I have been searching for years for a school and instructor that teach a practical approach to self defense. The students all love being there and the energy in the room is driven but supportive. Being a woman I was a little intimidated but every person adapts to the needs of their partner and are always willing to help you when youre struggling. My favorite part of this school are the grappling classes. We have so much fun wrestling around while learning new moves. Definitely come check the classes out youll have a blast. Also, if you are looking for bang for your buck you will not find a better deal. The instruction is fantastic.

Great martial arts school. Very friendly people and knowledgeable instructors. It is a fun way to get a good work out.

When youre walking down the street and you see someone who looks threatening, do you have a plan? A set of skills, basic or advanced, that you can call upon to respond in the case of an altercation? After training in a traditional martial art for 7 years, I didnt feel I could answer yes to that question. If that person attacked me in a specific way with the right kind of momentum I could use my training. But that left about a million other ways for a person to attack that I wouldnt know how to handle.When I read about the approach at this school, it immediately spoke to me. I wanted to have skills to respond to any kind of attack, not just attacks from people who trained in the same particular art as me.Ive been at the school for almost 5 years now and couldnt be happier. The mix of great people, welcoming environment and a comprehensive system of self defense has been exactly what I wanted.

Ive had both my kids here for almost 8 years. Incredibly good youth programs for kids as young as 5.Sijo John Beall is a legend in martial arts and hes there all the time. Head Instructor Matthew Soule is an amazing teacher and leader. Ive seen a few other instructors come and go over the past decade and not one has been anything short of outstanding.

I have been lucky enough to train at Greenlake Marital Arts for the past four years and it has been an amazing experience. Matt Soule, the owner and head instructor, is one of the best teachers I have encountered in any discipline. Through his leadership, the school maintains a warm, welcoming culture for participants of all skill levels and gives you practical real world defense skills.The Tsun Jo fighting style, developed by school founder Sijo John N Beall (who instructs advanced students and stops into other classes from time to time), is extremely versatile and effective as a self defense practice. I had some previous boxing experience and the Tsun Jo training has helped me fill tons of holes in my skills and make me a much better fighter.No Gi Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes are also available with guest instructors to focus on wrestling and BJJ specifics. It is great to have this variety in the training as so much of the BJJ translates to stand up and vice versa.Matt has recently become a certified instructor of the Wim Hof Method (WHM) and a weekend seminar (ending with an icy dip into Greenlake) has added some amazing non-combat skills to my life. I am very excited about doing more WHM in the future.Whether you are an experienced fighter or someone brand new looking for self defense training or just a fun way to learn something new and stay fit, I highly recommend Greenlake Marital Arts.

After trying different schools/systems in the Seattle area I landed on Greenlake Martial Arts and I have to say that it is far superior to anything else I have seen before, here is my take on why:1. Practical: Tsun Jo is not a sports style of martial arts. This is not a traditional method where you will repeat patterns/form/katas. No points/competitive sparring. You wont learn flashy techniques. From day one you will learn techniques and develop skills that will be very effective.2. Friendly: There are no egos here. Expect to get help from every body. Instructors are down to earth guys, with a lot of skill and the will to teach.3. Lots of classes. Kids have their own class schedule (and their classes seem like a lot of fun). There are classes for parents too, so you can learn while your kid is in class.4. Concepts: Over and over you will hear the same set of principles applied to all techniques, which makes it easier to understand. It is a cohesive system.5. I am not sure how to label this point, so I will just dump my brain here. I am an engineer, and Tsun Jo has an engineering feeling to it. I dont like accepting things just because they came from an expert. The school encourages you to test the techniques yourself, see what works for you (age, body type, flexibility etc), ask questions, think outside the box and challenge what is taught. As an engineer I like to optimize everything, including my training time; the techniques taught here are high percentage techniques, meaning that you will be able to use them in many different scenarios.

A great place to train. The instructors are always friendly and have a personal interest in your progress. They foster a non-competitive atmosphere that is as fun as it is focused. Tsun Jo Kung Fu uses age old wing chun techniques, and applies them in a streamline fashion, that make for an effective self-defense system. I would recommend this place to anyone who wants to stay in shape and have fun doing it.

I cant wait to go to class and train every time. The instructors are great, and the atmosphere is very friendly.