Mountainside Martial Arts Center

MMAC is an asset to the Ahwatukee community, providing traditional martial arts training where discipline is learned and advancement is earned. This is a traditional Japanese dojo, where everyone doesn't get a medal and you don't buy your child's blackbelt in 2 years; enablement, entitlement, and excuses are not tolerated. My son has been training with the Sensei's of MMAC since 2006, starting in their program held at the Ahwatukee YMCA at the age of 7. Anyone who has met my son will attest to his maturity, balance, and discipline, and I attribute much of that learned behavior to his dedicated training at MMAC. more

From the outside the Dojo it is clean and prides itself to be better then their competitors because they will not charge for belts, patches and advancement. That belts are only earned not purchased. This will be what you hear, BUT what you do not hear unitl your children have now made friends and have become attached, have set a goal of achieving black belt....this is what REALLY happens... My children have been attending here for several year, I'd love to take them out. The owner will raise the monthly rates by 10% every year. Yep, twice as much as inflation. Even during the horrible recession. Yet, parents will pay and he knows it because the kids have now become invested in it. It's very frustrating for the parents! When it comes to belt ceremony's you are no longer aloud to take pictures of you children receiving there newly earned ranks. He has an agreement with an outside photographer. If you want pictures of your children be prepare to pay big bucks for this "privilege". Also private lessons are additional costs each month that will become mandatory, which will be told to you at a later date once your children have already invested time and you will not have the heart to pull them out. The owner relies on parents not wanting to break their kids hearts. This has nothing to do with the instruction, which seems ok, but they are really not taught about sparring, this is only focused on for about 10 minutes once a week.Also, most instructors are black-belt teenagers that are great kids but do no have any experience in actually teaching children. Before you join be careful and ask questions that are important to you, Ask about the rate increases and private lessons and exactly whom will be teaching you or your children. I want to recommend this place but I can't. more

This is a popular and basic martial arts school located in the heart of Ahwatukee. It has been around since 1979 and is well known and well liked which is evident by the traffic at its doors when it is time for students to arrive for classes or when performances take place. They teach adults as well as children with daytime classes available as well as the typical evening and weekend sessions. No contracts. Begins at age 5. more