This place is money hungry. I enrolled my daughter in thier karate class and signed up for 6 months because it was a cheaper option($160 monthly). This was a month before school ended and than I enrolled her in the summer camp program they offer. Well they cant stop the direct payments once u sign up for summer camp. So they tried charging me for both summer camp ($240 a week) and after school karate which my daughter was unable to attend because she was enrolled in the summer camp program. I had no problem paying but Im not going to pay for summer camp and karate when they wouldnt let her attend karate while in summer camp. They dont communicate with you that if you enroll in you kid in summer camp that they cant go to karate or that you would have to pay for both. A few days ago I get an email telling me my last week of summer camp and karate would be cancelled. They could of cancelled the karate until after summer but no they just wanted to try charging me double. As far as the karate my daughter did enjoy it. Also they let other kids cut in front of kids in line when they arrive late when other kids have been there way before the other kid who arrived late. If you want to teach children about responsibility than teach them if they arrive late they cant just cut in line because they been there longer or the teacher likes them more.

We are so happy we joined the Black Belt America family. Three of us joined around the same time... myself, my 9 year old, and my 6 year old. It has been great for all of our personal development. I am in the adult class. I love the challenge and its great exercise. My kids have learned discipline, improved posture and balance, and I feel good knowing they will be able to protect themselves if they need to. The teachers are great, and everything is well organized. Thanks BBA!

Our daughter is in BBA summer camp almost the entire summer and she likes it a lot. It is very well organized with fun activities and field trips every week. My daughter is always excited to start a new day in the morning!

Our kids love BBA! The karate classes give them a much needed boost in confidence and fitness. Between the summer camp and after-school programs, BBA has been an invaluable resource for our family; the kids feel very welcome there and never get tired of it.

Black Belt America is a very welcoming space for all skill levels. As a company, I see that they value growth and leadership, no matter your age. I love(d) my experience with them, I especially loved working with Liceth. She always answers all of my questions with kindness and I felt well informed after talking with her a few times.

When my daughter started at Black Belt America, she was very shy and withdrawn. Throughout the years, Black Belt America has given her so much confidence and helped her develop leadership skills in ways I see reflected in every aspect of her life. Having karate as a constant in her life has increased her self esteem, not only through the confidence shes gained but the support system she received in the BBA staff and the camaraderie between students.I admire the instructors patience and knowledge in dealing with every child, no matter where the student is at when they walk into the door. Students are not only taught martial arts, but given life lessons they take with them. I love what this program has done for my daughter, and will always be thankful for all of the positives it brought into her life. A thank you goes out to Mr and Mrs. Wideman as well, for all of your patience and hard work in ensuring all of the students receive the best quality in a program.

Black Belt America is an awesome place! My son has been attending for over a year and grown so much. The self confidence he has developed is showing in all aspects of his life. His attention in school has improved,his attitude is positive and he loves it! They focus on community building through teaching the kids respect, confidence, physical fitness, social awareness and discipline. They treat everyone with open arms and we definitely consider them family!

We love the services at BBA. The girls love the teachers and enjoy the structured program.

Love the toddlers program. Really great teachers!!! My son looks forward to it every weekend :)

Fantastic place. Really supports the kids and the families. They have done a fantastic job during the pandemic of keeping the kids engaged and working with families. Highly recommend.

BBA charges more than any other MA school and delivered the WORST martial arts in Madison! You have many GOOD martial arts schools close by. Mr./Mrs.Wideman are the worst of the worst scam artist. If you want your child to have a good education, go anywhere else please!I have been in martial arts for over 20 years, and I am fed up with these type of mc-dojos and belt factories that give belts based on the money they get. This place is the worst of them all!!!

My five-year-old daughter and six-year-old son have been with black belt America for about a year now. It has been so great for both of them from a discipline standpoint, from a self-esteem standpoint, increasing focus, and just an overall great place to have fun, while working on strength and coordination.BBA has always been incredibly responsive to communication. My son had input regarding one of his instructors techniques... instead of taking it in a negative fashion they were very open and understood that different kids respond to different techniques. That instructor modified his teaching style when interacting with my son. That speaks volumes for me.. I was really impressed. My kids look forward to going every day, They love their instructors.❤️❤️I never had to Sign any sort of contract.Try it out it really is a great place and a great sport!!

I applaud Mr. and Mrs. Wideman. Both of my children grew up in their organization, earned their Blackbelts, and continue to hone their karate skills. My daughter has gone from a socially awkward little girl to a confident goal oriented young woman. My son has gone from a boy with ADHD to a young man who has self control and focus. I credit Blackbelt America and it’s staff for a big part of my children’s development. They not only work on teaching their students karate, but they also work on character development. Both of my children have learned to be good leaders, be more conscious of the need to help others to succeed, and how to be good citizens through the leadership program. All through my children’s martial art careers the Wideman’s have treated my children with respect and fairness. Even during the odd times when there were problems with my son and when the children wanted to take time off to pursue other sports. I say thank you Mr. and Mrs. Wideman for helping me make sure my children turn into responsible caring adults. I hope they can continue learning from you for a long time to come.

Both of my sons went to Black Belt America. For my older son, the experience seemed to be positive, so after two years we enrolled our younger son as well. He began to have a very negative reaction pretty early on. After massive breakdowns on the days he would have to go to BBA we withdrew him after a couple months. 6 months later, I went in to enroll my oldest in a higher level program. As we went through the fees, I questioned why their was an equipment fee as well as a higher fee, since they had stated that the higher base fee was due to equipment needs. When I questioned the fees, the owner said that the real problem was that I was not supportive of my older son since I had pulled out my younger son months earlier. She accused me of being an absent parent because she did no often see me picking up my son because I have morning school duty in my house and commute an hour to work so pickup was often earlier than I could accomplish. I tried to explain that was not the case and that I just didn’t think my younger son reacted well to their methods. As an example, I brought up a recent example I had witnessed where the same teacher my younger son had, had forced a boy with down syndrome to redo a kick in front of all kids and parents of BBA over and over again until he was in tears simply because he was doing the kick with the wrong foot. I explained how my younger son would not react well to that kind of public humiliation and how I felt that was likely why he had such a negative reaction to attending. By the she had called in her husband and co-owner. Instead of taking the feedback about a teacher needing coaching to heart, they accused me of attacking the other boy. At that point, tears were streaming down my face. They both reacted to that sign of ‘weakness’ but increasing the level of their attack and ended up telling me my son was no longer welcome to attend. All because I asked for clarification on their fees. I have never had an experience like this with a professional organization in my life, much less one trusted with children. Ultimately I am glad in the end it occurred as it clearly showed me that my youngest was not overreacting, and ensured I got my oldest as far away from them as I could. I would not send my worst enemy to their school.

I have been with Black Belt America for over 10 years now and I absolutely love it!

I love this place! My son is very shy and this class has helped him a lot. a great place!

BBA has been able to adapt to the conditions of the pandemic to allow kids to continue their martial arts practice either distantly in-person or via remote sessions. That in itself is admirable, but BBA doesnt stop there! The owners have also been extremely flexible with understanding family situations and making accommodations during these uncertain times.

Very encouraging instructor, fun time

The best karate school around!

We have two kids that have attended BEST After School, Summer Camp, and virtual learning and have had great experiences. They are currently doing virtual karate classes via Zoom and love the flexibility.

Perfect place for kids. BBA facilitates virtual learning in the Madison school district, and provides training in martial arts for my kids. Their programs reinforce the merits of honesty, integrity, respect and discipline that we try to instill at home. I highly recommend BBAs after-school care, the various camps they organize throughout the year, and martial arts programs!

Our son has been a student at Black Belt America for over six years. Studying karate and jiu jitsu at BBA has been great for his focus, self-discipline, and self-confidence. Hell be testing soon for his second degree black belt, and will be studying at BBA for years to come!

It all started with my children taking classes. They were having so much fun while learning martial arts that I decided to join. Now, nearly 25 years later, I am still studying martial arts with an amazing group of people, working here as my retirement job, and enjoying the opportunity to help other adults and children discover the same life values and skills that our family learned.

If you want your kids to grow as people and not just in karate. This is the best place. They care about each individual and want them to be successful in every aspect of their life.

Amazing organization with exceptional instructors. Would highly recommend to anyone thinking of getting into martial arts or furthering their training.

DO NOT SIGN THEIR CONTRACT!!! - My granddaughter was attending and signed up for the black belt program. My wife signed the contract without seeing that it was for 24 months. My granddaughter decided after 16 months that she had enough of karate and dropped. She is after all a teenager and trying new things. The contract has me paying for the additional 8 months with no services provided. I can understand 30-60 days notice to break a contract and find replacement students, but there are no clauses allowing you to do so. Consequently I am out $1200. I contacted the owners and they would not adjust their policy. Do not sign their contract as is. Go elsewhere.

This is a fantastic program. Ive been involved in Martial Arts since I was 5 at various schools due to moving around. Now that I live in Madison I looked into many schools and decided this was the one for me. The instructors are all very professional and a lot of fun. The black belt and adult classes are physically challenging, but never so much that the students cant handle it.Ive also watched multiple youth classes taught and am amazed at how great the instructors are with the students. Working with that many kids is not a simple thing to do, and they do it with such grace.I wouldnt hesitate to recommend this program to anyone I know, hope to see you in class :)

The best karate experience I have seen so far in Madison, WI. Registered my son here for 3mo program, and later enrolled him for 6mo straight without much thinking. Had belief in their Masters Mr.ODonnell & Ms.Bass for their impeccable teaching skills. Last but not least Erica for her great customer service. Good job BBA. You Rock!!!

I have had a great experience at Black Belt America since starting in July. Beginning to learn martial arts at 27 has been a fun challenge, thanks to the excellent staff and curriculum.I love that they offer make up classes—it makes it so much more likely to work for a variety of lifestyles and schedules. All of the instructors offer unique, valuable perspectives and it is great to see their patience and candor with children.I would both recommend this school to adults like myself, aiming to learn some self-defense and get some exercise, and for parents who want to instill values of discipline, respect, and an active lifestyle in their children and young adults.

Our son was interested in karate but at first refused to participate in his introductory lesson. They managed to get him involved despite his nerves. Now I pick him up every day from their program. He has bright pink cheeks and a smile on his face. His confidence and self-respect are so strong as he builds karate skills and strength.

This is my sons first summer at Black Belt America. After attending one birthday party there he told me this was what he wanted to do for his summer camp. He is really enjoying it so far. We have been told by his instructors that he is doing well. He comes home talking about what he learned and has his little sister excited about karate as well. They are practicing punches with a pillow as I type this. We have been pleased with the staff, variety of activities/field trips, flexibility of drop off/pick up times and the price was right. Sign up in advance and keep your eyes open for new member discounts to secure the best rates. A special thanks to Mr. ODonnell for today! I would definitely recommend Black Belt America for your summer program needs. Thank you for a great summer so far.

My son started at Black Belt America almost 6 years ago in their after school program and my daughter is going on almost 2 years now! We absolutely love their program. Watching my son progress from tiny kindergarten white belt to a black belt has been amazing. The instructors and other members of the studio have been a huge positive influence on his life. The focus not just on the martial arts techniques but also on life skills such as leadership, teamwork and responsibility have helped my son and daughter both inside and outside of the karate studio to work towards their goals and grow as individuals. The kids enjoy the classes and the community so much at BBA that they also ask to attend summer camp there too. After watching the kids for so many years I also decided I had to give it a try and started classes recently. It is definitely a great workout and a lot of fun.

My son joined Little Ninja recently and totally loves it. Mr. O Donnell is amazing with kids. Each week, they do slightly different set of things to practice and improve on what they did before - in a very fun, age appropriate way (like pretending to be animals, jumping thru the lily pad etc). He keeps the children very engaged and fun. The whole team is very kind and patient, at the same time, firm to make sure the kids listen and follow instructions. I would highly recommend Black Belt America!

Its a really nice place to be. The thing that I like knowing about it is that is if you ever get into a fight, you know how to defend yourself. My teachers always know what to do. They take good care of you. I like when we earn stripes because it helps me to know when Im getting good at karate. ~ Clayton, age 7.We love seeing Clayton so proud of himself, he really enjoys the challenges of karate. Clayton really enjoys summer camp and is looking forward to returning this summer. Black Belt America has been a great investment for us. - Claytons Mom & Dad

BBA is the perfect fit for our grandson. The instructors are enthusiastic, motivated and disciplined. Every class is fun, challenging and goal-oriented. It is a joy to watch our grandson make steady progress in skills and self-discipline. His self-esteem is climbing. I would highly recommend this program. In fact, we are putting our 5 year old granddaughter in the summer program this year! Maureen S.

Our son starting coming to Black Belt America this summer and loves it! We have never seen him so excited about his progression in an activity and his dedication to doing better. He always looks forward to going to camp and leaves with a smile on his face. His demeanor has improved in just a few weeks as well! We all win!

Great staff. Awesome after school and summer programs. Convenient location.

I have been at Black Belt America for 9 years now, and it has become one of my favorite places to be. The instructors are incredible and are currently helping me earn my third degree black belt. Joining this excellent organization was the best decision of my life!

As both a customer and an instructor, I can say definitively that this is the best place to train in the area hands down.

I have been a driver for Black Belt Americas after school program for 6 years. Its a pleasure to see the kids grow and learn their skills in martial arts.The instructors are awesome, and teach as they were taught, this is why its a successful program in my opinion

We are moving out of state soon and by far one of the most difficult parts will be leaving BBA. After checking out several karate studios last year for our 8 year old son and 4 year old daughter, we chose BBA and couldn’t have been happier. Not only do the instructors teach great life skills along with karate techniques, they also are eager to help children in bringing those same skills home and to school and finding ways to live and act with integrity, excellence, and confidence.In addition to their two classes per week our children have been very excited to have birthday parties at the gym, attend spring and summer camps, and go to the amazing black belt tests. I even joined as an adult after taking advantage of their free-for-parents months in May and June.We would highly recommend. Blackbelt America to a great family considering karate.

I love Black Belt America. The instructors are great! My 9 year old started there a few years ago. He loves going to class and even though he would like to do some other after school programs, he is dedicated to getting his black belt and wants to stay focused on his karate. He cant wait to be asked to join some of the advanced programs that Black Belt America offers. He trusts the staff and really looks up to them. My youngest is 4 and recently joined their Little Nijas program. He sometime has difficulty staying focused and on task, but the instructors are great at getting him to stay on task or redirecting him to what he should be doing.Black Belt America has been great for my kids and I see them both sticking around for quite a few more years!

Ive been going to Black Belt America for almost nine years and Ive loved it! They have fantastic classes and instructors, as well as great values.

Both of my kids LOVE going to karate school at Black Belt America. And Mr. ODonnell gave a demonstration at their school that the kids and teachers loved. Mr. ODonnell and the other black belts have set excellent examples for our kids to follow.

At the recommendation of a friend, I signed my son up for Black Belt Americas after school program in the fall of 2014. I wasnt sure what to expect, but now looking back at the past two years, I can say its been an amazing experience for my son. Ive watched him develop confidence, better executive function, improved athleticism and a love for a wonderful art. One of the aspects that I have particularly appreciated is that the values promoted at Black Belt America are those I promote at home. This makes my job easier as a parent, because my son hears the same message from the adults and instructors around him. My daughter will enter kindergarten this fall, and Im looking forward to having her continue her training in Black Belt Americas after school program (both she and my son are having a fantastic time at Black Belt Americas summer camp). Many, many thanks to the wonderful instructors and mentors at Black Belt America.

I have nothing but good things to say about my familys experience at Black Belt America. My oldest son has been attending classes there for almost a year now. He loves going to classes and is excited about his progress in advancing in belt levels. He has a ton of respect for the teachers there, who are well-trained, enthusiastic, and just great people. The program extends its focus on life skills, such as respect and leadership, outside of the karate studio and into home and school, which helps him make those connections and see how his success in karate applies to other parts of his life. Karate summer camp has been a ton of fun while still promoting respect and discipline, so as a parent I feel it combines the best of both worlds for summer. All the teachers and counselors are looking out for the best interests of all campers and really create an safe and fun environment.

An excellent Karate School on multiple levels. Excellent, welcoming instructors and a friendly community. Martial arts has helped me a lot personally, Ive built up a lot of confidence.

Helena loves going to your after school program. She stays active, has fun, and is slowly beginning to gain more confidence (although she is still pretty bashful sometimes). We both love it!

Very impressed with the quality of the staff and their martial arts knowledge!

The instructors are extremely kind. They make the class a positive karate learning experience.

This is a great place to learn self defence and many other life goals. The staff makes sure that there is alot of one on one learning and always goes above and beyond any expectations. Wonderful place.

My sons love the after school pick up program. I love it too! They get the exercise and get their homework all done before they get home. We seen an improvement in focus and confidence in them also.

Black belt America is a great place for your kids to be. The instructors not only teach self defense, they also teach different areas such as responsability, respect, and hard work. My daughters benefit from this school very much, they become more extrovert, responsible and more attention to detail. The instructors are dedicated, highly prepared, and super friendly that makes the school such a second home.I also take karate classes, which help me to lose over 10 lbs in 2 months, help me with my flexibility and the best of everything is helping me a lot with stress relief. My instructor Mr. Klaeser is highly prepared and very patient with me. They are always willing to help me and practice with me any combination, and get me ready to compete. Mr ODonnell is my daughters instructor, he is really awesome with kids, very patient and kind.

My son, Andy, has been with BBA for about 5 years and we loved what weve observed. Andy was a shy kid who was not confident. After being trained in Karate class and moving up with belts, he became more and more confident. He spoke up and help his friends in school when he observed his friends were bullied. I couldnt believe what I saw during the Black Belt testing. It is not about he past the test and got the Belt but about the spirit that he demonstrated after the candidate training. Thanks BBA!

Black Belt America programs have improved my childrens self-esteem and confidence. The classes are taught in a friendly and supportive manner that makes learning karate fun for children and adults.

Wonderful classes! Great exercise and a great confidence booster. The kids looked like they were having so much fun that I started classes, too!

Weve been attending for two years, with both my girls starting at three years old. It is a family owned business and the owner came and sat with my older daughter during her first two classes to explain what the other kids were doing and answer her questions. I was so impressed that Mrs. Weidman would spend her valuable time to be so personable! Ive been impressed with how welcoming all the staff is to everyone (they even hold doors open for us as a sign of respect!) and how they teach kids and adults alike to be good citizens through certain life skills including focus, respect, balance, teamwork, control, and memory. Mr. Klaeser and Mr. ODonnell have been their teachers and I have been impressed by their patience, respect for the kids, and how they encourage people of all ages to take leadership opportunities in every aspect of their lives. It is wonderful physical exercise, builds strength (and confidence through self defense in the later years) and my girls are already more confident in themselves. Love this place!

I am currently working as a counselor for Black Belt Americas martial arts summer camp. From the moment I started my training, I felt welcome as part of the Black Belt America family by the Widemans and the rest of the amazing staff. As part of my position, I worked directly with the campers, facilitating activities and making sure they were having fun and staying safe. The flow and structure of the daily schedule was great, as the children were kept very active throghhout the day, but were also given ample opportunities for downtime. The activities themselves were all awesome, and the children really seemed to enjoy them. I really enjoyed accompanying the field trips, going to a few places I wouldnt have went to otherwise. The part of my experience I am most impressed with is seeing how the children have transformed over the course of the summer. Many have made leaps and bounds in their behavior, and its so cool to see them encouraging and helping out the other campers. The impact that this summer camp has on the children is apparent by the smiles on their faces at the end of the day. I am very proud to play a part in this organization, and would highly recommend this academy to anyone who is thinking about getting into martial arts.

Hello parents looking into Black Belt America! Before you sign on for this after-school program, I have a few questions! Are you a single parent looking for a reliable after-school program so that you may work? Are your children considered special needs in a non-physical manner such as Autism? Do you like it when you pay someone to watch your child and they are able to complete that task, be it a good or bad day your child is having (within reason, of course)? If so, then please keep looking elsewhere. This company are one of the most ableist, uncaring companies I’ve ever met. I had explained multiple times to her teacher for the class that my daughter is Autistic and that sometimes she’s reading the wrong social cues from other students. The teachers response was “It doesn’t matter.” My child is 7 and will not fit into their “perfect little soldier” mold. So, what did they do but push my childs buttons until she became “unbearable” with a tantrum or two that 7 year olds can get (especially when they’re hot and tired) and then call me to come pick her up? For $125 a week, no refunds on the times that I had to leave work early to pick up my child because she was “such a distraction and too much to handle.” The only good thing I can say about this place was their system of security and that fact that they were nice enough after a very long and heated argument to refund me the rest of the cost of Spring Break that I had paid in advance for my child. The childish moves that I will condemn them for, however, is the line “If your child acts out tomorrow (this was Tuesday for Spring Break week) you will have to come pick her up and we will deny you service for the rest of the week.” I would find this acceptable if my child was causing property damage and hitting other children, but for a simple tantrum because she’s hot, sweaty, and being picked on by staff and students alike? Unacceptable!Children will have fits and tantrums. I have seen other children display behavior that my daughter has (hitting each other with their uniform, having fits and tantrums, not listening or keeping still during class) yet I have never seen these children be pulled aside or disciplined. Unless you fit their mold of an abled, higher-wage family and have on-call butlers/maids/sitters/family that can pick them up at the drop of a hat, please don’t send your child here!PS It really upsets the teachers if you call their balls that they use for training and playing purposes “stupid.” they sent my child home after calling one such ball stupid. I thought inanimate objects had no feelings.

My daughter, age 7, says, It is a great place to focus and learn because if you dont listen at school, this will help you listen and be focused. The teachers are great and can do amazing tricks!

Our family has been part of the Black Belt America family for 19 years now. We have 4 children who have earned their black belts through this school. Two of them are first degree black belts, one is a third degree and one has earned his fourth degree and now its Moms turn! At first I have to admit I was a little hesitant to be taught be such a young instructor, but I have to say that in the past year I have been very impressed with the knowledge and the guidance that my current instructor Mr. Klaeser has shown me. He is always very patient with me. Sometimes at my age it takes longer to learn a form or combo. He takes time even after class to help me get it right or to prepare for a tournament. Also a big thank you to the rest of the team!

Our son thoroughly enjoys the programs at BBA including black belt training, after school program, and summer camp. The instructors are extremely nice and helpful, they pay attention to his individual progress and provide positive feedback. They teach kids to be positive, respectful and resilient. I would recommend BBA to everyone

Over priced and extremely unprofessional (especially with speaking with the owners). There are so many other great places in the area. Please do your research, I unfortunately learned the hard way. As a mother I would not recommend for an after school program. 5 year old was not happy and my 11 year old was very disappointed.

I am Mr.Milkowski and I like how BBA trains their students and rememembera everyones names. I just earned my Black Belt through here and it was such an amazing experience, I cant wait to earn my second degree.

Great instructors great people great experience. My son cant stop talking about his time there!!

I am so happy that moises is part of Black Belt America, excellent people, excellent programs that my boy really enjoyed, also flexible times that helps me a lot with my personal life, I am highly recommend Black Belt America.

I recently had to take my two younger daughters out of BBA because we were having trouble getting to class regularly and just couldnt make it frequently enough for it to be worth continuing.However, I wanted to write about how impressed my wife and I have been by their instructors.When our girls could make it to class, my wife and I were awestruck by how every person who works at BBA always brought a positive attitude to class. There was always a focus and friendliness brought from everybody, whether they were an adult who was leading the session or a slightly younger kid who was helping out for the day.I honestly cant imagine how they do it, but whoever is in charge of choosing instructors for the classes is to be commended. To be able to bring that positive attitude to each session when working with the younger classes did not go unnoticed. We didnt take it for granted.Were seriously going to miss BBA and really enjoyed having our girls there and seeing them get a little work in.

Beware of multiple year long contracts without any way to cancel them. I think it is unreasonable to have young children required to commit to a 2+ year program and continue to charge monthly fees long after the child no longer attends the program. Despite having faithfully paid thousands of dollars over many years to this business, we are unable to withdraw from the endless monthly charges. Needless to say, our experience has been unpleasant.

My son loves all the programs at Black Belt America: black belt training, after school program, summer camp, performance team, etc. All instructors are extremely nice and helpful, they pay attention to my sons individual progress. They teach kids to be psitive, respectful and reslient. I would recommend BBA to everyone.

Very positive instructors!!

If I could give a 0 I would! There is NO respect from staff towards adults who do not have children attending there. I called to make a comment regarding the reckless driving of one of their drivers at a school, and when I left my message with the receptionist instead of the supervisor calling me back, that supervisor gave my personal information to the driver, who then called me outside of business hours/their working hours to yell at me about calling! RUDE!

Its a great workout with great instructors!

I go there

It just is