About Us / Philosophy

Cunningham's Ugottawanna Martial Arts and Family Fitness Center is about ... people !

Our goal is to provide the best possible customer service to satisfy the needs and wants of all ages, shapes, sizes, genders, and personalities of every type of human body that walks through our door to work out on OUR floor ... Or seeks our assistance in small group or corporate seminars, private instruction at your home or facility... Or DVD, video tape or distance learning.

Not just to the conditioned competitive athlete ... or the one who used to be (although we certainly have a place for you), but to professionals and tradesmen and women of all occupations who work 40 or more hours per week... to older people looking to get in shape... to children of all ages..., indeed, to ALL people, who either: desire to take advantage of our clean and modern 24 hour Family Fitness Center, which is equipped with the best in cardio equipment, the newest universal gym and weight machines, ample free weight equipment to accommodate the needs of all levels of fitness clients, and open floor space for ab work, lunges, etc.

Or those (women AND men) who want to challenge themselves and improve their cardio-vascular fitness level, improve muscle tone and increase metabolism (regardless of their current fitness condition !) by becoming a Ugottawanna HIT CAT ! (High Intensity Training Cardio And Toning) Program member.

Or those who wish to take advantage of the REAL EXPERTISE and PASSION of our experienced and professional Black Belt staff and join us in an exciting Martial Arts journey featuring the revolutionary American Freedom Form Kenbo-Jitsu Karate System (which integrates concepts, principles, and techniques from Kenpo, Boxing and Jujitsu) to learn practical, effective, no-nonsense self-defense in a positive atmosphere of friendship and fun.

Or those small groups or large corporations who contract with us to custom design and present, according to their special needs, our popular RIPSTRAKE Personal Protection / Self-defense Programs and seminars for men, women's self-defense and/or child safety, etc.

We are very proud to offer highly acclaimed Martial Arts programs for adults AND children, and the quality and practicality of our American Freedom Form Kenbo-Jitsu Karate System has attributed to our being able to boast one of the best adult programs in the area.

The goal of the American Freedom Form Kenbo-Jitsu Karate System and the Mission of Cunningham's Ugottawanna Martial Arts is to provide a modern, "today's world" approach to... (and a VERY STRONG EMPHASIS on...) practical, effective, no-nonsense self-defense while continuing to foster "traditional" values. Toward that end, we seek to offer a challenging and rewarding learning experience that encourages individual initiative and personal growth and development. We strive to develop soundly well-rounded Martial Artists as well as totally well-rounded Human Beings.

Foremost, ... We Teach Practical and Effective, No-Nonsense Self-Defense ! Our core training philosophy is DIRECTED at that purpose.

Classes are structured but relatively informal. Discipline, Attitude and Respect remain hallmarks of our structure, but we believe that a more informal, less militaristic atmosphere fosters open communication and a better overall learning environment. Open communication contributes greatly to the student's ability to understand what it is that he or she is doing and why he or she is doing it (as well as allowing the instructors to adapt it to the respective student's particular physical characteristics, athletic capabilities, etc.)

Precisely because the American Freedom Form Kenbo-Jitsu Karate System is a modern "System" of Martial Arts, it is intended to remain "alive" and adapt and evolve with today's (and tomorrow's) changing martial and self-defense needs. We wear shoes,... speak English ... and direct and focus our training on "current". diverse and "real" Personal-Protection Self-Defense concerns and scenarios.