The Dragon Gym is a martial arts and fitness studio that was founded in Exton, pa (very near West Chester and Downingtown, PA).
You may be thinking:
"What school has the best Martial Arts near me?"
While distance is important, it should not be the only factor that you consider when trying and eventually choosing a martial arts program for you and your family. There are many factors to consider: price, style, quality, etc.
A great way to find out more about a martial arts studio is to know what others are saying. Check it out:
When I started my girls at Dragon Gym I was very skeptical. We had been at another karate studio and not had a good experience. However, I was completely wrong about Dragon Gym. From the moment my girls started in Instructor Chris Taylor's class I was impressed. This was not just a karate class. He was teaching them how to be successful not just in karate but in life. He huddles them up and talks to them about looking someone in the eye when talking to them, doing your best every time because you don't always get second chances in life and respect. Quickly, I signed up my younger son. Under Master Lonnie Beck and Instructor Chris Taylor's teaching, my son's attention issues have improved and his ability to focus and concentrate have significantly improved. However, our story does not stop here. While sitting in the balcony watching the kids classes I realized this was not just a kids karate studio but much more. I saw a group of adults in the next gym swinging these weighed balls with handles. I, after much deliberation, signed up for an intro class. I can honestly say that decision has changed my life. I signed up for kettlebells and began attending two classes a week. I found classes that worked with my children's class schedule so we could train at the same time. Christa Callahan taught the class and encouraged and pushed me during those workouts. The classes were intense but she always made modifications to tailor the exercise to my ability level, so that I never felt like a failure. Since then I have become more fit and stronger than I have ever been in my life (even high school). In fact, I FINISHED a Spartan Super race this summer. Again our story continues because once my husband saw my success he signed both himself and my oldest daughter up for adult Tae Kwon Do classes. Under Master Som and the other great instructors at Dragon Gym they have become more fit and stronger in fun, physically demanding yet important self defense classes. I eventually joined them in class. Today our family is at Dragon Gym most week nights. We are training together, becoming more fit and the kids are learning important lessons in life. Dragon Gym is not just a karate studio, my family has proven it is so much more. Thank you to everyone at Dragon Gym!
Here's another:
Six months ago, I registered my 8-year old son for the CORE Taekowndo class. He's hyper-active and is easily distracted. We've been searching for ways to help him focus his energy and his attention in healthy ways. We have tried soccer, rock climbing, tennis and swimming. In each of these sports, he became bored within a few weeks. None of those sports "stuck" with him. Enter Dragon Gym. He has been attending classes a few times each week for SIX MONTHS! Instructor Chris Taylor has a unique way of handling the elementary school aged children. He speaks to them with respect and expects (and earns) respect in return. He drills into them the values of discipline, hard work and dedication to family and friends. He also doles out praise in huge measure so the children receive positive reinforcement as they learn new skills and consistently display the values mentioned. Five months ago, I joined the Dragon Gym's Adult Taekwondo program. I loved watching my son train and decided I also wanted to be part of this community. I trained in Taekowndo over 25 years ago and have always regretted giving it up. The first few months were tough as my mind thinks I'm in my early 20s but my body likes to remind me that I'm not! Through this whole process, Master Som Sikdar has been truly amazing. He explains and demonstrates techniques, offers examples how and why we'd use different techniques and helps us modify movements based upon our physical abilities and then holds us to higher standards as we progress. He celebrates our wins and helps us work through areas where we struggle. I have recently begun training with kettle bells with Master Som and Pat Flynn to improve my strength and endurance and that has been truly amazing! I'm stronger and more focused now than I was even one month ago. The staff and instructors at Dragon Gym are truly amazing and simply among the best of the best when it comes to providing fitness programs the whole family will love.
One more:
Dragon Gym (DG) is unlike any other gym, martial arts and/or fitness center. There is an amazing variety of classes for adults to join. All fitness and age levels are welcome! Whether you want to get in shape, lose a few or many pounds, study a specific art, or a combination of all of the above you will find what you are looking for here. I have only been a member of the DG family for a few months, but have thoroughly enjoyed the Tae Kwon Do (TKD), Kettle Bells for TKD, and Cardio Kickboxing classes. The combination of the passion and depth of knowledge of the instructors is rarely seen in similar facilities. They have embraced the mind, body, and spiritual aspects of marital arts and fitness and yearn to share that knowledge with others. Learning is not just limited to the physical component of the art or fitness. Students will have opportunities to attend seminars about a variety of topics.. Informative communication is received via email about muscle recovery, stretching, how to motivate yourself, applications of martial arts in your life, and a host of other topics. For the ladies looking for TKD inspiration, Master Kim, a fourth degree black belt, will continually help you discover that your limit is always just a tad bit further than you thought. Overall, there is nothing I could write that would be more valuable than you just stopping by for a visit to verify for yourself what all the positive reviews here say; which is exactly how I ended up at Dragon Gym.
And a slide show of them all:
