I'm only going to give it a 4 Star Rating as it does require contracts (well, unless you wanna pay an arm and a leg). If you know you can commit for a year the cost isn't bad and if you have more than one family member participating, it's VERY reasonable. One thing I do like, is their belt/sash test costs is very reasonable (I'm not sure to what level, but it seems most low belts/sashes are only $10 and includes a certificate).
My husband and I started the Adult Class about 2 months ago (it's now the first of March). We have both thoroughly enjoyed our classes. Sifu is patient with both of us (especially me since I'm probably about 100 lbs overweight). He encourages you to do all you can, but also allows you to listen to your body and take a break or opt out of things you are not comfortable with. Sifu also takes the time with each student to observe them and make sure they are getting the hang of what he is teaching. The other senior students in my class are very helpful as well. It doesn't sound like much, but I have lost about 5 pounds since starting class and I feel myself getting stronger week after week. My endurance has gotten better and where I could only do maybe 2 pushups when I started, I can get to about 7 or so now. I know I still have a long way to go, but I'm making progress and having fun.
My husband, formerly a Marine, has also enjoyed the classes. It has helped with his tendinitis. He is in less pain when he gets home from work and actually feels invigorated at the end of class. It has also been fun to train with him and while our marriage wasn't rocky or anything, I think this has brought us closer together. It's an outlet outside of our kids that we do together and enjoy.
We have also just enrolled our 4 year old son into the Little Warrior's program. I was a little skeptical at first about what the kids would learn at this age group and if Sifu could keep their attention for the duration of the class. My little guy has only taken two classes so far, but he seems very excited about it. To someone who may not really know, it may look like a lot of little games the kids play. In part, this may be true, but the goal is to work on coordination, following directions, focusing on the task at hand despite distraction. Sifu is very patient with the kids, including my son who has limited communication skills due to Autism/Asperger's Syndrome. When he gets home he is excited to show daddy what he did in class and even tried to teach one of the family dog's to punch a pillow!
Finally, this place is like a family. There may not be a lot of females in the classes I've attended and I know I'm in the worst shape of everyone there, however I've never felt like I didn't belong or fit in. It is a warm welcoming environment (even for 30+ year old beginners like my husband and I). If you are thinking about doing martial arts, don't let your age, weight, fears hold you back. The warm ups/conditioning at the start of your class may make you wonder why you're putting yourself through this, but those only last about 15 minutes or so (and you can do them at your pace). After that, the class is a lot of fun as you start learning techniques and build friendships. Don't worry about the warm ups, your body will get used to the conditioning pretty quickly.
Pros: attentive sifu, helpful senior students, friendly atmosphere
Cons: contracts
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