Top Gun Karate

I tried Top Gun Karate (http://www.tgkarate.com/), located at 1170 Northern Blvd, in Manhasset under a one week pass that I received in a local mailer.

The studio teaches an Isreali form of self-defense called Krav Maga. The studio is large, modern and clean and the staff is very friendly and helpful.

Group Exercise: There are 12 classes available for adults each week: 3 fitness classes (Tues and Thurs 9:30-10:30am and Fri 10-11am) and 8 Krav Maga classes (Mon, Wed, and Fri mornings 10-11am, Mon-Thurs evenings 8:15-9:15pm and Sat 9:30-10:20am. The fitness classes (cardio kickboxing and cardio sculpt) are well attended, but not crowded, and provide a great workout. The Krav Maga classes are oriented toward self-defense, enable a lot of personal attention, and provide a great workout.

Amenities: none, no showers, just a bathroom. But the staff is super nice and helpful.

The price: not a lot of flexibility. At the time of my trial, they were offering a 6 month membership for $1065 upfront or an initial fee of $195 and six monthly payments of $145. Despite the limited options, they do enable you to freeze your membership if your schedule prevents you from attending for a period of time.