Z-Ultimate Self Defense Studios

Took my 6-​year old to 3 martial arts schools and this is by far the best. The membership includes weekly private 1:1 instruction and unlimited group sessions, so you’re guaranteed to learn some discipline and self-​control.
I’d say the biggest thing for me is that the Instructors strike a perfect balance between being serious enough to teach, yet laid-​back enough to joke around and be funny (they really have fun and genuinely Love what they do, it doesn’t even seem like a job for them).
I missed a private session one week and figured I ‘lost-​out’ since it was my bad for not scheduling sooner. But Instructor Ben approached me and wanted to schedule a make-​up session! Who is that disciplined and honest nowadays?! Only after attending for 2 weeks did I notice the sign in the waiting area for King 5 Voter’s Best of Western Washington award for 2012 (Top 5 Best Martial Arts Studio).
Unlike most other martial arts schools that basically make money selling [black] belts, this school is very serious/​good about student learning. My 6-​year old (one month in this program) could kick the crap out of his 11-​year old cousin who’s attended Tae Kwon Do for 4 years (and $ 5k+!!). His cousin is supposedly a brown belt but couldn’t hurt a fly.
I can’t see how I could get more value for my money ($ 250/​month) than this place. Totally exceeded my expectations. No I’m not related or friends with any Instructors there.

This studio on Mercer Island is awesome! The instructors are very knowledgeable and definitely know what they are doing. The group sessions are a great workout and the private instruction will help you train for your belt tests. If you are interested in martial arts training, I highly recommend you give this place a try. You will not find a more professional, honest and fun place to learn.

After spending almost a full year training at Z-​Ultimate in Mercer Island, I can honestly say I am extremely pleased with my training. As a new mom wanting to get back into shape, I knew martial arts was the way to go since it would allow me to customize the level of intensity of the workout without feeling like a gerbil on a treadmill. Sensei Jeannette is an amazing instructor who has an incredible knowledge base and is willing to spend quality time sharing her skills with her students.
I took a couple of trial lessons at other Martial Arts schools before deciding on Z-​Ultimate, so here’s I I chose them:
— Flexible schedule: Evenings & Weekend classes
— Training Style: It’s not just Karate, it’s mixed martial arts and self defense training, so you not only learn the pretty art forms, but how to apply them and make them work for you.
— Atmosphere — Respect is always paramount, but the atmosphere is friendly and welcoming.
I would say the only negative is that it’s not cheap (though of course you would expect to pay a premium for personalized lessons and high quality training) so make sure to take the trial lessons before you commit.