ONTA Studio
About
ONTA Studio offers MMA and karate training for both children and adults in Burlington, VT. The gym is led by coaches Zach and Lauren, who are consistently praised for being kind, patient, and excellent at connecting with students of all ages and experience levels. Their classes focus on practical physical training, technique, and discipline while keeping sessions engaging and fun. For children, the program emphasizes building self-confidence, focus, and peer mentorship, with experienced students often helping as class mentors. Adult MMA classes provide intense cardio fitness and hands-on coaching, with instructors taking time to correct form and encourage participants. The studio partners with local organizations like Williston Parks & Rec for ninja classes and offers camps, though some parents note camps are held indoors without outdoor time. The environment is described as friendly and communicative, with staff who are passionate about martial arts. Members appreciate the variety in classes that keeps students engaged, from trial sessions to regular training. The gym is noted as being more affordable than some nearby alternatives, making it an accessible starting point for families and individuals new to martial arts. However, prospective members should be aware of the studio's COVID-19 policies, which have included mask requirements and limited grappling practice, a point of concern for some former members. Overall, ONTA Studio provides a supportive atmosphere where students can develop both mental and physical well-being through structured, enjoyable training.
reviewsWhat Members Say
Members consistently praise coaches Zach and Lauren for their excellent, patient, and engaging teaching style with both kids and adults. Parents highlight how classes boost children's self-confidence, discipline, and focus through fun, varied activities and peer mentorship. Adult students appreciate the intense cardio workouts and personalized coaching that helps improve technique. Some concerns include COVID-19 policies like mask mandates and limited grappling, as well as indoor-only camps that lack outdoor time, though the gym is noted as a great, affordable starting point for those comfortable with these aspects.
rate_reviewGoogle Reviews (5)
Jen O'Donnell
a year ago
ONTA's classes improve both mental and physical well-being while keeping things fun. Our kids have been going to ONTA since 2021, and they love it! In addition to the practical physical training, these classes have taught our children self-discipline and increased their self-confidence and focus. We highly recommend this dojo!
Stephen Jablonski
5 months ago
My son absolutely loves going to classes here. He did the trial class to see if he would enjoy it and has insisted on signing up for every class he can possibly do. Zach is excellent with the kids, and there's enough variety to keep mine engaged. I love that they pick an experienced kid to act as a class mentor for the day. It gives them a huge boost of confidence and lets them help their peers who may not be as familiar with what they're working on. I enjoyed what I saw in the children's class so much that I tried the adult MMA class. It was some of the best cardio fitness I've done in a long time. Not only is Zach great with kids, but he's excellent working with adults as well. He took time to show me what I needed to be doing differently and encouraged me to keep going when I was ready to tap out. My whole body is sore from the one class, and I'm excited to go back for more.
Alicia Gil de Rubio (Havana Rainmaker)
3 years ago
I signed up 3 of my daughter's for ninja classes through Williston Parks & Rec and they absolutely LOVED it here! They were excited to go every Wednesday, and was sad when the month ended. I'll be looking into directly signing them up so they can continue the fun! Very friendly and caring staff! They communicate well and are passionate. My daughter's were shy but after their first class couldn't stop talking about it all night!
Kathryn A
6 years ago
ONTA Studio was the best find for both of my kids (14 and 10) who were interested in learning martial arts. Zach and Lauren run engaging and super fun classes, while still focusing on technique and discipline. They are both so personable and really have an amazing ability to connect with kids of all ages and experience. Whether it's skill, fitness, or both you're after I highly recommend this studio for kids and adults alike!
Cecelia Billings
4 years ago
First off, Zach and Lauren are wonderful. They are kind, patient, and make classes fun for the kiddos! My son absolutely has enjoyed his time there and has grown so much since starting a year ago. My only upset with this gym is that camps consist of zero outside time, "science" is watching a screen, and a bunch of kids cooped up in one room doing similar things as what they do in class. For $300+ I was disappointed. They are also overly covid cautious. That means masks for everyone and limited or no grappling practice. For this reason, we have chosen to move on to another gym where my son can continue to grow even more with Jiu-Jitsu practice and he doesn't doesn't have to wear a mask ever again. If you're looking for a starting point and don't care about the mask policy, then this is a great gym. It's also a bit cheaper than other gyms nearby from what I've seen. My son has enjoyed his time here and we will miss them!!! (we won't miss the covid policies, though!)
Contact
373 Blair Park Rd STE 102, Williston, VT 05495, USA