Is learning martial arts safe?
We try our best to minimize injuries and require protective approved gear. However, like any sport or activity, we as humans carry a risk of injury in anything we do in life. Research on the injury rates in martial arts highlights that the average injury rate in sports like judo or karate is considerably lower than in football or rugby. Injuries in martial arts are often less severe, as many schools prioritize safety measures and utilize protective gear. A study in the Journal of Sports Medicine noted that injuries in martial arts are primarily minor, such as bruises or cuts, when participants follow safety protocols. Qualified instructors lead martial arts classes, providing guidance and enforcement of safety protocols. Instructors monitor students during training, ensuring that techniques are applied correctly for maximum safety, as well as stopping sparring sessions if someone is at risk of injury. This oversight is critical in minimizing injury risks, but like any sport, there is no guarantee.

While it’s essential to recognize the risks associated with martial arts training, it's also vital to appreciate the multitude of benefits achieved by learning martial arts. In the end, even though injuries are not a common occurrence, there is no guarantee that an injury or incident will not happen. Anyone who says that an injury can not happen at their school is giving a student a false sense of confidence. Injuries can happen anywhere and in any sport or physical activity; all a school can do is have protocols to minimize any serious injuries. At our academy in the last 45 years, the handful of injuries have been minimal. The most common injuries in martial arts training depend mainly on the style learned, and can be injuries to the joints, fingers, or toes, and most are self-inflicted. Unfortunately, accidents and injuries can happen just like driving a car; they can be minor or serious. Additionally, a parent or adult should make sure that any school they choose has a person who is cleared to teach children and has a clean background record. For example, a place in the local area was being run by an individual who, by law, was not permitted to teach minors, until it was closed down. This is why all unions require background checks for owners and staff; all our staff must pass background checks to work for our school, and staff must follow school guidelines. (TN Sex Offender Registry)

What are the benefits of learning martial arts at GMA?
While it’s essential to recognize the risks associated with martial arts, it's also vital to appreciate the multitude of benefits they offer. Practicing martial arts can provide a range of advantages, including:

Self-Defense Skills
Many people turn to martial arts for self-defense training. Learning martial arts provides individuals with the skills and knowledge to protect themselves in potentially dangerous situations. This empowerment not only helps practitioners feel more secure but also promotes a sense of self-confidence and self-esteem, and inner strength. This is why when you learn TaeKwonDo, Jiu-Jitsu, Tai Chi, or Wing Chun at our school, you will be learning practical self-defense skills and hundreds of variations. 

Physical Fitness
All Martial arts training at our school will challenge you and is a great way to improve physical fitness, offering cardio, strength, and flexibility. Many martial artists develop coordination, endurance, and strength as they train regularly and grow more powerful. This fitness component translates into a healthier lifestyle, improving overall well-being. Whether a person is big, small, short, or tall is not the issue; keeping your body moving and the mind stronger is the goal. Just remember that what you eat is also the key to health and happiness. 

Mental Discipline
Martial arts encourage mental discipline and focus, providing students with valuable life skills. The practice of mindfulness and concentration required in martial arts training can lead to improved performance in other areas of life, such as work or studies. Moreover, martial arts instill a sense of respect and humility among practitioners. Martial arts will help not just adults achieve peace of mind and overcome bad habits and past issues hindering success and happiness, but martial arts will also assist in changing their lives.  A great martial arts school will help children build confidence, improve self-esteem, develop manners, improve focus, and help them work toward academic excellence. Children also learn how to control their emotions and learn to deal with negative people and bullies.  We do not teach violence, we teach people to grow to a higher level of leadership and teach life skills needed for children to achieve higher in this world.  It is how we handle ourselves in life that matters. That is why we tell our students, once you enter, you are here to learn and grow, so leave all egos at the front door. 

Why do some schools charge extra fees? 
Tuition covers just the class instruction; tuition does not cover any event fees, tournament fees, exam fees, or any cost to travel to events. These extra fees help cover rental of any needed event space, fees to host instructors and guest Grandmasters, and all materials needed for such an event. These extra non-tuition fees help cover the cost of hosting referees, examiners, and coaches; these extra fees also help cover the cost of boards, belts, blocks, awards, certification, and union dues. Any remaining proceeds help maintain and replace broken equipment. 

Should I move schools?
If you are happy training somewhere already, train hard and work to earn your black belt. I am not saying your instructor is good or bad, or if he charges more or less than another school. What I am saying there is a difference in methods, teaching styles, teaching credentials, and operation costs depending on the rental rates and location. In the end, it takes knowledge to run a professional school and develop top students in all aspects of life. In our case, we have over 50 years of experience and do not "play" martial arts;  it is our life. GMA, like many top martial arts centers in the USA, sets our prices based on our staff experience and overhead cost to maintain a nice, clean facility, top masters, and top instruction. There are some instructors with little certification or experience who just want to build a school by offering ridiculously cheap classes.  By offering martial arts at such discounted prices,  instructors are in and out of the revolving door. These schools are destined to close down or downsize, especially in a tough economy. I dislike when I read or hear about school owners who charge less, then accuse others of overcharging when basic business knowledge and financial calculations are essential to remaining open. This just shows many times some owners lack what it takes to run a professional, high instruction level school, and do not have or believe in their qualifications or instruction quality.  In the end, all school owner needs to understand what it takes to run a professional full-time martial arts business so they can stay open for years to come. We have operated schools for over 45 years and need to do our best to maintain a strong school for generations to come.  In the end, no professional school owner wants to let their students down, and what instructor wants to work two or three jobs to keep their school open, that will never last too long.  Ask yourself:  If your school goes out of business or you move, is your certification worth anything?  If certification or quality is not important to you, then these issues need not be considered.  Ask yourself: Do you want to learn martial arts or play around/ dabble in martial arts? If you want to learn martial arts and, yes, have fun in the process, then look for the most qualified teachers in your area with experience, humility, and an international ranking.  If you want to play around in martial arts, then there is no need to worry about qualifications or experience. Over the years, we have had many students from other schools that have closed, who needed to start over again because they chose a cheaper price or just did not know there was a difference, and received incorrect (McDojo) training from an unqualified instructor.  In the end, martial arts education cost them time, money, and much more after having to backtrack and relearn incorrect techniques. 

As a Grandmaster who has taught seminars all over the world to many groups. I'm just sharing that not all teachers are the same.  Look into their qualifications and make sure all the staff have the qualifications to teach. As for the tuition cost, the current average in the USA for quality martial arts instruction is around $139 to $359 per month per person, depending on the area and the qualifications of the staff members. As for us, we have been teaching high-level martial arts training for over 45 years and keep our price fair because we are family-operated.  Our staff also tries to go above and beyond while training our students because we care deeply about every student, parent, and grandparent. Our school provides guidance and instruction for the full physical and mental development of all our students to the best of our ability, always. Our school focuses on self-defense, traditional martial arts, leadership development, and building better members of society. 

How do I decide which is the correct school for me? 
Most great schools have close to the same tuition rates, and a martial arts school is not a weight gym; you are receiving valuable instruction from master level teachers with decades of experience. When you understand all these listed key factors, you can look for what is best for you, a child, or your family budget. It is not always all about the money; it is about learning from the best at a fair price that fits your budget, so you benefit from martial arts.   It is also important that you have a parent, teacher-student connection to learn, and the school has a positive environment instead of an ego factory; mutual respect is very important to learning. “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear. When the student is truly ready… the teacher will disappear.” True martial arts is the ultimate world of learning and self-discovery. 

I would love to train at your academy, but I'm on a tight budget. 
This is why we offer scholarship courses and longer-term discounted courses. Your longer commitment gives a student a discounted tuition rate if needed. We also offer paid-in-full specials and big family discounts.

How do I get started at your school?
The first thing to do is schedule a Free Trial lesson and a meeting with one of our staff members. They will call you once you schedule an online appointment to confirm the time and day. Please wear something comfortable for your trial lesson. When you arrive, you will be greeted by an instructor, and they will have you fill out a waiver. Then you will have a great time on the mats, and once you have tried the class, they will sit down with you and go over all the program options. At this time, it is important to share your concerns about any health, training issues, and, if needed, tuition costs or rates so we can try to find a program that fits your budget.  We will try our best to work with your budget, but we also have to be realistic and fair to all current students and families. If you decide to join on the first day after your trial lesson, you will receive One Free Uniform.     

Schedule a Free Trial Lesson - Our Specials

•  If you join on the first day, we will gift you one free Uniform. 
• Great Discounted Programs - Fair Price  ($109 to $169 Monthly) 
• Programs for adults, children, seniors, and families.
• Family Discounts ( 15% - 30% Off  2nd & 3rd Member)
• Law Enforcement / Public Servant / Teacher Discounts.
• Scholarship Programs Available  (Info at the school)
• Group Discounts ( Saturday Self Defense Seminars) 
• Evening, Afternoon  & Morning Classes
• Unlimited Classes - Open 5 Days Per Week (Saturdays Privates Only)
• Saturday Instructor Training Classes.
• Pay Per Class Programs (Buy a Block of Classes) Non-Discounted $20 per class. 
• Over 60 Classes Per Week
• 3 & 6 Month Paid In Full - Short Term Trial Programs
• Non-Contract Options - 30-Day Notice To Cancel 

One Free Uniform:

• One Free Uniform with Basic 12-Month  Program if you join after your trial lesson.
• Registration Fees depend on the program chosen and the number of members.
  
  

What we offer to all our students:

• We offer world-certified instruction by top Master Instructors
• We offer traditional martial arts training.
• We offer practical, effective self-defense training.
• We offer full-time professional training.
• We offer programs and separate classes for adults. children, seniors, and families. 
• We offer almost 60 Classes per week to choose from.
• We offer academic tutoring. 
• After School Program - Local School Pick up
• We offer an in-house Child Development Expert
• We track academics and home behaviour with all children
• We offer classes for special needs children and adults.
• We offer no gimmicks or additional upgrades, or team charges.
• We offer clean parent waiting areas and plenty of seating.
• We offer an electronic attendance system.
• We offer online training curriculum videos. 
• We offer a clean, modern 4,500sft  training facility.
• We offer WIFI for parents.
• We offer top instruction at a fair price.
• We offer contract discounts and non-contract options. Please visit the academy for those prices.
• We offer 3-month programs for younger children ( 3 Month Paid in full Trial Program)
• We offer longer-term discounted programs, 12-month to 36-month programs, at a considerable discount. 

If you need more information, please visit our academy. 

Click Here to Register for a Free Trial Lesson: