Trinity Calendar
“My grandson has been taking lessons at the Martial Arts Center for over 5 years. Not only has he progressed in the skill of Karate, but he is taught to respect others and to act responsibly.”
Google review
Tucker, GA 30084 · Behind the Movie Tavern · First class free
Karate and jujitsu that build confidence, not just kicks.
Okinawan karate and Japanese jujitsu taught together in one dojo, under a head instructor with 40 years and a 7th degree black belt.
- Okinawan karate and Japanese jujitsu
- Classes split by age, 5 to adult
- 40 years under one head instructor
Rated 4.9 across 160 Google reviews
Rated 4.9 across 160 Google reviews
Tom Budnik
“As someone always striving to be in great shape, The Martial Arts Center (TMAC) was exactly what I needed to meet that life goal. Shihan Mike's training toughened me up both physically and mentally.”
Google review
Sarah Carrigan
“Shihan Mike has a firm but kind and fun teaching style that really resonates with kids.”
Google review
Ashley Goulding
“My now 9 year old son has been a student here for one year and it's been amazing. He's grown a lot from the coaching and development, and gain confidence in himself.”
Google review
John Johnson
“Everybody who teaches are very professional, very thorough and there's a lot of variety of which discipline that you can pursue.”
Google review
Beth Reta
“My son attended this karate program when he was in first grade (he's 8th now), and it was such a beautiful experience for our family.”
Google review
Yvie ART
“Fantastic Martial Arts School. Highly Recommended! I trained at The Martial Arts Center for years, and it has been an incredible experience.”
Google review
Jarvis Gray
“My son has been working with Shihan Mike for nearly 2 years and the experience has been top-notch! With his guidance, my son is growing into a very responsible and caring young man.”
Google review
Kids, teens and adults
What kind of dojo this is
6,100 square feet, three fully matted floors, and two complete martial arts taught side by side at the corner of Weems and Lavista.
Two martial arts, one dojo
Okinawan Shuri-Ryu karate and Japanese Shintoyoshin-Kai jujitsu are taught together here, plus kobudo weapons. Most schools pick one. Their words for the combination: traditional Mixed Martial Arts.
A class built for your child's actual age
Dragon for ages 5 to 7, Tiger for ages 8 to 12. A six year old is not put in a room with twelve year olds. The drills, the pace and the expectations are all different.
Adults train here too, and not on the side
13 and up, all belts, karate and jujitsu on the evening schedule. Crush stress, build fitness, learn real self defense, in their words.
The same head instructor every week
Shihan Michael Hernandez, 40+ years, 7th degree black belt, multi-national champion. He teaches. He does not just own the place.
New to martial arts?
What we teach, in plain English
Two traditional systems, one weapons curriculum, and a belt structure that means something. Here is the short version.
Okinawan Shuri-Ryu karate
The striking side: stances, blocks, kicks, punches, and kata, the set forms students learn and refine as they rank up. Every program from age 5 upward starts here.
Shintoyoshin-Kai jujitsu
The close-range side: throws, joint locks and control work on the mat. Open from age 13, and entry depends on the experience you already have.
Kobudo weapons
Traditional Okinawan weaponry, bo staff, tonfa, nunchaku and sai, taught alongside the adult karate and jujitsu curriculum rather than as an add-on.
How belts actually work
Students work up through the kyu grades toward Shodan, first degree black belt. You grade when your instructor says the standard is there.
Why this is not an after-school activity
The first thing a new student learns here is control, not aggression. There is no first attack in karate, and the discipline that comes with that is the part parents tell us shows up at school.
Ages 5 to adult
Our classes
Monday to Thursday, 3pm to 9pm, plus Saturday mornings. Every class is taught by a ranked black belt.
Dragon Karate
Ages 5 to 7. Where it starts.
Basic and Intermediate levels. First stances, first blocks, first kicks, taught in short bursts because five year olds do not have long attention spans yet. Bowing in, lining up and listening are part of the curriculum, not extras.
Tiger Karate
Ages 8 to 12. Rank you can see.
Runs in three belt bands, White to Yellow, Blue and Green, then Purple, Brown and Junior Black, so an eight year old white belt is never drilling against a junior black belt.
Adult Karate
Ages 13+. Crush stress. Learn real self defense.
Striking, kata and self defense, plus the kobudo weapons curriculum, bo staff, tonfa, nunchaku and sai. This is where every adult trial starts.
Adult Jujitsu
Ages 13+. Throws, locks, and control.
Japanese Shintoyoshin-Kai jujitsu: hip throws, joint locks and ground control. Entry is based on previous experience and ability, so the first class you try will be karate.
Open Mat
Ages 13+. Free practice, Tuesday to Thursday evenings.
Scheduled evening slots on the same matted floor to drill kata, work technique or roll without a formal class structure.
Also running: Summer Karate Kamp for ages 8+ ($270 for the five day session) and Karate Birthday Parties for ages 5 to 12 ($230 for 15 children).
Six ranked black belts
Meet your instructors
Shihan, Owner and Head Instructor
Michael Hernandez
40+ years on the mat · 7th Dan, Okinawan Shuri-Ryu Karate-do · 6th Dan, Shintoyoshin-Kai Jujitsu
Shihan Mike has been training and teaching for more than forty years. He holds Shichidan, seventh degree, in Okinawan Shuri-Ryu Karate-do and Rokudan, sixth degree, in Shintoyoshin-Kai Jujitsu, and serves as Chief Instructor for American Budokai International.
He is a multi-national champion in forms, fighting and weapons, was named Black Belt of the Year by the American Budokai Society in 2006, and received the Pinnacle Award in 2002. He is on the floor teaching, which is why parents name him in review after review.
“There is no first attack in karate.”
The principle every class here starts from, and the first thing a new student is taught.
Assistant instructors
Roger Deane
Assistant Instructor · 2nd Dan Karate, 1st Dan Jujitsu
Michael King
Assistant Instructor · 2nd Dan Karate, 1st Dan Jujitsu
Robert Douglas
Assistant Instructor · 2nd Dan Karate
Keno Sadler
Assistant Instructor · 1st Dan Karate, 1st Dan Jujitsu
Patrick Greer
Assistant Instructor · 2nd Dan Karate, 1st Dan Jujitsu
2002 Weems Rd
The dojo
Over 6,100 square feet in the Lavista Park Business Center, laid out as three fully matted training floors.
Around the dojo
Click a photo to view it full screen
What is in the building
Three fully matted floors
Over 6,100 square feet of training space across three separate matted areas, so Dragon, Tiger and adult classes can run without stacking on top of each other.
Seating beside every mat
Comfortable seating next to each training mat. Parents watch the whole class rather than dropping off at the door.
Changing rooms and bathrooms
Separate men's and women's dressing rooms plus separate bathrooms.
Weapons and conditioning
A kobudo weapons rack for bo, tonfa, nunchaku and sai, plus hanging and freestanding heavy bags for the adult program.
Easy to find
At the crossroads of Weems and Lavista, directly behind the Movie Tavern and down the street from Mellow Mushroom Pizza.
Location
The Martial Arts Center
2002 Weems Rd.
Tucker, GA 30084
Lavista Park Business Center, directly behind the Movie Tavern.
A parent's story
Focus is the thing parents notice first
Plenty of parents arrive here for the same reason Katie did. Their child struggles to sit still, to wait a turn, to listen the first time.
Nothing about the fix is complicated. Kids are placed by age, Dragon for 5 to 7 and Tiger for 8 to 12, and every class runs the same way: bow in, line up, listen, drill, earn the next stripe. Rank is the reward and it is only handed over when the standard is there.
It holds. Trinity's grandson has been here more than five years, and she says the same thing a different way: he is taught to respect others and to act responsibly.
“I am so pleased with the experience of our son. He struggles with focus and impulse control, and his karate lessons are helping with both.”
- Katie, parent of a student at The Martial Arts Center
Parades, camps, birthday parties
Families stay here for years
Kids from this dojo march in the Tucker Day Parade. Summer runs American Gladiator and Samurai Warrior camp weeks. There are birthday parties on the heavy-bag floor, movie nights, parent's night out, and competitions. It is why a grandparent can tell you their grandson has been here five years and a mom can tell you her son started in first grade and is now in eighth.
On the mat every week
0+
students (and counting)
Parents are not spectators either. My Parent is My Partner means you can put a gi on and train alongside your own child, which is a strange and very good thing to do on a Tuesday evening.
Tuition
What it costs
Tuition is quoted after your free class, so you will know exactly what you are signing up for before you sign up for anything. If you would rather ask first, call (404) 315-1040 or email office@tmacenter.com.
- Karate, jujitsu and kobudo weapons, all taught in-house
- 6,100 square feet across three fully matted floors
- Monday to Thursday 3pm to 9pm, plus Saturday mornings
- Parents can train alongside their own child
START WITH A FREE CLASS
FROM
$0for your first class
Tuition depends on which program you are in and how often you train, so we quote it in person after your free class rather than posting one number that fits nobody.
- One free trial class, no cost
- Kids placed by age: Dragon 5 to 7, Tiger 8 to 12
- Adults 13+ take their first class in Karate, all belts welcome
- Summer Karate Kamp: $270 for the five day session, ages 8+
- Karate Birthday Parties: $230 for 15 children, $5 each additional
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers. Ask us anything else when you come in.
Ready to start?
Your first class is free.
Everybody here started at white belt.
Pick a class time below and the office will send a calendar invite and a prep email with everything you need before you come.
- First class is free
- Kids placed by age, 5 to 7 and 8 to 12
- Adults start in Karate, all belts welcome
Pick a class time that works for you
If you can make more than one, tell us, we will match you to the class that fits your week.
Select a class
Upcoming Dragon Karate (5-7) sessions
Not ready to book? Call (404) 315-1040 or send us a message