Carlyle (Old Towne) Dojo

Just stop in one day and have a look at Sensei Mark teaching a kid's class and you'll be convinced. Not only are the students learning discipline, respect, perseverance, and confidence, but they are getting EXERCISE as well. Sensei Mark makes every student feel like they are important and special, and he ensures they get a solid martial arts training at every class. The training and positive reinforcement the kids get from Sensei Mark undoubtedly help them develop into strong, confident, goal-oriented adults. The adult classes are very well configured to give you a great workout as well as learning some awesome self-defense skills. You will lean Shaolin Kempo and a mixture of other very exciting forms. Try a lesson and see what I mean!

I have always liked a great workout, but a workout that actually teaches you practical
techniques, discipline, focus and FUN at the same time?? Thats what Kempo is to me.
Sensei Mark is knowledgeable, talented and makes working out an amazingly fun experience!!

I have been coming here for a couple of years now and I have loved every moment. The instructor is great, very knowledgeable and talented. The community is friendly, welcoming, and always willing to assist. I encourage anyone thinking about martial arts to come over and become a part of the community.

I have tried many different ways of working out and Kempo is the BEST!! It works my body and my memory which is so important. Every class is different, so much more fun than walking on a treadmill and watching tv or listening to music!! I always look forward to my dojo time for the fun and and strength it gives me!

Great place to work out and learn! Great instructors, great classmates. I have gotten in better shape, improved flexibility, concentration and manage stress a lot better.

Tucked between the Patent Office and the U.S. District Courthouse in Alexandria's Carlyle neigborhood, Potomac Kempo-Old Towne is a great place to study martial arts. I took a free lesson a year ago at another location, but I wasn't able to begin lessons at that time. I moved into the Carlyle area and was excited to learn that Potomac Kempo had opened a new location just a few blocks from my apartment.

I met with Sensei Mark and he was great. He was very encouraging in my interest to study martial arts, but without that over-the-top pushiness to join that turns me off from working with someone. As soon as the time was right, I signed up for monthly lessons and classes.

The Old Towne location is a great dojo. Sensei Mark is fun to work with. He understands that his adult students come in after a long day at work to study martial arts for a variety of reasons. Some people come in to learn self-defense, some to lose weight, some to just do something different. His classes are fun, and he encourages us to keep reaching beyond what we think we can do. Even when a workout in class is hard, he still keeps us laughing and having fun.

I look forward to my weekly lesson with Sensei. He is very personable and can really explain how a particular block or strike should work when practicing the art and how it would work in a self-defense situation. Plus he's very funny and quick with a smile, which is great when you just don't get something new.

Another reason to checkout Potomac Kempo - Old Towne is the students. What an awesome group of people! I am fairly new to the area and have had a hard time meeting people. Now I hang out with a great group of people two or three days a week. Everyone is welcoming from your first day in class. Everyone comes up, introduces themselves, and helps you to learn new skills. Old Towne becomes almost a second home, where you can just be yourself and try new things without any judgment.

And you become part of a bigger family when you visit other Potomac Kempo dojos. You always feel welcomed at other Potomac Kempo dojos and at the semi-annual tournament.

Check out Potomac Kempo - Old Towne. It's definitely worth the investment in yourself.

It's been over a year since I stepped foot inside the dojo. At the time I needed to do something active, something different, something with people (best way to be held accountable!) and I just didn't know what that would be. After seeing a small ad for PK and convincing myself to just TRY it, I fiiiiinally checked it out. Honestly, I was expecting to just go and be done in 0.5 seconds. Much to my surprise, this is what I found at the dojo, just on that FIRST evening: -an incredibly welcoming group of people who were excited to have me there! -Sensei Mark's overwhelming knowledge of martial arts mixed with his sarcasm, humor and encouragement made me feel like I could both trust his teaching AND that I could actually do the things he was asking the class to do -a sweaty and intense workout!! -fun and laughter! I literally signed up that night (even if the monthly tuition is a hard pill to swallow at first) and haven't looked back! Kempo has impacted my life in more ways than I can even imagine. The community of amazing people, an instructor who believes in his students even when (especially when) they don't believe in themselves, the variety of material, the intensity of workouts, the fun, the laughter, and the confidence I have gained in what I am capable of and what my body can do is part of my normal, daily life because I said "yes" to stepping outside of my comfort zone. And I say "yes" every time I walk into the dojo because I know I will be challenged, pushed and pulled to be the best I can be. With plenty of sweat, jokes, laughter and a little bit of crazy to just keep things interesting! Try it. You know you want to! 🙂