Adult Martial Arts Testimonials From Real Chester County Students

Dragon Gym - Empowering Minds and Bodies through Taekwondo The facilities at Dragon Gym are top-notch, providing a safe and welcoming environment for students of all ages and skill levels. The training areas are spacious, clean, and well-equipped, allowing for optimal learning and practice. What truly sets Dragon Gym apart, however, is the quality of instruction. The instructors are not only highly skilled in Taekwondo but also passionate about sharing their knowledge and empowering students to reach their full potential. They take the time to understand each student's goals and tailor their instruction accordingly, ensuring that everyone progresses at their own pace. Beyond just physical training, Dragon Gym emphasizes the importance of discipline, respect, and perseverance, instilling valuable life lessons that extend far beyond the martial arts studio. The supportive and inclusive atmosphere fosters a sense of community among students, creating lifelong friendships and a network of support. In addition to regular classes, Dragon Gym offers various workshops, events, and competitions, providing opportunities for students to challenge themselves and showcase their skills. I cannot recommend Dragon Gym highly enough. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced martial artist, Dragon Gym offers a welcoming and empowering environment where you can grow both mentally and physically. If you're looking to embark on a journey of self-improvement and personal development, look no further than Dragon Gym.

Bidit Pakrashi

"The school and the staff are very honest and dedicated in bringing forth pure forms of martial arts. The teachers are sweet yet motivating to help anybody discover their better selves. There is a great sense of community in between the students, very little ego, a lot of acceptance for everybody and especially lower belts and beginners, a polite and disciplined attitude of respect for the teachers and still room for fun. The facility is clean and well equipped and their gym is very old school, straightforward weight lifting and [kettlebells]. This is pretty much all you need to strengthen your body and mind. If your gut feeling brought you till reading this, give it a chance and you will not regret."

Mattia Michielan

Absolutely love Dragon Gym. I took TaeKwonDo as a teenager and stopped a few weeks before my black belt test and always regretted stopping. I stumbled on the Phoenixville location and saw they do adult classes so I signed up without hesitation. Coach Kyle is an awesome coach. He takes the time to ensure his students understand every aspect of the techniques and makes each class a unique and fun experience. Classes are the highlight of my week

Sal O'Neill

Professor Tom and Sa Bum Nim Kyle are masters of their art, jiujitsu and taekwondo, respectively, and expert teachers of all ages. The guidance and confidence they provide help their students excel both off and on the mat. I’ve been personally training at the Dragon Gym since 2007. It’s the best martial arts organization and community around!  

Paul Loiacono

I've been coming to Dragon Gym for a little over a year now. I started with no martial arts experience, and now I'm hooked on Taekwondo, Muay Thai, and Kickboxing!   The instructors are professional and encouraging, the facility itself is great and always improving. I will add one word to the wise: this is an increasingly *multidisciplinary* gym. In addition to the martial arts, they have a growing weightlifting section that is in the middle of the gym, between the two martial arts areas. I don't use it often, and those folks are super nice also! I only mention it because sometimes when folks are lifting heavy, you'll be in the middle of class and hear a series of really loud metal "CLANG!"s. It's part of the sound landscape there and you do get used to it. But if you're sensitive to loud noise, or hoping for a focused and serene atmosphere....just warning you!

Marianna F

Not only does the Dragon Gym offer an incredible set of Martial Arts programs for adults and children, there are opportunities to cross train to take things the next level and boost progress. Aside from the outstanding technical proficiency of the master instructors at DG and a curriculum enhanced and adapted through almost 50 years of operation.... I can’t say enough about the spirit and passion that instructors and students alike bring to training at DG. Training here is an absolute treat. If you’re curious about what Martial Arts can do for you or your child, I strongly encourage you to come and see for yourself.

Nate Aliberto

Within 2 years of starting at taekwondo/hapkido and kettle bells at this gym, I've become that guy who tells everyone about martial arts. But I can't recommend this gym enough. The staff takes personal interest in you and your goals & progress. The people challenge you while building you up. And the energy and atmosphere of the place is ambitious, yet humble. I have yet to meet someone with an ego. Plus the gym has nearly everything you could want: BJJ and traditional martial arts for kids and adults, mauy thai/kickboxing, weight training, kettle bells, and even the occasional workshop on yoga, self defense, and more. If you're interested but unsure, I invite you to come check it out. See you there?

Joseph Cunningham

2013 Sept. 180Lbs 36"waist. 5'7" At this point in my life (Age 48) & with the advice of the Doc I decided to loose weight on my own. As a Business owner I worked irregular hours ate & drank what ever I wanted. I worked all the time and had no hobbies, as who has time for them. I decided to loose some weight using MY Fitness Pal & doing some irregular exercise (just cardio). I got down 165lbs. 33" Waist, However that did not last, more irregular work hours and a lack of focus on my self I was soon found myself getting back into those old suits.   By 2015 Feb, I was back up 175lbs & by April up another 4lbs to 179lbs. Not good. In October 2015, Master Somnath Sikdar with the Dragon Gym Martial Arts & Fitness, Exton, who was also attending David Frees's Mastermind group in Phoenix AZ., asked me to look into Tae Kwon Do. I told him I did not have time for that. I'm busy & have to much work to do. All I knew was I had to change something as what I had been doing up to now was not working. So I went to check out the Gym. He ask that I make a small commitment of working out 2 a week for 1-hr at the gym, except for when I was traveling for work or on vacation. I agreed. I had no other plans that that. Train twice a week. Wow. I look back now and wonder why it took me so long to see that I was on the wrong path. Since joining the gym, I have found myself more focused at work, I get things done faster and I feel Great & Happier at home and with myself. I am currently a 30" waist 159lbs. and who would have known, that my small commitment of training 2 times a week, is just a portion of my workout schedule now. I have completed a version of Tyson Franklin's 365 Day Mental & Physical Challenge (Workout 1Hr a day for 365 days) & I find my self a TKD Black Belt plus my personal best for a dead lift is 356lbs. Not bad for a "over weight, over worked, stressed out business owner with no time." Brian Slater 53   P.s. You get a free 1 on 1 orientation and consultation at the start. If you want to make it happen, click HERE to schedule that orientation and consultation.

I too was a parent who sat up in the balcony watching my daughter train for almost a year when my husband signed me up for TKD classes. Putting on that white uniform and stepping on to those mats for the first time, yep, I was a ball of nerves mixed with a ton of excitement...and since that first class, I have never looked back. We have made some amazing friendships that have turned in to being part of an amazing family. Dragon Gym has done so much for both myself and my daughter in helping us to lead healthier lives, build a higher level of self confidence, create goals and strive to achieve them, and to become a better person. It has also given myself and my daughter a much stronger bond through our training together. Was I intimidated, absolutely, this was something that was so out of my comfort zone...was I worried about not being able to do it, you bet I was,...was I even afraid that people might laugh at me, yes ....but after the most amazing welcome in my first class, receiving all the encouragement and support from everyone on those mats and truly finding out what Dragon Gym is all about, those fears faded away. I've been training for over a year now and the support and encouragement from everyone on the mats today is still as strong as it was that very first day. I am so grateful to have this amazing Dragon Gym family in my life and I encourage everyone to take that next step and join us on the mats!

Debbie Felker 

I echo the comments of the parents above, and of course I would as we all became fast friends on the mat and now, off the mat as well! I was in the balcony for only a few months (over 3 years ago!) watching how much fun my son was having and realized I belonged down there with him. The first class was tough for me, heck the first month was tough! I had to stop and breathe several times throughout the class and each time, everyone encouraged me to work at my own pace and get right back in there when I was ready! Every single person in class introduced themselves to me and made me feel welcomed from Day 1. We help each other, we watch out for each other. We train each other. Now, on Saturday mornings, several of us even train together to practice the curriculum outside of the class schedule while our kids take the make up class or serve as junior instructors. That is how much we love being students and parents at DG! As for me and my son, we teach each other forms and practice at home. We review stances, kicks and punches. He makes up crazy combinations to see if Mom can keep up (most of the time I CAN!). We are bonding over this and it's just one more way for us to spend quality time. Although he's on another mat at the same time I'm in class, I look back every so often and smile at him or give a thumbs up and he does the same. There is literally not one negative thing I could say about our experiences as a family at DG. So, come on down and join us on the mat! You won't be sorry! The more feet on the mat, the better!

Dina Hoegen Perreault

For me, it helps to be organized at home with meal planning and plan ahead simple meals for training nights. I typically train M/W/Fs and my two kids most often attend T/TH, all at 6:30. For me, that means I am coming right from work without going home first on those days. As a family, we are all used to eating later dinners, typically between 7:30 and 8, not only because of TKD, but also because of other after school sports and practices. So a healthy snack for us all prior to our classes helps with simple meals after on the days I train.

Liz Peck

As a relative newcomer to Dragon Gym and somebody who has been practicing martial arts on and off for 15 years in various martial arts studios, I can honestly say this is one of the best, well-rounded schools I have known. The instructors are very knowledgeable, caring and do a good job of fostering an environment that helps students grow.

Ksenija Sabic