Rainier Beach Martial Arts Academy, Seattle

With black-belts in several forms of Japanese, Korean, and Filipino martial arts, Master Boiselle would be a formidable opponent for any competitor. To kids, though, he's a mild-mannered instructor. His martial arts may be serious, but his studio—Rainier Beach Martial Arts Academy—is kid-friendly, with bright colors and padded floors and practice areas. Here, Boiselle and his team specialize in training students of all ages during martial arts classes held six days a week. Instructors provide training in karate and taekwondo, introducing the age-appropriate fluid strikes and blocks that improve physical fitness and confidence as well as mental clarity. The studio also prepares pupils for real-world self defense with classes in arnis, kali, and eskrima, the three main styles of Filipino martial arts. A structured after-school program also gives students the chance to do their homework while preparing for the inevitable wood block uprising.