2026-08-10T00:33:38.597Z

Master Derek Croley is the real deal. He has traveled the world and spent time in China studying martial arts, bringing a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience to his teaching. At the same time, he has a gift for breaking things down in a way that is fun, practical, and easy to understand for students of all ages and skill levels.I have known Derek and recommended his school for nearly 20 years, and throughout that time he has remained both a mentor and a friend. I highly recommend White Oak Martial Arts to anyone looking for quality martial arts instruction for themselves or their children.

2026-06-08T05:52:07.403Z

2026-06-03T15:42:57.496Z

My son joined back in January and although it was a great program, he was just no longer interested. We canceled the program. In May I noticed we were still being charged and I contacted the owner about the issue. With some effort, he was able to refund me completely and apologized for the inconvenience. I wish my son would have been more interested because this is a great program.

2026-05-23T02:14:06.635Z

2026-03-16T17:47:21.295Z

My nine year old girl has been enrolled since January, and is looking forward to her yellow belt soon! Since around 3-4 yrs of age I've been working on her awareness of surroundings, strangers approaching, etc. This was a welcome reinforcement of those ideas, and she is building upon self defense options under the instruction of Master and Instructor Croley. This is my first experience with self-defense classes ever, so I don't really have a comparison vs other places...but I'm pleased. She hasn't shown interest in other physical activities (dance, sports), so for her to be geared up for this is a welcome activity! Not only is she learning these skills, but she is also being exposed to a forward thinking mindset and about how to approach challenges in everyday life vs. having a victim mentality of "life sucks, so why try?". She learns something new every time, and enjoys practicing and showing her friends what she learns. The activities are fun and engaging for her age, and has her relate to children her age outside of school. The classes are small and intimate, so I believe she gets more attention vs having large classes? She often shares laughs with the other kids, as the Croley's do their best to be entertaining, to keep the kids engaged and the atmosphere relaxed. Would recommend to anyone looking to have their kids engage in practical skillsets that can be applied in their everyday life, with the added bonus of being more capable of protecting themselves.

2025-11-24T21:02:38.752Z

The martial arts studio has been a game-changer for my daughter! The instructors are fantastic with the kids, teaching them discipline, confidence, and self-defense skills. The classes are well-structured and engaging, and she's always excited to go. The studio is clean and safe, and the community is super supportive. We love it and highly recommend giving it a try!

2025-10-30T14:07:30.163Z

Easily the best martial arts school in Asheville. They truly care about every single one of their students. If you're considering enrolling at White Oak, I strongly recommend scheduling a free trial class so you can see for yourself why they're the best.

2025-10-20T16:54:00.554Z

Master and instructor Crowley have created an inclusive, welcoming atmosphere where anyone can learn some self defense/martial arts! The adult classes are a good mix of ages and genders. The kids look like they have fun in their classes, and in addition, are taught about safety and helping others.