What Are the Benefits of Martial Arts?
Martial arts offer numerous benefits for both children and adults, making it a valuable activity for anyone seeking physical, emotional, or behavioral growth. While families sign up for martial arts for various reasons, some of the most common include concerns about a child being small for their age, experiencing bullying, shyness, or behavioral challenges like back-talking or fighting.

Physical Fitness and self-defense

Martial arts is a fantastic way to stay physically active and fit. For children facing bullying, our school provides practical self-defense skills while also teaching them how to defuse or avoid dangerous situations. We emphasize that not every conflict needs to end in a fight—learning self-control is just as important as learning self-defense.

Martial arts helps shy children come out of their shell by building confidence through teamwork, encouragement, and personal achievement. As they learn and master techniques, their posture, attitude, and self-esteem begin to shine.

Our greatest joy is seeing the smile on your child’s face when they finally master a technique they’ve been working hard to learn. That moment of pride and accomplishment is what motivates us every day—it’s a reminder of the confidence, growth, and perseverance martial arts brings to each student.

Discipline and Behavioral Issues

For children facing behavioral challenges, martial arts instill structure, discipline, and respect. We work hand-in-hand with parents to reinforce positive values at home and in everyday life.
Our academy teaches more than techniques—we teach a “Black Belt Attitude.” This mindset is rooted in perseverance, viewing setbacks as learning opportunities and pushing forward with resilience. Earning a black belt isn’t just about skill—it’s about becoming stronger, more focused, and more respectful in all areas of life.
Belt promotions consider not only progress on the mat but also behavior and attitude at home and school. With parental input, we ensure each student is growing into their best self—making the journey a true partnership between families and our academy.

Support Beyond the Mat

What sets our school apart is our commitment to standing up for your child if they ever need to defend themselves at school. We believe in supporting our students not just during class, but in every aspect of their lives.

What should we wear for the first class? Where can we buy the necessary equipment?
For your first few classes, we recommend wearing comfortable athletic clothing, such as shorts or athletic pants and a T-shirt. While we do have a water fountain available, bringing a water bottle is highly encouraged to stay hydrated.

Once you’re ready to continue, we offer uniforms and all necessary equipment for purchase directly at the school. Our staff will guide you through what’s needed based on your class level, so there’s no need to shop around—we’ve got you covered!

What ages do we teach?

We offer classes for ages 3 and up—including adults—with programs tailored to each age group’s developmental needs. For more details, select your child’s age under the “Programs” menu.

Does Martial Arts Training Ever Turn Kids Into Bullies?
Bullies are rooted in insecurity and fear. But our Bonita Springs kids martial arts classes grow confidence, focus, and respect. And our group training builds positive social skills and confidence. So long story short: No! Your child won’t become a bully, and there are no bullies in our classes either!
Should Parents Stay And Watch?
That is up to you! If you need some ‘me time’ — go grab a coffee and relax. Your child is in great hands. If you’d like to stay and observe, you’re welcome to do that as well, and make friends with the other parents. We’ve got a great community here in our Bonita Springs martial arts school and can’t wait for you to become part of it.
Do I Need To Be Fit For This?
No way! Some folks come to us who have never exercised in their lives. Others have athlete-levels of fitness. That’s the beauty of martial arts — everyone starts at the same place. And although you’re in a group setting, you’re on your own personal journey. Some people advance faster than others. Every pace is okay. There’s no ego here in our Bonita Springs kids and adult martial arts classes. Just support and positivity.
How Long Until I Get My Black Belt?
There is no real answer for this! And we’d urge you to be cautious of any school that gives you one. The truth is, the path to black belt is a deeply personal and individual journey. Some folks have natural talent and practice hard every day. Other people need to spend more time building coordination and fitness.

It’s not about getting to black belt, it’s about you becoming a better version of yourself along the way. As you train, overcome obstacles, make friends, find support — you’ll become a stronger you, inside and out.

And our instructors here at Fighting Phoenix Martial Arts Academy Bonita Springs are committed to you every step.

How Do I Claim My Limited Time Offer?
Assuming all spots are not taken — claiming your amazing web special is easy.

1) Scroll to the top of this page and fill out the form. Or…

2) Click to access any of our program-specific pages, and fill out the form on that page. Or…

3) Give us a call at 239-799-7350! We’re happy to sign you up over the phone too!

Spots are limited so please hurry. We’d hate to see you miss out.

It’s not about getting to black belt, it’s about you becoming a better version of yourself along the way. As you train, overcome obstacles, make friends, find support — you’ll become a stronger you, inside and out.

And our instructors here at Fighting Phoenix Martial Arts Academy Bonita Springs are committed to you every step.

What Do I Need To Bring To My First Martial Arts Lesson?
For your first martial arts class here at Fighting Phoenix Martial Arts Academy in Bonita Springs you’ll only need a few things: comfy clothes, a water bottle, and an open mind.

It’s perfectly natural to be nervous your first time too. Happens to everyone! As soon as you see how kind and welcoming our community here is, that will disappear.

I'm Not Very Sporty Or Coordinated, Will That Be A Problem?
Not at all! Bonita Springs men, women, and children of all fitness levels come to us, whether it’s for kids or adult martial arts. Come as you are!

Some of our top students were unfit and uncoordinated at first. Now they’re performing techniques they never dreamed possible. The confidence they gained realizing what they were capable of is the biggest gift of the process.

All you have to do is show up. We’ll take care of the rest.

Does your school teach children and adults with special needs?

Yes, absolutely. We welcome and encourage individuals with special needs to join our school. Our program is designed to help students of all abilities build confidence, improve social skills, and grow through structured, supportive martial arts training. Participating in a positive group environment gives children the chance to connect with peers, engage in meaningful activity, and come out of their shell.

One of our core beliefs is that earning a black belt isn’t about being the best, it’s about being YOUR best. We celebrate progress based on each student’s individual journey and capabilities. A Black Belt is NOT Something You Wear — It’s Who You Are.

Our owner, Mr. Dave, has completed extensive training on how to effectively teach and support students with special needs. Our Lead Instructor, Mr. Sage has over three years of experience teaching students with special needs. Both Mr. Dave’s and Mr. Sage’s approach is patient, inclusive, and focused on helping every student succeed at their own pace.

What style of martial arts do you teach?

At Fighting Phoenix Martial Arts Academy, we believe true self-defense comes from learning multiple styles. That’s why our program blends Krav Maga, Taekwondo, Karate, and ground defense—giving students a versatile skill set for real-life situations.

Each discipline brings unique strengths:

·        Krav Maga teaches quick, instinctive techniques to neutralize threats—ideal for real-world defense.

·        Taekwondo focuses on dynamic kicks, discipline, and mental strength.

·        Karate sharpens precision, power, and inner focus through traditional strikes and forms.

·        Ground-Defense teaches our students how to react  and defend themselves if they are taken down to the ground.

By training in multiple styles, students gain the freedom to discover what works best for their body and mindset—building confidence, resilience, and the ability to protect themselves effectively.

Is martial arts safe for my child?
While we strive to provide the safest environment possible, it’s important to note that, like any sport, martial arts carries a risk of injury. However, our school takes every precaution to minimize those risks.
 
Mr. Dave, our owner and head instructor, has over 40 years of martial arts experience and has been teaching for over 35 years. He is also trained in First Aid and CPR. Mr. Sage, our lead instructor, has been training in martial arts for nearly 20 years and has been a lead instructor for over 3 years.
 
Both instructors are generally present on the floor during each class, closely supervising and guiding students to ensure safe practice. In short, while minor accidents can happen, training at our school is conducted in a highly supervised and safety-conscious environment.
Does your school participate in tournaments and competitions?
Yes, we absolutely encourage all of our students to take part in tournaments and competitions.
Competing helps reinforce the self-defense techniques and skills we teach in class by sharpening timing, distance, and real-time decision-making against live opponents. But it’s about more than just winning, it’s a chance to grow.
 
Tournaments teach our students valuable life lessons like goal setting, resilience, humility, and respect. They build confidence, sportsmanship, and camaraderie — both within our team and with martial artists from other schools.
 
We support every student at their own pace, whether they compete for experience or for championship titles. No pressure, just encouragement, growth, and community.
How is my child’s progress tracked?
We track your child’s progress through a combination of class attendance and monthly homework assignments. Each belt rank has a required number of classes that must be attended before a student is eligible to test for the next level.
 
In addition, students receive stripes on their belts for completing their monthly homework, which focuses on key martial arts principles like respect, perseverance, and focus. For most ranks, students must earn three stripes to be eligible for promotion. This system helps reinforce not only physical skills, but also character development and responsibility both inside and outside the dojo.