Valley Women's Martial Arts in Easthampton

I have had an incredibly positive experience here for the last nine years. The teachers have been supportive and kind and they have helped me grow, including building friendships in a supportive community and using my voice. This dojo has been incredibly supportive from when I started as a six-year-old to today!

I've been surrounded by the VWMA community since I was a baby, and I couldn't have asked for a better, more supportive community of amazing women to grow up in. It's made such a difference in my life, and I'm so grateful for what I was taught there. It helped me grow in confidence and I know I always have that community to turn to if I need them.

As a child I was enrolled in the Power Girls program here and it gave me tools to speak up and out and become a leader and a teacher. The teachers and community helped me trust in my own intuition and allowed me to grow into a teacher of younger children. As a teacher I have seen young women and girls grow into themselves and become confident and empowered leaders. A wonderful supportive community and a joy to be a part of.

I have witnessed first-hand how VWMA builds strength of body, strength of character, and leadership. The instructors are compassionate and committed and bring profound integrity to their teaching.

I began training at VWMA with my daughter when she was 8 years old. It was a transformational experience for both of us. The teachers are compassionate, experienced, and motivational. The sliding fee makes this an important and accessible school for all. I encourage anyone looking for an empowerment experience for themselves or their children to check out VWMA.

This school claims to specialize in supporting survivors of abuse. That is not the truth. I stopped attending classes at this dojo ten years ago, after having been a student for a decade. I came forward about an older student's misconduct towards me and it was not handled well. The head instructor called me a liar and attempted to paint me as unstable and untrustworthy. It was exactly the opposite reaction of what is taught as proper response to disclosure of abuse, yet none of the other adults in charge questioned it. Relatively recently, I was recounting this story to friends at a cafe. Apparently the walls have ears because shortly thereafter, I received an anonymous and threatening letter from a dojo member who overheard us at the cafe. Talk about unstable and unsafe behavior. To any parents considering bringing their daughter here -- don't. It is not a safe environment for children.

I joined this school to do something for me. Its perfect because I can go to any class offered at any time and learn at my own pace. I don't feel pressured. The sliding scale payment plan is extra helpful. After every class I feel empowered and refreshed and ready to tackle the next thing down the way. Thank you VWMA. You're doing it right!

Not only is my daughter empowered by what she learns at VWMA, but I leave the classes with renewed hope for the future. They teach more than karate in Power Girls classes; the girls gain self-confidence and strength, find their voices, claim their space in the world, engage in sharing poetry and beauty, learn important anti-bullying and self-protection strategies, and are inspired to give back to the world. The teaching team is incredibly talented and respectful. Thank you, VWMA, for helping my girl's spirit to soar!