Very good place, friendly people, and while theyre friendly, they also have a strict attitude on improvement for your skill to gradually get better over time, and theyre not jerks about that at all which is something I like about the instructors at this place, they arent mean nor are they going too soft on you. I was only here for a month but if I still had the time, I would love to come back here. I wouldve given this 5 stars but the downside is that they dont have a flexible schedule, at least not from my personal experience, since I also have to juggle between college and a full-time job. Although if I had the time, I would definitely love to come back here, this place is awesome.

The reviewer speaking about race sounds like an idiot. Racist in and of herself. Absurd commentary, the thought process behind it. Will definitely not take that seriously.

Great place, welc oming people and effective teaching. I only did a drop in from out of town, but it was clear the school is a serious fighting and sparring school. Highly recommend.

This is a unique place. The staff is friendly and the other students are like family. The armored combat league is tons of fun.

Tunick is in need of teacher training. She is an impediment to progress due to her poor communication and leadership skills. I have a background in competitive martial arts ( I hold a black belt and have competed in national competitions such as John Chung, Charlie Lee, etc and placed). I wanted to try a weapon style so I chose Kendo and Iaido. I saw immediately that I was the only woman of color there. I was alluded to as being “unfocused/needing work” right off the cuff by the owner, Raab Rashi. Meanwhile another Caucasian woman who was also a beginner had praise heaped upon her by teachers for her “natural talent”. But I stuck with it.Recently, I joined an iaido class the last minute after being encouraged by some of the students to hop in. The teacher (Tunick) publicly chastised me (and only me) after every exercise. Even as I was newer, the job of a teacher is to instruct and do so effectively while providing constructive feedback.  Instead, I was bombarded with assumptions and treated as a nuisance until I decided to leave. I heard her justify it to students as me “not knowing what I was doing”. Whereas most instructors would have capitalized on this great opportunity to instruct.When I spoke with one of the owners he responded that she has “worked with ‘underserved’ minorities” and “their mission speaks to diversity.” As if to lend credibility by grouping all minority groups together, and providing an uninformed and self-glorified edge with which to blanket their microaggressions. The owners have appropriated and monetized on an ethnic thing (Asian martial arts), set up shop in an ethnic neighborhood (Harlem).Yet they lack diversity (are all white with 2-3 ethnic minorities including myself).That the only woman of color is subjected to denigration and gaslit for calling attention to it is a final flourish to an already negative set up. There is something lacking in outreach and in creating a safe atmosphere of inclusion.If that were not so, more people like myself would be there, the demographic would reflect the mission as well as the studio etiquette. I would suggest diversity and teacher training courses to broaden their cross-cultural understanding, as well as establish some effective and steadfast communication skills. A teacher is able and willing to work with all types of people indiscriminately regardless of their level, age, sex, gender or any such characteristics. As opposed to using their authority to prejudge or triggerhappily target, accuse, and berate.Tunik’s behavior is microaggressive, clannish, presumptuous, and most importantly—contextually remiss. Her natural predisposition to me from my first and last class reflects a pretentious attitude of entitlement that needs to be checked. As a studio placed in a historically culturally ethnic neighborhood, showcasing Japanese and Korean martial arts, the very least the owners and operators could do (if not diversify staff and clientele) is be professional, culturally mindful, and self aware given the amount that students pay just to show up.

Ive been going here for Longsword classes for a little over a month now. The staff is friendly and helpful, and the instructors are knowledgeable in their subjects and great teachers!

Great, friendly place to learn German long sword or japanese sword arts.