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Our Advantages
Like No Other Arizona School, Sport or Healthy Educational Experience
Are we the "best" martial arts academy in Arizona for you? The answer may be "yes" if any of the following appeals to you:
>You want to train with experts and learn from an authentic Master Our instructors are qualified, professionally trained instructors who care about you and your progress. Other schools comonly have young, inexperienced and poorly trained students on the floor and try to pass them off as "qualified" because they are nice or wear a Black Belt. Our instructors have hard won experience, maturity and each has been trained how to teach.
>You want a better, safer education, training and opportunity
We're the only training facility that offers as many opportunities to train with Masters, Grandmasters, Champions, legends, travel, culture, language, and special events. Unlike most schools, you can advance in rank all the way up to advanced Black Belt and Master levels. This unique experience will help you learn faster and build a proper, more practical foundation.
>You want more personal attention
Our instructor to student ratios are some of the best in the nation. Students learn faster and more thoroughly with more personal attention. That is why our students are safer than others.
>You will know all costs, up front
Unlike many other schools, we believe in upfront pricing. When you meet with one of our instructors they will disclose all of the costs you can expect so you can budget accordingly without fear of hidden costs or surprise increases.
>You want to learn what works today
Because Master Nottingham is also a trained bodyguard you will learn things other schools cannot offer to keep you, your child and family safe. You'll learn a progressive martial arts system that is designed for your unique body style and modern day environment. Many other martial arts are geared towards other cultures, sports, rules and historical time frames. Our integrated martial arts system emphasizes simple direct movements based on everyday movement, making it a highly practical art for a person of any size to do and incorporates stand up, defenses, ground, all ranges and specialized weapon training at advanced levels.
>You don't want "paper tiger" rank or to be patronized
Unfortunately many schools have lowered standards and eliminated vital skill training for fear of losing business (sometimes referred to as McDojos or belt factories). With that, they lose the discipline, focus, true character education and inner strength that makes true martial arts legendary for self defense and confidence. We are proud to maintain our standards and teach age and skill appropriate classes. We help students develop inner strength and discover their own unique abilities so only if they earn it do they advance. We believe it is the only socially and safety conscious way to teach. We are also committed to students if they need extra help and will take the time to make sure they advance.
>You want to be affiliated with an internationally recognized Master
Many schools available to the public only offer lower ranking Black Belts (non Masters) as teachers. Some of them are as unscrupulous as to pretend to offer rank with no real affiliation or reputation of a recognized Master or Association. You will have internationally recognized Master Instructor personally at your belt promotions and official signature on your certificates. This substantiates your training and maintains an official record beyond the school. You will also have a rock solid reputation behind you because you are in a top Academy recognized as a leader in its field.
>You don't want to be treated like a "number"
You won't get the sales pitch and cold shoulder like at a health club or gym. Those programs count on you quitting. Our goal is to partner with you to see that you or your child achieve lasting benefits and succeed in our program. We build a relationship with each student and you will know that we care about you. This is a key to our students success and high Black Belt graduation rate.
>You want to be able to try it first without obligation
We are so confident in what we do we believe in providing opportunities to try before you buy. That's why we are offering you a trial course with no obligation. Our commitment to you is so strong that if we are not the right school for you we will help you find one that is. Enroll in our special trial course designed for beginners with absolutely no experience-even out of shape.
Next: What You'll Learn in the trial course (scroll down)
Jump To: Get Started
All Martial Arts Schools Are Not Created Equal!
Here’s what sets USA MARTIAL ARTS apart:
Visionary leadership from one of the most inspired Masters of our time
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Award winning school featured on Channels 3, 5, 10, 12 and various publications like the AZ Rep, SWEAT and more.
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Safety is our number one concern
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Specialists in life skills education and personal development
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Personal attention from caring, professional, certified instructors (Experts at building self-esteem & confidence)
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You and your children learn to protect themselves from threatening or dangerous situations with legally, morally, and socially responsible measures.
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No hidden fees
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Flexible schedules
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Locked in rates to Black Belt so no surprise increases in tuition
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Powerful, advanced education from learning from more than just one system or style
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Learn a complete historical tradition and cutting edge self defense
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Learn weapons, culture, history and have a positive peer group
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Personal training and accelerated instruction courses
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Parental involvement in a positive environment that makes learning fun and kids love it!
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Exciting social events and special seminars and travel (we travel to and train in Asia)
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Mission of building a more peaceful world through healthy values, citizenship, leadership and life skills character education.
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Rock solid reputation serving Arizona since 1992 with multiple locations.
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We are charter members of the National Assoc. of Professional Martial Artists & Martial Arts Industry Association
What You Can Expect At Your First Lesson
Find Out if Martial Arts are Right for You or Your Child
Our first goal is to reassure you that you will not feel awkward or silly and your safety, comfort and well-being are our priority. We guarantee you will enjoy the experience, have fun and learn valuable tools.
1. Meet the friendly instructors that will be working with you and/or your child.
2. A brief enjoyable tour of our world-class facilities and answering your questions.
3. Goal and benefit assessment
4. Five lesson snapshot of our "Black Belt Excellence Lifeskills and Personal Safety Curriculum"
How You Can Be Armed With Unstoppable Confidence, a Focused Mind and Powerful Body.:
- Three self-defense techniques everyone should know
- How to properly position your body if you're ever confronted
- Martial Arts fundamentals anyone can do
- Learn how to avoid becoming a victim
- and more!
For parents, you will watch as your child:
- Warms to the idea of emotional respect, for both himself and others
- Gains power from the ability to be confident yet respectful
- Connects with the "Three Skills of Listening"
- Instantly putting these skills to use.
- Then glow as you hear him recite the first principle of the Student Creed "I will develop myself in a positive manner, and avoid anything that could reduce my mental growth or physical health."
For adults:
- Instantly you will see how you can achieve your goals, improve health, fitness and learn practical skills while meeting great people.
- You will experience how our instructors will treat you with respect and can put you at ease.
- You will notice the difference a qualified and caring instructor can make.
- In time you will become more flexible, more confident, get into better shape and gain peace of mind knowing you could defend yourself or loved ones if necessary.
"Believe me. In two short private lessons, your child will come away with his confidence greatly improved. Not just in how he feels. He'll actually end up with real "life skills." Skills that he can put to use right away.
All while enjoying the fun and excitement of an upbreat martial arts program. Training at USA Martial Arts will help change your life forever.
Please act quickly because these classes fill up fast- and, we are committed to maintaining a small student-teacher ratio in our beginner's class. Believe me, "USA Martial Arts is the best thing you can do for yourself or child". I look forward to meeting you." -John nottingham, Master Instructor info@usa-martialarts.com
Jump To: Get Started
Q: What ages do you start students?
We have an award winning program for ages 4-7 called Tiny Tigers. On occasion we take children as young as 3. Through exciting drills and fun games Tiny Tigers learn to develop vital life skills that ultimately help them develop healthy habits and make positive choices.
Some of our students have started training in their 80's! We can customize a program that is right for you.
Q: Will my child become more aggressive?
Our programs are designed to develop assertiveness, not aggressiveness. It teaches self control and provides an outlet to direct energy in a positive manner. Students here do not feel the need to show off to others because we provide a place to earn peer recognition and build self esteem. Students are taught to use their skills only to protect their life or the lives of others.
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Q: How much is it?
 Thousands of parents, professional athletes and people like you can't be wrong! When a child develops self confidence & self esteem, listening skills and self protection skills, parents tell us our training is “worth a million dollars”. You can get started in our budgeted programs for as little as a few dollars a day. With the best value in Arizona, we have a variety of programs and we’re sure we can find one that will comfortably fit your budget. Plus we have fantastic family rates!
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Q: What are the different styles of Martial Arts?
Martial Arts is divide into two primary categories, hard/linear and soft/circular. Some of the most prevalent -Karate and Taekwondo are known for their hard linear strikes while Kung Fu and Aikido are know for their circular, soft movements. Today each school tends to emphasize something different from more classical, philosophical and personal development oriented to practical or tournament oriented. We suggest selecting an instructor you like, rather than style. A good, reputable, professional instructor will tailor the material to your goals and body style. We combine the very best of several systems to give you the ultimate in self defense and exciting curriculums.
Why limit your education to just one?
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Q: Don't I need to get in shape before I get started?
One of the biggest misconceptions about studying martial arts is that you have to already be in shape to learn. Most students come to us looking to get in shape and to develop a healthy lifestyle by learning something interesting that they can do for the rest of their lives. Two months after you start you will feel so much better, you won't believe it. We go to great lengths to see that you feel comfortable and respected at any fitness level.
We specialize in starting students from all physical fitness levels and we have a program just for the many people that have been too busy to exercise in the past. You work at your own pace with people just like you! We help you feel right at home! Don't let an excuse make you procrastinate training. Take action today and begin!
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Q: Is Martial Arts safe?
There were more injuries in Volleyball last year than Martial Arts. All classes are well supervised and our students always use the proper gear. We take great pride in our level of safety in our school and train our instructors to be very safety conscious. We even feature the same mats used in the Olympics.
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Q: Can my family do classes together?
Absolutely, we have programs specifically designed for families. We say, "A family that kicks together sticks together!" This makes us popular with families because it saves money and is easier to schedule. Plus we have classes for your age and rank so everyone feels comfortable, gets more personal attention and learns faster!
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Q: Will my child stick with it?
 This is one of the greatest strengths of our program. We teach children how to set goals and develop the discipline, motivation and perseverance to achieve those goals. In short, we teach good old fashioned "stick-to-itness" in a fun way. As they grow older this lesson is of great value when it comes time to do things like follow through on homework. The lessons that your child learn now will go a long way in arming them with the tools to succeed later in life!
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Q: Can I really become a Black Belt?
Although there are no guarantees, we are very proud of our track record in helping our students achieve the esteemed Black Belt level. We take a personal interest in helping you succeed and are very confident in our abilities. We have a special process called the Black Belt Success System that will give you everything you need in a simple to follow, step by step format. If extra help is needed we will be there for you or your child.
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Q: If you have experience in other martial arts can you keep your rank?
 We have numerous students who have previous martial arts experience. We are honored that they chose to make USA Martial Arts their home. Our policy is to review the students skills, discuss goals and develop a plan that fits their best interest. It is a process that takes place over time. We can even introduce you to students who have done this and you can discuss it with them to get an idea of what might be right for you. Keep in mind that we are here to serve and help you grow.
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Q: Why choose USA Martial Arts and not another school?
Only you can answer that question. We suggest researching a variety of schools before you decide. We are very confident in our programs and caring, professional instructors; and if we cannot help serve you at USA Martial Arts we would be happy to help you find a school that is more suited to your goals. Master Nottingham has even written a guide called, "How To Select a Martial Arts School" that we are happy to provide free of charge.
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Q: Is what you teach really practical for the street, a smaller
person, me?
 USA Martial Arts offers some of the most practical training in the world. We have been hired and consulted as experts in the field of self defense and can 'walk the talk'. Our unique strategy of prevention, early recognition, avoidance, deterrence and rapid threat neutralization helps you develop confidence so that you will be aware and prepared should the need to protect yourself or loved ones ever arise. Perhaps most importantly, our methods for handling violence for all ages are morally, socially and legally responsible. Some refer to our cutting edge personal protection training as 'Sophisticated Self Defense'.
Q: It seems most schools claim to teach "practical" self defense; how can I be sure that you can deliver?
Just some of the elements that make our system one-of-a-kind are that the curriculum was designed by a trained bodyguard who is an Advanced Threat Assessment specialist. It is based on decades of research from training military, law enforcement and men, women and children of all ages. That makes it highly adaptable and easy to learn for all body types and abilities. It is proven effective under stress, fear, adrenaline for real world situations and today’s threats. The personal protection program also draws on many sources including various martial arts such as grappling systems like Jujitsu for a powerful mix of skills.
We use a step-by-step teaching system to make it easy to learn in a relatively short period of time and safety is first, last, and always. You will never be asked to do something you feel isn't right for you, mentally, physically or emotionally.
We take great pride in teaching powerful, effective and practical self defense in a gentle and professional manner.
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Q:When can I start?
New students can begin any day of the week. Please
give us a call to schedule your orientation class which we offer
before your first class.
Q: How long are classes?
Our 4-6 year old children train for 30 minutes. Classes
for beginning children ages 7-11, teens and adults are 45 minutes.
Advanced classes and our Black Belt College classes are longer.
Q: How often do I come to class?
In order for you to learn and retain the skills and
to achieve the positive habits necessary to become physically fit,
beginners are expected to attend classes one to two times per week
for the first six months. After that students may qualify for our Leadership
Training Programs, where they can train more often. We will talk more
about that later on. For now, just get into the habit of coming
to class twice-a-week ready to work hard and learn all you can.
Q: How do I get my next belt?
You will be eligible to test for your gold belt after
8-12 classes. You will be tested every two months for rank promotion.
Q: How long does it take to earn Black
Belt?
Everyone progresses at their own pace, but the average
time it takes to earn your Black Belt is around two to four years.
Q: How safe is studying martial arts? And
what's all that fighting?
First of all we don't "fight". Fighting has no rules
and is done when all other options have been exhausted. We practice "sparring".
Sparring has rules (designed for safety), we wear protective gear
and practice control. We teach respect for your partner. In reality,
this is one of the safest activities you and your child will ever
enjoy. Our motto is, “Safety First, Last and Always”.
The goal of a USA Martial Arts student is to “not get hit”.
Q: Does martial arts training really help children
who have low self-esteem problems?
It’s amazing what martial arts can do for a
child’s self-esteem and within a reasonably short amount of
time. This quality derives from consistent training. Even when a
child doesn’t see the results for himself, he must be encouraged
to continue with the training. Eventually, it will manifest itself
in surprising ways. It works that way for adults too.
Q: Why is structure so important in contributing
to self-esteem in children?
Children expect to be told what to do: otherwise,
they can become fearful. Rewarding them when they demonstrate positive behavior, and
educating them when they’re not is a basic martial arts structure.
By rewarding and encouraging positive behavior, we provide that
positive structure which will help children develop a pattern of
accomplishment that leads to confidence, self-esteem and success.
Q: Will my training give me the confidence
to take more chances in life?
Definitely. Martial arts successes can be carried
over into daily life-that is our goal. If, for example, you can see how you’ve
accomplished breaking a board to earn your Gold Belt, then
why
can’t you go in and ask for a promotion at work? Understanding
that you can accomplish what you set out to do is a great discovery
achieved through consistent training.
Q: When will I start to feel better about myself?
As soon as you put on your uniform, and take
a part in a class. Becoming part of positive group that has the
same goal in mind, directed by a positive encouraging and inspiring
instructor, is a great source of comfort.
Get Started
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