★ 5

Great instructors, great community! The instructors are great with kids and the classes are great exercise. Focus Family also has tons of extra events and activities for families. We love our karate family!

Source: Google

★ 5

My 7yr old has been doing the beginner program for 3 months and he loves it. The teachers are all fantastic with kids and very welcoming. They do a great job of fostering community and accepting all skill and fitness levels. Lots of families (parents and kids) are in the classes and I would highly recommend as an activity to do with your kids.

Source: Google

★ 5

My daughter and I have been attending the academy for 3 months and we have been very pleased with the experience we've had so far. The academy is well run and organized. The facilities are clean and conducive for learning/training. The instructors are skilled, competent and knowledgeable. Classes begin on time and are run in disciplined manner. We are satisfied with the instructions and look forward to attending the classes and move up the ranks.

This is an update of my last review from Jan '25. My daughter and I continue to attend Karate classes at Focus Family and have continued to progress to orange belt. Just when I started to think the moves we practice in class were becoming rote, the instructors introduced new ones and are focusing on new forms. I appreciate that we're continuing to improve our skills and continue to recommend the Academy.

This is another review update. My daughter and I have graduated to green belt and are now in advanced class. As newbies in advanced class, we're finding ourselves being challenged in our abilities and knowledge. This is good for us because the bars have just been raised on our performance which results in our realizing how much higher we need to raise our level of discipline, strength, speed, stamina, etc.

This is another update from Sep '25. My daughter and I continue to make progress at Focus Family. We are now purple belt. We both are making new friends at the academy and are sharpening our skills. I enjoy the instructors who really take the time to demonstrate the proper techniques and make sure students practice the proper forms. I also enjoy instructors who instill discipline in the students.

Recently, my daughter decided to have her birthday at the studio. She wanted her friends to experience for themselves the activity that she comes to enjoy. The birthday was a success. She and her friends had a fun time at Focus Family.

Source: Google

★ 5

My kids absolutely love their after school program! Every day, they come home full of excitement and stories about all the fun things they did. They’re always looking forward to the next day, which makes me so happy as a parent. The program offers such a great variety of activities—karate classes, dance classes, arts and crafts, video games, and so much more.

The staff is always so friendly, fun, and welcoming. You can tell they genuinely care about the kids and make every activity enjoyable. Another thing I really appreciate is how clean the center always is. They make sure to sanitize at the end of each day, which gives me peace of mind as a parent.

Thank you so much for providing such a fun and safe after school program. It is such a relief to know that my kids are in a safe place, learning new things, and having a lot of fun while I’m at work. It’s the perfect balance of learning, creativity, and fun in a caring environment.

Source: Google

★ 5

Focus Family Martial Arts is a fun place for our family to learn martial arts and discipline all while enjoying it together. They offer so much more than classes - they have summer camp, parents night out and fun events and value/reward academic excellence. We have been attending for over a year and my kids love going.

Source: Google

★ 5

My son was in karate class he loved it. It was great. He got taught A lot of skills .the people who work there are super nice people too.I’m glad my son joined them.

Source: Google

★ 5

Focus Family was so helpful introducing my son and I to karate! We had no experience with martial arts and they were patient walking us through the whole process. They let us try classes before we committed. And I love that I can take classes together with my 7 year old. Highly recommend!

Source: Google

★ 5

Our family is so glad to have found Focus Family Martial Arts Academy. The instructors are friendly and knowledgeable, the location is great, and I love that they encourage family participation. I never thought I’d do martial arts, but couldn’t have asked for a better place to take classes with my kids.

Source: Google

★ 5

We love Focus Family Martial Arts Academy! The instructors are great and have helped us continue to learn and improve each time we go to class. I also like that they include discussions about practical self defense techniques alongside the karate basics.

Source: Google

★ 5

My son Noah has been attending the summer camp here, and I have to admit, I was a bit hesitant at first due to the amount of time he would be spending away from home. However, this place has completely exceeded my expectations.

The staff made the transition incredibly smooth for him, and he quickly felt comfortable and at home. He’s made friends easily, and it’s clear he enjoys being there—he gets along with everyone and looks forward to going each day.

I’m so grateful for the supportive environment they’ve created, and we will definitely be utilizing this program again in the future!

Source: Google

★ 5

Source: Google

★ 5

We love how family oriented this place is! Ms Dolan is absolutely wonderful with the young kids, Ms Q is informative and communicative. Highly recommend! :-)

Source: Google

★ 5

Wonderful after school and summer camp programs! Staff are caring and energetic and kids are well looked after. Lots of active games in combination with calm activities.

Source: Google

★ 5

Focus Family has been a great activity for our whole family. It helped us establish a healthy exercise schedule for our child (and us). The instructors have been excellent about helping the grownups adapt the exercises and work around injuries. But at the same time, challenge all of us and help us to get stronger.

Source: Google

★ 5

My child has been attending classes for a few months now and I couldn't be happier with the experience. The instructors are not only skilled and compassionate, but also incredibly patient and encouraging; that goes a long way with children. They create a positive yet structured environment where kids can build confidence, discipline, and respect while still having fun. I've seen a huge improvement in my own child's focus and am excited to witness his growth firsthand.

If you are looking for a high quality karate program that nurtures physical and mental growth, I highly recommend this one for sure!

Source: Google

★ 5

UPDATED: It's been over 1 year since my family started lessons at Focus Family. My wife and I and our 6 and 12 years old kids have been going twice per week this whole time. We're purple belts now and still going strong! Every week we focus on a different variety of kicks, punches, grabs, katas, and work with various weapons. We even do sparring with our protective gear on. I'd say I already feel MUCH better able to defend myself or others in danger just by learning the basics. And my legs are currently sore from this week's classes...in a good way. Ms Dolan and Mr. Dove have been very helpful and interested in our success. We have attended several graduation ceremonies, potlucks, outdoor carnivals and other events over the year and made friends there too.
I'd say my 6 year old (5 when we started) was barely old enough to learn the techniques, but still loves it and remains interested/behaves the 45 minutes of each class. It all starts with the beginner's class, but now we're in the advanced class that's much more engaging for people who have got a handle on the basics. But you can go at your own pace as you balance the needs of kids and parents who train together. (PHOTO BELOW FROM THEIR TRUNK-OR-TREAT FESTIVAL!)

Source: Google

★ 5

My son has enjoyed being a student at Focus Family Martial Arts Academy. Their thoughtful staff and organized program has been a great introduction to Karate. I look forward to continuing being a member of this community!

Source: Google

★ 5

We have been there for almost 2 years and are well on our way to achieving black belts! This experience has helped us bond as a family and be confident in our ability to defend ourselves!

Source: Google

★ 5

We LOVE Focus Family Martial Arts Academy! All of the instructors at the Academy are very passionate about karate and it shows when they are giving lessons and in their interactions with the adults and the kids. One of the best parts about being in this Academy is that my daughter and I get to learn and grow together in our journey to black belt. I would recommend this Academy to anyone who is looking to receive top notch karate training, meeting new friendly people, and spending quality time with a family member that you all will enjoy!

Source: Google

★ 5

My husband, son and I have been attending FFMA for a little over one year now. If you had told me when my son was born that in 5 years I would be training with him to get my blackbelt in mixed martial arts, I would have thought you were crazy. But this has been a wonderful and transformative journey for us. I watched my son go from being too frightened to leave our side during class to volunteering to show moves at a graduation in front of a huge crowd. Seeing his confidence grow and having the support of this community has made this an invaluable experience. And as a 30-ish adult, I'm finally learning the self-defense moves I've always wanted to.

This really is a family and a community. After a short time, you know everybody in class and have likely worked with them more than once. All of the class participants champion each other. Each class ends with students voluntarily sharing what they accomplished that week, met with rounding applause. This is all a testament to the fantastic instructors, who learn about your family right away, treat you like family, and teach you with confidence and fun. Highly, highly recommend!

Source: Google

★ 5

Our family loves coming here. We started coming to get our kids involved in afterschool activities for discipline, and self confidence. I can tell it’s working! We will continue to come and really enjoy it!

Source: Google

★ 5

My martial arts journey at FFMA started a little over 2 years ago when my 8yr old expressed interest in learning martial arts. We came across this school through a birthday party and during the sign up session, we realized that this is one of those schools where everyone from adults to kids learn martial arts together. My wife and I figured that instead of sitting on the sidelines for 30-45 mins while the class is going on, we might as well as join in and learn something new. Its has truly been an amazing journey so far and we are not a little less than a year from our first degree black belt! :) All the instructors - Mrs. Dolan, Mr. Dolan, Mr. Dove, Ms. Danielle and Mr. Gayl are absolutely fantastic and a delight to work with. They are also very patient and really work with you in improving your technique. The school also has some great initiatives - STORM program, monthly chore sheet, red achievement stripes etc. for kids in helping them boost their confidence and help them learn real world skills like leadership, taking initiative etc. This school is truly like a family and we keep meeting a lot of amazing people as we continue our martial arts journey with them!

Source: Google

★ 5

Absolutely thrilled with our experience at Focus Family Martial Arts Summer Camp! The program is outstanding, offering a perfect blend of fun and discipline. A special shout-out to Ms. Gibbs, who has been incredibly professional and supportive throughout the entire summer. Her attention to detail, especially in managing our son's severe allergy, has been exemplary. We felt completely at ease knowing he was in such capable hands. Highly recommend this camp to anyone looking for a safe and enriching summer experience for their kids!

Source: Google

★ 5

Focus Family Martial Arts Academy is amazing. My daughter really enjoys going there. It is her first time learning martial arts, and Mrs. Dolan is so caring and patient with her. Definitely recommend.

Source: Google

★ 5

Focus Family Martial Arts (FFMA) is an outstanding place where my family comes together to work out, learn new skills, and gain confidence. There aren't many sports programs where you can join in with your kids. Us parents are often left on the sidelines but not at FFMA. My wife, 3 daughters and I look forward to class each week . We all learn the same movements and practice everything together. The instructors are excellent teachers and work with a variety of levels from beginners to seasoned black belts. The greatest joy is watching my daughters gain confidence in themselves and learning important physical and mental life skills. If you are looking for a great family activity, look no further than FFMA. Highly recommend.

Source: Google

★ 5

If you like to learn, value growth, exercise, and self-discipline, this is the karate school for you and your family! I started with my daughter when she was 12 because I wanted both of us to have experience with self-defense. She completed enough training to know how to handle herself in an intense situation and she wanted to move her free time to ice skating, which she loves. But I fell in love with karate! I’ve continued by myself even though most people attend with their families and I’ve achieved my green belt, at this point. The classes and instructors are often one of the highlights of my week. I give Focus Family MMA my highest recommendation - go for it!

Source: Google

★ 1

I want to preface this one-star review by saying the martial arts program they have is very nice. Mrs. Dolan is an absolute sweetheart and even offered free after school classes to my 8-year-old child, who struggles with ADHD and DMDD, to give her a positive outlet.

Both of my children have IEP’s, which require special care and consideration. None of that was received in the after school daycare program that they have.

There are safety concerns that I have regarding this facility as well. My 6-year-old was able to escape out the back door not once, but twice under their care. Granted, both of my children can be a handful due to their special needs and behavioral issues (all of which they receive regular medications and weekly therapy for), but that is completely unacceptable. They either need more well-trained instructors, have less children, or more security in place to keep the children safe.

Due to this incident, they immediately dismissed my 6-year-old. The following day, my 8-year-old child was unable to take her after school karate class because “she was acting up.” I may be reading too much into it, but it truly felt as if she was being singled out because my 6-year-old child got kicked out of their program.

I want to also add that I paid for a $100 5 point harness car seat specifically for this facility to use when picking up my 6-year-old from school because she was trying to get out of theirs, only to be booted from the academy days later. I also want to include that snacks were an issue. The only food they provide are snack sized chips ($1 per bag) and gummies (.50 per pack), which isn’t healthy and can become costly. No breakfast, lunch, or other snack options are available (pertaining to both the day camps and after school daycare program). I finally sent the girls with their own snacks, only for them to go through 10 bags of Goldfish within 3 days, which is also completely unacceptable.

The teachers seem to be fresh out of high school, inexperienced, and lacking compassion for young children. I spent well over $400 on tuition and uniforms for them to attend this after school daycare program for not even a month. Not only that, but I had to leave early from work for 3 days to pick up my 6-year-old that they kicked out. Luckily I have a boss who is very understanding.

At the end of the day, I’m glad my 6-year-old wasn’t harmed when she “escaped” the facility. I’m glad that they were able to experience karate and have a love for something different. I am not, however, happy or content with the way my children and I were treated by Ms. Gill. I hope in the future they will be able to change some things and make for a better experience for both the kids and parents in the after school daycare program.

I want to also add that I found another daycare provider for both of my girls that has plenty of security. The doors are always locked and require someone to either enter a code or press a button from the front desk to open it (similar to a public school). I believe Focus Family Martial Arts Academy could benefit greatly from something like this.

All is well with my girls, despite the bad experience we had with the after school daycare program, and that’s all I can really ask for.

Source: Google

★ 5

My family has attended Focus Family Martial Arts Academy for one and a half years. We enjoy going to class and earning our belts together. The instructors are encouraging and truly care about each member of our family. I also appreciate the focus on character and leadership. They provide positive reenforcement for the values we are teaching at home. Their STORM (Special Team of Role Models) program has helped my children develop leadership skills and gain confidence. Overall this is a top notch and well rounded Karate academy.

Source: Google

★ 5

5 stars
EVERYTHING is perfect except time of lessons
30 mins not enough if you can just do 15 more that wood be perfect

Alim

Source: Google

★ 5

Some of the nicest people you can meet

Source: Google

★ 5

Love, love, love the karate lessons at Focus Family!!!! Safety is their number one priority.
I give the instructors @ Focus Family TEN stars for the quality karate lessons and the amazing friendly atmosphere they provide. The instructors are extremely helpful in answering questions and breaking down moves. I enjoy the lessons so much that I forget about the outside world. This is a wonderful testimony to the incredible teaching skills of the Focus Family staff. THANK YOU!!!!

Source: Google

★ 5

We joined Focus Family a little over a year ago to help our kids improve their confidence. Not only have we seen improved confidence, we have also seen them improve their strength and endurance. We love that they involve leadership work sheet activities related to developing important life and social skills as part of their curriculum. One of the things we have enjoyed the most is being able to attend classes together and progress in our karate and life skills as a family. I would highly recommend Focus Family Martial Arts Academy.

Source: Google

★ 5

Our family really enjoys Focus Family Martial Arts! We’ve been going for over a year now, and our kids have learned so much in regards to: self confidence, discipline, self defense, and respect - all in a family fun environment. The kids also like the after class activities, and the instructors are awesome. Highly Recommend! Thanks, Phil Lux

Source: Google

★ 5

My family have had a great experience at Focus Family. My son enjoys both the classes and the aftercare activities. They have been extremely understanding on working with us with any health issues and encouraging us to take our time and work on a timetable that worked for us.

Source: Google

★ 5

My son has been attending Focus Family Academy’s after school program for two and a half years and loves it. The staff is very friendly and attentive. I also love the parents night out evenings offered throughout the year. I hosted my son‘s birthday party here and it was a great time.

Source: Google

★ 5

We started our journey with FFMA a little over 2 years ago. My 8 yr old wanted to learn martial arts and when we talked to the instructors at FFMA about the class structure and found that everyone including adults and kids take classes together, my wife and I ended up enrolling as well :) it's been nothing but truly an amazing and enriching journey for us. We have learned a lot of great things and all the instructors are top notch and very helpful. Additionally, our son also signed up and finished their STORM (Special Team Of Role Models) program and was excited to receive the coveted blue uniform.
FFMA not only teaches martial arts but also helps build confidence, mainly in kids. We would recommend this school to anyone in a heartbeat.

Source: Google

★ 5

Focus Family Academy: Where Skills, Sweat, and Smiles Collide
As both a student and a parent of four students at Focus Family Academy, I can confidently say it's more than just a martial arts school – it's a family. Everything about this place exudes excellence, from the dedicated instructors to the thoughtfully designed curriculum and the welcoming atmosphere.
Instructors Who Go the Extra Mile: The instructors at Focus Family Academy are truly invested in their students' success. They don't just demonstrate moves; they patiently guide, correct, and explain the "why" behind every technique, answer endless questions with patience and enthusiasm, and go above and beyond to ensure everyone learns and grows. Witnessing my children blossom under Mr. Dove's encouragement and Mr. and Mrs. Dolan's infectious positivity has been heartwarming and inspiring. My kids, and myself, never feel like just another face in the crowd.
A Curriculum that Keeps You Coming Back for More: Forget monotonous drills! Focus Family Academy keeps things fresh and engaging with a curriculum that constantly mixes things up. We've gone from heart-pumping drills that leave us drenched in sweat to strategic exercises that challenge our minds and bodies, all while having a blast. We have strategized our way through intricate drills that test our minds and bodies and celebrated every "aha!" moment of mastering a new technique. My kids, and myself, come back begging for more every class.
An Inclusive Atmosphere Where Everyone Thrives: Regardless of age, skill level, or background, everyone at Focus Family Academy feels accepted and appreciated. The positive energy in the dojo is contagious, fostering camaraderie and friendship among students. Watching my kid’s fist bump and supporting each other, both during class and at family events, warms my heart more than any trophy ever could. The dojo buzzes with positive energy, with students of all stripes high fiving, encouraging each other, and forming genuine friendships. Seeing my kids forge bonds not just with their classmates but with entire families we encounter at every session fills me with joy.
Without a doubt, I recommend Focus Family Academy to anyone seeking more than just karate skills. It's a place where you'll find dedicated instructors, a challenging and fun curriculum, and a community that feels like family. Come for the martial arts, stay for the smiles, and leave with a newfound confidence that will stay with you long after you leave the dojo.

Source: Google

★ 5

We have been really happy with our experience here in the before/after school camps, as well as the karate classes. The staff are kind and caring which means alot to us having a special needs kiddo.

Source: Google

★ 5

I would highly recommend the Focus Family karate and after care programs. Although I am one of the newer parents (with my son having joined in the fall of 2023), the place already feels like home. My son is passionate about karate and this is to the tremendous effort and care of the staff at Focus Family. If you’re looking for a place that feels like home and is great to build confidence and basic life skills, then look no further. I look forward to seeing my son grow and evolve through this program.

Source: Google

★ 5

Great family-centered martial arts studio. We have been members for years. The instructors, the curriculum, and the extra events are awesome benefits. If you are looking for great instruction in mixed martial arts or even a place for day/week camps, this is the place. We highly recommend.

Source: Google

★ 5

Nothing but positive comments about this family owned martial arts academy. My son always looks forward to going to class. He’s learned so many new things, and has also developed better discipline and confidence within weeks of attending these classes! Thank you family focus 😊 we can’t wait to get his black belt!!

Source: Google

★ 5

Focus Family Martial Arts is an exceptional establishment that truly excels in its dedication to martial arts training and holistic development. The instructors' passion and expertise create an inspiring and motivating environment for students of all ages. With their emphasis on discipline, respect, and personal growth, Focus Family Martial Arts provides a nurturing space for individuals to enhance their physical fitness, build self-confidence, and cultivate invaluable life skills.

Source: Google

★ 5

It has been a great experience at Focus Family Karate. Both of my kids take classes here and they love it. Mrs. Dolan is wonderful! She is kind and motivating which helped my kids attending the classes regularly. I highly recommend her!

Source: Google

★ 5

The best!!

Source: Google

★ 5

They are very Good

Source: Google

★ 5

I can’t say enough good things about Focus Family Martial Arts Academy! We began classes in the spring of this year and the staff is like family now! It doesn’t take long to feel very comfortable in the classes and surrounded by not only qualified but also caring instructors, knowing that they have your best interest at heart. We searched online for this academy, since it offered a whole family experience. We are all for going through this program together, and have already grown in confidence, strengthened our muscles, and cheering each other on! Can’t wait to high five each other when we all receive our black belts! We are excited to go to each class, and we all feel it in cases where we have to miss. At home, we practice teaching each other some of the moves and doing warm-ups together. The kids have a fun time switching roles in leading us all. The Dolan family has really put together an extraordinary program that helps you feel accomplishment at every step. One of my favorite parts is at the end of every lesson, we get to applaud the children who have accomplished something that week. I can’t recommend them highly enough!

Source: Google

★ 5

We attended liberty event this summer that were hosted by Focus Family Martial Art Academy. My three girls had a lot of fun. We were always wanted them to learn self-defense and to build their confidence. We also wanted to do something together as a family. So we decided to join it.

It’s been three months since we started. We really enjoy doing it as a family. My girls were really excited every time when they learn new moves. I can see that they are proud of themselves when they did well or memorize a routine. My husband and I also love to practice martial arts movements together with our girls. This program really pulls our family together.

Focus Family Martial Arts Academy not only teaches martial arts but also teaches kids how to be respectful , discipline. They host different events like parents night out, day camps, trunk or treat….it’s a great program for families.

Source: Google

★ 5

Both of my children take classes here and really love it. I especially appreciate the instructors’ willingness to accommodate and find ways to motivate them despite some behaviors exhibited related to anxiety and ADHD. The life lessons learned here are benefitting my kids in multiple areas across their lives.

Source: Google

★ 5

Just returned to FFA with my 9yo after not being able to go for a while, and it felt like family again! Great to see familiar faces, and pick up right where we left off!

Source: Google

★ 5

We have had two kids participating in family focus martial arts for nearly 4 years. From kindergarten through 4th grade. We also had 2 au pairs in their early 20s participate. We love it. They have been a consistent, positive influence in the lives of our kids. Discipline, routine, challenges along with encouragement. Our kids have gained so much. My kids also like the after school programs and summer camps. The Dolan's have a knack for attracting and retaining great staff and students, plus their parents.

Source: Google

★ 5

My daughter had an amazing time at the summer camp offered by Focus Family Martial Arts Academy. It was a fantastic experience that combined learning, fun, and personal growth. The camp provided a perfect balance of martial arts training and enjoyable activities. She not only improved her martial arts skills but also made new friends and had a great time overall.

The camp instructors were attentive and created a safe, engaging, and welcoming environment for all the participants. It's clear that they care deeply about the development and well-being of the kids.

I highly recommend the summer camp at Focus Family Martial Arts Academy for any child looking to have a memorable and enriching summer experience. It's five stars from us!

Source: Google

★ 5

My daughter had a wonderful summer camp experience here. The directors, staff, and team are all exceptional, they provide a great activity calendar, and a secure facility. I hope she'll have interest in martial arts and we can come here for those lessons in the coming years.

Source: Google

★ 5

all the instructors are the best. we are pleased to have our daughter
having fun and learning.

Source: Google

★ 5

Focus Family feels like family! They foster independence and confidence and respect and we’ve enjoyed getting to know all the instructors so far!

Source: Google

★ 5

i have been here for 3 years and going to do my black belt after summer, when i was 5 i went to a event for earth day and we found focus family there making balloon figures
so we went i didn't like but then i got my green belt everything changed. so i would recommend FFMAA for many people its also the best after-school and summer camp in farifax

Source: Google

★ 5

Highly recommend Focus Family martial arts. We love coming here, they teach students not only amazing karate but also important values for life.

Source: Google

★ 5

If you have not heard or this academy- it is a must try. Are you thinking you want to try martial arts and don’t know if it is too intense or you will feel uncomfortable trying? - this is the place to try- everyone is so supportive. You can be as intense as you want to be and you will learn the curriculum at your pace. Try it - you will surprise yourself- I promise.

Source: Google

★ 5

Our Girls scout Troop of Cadets (8th Grade) took a class at the facility. The instructors were GREAT !! Very supportive knowledgeable and provided excellent training as well as making it fun. Highly recommend this location and Rachel is Amazing.

Source: Google

★ 5

My daughter took two self-defense classes with her Girl Scout troop and they were so helpful! The instructor Rachel is an excellent teacher - all the girls left with more confidence and really useful skills that they hopefully will never need to use. I highly recommend her and this school!

Source: Google

★ 5

We have taken a few classes here with my daughter's girl scout troop, and they have been wonderful! The instructors are friendly and helpful. The instruction was great and easy to follow, we learned a lot, and everyone always has a great time! Thank you!!

Source: Google

★ 5

I am a women, mom, and a Girl Scout leader. It's important for all women/girls to learn how to protect themselves and at the same time raise their confidence. I have brought my troop here twice for the scouts to learn self-defense. The moms in my troop have also come and participated. We all learned a lot in a fun and safe environment. I highly encourage and recommend that you try Focus Family Martial Arts Academy!

Source: Google

★ 1

In my experience with Focus Family program at the Waples Mill Rd location in Fairfax, VA, I was extremely disappointed with the quality of instruction and care provided to my son. The instructor seemed disinterested and was constantly on their phone instead of focusing on the class. The cheap staff that the owner has hired lacked the proper training to provide a meaningful learning experience for the students.

My son was also mistreated and did not learn any valuable skills during his time at this program. Despite paying a high monthly fee, the staff did not give him the attention or education that he deserved. This was a complete waste of both money and effort.

It is important to note that this review is specifically about the before and after school care program, and not the parent-child evening class, which is the program that receives the most positive reviews.

I would strongly advise parents to avoid enrolling their children in this program. There are plenty of other programs in the area that offer better training and a more supportive environment for students to learn and grow. It's important to invest in a program that truly values the education and development of its students.

Source: Google

★ 5

My family has been enrolled in Focus Family’s karate program for over a year. Mr. and Mrs. Dolan bring their best each and every class. They have built a culture of learning, respect, and grace. These attributes are evident with all the staff including karate coaches, youth leaders, and day camp counselors.

Our brief story…we were drawn to Focus Family to have an activity that we could do as a family. I did not initially plan to get into a black belt program. During our first few months, we observed a transition in our children’s behavior. They were quite squirrely early on but week upon week, the consistency in the instructor’s leadership began to shape a positive change. Many months later, my children began to pay more attention and began demonstrating what they have learned.

The karate instruction is excellent. However, we are getting a whole lot more than just great instruction. Come and check out this program. You may join us on the road to earning our black belts.

Source: Google

★ 5

Our journey with FFMA started in Feb 2022. Our older son Vivaan got inspired by our nephew Anik (11yr) who has been doing martial arts since he was 5. Vivaan had been pestering us to sign up for martial arts classes and we kept on promising him that we will help him find one. One day we found out that two of Vivaan's friends had joined FFMA and it was one of those schools where everyone, regardless of age, does martials arts together. Having never done martial arts, both of us signed up for class with Vivaan! Lo and behold, we totally loved it! Infact, when Vivaan was invited to join the black belt club, all three of us ended up joining! We truly love going to class every to learn new things and all the instructors - Mr Dolan, Mrs. Dolan, Mr. Dove and Mr, Cubias are fantastic!
All we can say to everyone is that, even if you have never done martial arts, sign up! Its truly a very enriching and a totally fun experience!

Source: Google

★ 5

My husband and son have been attending karate classes for almost a year now with Focus Family Martial Arts. In asking my son what his favorite parts are he shared that he loves the demonstrations and the time instructors take to help him learn the different combinations. We highly recommend Focus Family’s program for not only learning the art of karate but also the summer programs. You can tell they genuinely care about the students and children in their programs.

Source: Google

★ 5

We have been with Focus Family for 4 months now and my husband and son (7) love it. Mr and Mrs Dolan and all the other teachers are amazing. Currently we are in the beginners class with Mrs Dolan and she is great with them. She is patient, kind and motivating, which is great for the younger kids. Mrs Dolan's class definitely made it easy for my 7 year old to love martial arts and want to keep going back week after week. We have had Mr Dolan teach some of the beginners classes and we also love him. He is super focused and disciplined while being helpful, kind and funny. We are excited for the advance classes he teaches once they get their green belts. Mr and Mrs Dolan have always been super honest with us about pricing and their programs and we have never felt bullied into signing up for anything. They genuinely care about their families succeeding and growing at their own pace. It's been a pleasure attending their classes and we look forward to attaining black belts with them.

Source: Google

★ 5

Focus Family Martial Arts Academy is perfect for families of all ages. We have been attending for over a year now with our entire family. Every instructor there is knowledgeable, caring, attentive and personable. Perfect atmosphere for beginners to advanced students.

Source: Google

★ 5

This academy is what they say they are - they focus on family first. You can join as a family and become one of theirs. I have high standards when it comes to instructors and how they interact with my child and myself. I love that I can have my own experience in class and my child is supervised by the instructors. It’s not expected and actually not ideal for parents to be parenting in class while taking class. Part of the process is having children learn to respect and discipline coming from other trusted adults. It truly is fun and impressive to watch the pursuit of black belt excellence in the program. Pro tip: you don’t have to be a black belt 🥋 to be part of the class :)

Source: Google

★ 5

We joined this school close to a year ago and have never looked back! The instructors are kind but firm and supportive- always communicating high expectations and supporting student movement towards those. They know students individually and frequently offer specific feedback to students about their growth as people and as karate students. We love the mixed-age groups and opportunity for students to move and grow at their own pace.

Source: Google

★ 5

Our whole family love Focus family Academy. They are awesome ! Always trying to understand kids perspectives. my son Ruslan amin love his teachers and whole team like a family, He feel himself inside the team all the time. If I have any question or concerns Mrs Dolan always lesson. Observe my son very well. Always push him and make his confidence more each time. We love part of family.

Source: Google

★ 5

Beyond grateful for Mrs.Dolan and her team. Being new to the area and not knowing anyone, she surely provided me with a level of support that you just don’t find these days.

Source: Google

★ 5

FFMA has a great culture and great environment for families! Great energy and very, very family friendly. I have been there 8 years and I really enjoy it there. All my children have trained there!

Source: Google

★ 5

Mr & Mrs Dolan are great! Thank you so much for taking your time and showing my kids the right way to act. Thanks for the hard work!

From: Kochay's Family

Source: Google

★ 1

Source: Google

★ 1

I was reluctant to give a low rating to this business but I finally decided to give it a one star. Here is why: 1) their business model is a scam; it is designed to trap you in and keep charging your account! When my son started, they offered us incentives if we would pay all fees in advance all the way to the green belt, which we did! Then within two months, they invited him to the black belt club which now requires a payment for 36 months! We asked if our initial payment (for the green belt) could be used toward the black belt tuition as a lump sum, but they said no! They instead divided the reminder of the initial payment (for green belt) over 36 months and subtract that off the new black belt monthly payment! When we objected, they said this is how it is!, 2) the two good instructors left this place (Mr Dees and Ms Lyon) and immediately things went south! Mr Dolan (owner) started teaching but he has no charisma and thinks he is running a boot camp! My son asked few questions in one of the sessions and he yelled at him and threatened him to kick him out of the class!, 3) the outcome was obvious, my son who was very excited about this place, started to lose interest to the point that he said he doesn’t want to go to the class anymore! I don’t blame him!, 4) We thought that given that they owe us money and more importantly the fact that my son stopped attending the class, they would be calling us or something. To my surprise, nothing happened!!

They don’t care about anything other than their bank account. There are plenty of martial art classes in the area who I’m sure will appreciate your business!

Source: Google

★ 3

I'm leaving 3 stars for now and will update in a month. It would have been 1 star but when I talked to Mr. Dolan, the owner, he was very receptive to the problems we were having and said he will work to rectify the issues.

Initially we were very happy with FFA but the two original instructors, who we loved, left to start their own academy and we saw a steep decline in the quality of training with the new instructors.

We stuck it out for three months but the lack of discipline and the lack of solid, competent instructors drove us to speak to the owner.

I am giving 3 stars instead of 1 because the owner, Mr. Dolan, was very receptive to our struggles and even offered to amend our contact so we could leave it if we were not having a 5 star experience. But he asked us to give him another month to make things better and took over instructing. We like Mr. Dolan and his teaching style so we are willing to give FFA another go.

I plan to update this post at the end of August based on the progress I see in our family's experience or Mr. Dolan's willingness to grant us a prorated refund if things are not resolved to our satisfaction.

Source: Google

★ 1

Source: Google

★ 5

This is Ronny I been taking this class for 1 year I like because its fun, engorging, challenging and if your having a bad day you should try out focus family

Source: Google

★ 5

This place great for kids they are friendly. The way they teach dream personalized even though they are in a group. My kids love to go here.

Source: Google

★ 1

Just awful. The circumstances of us going to this business was a little strange to start with. My wife and I were placed with two children in foster care who were already attending the academy with their now previous foster parents under a family contract. We were given accommodations for this and we didn't have to sign a contract. They seemed to understand that the kids' lives had just been uprooted and they loved the two instructors there. We all agreed the continuity would be good for the children. Once those instructors left we decided that the academy wasn't for us anymore. We live over a half hour away during class times (traffic).

We let the academy know that we didn't want to continue there anymore. We thought surely they would understand and we'd be on our way. Instead, they continued to charge our card. They lied about us having signed a 36 month contract and refused to provide a copy of it. They lied about having to go in front of their "board of directors" to see if we qualified to break our non-existent contract.

Terrible experience in an already awful situation. Would not recommend.

Source: Google

★ 1

This place went downhill FAST after the two best instructors left. Not to mention they have absolutely shady business practices. I had a situation with my foster children who were enrolled and we needed to cancel. I had to take it all the way to the bank to dispute the charges they kept collecting. No compassion whatsoever. Stay away!

Source: Google

★ 1

Source: Google

★ 5

Focus Family Martial Arts Academy offers a wide range of programs for kids, adults, and families. It is so much more than just a martial arts academy — it’s a fun and supportive community. They go well above and beyond in everything they do. And they do a lot!

First and foremost, they teach American freestyle karate through different levels of instruction led by a team of talented, experienced, and dedicated people — Mr. Dees, Ms. Lyon, Mr. Yost, and Mr. Dolan. Classes include little leaders for 3-5 year olds, beginner & advanced classes, classes for future instructors, black belt prep, and masters class. Curriculum covers karate forms, weapons, self-defense, board breaking, life skills, fitness, and sparring. It is not just a karate instruction, it is also building self-confidence, discipline, and character that makes it a special place. Students are encouraged, praised and celebrated for being leaders, contributors, role models, and doers at home, at school, and within their communities. For example, they get a color tape on their belt for personal and academic successes, a patch on their gi for completing a life skill worksheet, a star for a monthly sheet of chores (or responsibilities), and a round of applause accompanying every one of these beautiful achievements.

Second, Focus Family offers before & after care, winter & spring break camp, as well as summer camp programs. Curriculum covers fun, educational activities, including STEM, arts & crafts, karate, board games, and dodgeball. They also do monthly parent night outs and birthday parties!

In addition, Focus Family hosts complimentary seminars and workshops for academy students and their friends and families, including in collaboration with other local businesses. Over the last few years, they’ve done self-defense, yoga and glow nunchucks seminars, Pokemon workshop, ninja maze, and family festivals. Last year, they even held a T-shirt contest for a best karate-themed logo or slogan.

Finally, Focus Family supports various charitable causes. They’ve done food drives, blood drives, a pink belt month to support cancer awareness, just to name a few.

It is a truly unique and friendly space where everyone feels welcomed and is treated with kindness, courtesy, and respect.

We’ve done karate classes, after care and camps, and joined many of their events. We are very grateful for all the fun times and fond memories we’ve shared over the last 3 years that we’ve been with Focus Family. And we hope they’ll keep up the amazing work and continue to grow.

Highly recommended by our family to yours.

Source: Google

★ 5

Focus Family Marital Arts is a great place to learn and build confidence in Karate and other styles of Martial Arts. My son and I are current students and joined this place as a way to build his confidence and broaden his skill set.
The instructors are very kind and knowledgeable. They provide a safe and fun environment to allow all levels of students to feel welcomed and learn and their own pace.
This is a fun place for all members of the family and a great way to learn martial arts.

Source: Google

★ 5

The Best at what they do! Very child focused and professional. A fun and safe place for kiddos to Express themselves and be creative. The valuable life lessons that children come home with are priceless.

Source: Google

★ 5

Focus Family is great, They have very nice instructors they are very helpful. I would recommend this karate academy if your looking for one.

Source: Google

★ 5

My sons and I have been taking martial art for a few months and we have been really enjoying it at Focus Family. We learn self defense, discipline and yet still have fun while working out. FFMAA definitely boosts our confidence in self defense, and raises the awareness of character building in my sons. Well-recommended to the whole family!

Source: Google

★ 5

I cannot adequately describe how perfect the name Family FOCUS is for this establishment! We don't only take our son here for a high quality martial arts education and excellent Summer Camps, we found a new family in these folks. The staff is genuine, motivated, empathetic, caring, knowledgeable, helpful, amazing people. I am truly glad we step through those doors 6 months ago. Our journey has just begun and we already feel fortunate and blessed to call them friends.

Source: Google

★ 5

One word: outstanding. Amazing place, friendly instructors, and the best place to learn self defense!

Source: Google

★ 5

Hi my name is Danara and I am 9 years old.i have been doing karate for I think a year and I like it because it’s kind and I got really good at fighting after practicing at focus family karate and I recommend to come to this martial arts.and I really like sparring week and nunchucks week those are my favorites

Source: Google

★ 5

Focus Family Martial Arts Academy is really for many reasons one of the best things that happened in my family’s life.
It’s been about a year and a half since we have become the Focus Family Karate members. The main reason, why I was looking for martial arts initially, was my son’s 2 year gap of not doing jiu jitsu. And yeah, I was just looking for some sort of physical activity for my boy not far from home. At that time we used to live in Fairfax. When we first time visited the place, I was inspired by the fact that moms and dads did all that together with their children. And trust me, I was much chubbier and inflexible at that time myself; I couldn’t even imagine a thought of me doing martial arts at all.
Mr. Dolan is such an inspirational and full of excitement teacher, he made us all believe in our selves, he made us believe that we could reach the black belt together.
Every time we go back home after karate class we all feel positive, energetic, stronger, and motivated.
It’s not just a physical activity or knowledge of a bunch of punching and kicking. For me it’s also a philosophy of being a better person, parent, husband, neighbor, leader - you name it! Additionally, guys, it’s such a great awesome feeling of belonging to a “family” of people who respect each other, confidently respect themselves, and gradually improving and achieving their black belt goal.
The atmosphere is always positive and friendly there. You try it out once, and you will wanna stay there to develop the best of you together with your children!
One last thing: we actually had to move out to Herndon from Fairfax, meaning that our commute got longer, but there was no way we would switch to any other different martial arts club mainly because of our teachers and mentors. Many thanks to Mr Dolan, Mr Dees, and of course Ms Lyon!

Totally recommended!

Source: Google

★ 5

This is our second year at Focus Family Acadamy, and I can't say enough good things about them. We've taken advantage of most of the classes and services Focus offers, and they all have been excellent! I've even started taking karate classes with my family and have been having a blast. Mr. and Mrs. Dolan and the entire staff treat each person with individual attention, care and respect that is in short supply these days.

Source: Google

★ 5

My daughter is going to FFMAA since 4 months now and she is learning the best of the Martial Arts. The FFMAA family is just so awesome and wonderful that we love this place and strongly recommend this for you and your child.

Source: Google

★ 5

My oldest son are having a great time at Focus Family Martial Arts, and I can't wait until my younger son and wife join us in our quest. The best part of FFMA is that they maintain discipline and focus through firm but friendly confidence, and are thus able to keep the classes fun, fun, fun. We had checked out other family martial arts schools before joining FFMA and it was clear that they were not for us. We simply don't believe kids learn best through constant yelling and shaming like other places did.
The academic rewards program is great too, as are the multiple class packages available. I am excited everytime it's class day, and my son and I don't mind the long drive now that we've moved a bit away. FFMA is worth it!

Source: Google

★ 5

I highly recommend Focus Family Martial Arts (FFMA). My family has been at the academy for almost a year. The chief instructor and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Dolan, have been a huge blessing to my family. They are excellent with children, both kind and firm. Mr. Dolan, in particular, has gone out of his way to help my son who has developmental delay and has been very encouraging to us as parents. The other instructors, Mr. Dees and Ms. Lyon, are also wonderful and we love them. I love the family friendly environment and the emphasis on leadership in all areas of life. In additional to martial arts, we have learned about respect, discipline, integrity, etc. There is a huge emphasis on self-defense, teaching students how to respond to bullies and how to react and seek help in dangerous situations. There is also a citizenship program, encouraging children to do chores. Students also get recognition in class for academic excellence. My family has really enjoyed learning martial arts at FFMA and we highly recommend FFMA to others in the Fairfax area.

Source: Google

★ 5

I highly recommend Focus Family Martial Arts Academy.
We have been taking my 5y/o son Reece to practices twice a week since late 2018. Their curriculum is based around solid values and helps to build confidence, discipline, respect, and leadership skills. We wanted to find a place, in which my son could grow with and help him with being more focused and disciplined, I can already see a difference in my sons’ abilities, which will stay with him a lifetime.
They encourage the kids to do chores at home and do their best at school by recognizing their hard work with belt stripes, stars and medals. There is a strong focus on the kids being able to stand up to bullies and to develop life skills such as honesty and integrity.
Mr. and Mrs. Dolan's passion and honest care for each student is amazing. They are incredibly enthusiastic about teaching and actively engaged with the children.
Quote from Lao Tzu, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step”. Focus Family Martial Arts Academy is that one step for my son and they make it fun and challenging, my son looks forward to going to class every week.

Source: Google

★ 5

We are loving this place and the people. The top-notch instruction is doing so much to help our family be a strong, disciplined, motivated bunch of people. I am telling all my friends about it too.

Source: Google

★ 5

If you are thinking about signing up..... DO IT! Best decision I ever made!

Source: Google

★ 5

I am SO happy to find this place. There are SO many great things about this place but MOST UNIQUE is that the WHOLE FAMILY can take classes together. I signed up for a Family Membership plan (I think that if you have 2 or more family member students you are automatically in the Family Plan) and this means that both the kids and parents can take classes together alongside each other at no extra cost. It is wonderful. Almost half of the class is made up of parents who are learning Karate with their kids. My kids love the class but also seeing their mom (Me!) focusing and learning with them, as a fellow learner, and seeing their parent work to reach her goals. Sharing this experience and time with them is PRICELESS.

FFMA's structure allows me to get the benefits of joining an adult class without spending additional time or money. (I am already there, right?) I had been wanting to continue learning martial arts (which I had started in grad school) but never had the time or money once I became a parent- so voila! A perfect opportunity.

Another unique benefit of FFMA is that they don't charge a monthly fee, instead you choose a program to earn a series of belts. That way, if for some reason you need more time to attend the classes you don't "use up" your budget but can continue working to the original agreed goal of your chosen belt until you progress through those belts. Also, it is a way for me and my kids to commit to each other and to the program. I told my kids that if they would commit to earning their first 3 belts then I would commit to doing it with them and earn mine as well. I also was able to budget for that commitment with a clear goal in mind and not worry about paying month by month for an uncertain outcome.

It is not just the value and convenience of FFMA that I love. My kids and I are really enjoying the quality of the classes and the instruction. The atmosphere is serious but fun and encouraging. In general, all of the students I have seen are whole heartedly participating, focusing and trying to learn. The classes are safe and have a good level of aerobic activity corresponding to class and belt level. (Meaning, the beginning classes have been DOABLE for me and my 2 kids. We can't do everything yet and we are getting back into shape but we don't feel over our heads and discouraged!)

One of the other huge benefits for me is that FFMA has been able to inspire my kids (and all of the kids I have seen) to strive to be their best selves outside of class, including working to the best of their ability at school. This has immensely helped support our efforts to help our kids have academic success. The school has a great recognition and reward system that allows kids to show off their good reports from school (not just valuing academic progress but also attitude and effort) and also earn rewards for being a leader at home. When my kids see that their martial arts school AND that their student peers value trying to excel in school and in being helpful and responsible at home- this inspires them and reinforces the values I am trying so hard to teach them. (You know, the parent lessons that sometimes fall on deaf ears!)

I had heard good things about the studio and then saw a coupon on Groupon so that was a great way to try FFMA out with no obligation. We joined after I saw how my kids responded to the instructors and classes (and once I knew that I would also feel comfortable in class with them and that it wasn't just "lip service" about parents being welcome to take classes!)

I cannot recommend this place enough! I highly recommend you try it out- I am very grateful to be part of this program.

Source: Google

★ 5

Its name says it all --- Focus Family Academy! A family-oriented environment with friendly staff that never fail to greet, smile and ask how we are doing every time we enter the facility. We love their idea of encouraging the whole family to exercise and get active by giving the parents the option to participate through a family package. Having the opportunity to be engaged in the same activity with our kids is something we always look forward to. This is also a huge money saver especially if you want to send more than 1 child to karate class.

Focus Family Martial Arts Academy not only teaches our kids self defense but also guides them in becoming leaders by setting a good example to their peers. They also encourage our kids to do chores at home and do their best at school by recognizing their hard work with belt stripes, stars and medals --- which my kids and many of their students respond positively.

Our kids age 3, 6 and 13 love this academy and they always look forward to their karate class

Source: Google

★ 5

My family began classes with Focus Family Martial Arts in February 2016. My son was 3 at the time and we had recently moved to NoVA. We wanted something to help to instill a sense of discipline and responsibility in him and my husband really wanted to do something active. I mostly wanted to just tag along but I really enjoy my time in class. The staff is remarkable with little kids and adults alike. My husband and I had this inclination to try to control our kid during classes but Mr. Dolan would tell us to leave it to them. They are really great with redirecting the boundless energy that little kids are full of.

Along with the normal class schedules, there are other great benefits to take advantage of. The quarterly parents night out is really helpful for us as we don't have local family or a more budget friendly babysitting option. The leadership classes cover interesting topics like close combat with an escrima.

We are now about to get to our red belts. Along this journey we have really begun to understand that this is not just a place we go three times a week to get to some belt at the end. This place it really a community with people we care about. The instruction is great and helps us in our daily lives but we are excited to continue growing with this community as well.

Source: Google

★ 5

Great teachers and fun environment! My son and husband has been attending for almost over a year now and enjoying every bit of it. At first I thought my son was enjoying it because of he gets to sport a uniform, but it was actually what he's learning through the instructors. We also signed up for their summer program this past summer and I've never seen my son so eager to jet out that door. Great job, Focus Family

Source: Google

★ 5

FFMA are great with kids! For us it all started by attending a birthday party, and our daughter (age 5) liked it so much so she wanted to start right away!
If you are looking for a place to start with karate, this is the perfect place :-)

Source: Google

★ 5

After trialing many karate schools, our 5 year old son was very adamant about returning to Mr. Dolan! He did not stop asking to go back to Focus Family. We have been at FF for nearly a year now and attend class every Tuesday and Thursday without fail. Our son is not only learning karate, but also discipline, respect and confidence. Mr. Dolan also talks about bullying and how students can protect themselves in such situations. He praises and rewards the students on their academic achievements and overall good behavior at home and in the community. This has encouraged our son to do all of his homework and even extra work to earn red stripes on his belt.
We love FF and all of its very kind team members. We definitely recommend Focus Family, you will love it too.

Source: Google

★ 5

Cannot say enough about how GREAT Focus Family Martial Arts is! My boys have gained so much confidence and discipline while having tons of fun! The Dolans are fantastic--they're everything you want in instructors. You can tell they love what they do and they're always open to feedback and proactive about enhancing everyone's experience. Finally, the cost . . . you won't find a better deal anywhere (except that you get so much more than what you pay for!).

Source: Google

★ 5

I am glad that my son is at FFMA. This is a high-level family oriented Martial Art Studio. It is also very affordable for this area. Mr. Dolan and his team are gorgeous. The instructors are knowledgeable and personable, and the schedule is very flexible and convenient. We are very happy to be a member of FFMA.

Source: Google

★ 5

Focus Family Martial Arts is an incredible place to learn karate in the northern Virginia area. The staff is warm and welcoming, and the environment is fun and friendly. My daughter is been a student there for several months and she adores the teachers and senior students. All told, they do a fantastic job of making a family-style environment where you and your child can learn martial arts. With an emphasis on discipline and respect, as well as physical skills, you can bring your child to Focus Family knowing that they are going to learn more than just punching and kicking. If you live near Fairfax, Virginia then I strongly recommend you give them a try.

Source: Google

★ 5

This place is so much more than a high quality martial arts facility! Definitely a gem.

For months my husband and I were looking for something for my daughter that would reinforce the values we're instilling at home. We were looking for an activity that would require her to understand direction, be challenged, learn discipline and understand the value of excellence by doing your best as you learn. BUT, we also wanted something she would still find super fun and want to go week after week. When I discovered Family First Martial Arts I was able to do a trial class to see if it would be a great fit and instantly I knew that through them teaching her karate they would be instilling so much into my daughter. Plus, she LOVED it and really enjoyed learning all the moves and doing the activities.

It is called Focus Family for a reason, they truly operate and interact as family. There’s so much honor and respect among all the amazing teacher and the parents/kids but there is also a sense of genuine welcoming and warmth. You KNOW they truly care about you being a part of their family, and you can tangibly see it. They always greet everyone personally, they remember the little things about the children and at the end of every class they take a moment to acknowledge the amazing things students have done outside of class. It is truly a holistic experience. Their motto is having “black belt excellence” and it shows.

For parents of younger children ( my daughter Luna is 3 ) Focus Family is a must. Every single one of the teacher is so understanding and patient. They care so much about the child as a whole. What they’re thinking, what they’re feeling, how they’re learning. During the classes they don’t expect them to be perfect, they get that they're children ( which is a relief ) but they still push them towards their own age appropriate level of excellence. They also offer positive incentive programs for the kids to track their own goals ( across all areas of development ) and be rewarded for consistency and growth. This is yet another reason I fell in love with this place. While they are extremely proficient in teaching martial arts, it goes deeper than that, and it authentic. No gimmicks and no fake personas. They know how to make everyone feel comfortable yet encouraged to challenge themselves.

On a business side, Focus Family is ran with consistent precision. Each step of the experience and process has been thoughtfully prepared and the systems and payment options have never been an issue. It allows you to really just enjoy being there and not worry about the things that can pop up when a business is not being run efficiently.

If I could give this place 10 stars, I would. Mr. & Mrs Dolan have created a space that my family is thankful exists.

Source: Google

★ 5

We love FFMA. The instruction is top notch, the Dolan's give so much time and energy to their students and recognize when someone needs help/encouragement or needs time to shine by demonstrating something to the class. Our daughter has gained so much confidence which overflows to other areas of her life.

Source: Google

★ 5

Our family loves this place and we definitely recommend it to other families that ask about a awesome karate place. We love the structure and environment that Mr. and Mrs. Dolan have put together. It is a very positive, safe and disciplined environment where standards are upheld. Our now 5 year old loves coming, is always excited to be in class and loves all of the staff.

Source: Google

★ 5

FFMA is an exceptional karate studio. I leave class with my son feeling connected to him, uplifted, focused and balanced by the support and engagement provided by the entire team of instructors. They go above and beyond to ensure an empowering experience for all of their students. Karate isn’t easy; my six year old struggles each week, yet with the attention of Mr. and Mrs. Dolan, he leaves with a feeling of accomplishment and elevated self esteem that I, as his parent, am unable to directly provide for him. I also greatly appreciate the ability to develop myself in a positive manner, improving both my physical and mental health with my child by my side reaping the same benefits. I would recommend this program to anyone and everyone of all ages who is looking to achieve skill, strength, and to become part of an amazing community of people who are all receiving world-class service and instruction from experts in the art of Karate.

Source: Google

★ 5

This place comes highly recommended for yourself, your children, friends, family or all of the above!! Great Family Oriented Karate lessons and training! They allowed me to take the first four classes with our son (3 years old) so he would feel comfortable and become adjusted! Our son loves going to his martial arts classes! We love it also as it helps instill discipline, focus, responsibility, and always trying his best!

Source: Google

★ 5

This is a great place for the whole family to learn karate together . The focus on the kids learning respect and discipline as well as the curriculum is something I would recommend for all parents. The Dolan's and their staff will encourage you to reach your goals.

Source: Google

★ 5

I'm so glad my son is at Focus on the family. Mr. & Mrs. Dolan are great! They are so passionate about what they do. This is really a family setting. My son has improved so much. My son has been sick off and on so we have missed classes but they always take the time to catch him up on what he's missed. I really appreciate the Dolan family!

Source: Google

★ 5

I almost never write reviews but in this case I felt compelled to do so. Never had I imaged how one person could inspire my son so much and change his life for the better. My son has high functioning Autism and I was unsure of how he would react or if he would like taking Karate lessons. I met a Focus Family Martial Arts instructor (Mr. Ortiz) at an event here in Fairfax. I had thought of getting my son some karate classes (tried other sports before but, he did not really connect or enjoyed them) and saw this as an opportunity to try it out. Since the 1st class I saw my son`s eyes light up, so I decided to make the sacrifice and signed him up (I am a single mom, so you can imagine my budget is really tight.) It has been the best decision ever.

I am so great full to Mr. Dolan and his team, they make you feel like family from the moment you walk up that door. I hope that they realize the impact they have on these kids and parents. I love that the kids and parents take classes together and the atmosphere they created is amazing. I have seen my 7-year-old son`s confidence level grow to the point that he is now comfortable in situations he wasn`t before. He is now in the Leadership program and he even volunteers to be upfront during the classes. When he goes through that door he becomes another person. I am so proud of the person he is becoming since taking the classes. His behavior has greatly improved and he is making better decisions. I love their sayings “Fake it till you make it” and “Always try your best”, this allows the kids to learn that making mistakes is ok, and that the important thing is to always, always try your best.

Mr. Dolan if you read this please know that I can never repay all the hard work and commitment you have and still dedicate to my son. I hope you know that you change lives for the better, and not only for the kids but for the parents. Thank you for all the tools and support you give us as well. I know that if I am having a problem not related to Karate, be it at school or even at home with his behavior, I can count on you to help me guide him. You and Mrs. Dolan are an inspiration and a blessing in our lives.

Source: Google

★ 5

Im so happy that I chose focus family for my kids , Mrs and Mr Dolen are soooo nice and they are great with kids . My kids are enjoying karate there .
Thank you Mr and Mrs Dolen for the great summer camp this week , Hamza and Karim had sooooo much fun .

Source: Google

★ 5

I was a little nervous when my 5 year old daughter started at Focus Family Martial Arts, having her in class with mixed ages. I was worried she'd get lost in the crowd, but Mr. and Mrs. Dolan are amazing! They make a point to know everyone in the class, as well as parents,and make everyone feel welcome. My daughter LOVES Karate and is always excited to go to class. Instead of the adults in class being intimidating, they are source of inspiration and are so kind, helpful and encouraging to the younger students. It is an amazing family environment. We are thrilled to be a part of the Focus Family Marital Arts Academy!

Source: Google

★ 4

Source: Google

★ 5

Great experience! Fun, exciting, and an excellent place for our whole family to get engaged, together! The Dolan's are fantastic with children and also pour a lot of energy into their classes and the entire experience. Excellent teaching with a huge emphasis on doing your personal best and being motivated towards goals makes this a great place for my son to build some confidence, character, and participate in a meaningful activity. It means a lot to me to be able to participate in a sport along with my young son and wife, and our whole family is motivated by it, not to mention good exercise for us to boot. The other families and students at FFMA are also excited, energetic, and kind which makes this a great place for learning and young children. It's also an excellent value for the money as the dollar for dollar match to for the time is actually a super deal, and you get all the motivation and commitment that the instructors pour into it on top of that. If you are looking for a place to participate right along with your family in a super positive, do your best, environment, this is it. FFMA far and away exceeds any expectations I had going into the program, and the Dolan's truly deserve a commendation for their work.

Source: Google

★ 5

My family and I loved Focus Family! So much so that we moved from VA 3 months ago and I wanted to make sure I came back and wrote a review. Awesome place to go and learn karate with your kids.

THEE most amazing thing about Focus is that the leadership team is about the end goal of developing your child, not just on them learning the moves (if you care more about perfect karate, this is not the place for you - more a life mentor and karate together experience here). The moves are taught, but secondarily to how to use them - in self defense. My 6 year old son developed a sense of confidence b/c he felt if something happened, he would "just use karate."

The team knows their karate, but more importantly, they know how to edify and build up children. This was my favorite part, the positive of having a third party validate my son. Talk about a build up! Sincere encouragement goes a long way, and Dolan knows how to wield it.

Especially if your child is having trouble focusing or directing his/her energy, this is a wonderful possibility. You will be hard pressed to find a more caring and enthusiastic team than here.

Source: Google

★ 5

Mr Dolan and his team is great with the kids

Source: Google

★ 5

Source: Google

★ 5

I came up in the same system of martial arts arts as Mr. Dolan, the chief instructor of Focus Family Martial Arts and it is a fun style to train in! I can still remember 11+ years ago very vividly leaning forward on my couch watching "Walker Texas Ranger" as he did a knife disarm from the bad guy and saying I just did that in class! The program is very family friendly allowing families to train together and focusing on a lot of character values. If you have the opportunity to train with Mr. Dolan I would definitely recommend it!

Source: Google