Instructor/Owner Michael Brown

Starting my martial arts career was not an intentional objective. Doing martial arts was something I always wanted to do as a kid growing up in but it was not something you could find in a small West Texas town. My first real taste of training was the hand to hand training I had first in Marine Corps bootcamp and then later in Officers training. This was something I totally loved! However it was only for those first few months into my Marine Corps career. It was 3 years later while I was stationed in Okinawa when I was brutally attacked that I knew I had to make a change.

I was a young lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps stationed in Okinawa, Japan, when I decided to get serious about martial arts training—a decision that nearly cost me my life to make. I was scheduled to fly home to the States the next morning. While on a date with a fellow Marine at a soba restaurant, we stumbled upon a scene that changed everything. Outside the restaurant, a young woman lay on the ground, her dress torn, trying to gather the scattered contents of her purse. We helped her to her feet, all the while she was apologizing in Japanese.

As I was picking up her belongings, I heard angry shouting. A man approached us, yelling and shoving me, his words lost on me as my Japanese was limited to ordering food and everyday pleasantries. Unsure if he thought I had assaulted the woman or if he was an upset partner, I made the mistake of looking away. When I turned back, he swinging a cinder block at my head. I barely managed to deflect it, and the block shattered on the ground. In shock, I realized he had just tried to kill me. I watched him run up some stairs, likely in search of a weapon. The woman bolted down the street barefoot, confirming my fears. My date and I quickly retreated to our car.

During the next 48 hours of travel home, I replayed the incident repeatedly. This was nothing like the fights I had growing up, and despite being a Marine and an accomplished athlete, I felt utterly unprepared. I resolved never to let myself respond so poorly again. This led me to study Taekwondo and Krav Maga, setting me on a path that defined the next 35 years of my life.

Working with children and their families, training special forces soldiers in hand-to-hand combat, and instilling the traditional values I've learned through my Christian faith have been both satisfying and rewarding. I am always seeking the next victory, whether it's helping to empowering a young woman who has been sexually assaulted or teaching a special needs child the skills not just to cope, but to thrive. These are the reasons my staff and I love what we do.

Many people who walk through our doors are initially seeking an activity. What they often discover is a community of friends as close as family and a lifestyle that is truly fulfilling. Come see if we are a good fit for you!