Special Dragons
About
Special Dragons offers mixed martial arts and karate training with a particular focus on creating an inclusive environment. The gym is led by Sensei George, a former special education teacher who brings professional expertise to his coaching approach. His staff members complete background checks, and the program operates from multiple locations for convenience. During the pandemic, the gym provided free online classes for students with special needs through Facebook, demonstrating ongoing commitment to accessibility.
reviewsWhat Members Say
Members consistently praise Sensei George's commitment to students and his background as a special education teacher, noting how children become more coordinated and confident through the program. Many parents specifically highlight the gym's effectiveness for children with special needs, describing it as therapeutic and noting excellent accommodations for different challenges. Reviewers appreciate the hands-on coaching style, multiple locations, and free pandemic classes. However, one family reported a concerning incident where the owner lost patience with a child who had difficulty following instructions, resulting in yelling and distress that led them to leave the program.
rate_reviewGoogle Reviews (5)
Lucy Ortiz
2 years ago
My son is a current student with this program. My experience is that George is very committed to his students and has a great rapport with them. He has earned my trust and he has allowed my son to flourish over the last couple years in his time with the program. He’s more coordinated, faster and stronger. Definitely would recommend👍
Dena Russell
5 years ago
My son has been coming to this program for over two years and I can assure you that this program is amazing! Sensei George is a former special education teacher, and all of his staff have their background checks completed. He and his staff are all wonderful! I have seen all different levels of struggles and challenges accommodated by this program, whether they are behavior-related or just karate skill-related. There are quite a few locations for your convenience, and during this pandemic, Sensei George provided FREE classes to ALL students with special needs through Facebook. I highly recommend this program to all families!
Juan Nieves
9 months ago
Our daughter has learned so much , and the level of the karate is amazing. The instructor is very patient and a great teacher ! We love this fir our daughter who is 14 on the autism spectrum
E C
9 months ago
I've seen the classes and I'm impressed with George's energy and how hes so hands on with students.. I think it's a very theraputic activity for children with special needs.
Dee M
3 months ago
We ended this program due to concerns about how a child with a disability was treated. When the child had difficulty following verbal instructions, the owner lost patience, became frustrated, yelled at the child in front of others, and made a threatening remark. This interaction caused the child significant distress and brought them to tears. Based on our experience, this did not feel like a safe or supportive environment.
Contact
Office Location, 77 Tiona Ave, Belleville, NJ 07109, USA
scheduleHours
Monday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed