This place is like my second home. The people here are family to me. The instructors here helped me change from a snot-nosed little brat into someone to be proud of. I'm not bragging, but I do want people to know that they are serious when they talk about their students doing better in school and at home. Every day, people point out how I'm living proof that the Dragon Academy's systems really work. I cannot count the number of times one of the student's parents overestimated my age; its not because I look old, either, and I'm not the only example of this.

Starting college this fall, I couldn't ask for better preparation. I am confident in myself mentally, physically and spiritually. I don't have to walk around in fear that I will get hurt or of what I will do if something bad happens.

This studio is the backbone of my life, its where I have people I can count on. Its where I find strength when I need it. Its also where I find reality when I've got my head in the clouds. They don't sugar coat things there, and I think its important to have a little bit of reality in life. Everyone needs at least one person in life who can tell it to them like it is. With that said, I want to address one of the previous comments made about the studio...

As I mentioned, there is no sweet talk involved at the Dragon Academy. They are straightforward and honest about everything they believe and everything they teach. There are no masks. They are who they are, and they don't try to pretend to be anything other than that. Their opinions are written all over the studio (literally) and in use every day. They never try to hide them or keep people from knowing what they are.

As far as favoritism goes, you will hear them say that they are hardest on their "favorites." Some people will argue that I was a favorite, and perhaps that makes me biased, but I had it much harder than the "other" students, that's for sure. So, you can't really say that the so-called "favorites" are better off than everyone else. One of the things they pride themselves in is the fact that their students EARN their black belts and aren't given them. People who put forth the effort reap the rewards. The moment I stopped putting forth effort, all of those "rewards" went away.

One of the hardest things that students and parents face at this studio is this concept that rank is earned through work, not through attendance. The instructors cannot teach a student something new when they have not learned something old; it isn't fair to the student to continue to fill their heads with new information when they haven't grasped what they're currently learning. The purpose of this studio is not to move students through the belts as quickly as possible, its to teach students valuable lessons.

It was said that ' if the instructors decide they don't like you, you might as well quit because you will never be treated civilly again.' This is not true at all. There is no liking or disliking of students, and no one is treated uncivilly. The instructors expect the same amount of effort out of all of their students, but that doesn't mean that they expect the same results. Each student is treated as the individual that they are.

I would recommend this studio, in all of its Martial Arts opportunities to anyone of any age in any life scenario. Try it out and make the choice for yourself; it could change your life, I know it changed mine.

Extremely friendly staff! Great atmosphere for kids and adults alike. My child developed outstanding respect for others and a great knowledge in martial arts thanks to the Dragon Academy, I highly recommend this local business!