Bushido-Kai Martial Arts, 92 Blandin Ave, Framingham, MA 01702, US

Baystate Taekwondo Academy is a traditional Olympic-style taekwondo instructional facility. According to owner and black belt master John C. Alves, students learn much more than the physical demands of the training here. "We want to develop students' strength, stamina, balance and self-confidence," he says. Besides taekwondo, Baystate offers Brazilian jiu jitsu, cardio kick-boxing and aikido for students age 4 to 99. Students progress through the regimen by a series of tests. It typically takes about four years to become a black belt, Alves said, but can take as long as 10 years, depending on a student's age and training schedule. There are no monthly fees. Rates range from $70 to $140, depending on the program, and family discounts of up to 40 percent off are available. The academy has been in business since 1992, and for five years at its present location, off of Route 9 West, in the same parking lot as Good Feet, The Cigar Store and several other businesses.

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