Self Defense

What does that mean? why don’t you offer a self-defense class?

It means that we don’t offer a self-defense class or short-term program. A self-defense seminar may feel empowering in the moment, but they don’t give you the skills or muscle memory you need in a real-life situation. We care too much about our Astoria community to trick people into false confidence. Real self-defense comes from consistent training in arts that sharpen both your body and your awareness.

So what do you offer?

We offer Muay Thai and Judo - two martial arts proven to build real self-defense skills. Unlike short-term seminars, our training emphasizes consistent practice, real-world application, and situational drills. In Muay Thai, you’ll develop powerful striking and learn how to create space with punches, kicks, elbows, and knees. In Judo, you’ll train to control, throw, and neutralize opponents, even those bigger or stronger than you. Together, these arts sharpen your awareness, build your resilience under pressure, and give you reliable skills you can count on in real situations. By consistently training one (or both) of these arts, that is the only way you can learn how to defend yourself if the need arises.

Why don’t quick self-defense classes work?

Because under stress, your body falls back on what you’ve practiced the most. If you’ve only done a move a handful of times in a weekend seminar, you won’t have the reflexes or composure to rely on it when it matters. Real training builds instinct, resilience, and confidence. This is easy to prove - you can take any of our Muay Thai students who have never sparred and put them in a sparring class. Immediately you will be able to see who has sparred and who hasn’t. Even someone who has never trained in Muay Thai will be able to see it. You simply cannot develop the skills to fight unless you are put in situations where you have the opportunity to grow those skills.

I don’t want to fight - I just want to feel safe. Is this for me?

Absolutely. You don’t have to step into a ring to benefit from training. Many of our students train simply to feel stronger, fitter, and more confident walking down the street. But you have to be put into as close of simulation as possible over and over again if you want to be able to utilize this skills in the real world.

How long before I’ll feel more confident in defending myself?

Most people notice a difference in just a few weeks of consistent training. You’ll build strength, awareness, and the ability to stay calm under pressure — skills that grow over time and last a lifetime.

Is training hard? What if I’m out of shape?

You don’t need to be in great shape to start. In fact, if this is your first time doing Muay Thai or Judo, no fitness regiment will prepare you. You have to jump in and start doing it. Our classes are designed for all levels of experience and fitness, and our coaches help you progress step by step. Over time, you’ll build endurance, coordination, and resilience — while learning practical self-defense along the way.