl and gives us “the crane.”

As a kid, I left this movie more psyched than ever about martial arts. I was going to learn ALL of them so well, I would have a mountain top temple where ninjas, shaolin monks and MMA fighters would come to learn my methods. Of course, this didn’t happen. I never even took one class…but I wanted to.

There are many benefits to your kids learning martial arts. The least of them is has anything to do with fighting. You gain confidence, get into shape, and learn self-control and discipline. Those will all come in handy throughout their lives. There is the added benefit of being prepared should you have to leave the tri-state area and move some place where karate gangs run rampant, like Los Angeles.

They’re remaking this film to be released this summer…so who knows? Maybe I’ll get that fever again and finally enroll at one of the many establishments that offer lessons in the varied world of martial arts.

There are a ton of places in Brooklyn that offer courses in martial arts for kids and adults. The trick is to find something that fits your kid and your budget. If you don’t get a good feeling from the owner when you visit, whether it’s convenience, class size or cleanliness, there are plenty of other places to choose from.

Comments are gathered from readers and internet resources.

Amerikick Park Slope
www.amerikickbrooklyn.com
5^th Ave at 14^th St. – Park Slope
718-768-8200
Kids 3-teens, adults. Also adult classes in Jujitsu, MMA and ladies kick boxing
Comments: The teachers have all been good so far and I like that they all teach the values of respect, discipline and cooperation.  We have been there for a few years and my kids both love it.

Americk Sunset Park
www.amerikickbrooklyn.com
5^th Ave @ 58^th St. – Sunset Park
718-567-7099
Kids 3-teens, adults

Brooklyn Aikikai
http://www.brooklynaikikai.com/children/index.html
408 Third Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11215 (BOCOCA)
718-643-6044
Ages: 4-12
Children’s classes are separated by age groups: 4-5 year olds and 6-12 year olds. All age groups can benefit from learning Aikido. This is where you train to turn an attacker’s force against him/her.
Comments: We love that the practice of Aikikai is non-aggressive: in fact, it’s about turning aggression away. There isn’t any punching or kicking- it’s more about focusing on discipline and movement.

Brooklyn Dojo
www.brooklyndojo.com
93 Pineapple Walk – Brooklyn Heights
718-237-0568
Kids 4 and up. This place seems really kid friendly, they also host Music for Aardvarks, mom and baby yoga and even a playgroup

Goshin Ryu
www.goshin-ryu.com
Sensei Luis A. Ruiz
85 Graham Ave
Williamsburg/Bushwick
18-218-7117
Specializing in Shotokan karate

The Legend Karate
E. 16th and New Kirk
Brooklyn, NY (Ditmas Park)
718-282-3063

The Little Gym of Brooklyn Heights
www.tlgbrooklynheightsny.com
221 Atlantic Ave between Brooklyn Bridge Blvd and Court St
Brooklyn Heights
718-488-7744
Subway: F, G to Bergen St; 4, 5 to Borough Hall.
Their programs are based on a curriculum designed to build motor skills while having fun. Classes include: Parent/Child, preschool/kindergarten gymnastics, gymnastics, sports skills, karate.

Midwood Martial Arts and Family Fitness Center
www.midwoodmartialarts.com
1302 Avenue H (at the corner of E. 13th Street)
Brooklyn, NY (Ditmas) 11230
tel: 718-258-KICK (5425)
Classes include: Aikido, Capoeira, Karate, Tai Chi, Wing Chun Kung Fu/Catch as Catch Can Wrestling/Western Boxing, African Dance, Cardio Kickboxing, Pilates, Chi Gung, Feldenkrais, Nei Kung, Pilates Mat, Yoga, GymStars, Juguemos A Cantar, Creative Movement, Music and Rhythm, Pre-Ballet, Sign-A-Song, Story Time, Yoga for Children.

Mission Martial Arts
http://missionmartialarts.com/
517 Henry Street (btw. Sackett and Union)
Brooklyn, NY
(718) 858-6876
Tae Kwon do, Jiu Jitsu

Mormando Martial Arts
http://www.mormandomartialarts.com/
4626 Flatlands Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11234
718-677-9704
They offer kids’ programs starting at 3 years old. Offerings include a synthesis of martial arts including Tae Kwon Do, Juijitsu, Mua Thai and Kung-Fu.

Powerplay
432 3rd Ave (btw. 7th and 8th Sts)
Brooklyn, NY 11215
718-369-9880
They offer holiday camps for December, February and April, summer camps. Gymnastics for infant and toddler (9mos-3yrs), pre-school gymnastics (3.5 to 5 yrs) and special needs children classes, recreational gymnastics for children ages 7 and older, pre-team and team programs, technical soccer classes, rhythmic gymnastics, karate, rock climbing and after-school program.

Pure Energy Tai Kwon Do
http://www.pureenergymartialarts.com/about_tae.html
548-550 Union Street (near 3rd Ave.)taw
Brooklyn NY 11215
718.965.4222
Classes start at 3 years. Teaches Tae Kwon Do.
Comments: Tessa Gordon, the owner, is firm but kind. The kids really take to her. She was a national champion in Canada and really knows her stuff. They offer really good deals if you sign up  for an entire year.

Shaolin Temple Overseas Brooklyn Branch
http://www.bklynshaolin.org/index.htm
[email protected]
Shares space with Albee School of Dance (corner of Carroll and Court)
232 Carroll Street, 2nd floor
Brooklyn, NY 11231
718-858-0382
The Brooklyn Shaolin Kung Fu Center is dedicated to teaching traditional Shaolin Kung Fu to children ages 4 & up and adults. It offers a Buddhist approach to kung fu.
Comments: The teacher, Shifu Brown, is great with the kids and though he is firm, the kids know he is patient and wants them to do well.

T.Kang Taekwondo
http://www.tkangtkd.com
[email protected]
2960 Avenue U
Brooklyn, NY 11229 (Flatbush/Brownsville)
718.891.1400
Hours: Mon-Fri 2pm-10pm; Sat 10am-4pm
T Kang Taekwando offers traditional Taekwondo training for men, women, and children in a modern, state of the art 5000+ sqare foot facility. Head instructor grandmaster Tae Sun Kang is president of the American Black Belt Association, with over 35 years’ experience.

Traditional Okinawan Karate
www.tokarate.com
248 McKibbin – Williamsburg/Bushwick
718-418-9892
Specializing in Isshin-ryu Karate. Kids 5-teens, adults. Call for free classes to make sure they’re a fit for you. Traditional Okinawan Karate offers classes in Isshin Ryu Karate for self defense, sport, fitness, health, and well being. Classes are available four nights a week for kids, teens, and adults. 2 weeks FREE classes with no money down and no obligation. Free karate gi with signup.

Silent Thunder
www.silentthunderny.com
494 Neptune near Shell Rd – Brighton Beach
718-333-2490
Kids 5-teens, adults. Features kid-safe and bully-proof workshops. They have birthday parties where you and/or the staff cut the cake with a samurai sword.

Urban Martial Arts
www.urbandojo.com
[email protected]
965 CIA (corner of New Kirk)
Brooklyn, NY (Ditmas Park)
718-287-5500
They are located in Ditmas Park a few blocks from the Q train at Newkirk Ave. They offer classes for kids aged 4 and up, teens, and adults.  They are a mixed martial arts school. They have taken elements of American karate, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, boxing, kickboxing, and self-defense, and remixed them into a well-rounded curriculum. Visit their web site to try 2 weeks of classes for free!
Comments: http://www.yelp.com/biz/urban-martial-arts-brooklyn

WMA Karate
http://wmakarate.com
67 Atlantic Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11201
718- 938-5278
email [email protected]
Tae Kwon Do, Tai Chi, Jiu-Jitsu

World Martial Arts
http://www.happykicks.com/
475 Atlantic Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11217
Phone # (718) 855 9898
Comments: The teachers are respectful of eachother and the kids. There’s a nice environment there. You can drop in and watch there and that will give you a good idea of what it’s like. The space is great and they don’t just award belts out, the kids have to earn them. Make sure you meet the headmaster, SaBumNim, he is excellent and is usually the one that teaches.

Yee’s Hung Ga Kung Fu
http://www.yees-hungga.com
[email protected]
241 Bedford Ave, Buzzer #7
Brooklyn, NY 11211 (Williamsburg)
347.410.0004
The curriculum at Yee’s Hung Ga Kung Fu, in Williamsburg and Chelsea, is based on traditional Shaolin Five-Animal Kung Fu. The kid-friendly martial arts program helps its practitioners to develop a strong healthy body, internal power, and a clear, focused mind. Classes are designed to cater to the needs of each age group: kids ages three to six, or seven to 12.

YMCA
www.ymcayc.com
Dodge YMCA – Cobble Hill/Brooklyn Heights
Prospect Park
Bedford Stuyvesant
Coney Island
North Brooklyn
They have karate and jujitsu programs for kids

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Jimmy Maas is a comedian, writer, and a broadcast professional. For more than 14 years he has graced the radio airwaves somewhere in the U.S. in some way, either with his deep dulcet voice on talk shows or his influence as a big shot producer for the Wall Street Journal Radio Network. After moving to Brooklyn from Austin, Texas, he spent several years toiling in the deep recesses of the New York’s comedy scene. In his spare time, he likes to sit on the couch, watch football, breathe through his mouth and write affirming, loosely factual blurbs and bios about himself in the third person. If you twitter, follow him out at #Maasdinero.

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