My very shy 8 yr old daughter just started in April and already we can see the confidence!

Always a great time. I feel refreshed and exhausted when I leave. If you want self defense that will train you to be violent until its time to run, this is the place.

Great staff, great instructors. They make everyone feel welcome and do well with kids.

Great place to train, excellent staff, very knowledgeable and an awesome way to get in shape too.

My son has been a member for over 7 years, progressing from a pint-sized white belt to an adult black belt. This school is amazing - challenging, respectful, warm, friendly - it has made an incredible difference in his development. Couldnt recommend it highly enough!

Great friendly place with a wide variety of classes. It’s clean, fun and very welcoming. I really enjoyed my time spent there!!

Great place to exercise and learn self defense awesome crowd awesome instructors

I attended a BJJ class as a visitor so I could train while on vacation visiting family. The facility was awesome, and everyone was very welcoming. If you are wanting to learn BJJ, this is the school to join!

Very nice place to bring the kids that either can improve on their martial arts, or self discipline if needed. Kids are well thought the essentials about respect and life decisions. I can see my daughter improvement on her techniques and how further she keeps challenging yourself. Just have to realize that if you like to put your kids on ABD theyll love it but to adapt all takes patience and time. Youll see the results the instructors are very polite and friendly to either kids or adults and they also do a lot of extra activities. Totally recommended 😉

ABD has everything you would want in a martial arts school: fantastic, knowledgeable instructors, a positive environment that fosters hard work and good vibes, a highly effective and well put together curriculum, and classes full of great people. After training here for about 8 years, I would recommend it to anyone of any age or physical condition. Its a fantastic place to train!

The new building is amazing & so spacious! The instructors are approachable, helpful & caring and they have you, your children & your families best interest @ heart! This is a family environment of positivity! Everyones here to get healthy, learn self defense/control and discover important self attributes about themselves! Americas Best Defense is for those who want the best!

I started at ABD in October, and have had the greatest physical activity experience to date. The staff is VERY knowledgeable, and gives you the same amount of attention no matter the skill level. Ive seen an improvement in my strength and confidence. I highly recommend this school to anyone.

From start to finish everyone there is the best that can be. Their encouragement never ceases and their commitment to help the kids be their best is phenomenal. I recommend you to GO GO GO.

My experience at ABD in Norwich has been great. My fitness level has improved in just a short amount of time. Every instructor Ive worked with is knowledgeable and able to adjust the workouts to fit my level of fitness. The other students are always gracious and patient in helping new students get up to speed. I would recommend ABD in Norwich to anyone looking for a great workout along with practical self-defense skills.

One of the greatest place ever! I started February 2012 with a hefty weight loss goal and Im half way there in June. The instructors are great knowledgeable and extremely helpful. I recommend ABD to everyone!

Excellent instruction. Entire family trains here, 32, 27, 12 & 10 years old. All staff is excellent with children and teens even children with special needs, ADHD, ADD, Aspergers, Autism, etc. Very organized, family activities outside of class. Works with children and adults via positive reinforcement. Well worth the price, family discounts available making tuition more affordable.

This is one of the greatest experiences of my life so far. This is not only a school, but more than that it is a family to me. I have learned so much from everyone at the school physically and mentally. Master McShane is a great teacher of martial arts he inspires me to give one-hundred and ten percent at everything I do. I am honored to be affiliated with Americas Best Defense!

Charlie From The Plazas place is definitely the spot to be!

Our family loves ABD. The atmosphere is very positive and motivating! Best group of instructors on the planet.

I find the students and instructors at ABD to be top notch. Being a martial arts w/ over 30 years training I am refreshed and motivated to be a guest at the dojo. Master McShane is a world class teacher so if you are in the area dont miss out on your chance to be apart of a great academy.

I started at ABD Norwich in March of 2012 and the only regret I have is not starting sooner. Everyone there is amazing. Such a positive environment to be in. Sensei McShane along with all of the instructors there are a huge help. They are very motivational, very helpful, and always wanting to help us improve and find the best within ourselves inside of class and out.

Coming to Buddy Week in January was a no-brainer. I love a challenging workout, gaining new, useful skills and ABD delivers on both fronts. And for free? Lets go! The hard[er] decision came in February when I had to choose either to continue training and make a financial commitment, or bow out gracefully and return to my now seemingly sedentary lifestyle.In such a shaky economic climate, the inclination is to keep expenses low and work, work, work. I realize now, however, that the passion and persistence forged in the fires of battling ones own inhibitions, alongside brothers and sisters with equal resolve, cannot be categorized in the red column with gas, eggs, and milk. Making a commitment to ABD is investing in ones self; putting a down payment on future success.In three short months, Ive made leaps and bounds in every aspect of my life. My energy and confidence levels are through the roof, my relationships with friends and family have improved and Im about to land a new job which will TRIPLE my salary!!! None of this is coincidence. Anyone who puts the time and effort into ABD will get back so much more AND be apart of the funnest, fastest-growing martial arts community around!!!

I first checked-out Americas Best Defense in Norwich, CT in June of 2013 because my age-old routine of lifting weights and running endless miles had gotten very stale. I no longer felt motivated or inspired to train hard, as I really wasnt working toward anything I particularly cared about. Before I knew it, I was hardly exercising at all - NOT GOOD. Furthermore, I do have friends here in Connecticut, but we rarely see each other because of family commitments, work, life, etc. So, I was looking for something social, as well. I had zero experience with martial arts, but I always wanted to give it a try, so I went for it.Since joining ABD, my only regret is not joining sooner. I have so much more confidence in everything I do, in and out of the dojo, and at age 34 Im in the best shape Ive ever been in my life! Ive never walked out of the dojo feeling less than amazing after training, no matter how lousy my day mightve otherwise been.Americas Best Defense Martial Arts is a great place to learn no-nonsense, practical self-defense while getting a quality, total-body workout (and having SO much fun in the process). It doesnt matter what your situation is when you start at ABD. You can be young, aged, skinny, overweight, a seasoned martial artist, or a total rookie. Everyone goes at their own pace and everyone clearly gets so much out of the program - I dont even have to ask my fellow students if thats true, because I can see it on their smiling faces, even when theyre working hard!Master McShane and his entire staff of highly-skilled and dedicated instructors do an amazing job of helping students of all ages and abilities. There are no egos to contend with and youre never, ever, pressured to do anything you dont want to do or arent comfortable with (yet). Youre also not just a number at ABD. The instructors know who everyone is, as an individual, and they do an incredible job tending to the training needs of each and every student in the dojo with patience, courtesy, and enthusiasm - I cant imagine learning from anyone else.The students who train here are the best! Again, people from all walks of life, all shapes and sizes, all ages and abilities train here. What they do all have in common is how supportive, encouraging, and helpful they are. Everyone gladly goes out of their way to help others learn with patience, respect, and a positive attitude. Its not long before ABD becomes your home away from home!I definitely recommend training at Americas Best Defense to anyone interested in learning self-defense and/or getting in shape without the monotonous grind of a traditional gym. ABD keeps you coming back to train with consistency, keeps you committed to whatever your personal goals are, and keeps you smiling - I hope to see you there!

Excellent school, great philosophy, my child is flourishing here