Success Stories

Our son, Brent, has been training at America’s Best Martial Arts for 2 years now, and in that time, we have seen him grow tremendously. Brent was previously enrolled in a Taekwondo school for a number of years, but he eventually became interested in learning another discipline. We checked out a number of karate schools locally before Brent made his decision as to which school had the best fit. All other schools that we checked out paled in comparison to America’s Best. During his introductory class, Mr. Baier and every one of his students made Brent feel completely welcome. Even before the class was over, Brent had made up his mind that America’s Best was the place he wanted to train at!

   For the last 2 years, Brent has been training under Mr. Baier and Mr. Nye. Enough cannot be said about the wealth of information he has learned from them and the tremendous training he has received. Brent just earned his 2nd degree black belt a few months ago and is so proud to wear a belt that says America’s Best around his waist.

Brent also competes with the Five Knuckle Bullet team at the local tournaments. When he is wearing his Five Knuckle Bullet uniform at a tournament, he is honored to be representing America’s Best. Brent is motivated to do well at tournaments, because he truly loves to compete against others. Mr. Baier would not care about how Brent performed one way or the other as long as Brent handled himself with dignity at tournaments and represented America’s Best in a favorable manner. Making Mr. Baier and Mr. Nye proud of what he accomplishes at tournaments is just an added bonus.

~ Marianne Ingle
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My son started karate when he was 6 now he is 22. The lessons learned in the 4 years he was in class with Mark Baier were some of the most formative of his life. He learned lessons of hard work, discipline, self-control, and fairness that stayed with him throughout his teen years and on. I was skeptical when I would watch class at first, the detailed situations Mark would describe or talk about could be recounted by everyone in the class, he is a great teacher with all ages and the little kids respond so positively to him. I still see the positive reception in the young classes he teaches today.

   I started kickboxing many years ago. Having been an athlete in college it was hard to replicate that workout, though I tried. I was sold after the first class and have never stopped. Every class is different and every class is a challenge if you treat it that way. The level of intensity and effort you put in will factor in to how much you get out of it. It doesn't matter how timid or tough you are, it is all about you and your workout. After having been injured recently, all I could think about was what I had to do to get back in class, it never occurred to me to quit.

-   Michelle Smart
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I have been with ABMA for nearly 5 years now and have grown to appreciate the strength, agility, and MMA skills training offered through this school and its experienced staff. As a man in my early 50's, I have benefited with increased flexibility, muscle tone, and sufficient fighting skills to have the confidence to step in the ring with younger and bigger sparing opponents. The camaraderie and social interaction of fellow students adds to the good experience of training at the ABMA academy. I would highly recommend to anyone to join in the positive and beneficial training environment at America's Best.

-   Mike Bodily
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My son started in karate at age five. He began as a Little Dragon and slowly and diligently worked his way up through the ranks to become a brown belt at 8 years old.

   What can I say about Mark Baier and America's Best Martial Arts? It's hard to put into words the profound effect that my and my son's decade-long association with him and his school has had on our lives, and the incredible benefits we have both enjoyed. In addition to being an excellent teacher and the most amazing martial artist I've ever seen, Mr. Baier is a role model for the ethics, focus, discipline, and determination required for success not only in martial arts, but in life.

   I started karate after a difficult divorce and years of single parenthood. I was very apprehensive about doing something so far outside my comfort level, but because I had enjoyed watching my son's lessons and wanted to improve my physical fitness, I eventually mustered the courage to sign up. Being in karate has brought me incredible friends, the lasting gift of physical conditioning, and a love of martial arts that has sustained me through good times and bad. As a bonus, the extra time I spent training with my son has formed an unbreakable bond between us.

   In addition to being my instructor, Mark Baier has become a treasured friend to whom I am eternally grateful. His warmth and great sense of humor make him a pleasure to be around, and the positive, family-oriented atmosphere at the school is the perfect remedy for a stressful day. I wouldn't trade a minute of my karate experience!

-   Ann Perez de Tejada
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If you are looking for an intense, challenging, diverse workout, America's Best Martial Arts is for you. I have been training at ABMA for over 12 years and am amazed that I am challenged constantly.   ABMA is not like gyms or fitness classes that get old and repetitive, every class is unique and intense. In addition to attending classes at ABMA, I also teach kickboxing classes for over 10 years. I could not imagine my workout routine to not include kickboxing.

   My boys also attended karate classes for 6 years. They not only developed techniques and skills from karate classes, they also developed live lasting skills of self discipline, self respect and respect for others.

   ABMA has not only helped shape me on the outside but on the inside as well. If you give it a try, I know you will love AMBA as much as I do.

- Mary Schurwonn-Dell

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I enrolled my two children at ABMA in 1998 to study karate - my son wanted to gain confidence and focus, and my daughter wanted to beat up boys - yes, her words. My son earned his Black Belt, and my daughter earned her Hi-Brown prior to moving on. After their first week, I chose to join the Kickboxing class. Oh my, it kicked my butt. My butt has been returning to ABMA ever since. Mr. Baier is a priceless instructor with wisdom, expertise, enthusiasm, and respect for martial arts. Mr. Baier gives his students individual attention while continuously pushing them to achieve at greater levels. I have gained more strength, balance, confidence, and focus due to kickboxing at ABMA for the past 13 years! I have also taken on new physical challenges because of my overall health and flexibility. Thank you, Mr. Baier, and ABMA, for your guidance and support towards a meaningful lifestyle.

~Robin Motisi
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Congratulations for an excellent Black Belt test Saturday, on the new group of black belts (and 2^nd and 3^rd degrees) and Sensei’s, and especially on Marky’s earning his black belt.

    Lily and I were deeply moved and motivated by the test. Witnessing it has inspired us to redouble our dedication to karate. We are working on our combos, self-defense and katas every day to be ready for the under-belt test Sept. 10.

    Most poignant to me personally was a moment during the sparring section of the test, when all the testers and the panel were on the dojo, punching and kicking and gloriously swinging away at one another. One could see the testers were exhausted, sweaty, bloody, even a bit teary; but what shone through the most was the genuine love and respect the practitioners have for the martial arts.

    Very impressive indeed. Thank you for that.

Tripp & Lilly Baltz

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September 25, 2011

   I have many great things to say about my experiences at America’s Best Martial Arts. I speak as a 50+ year old man who has been an active member for over 4 ½ years. As people age, they can start feeling a sense of vulnerability, particularly physically. It’s important to continue to stay physically active, and for those seeking to improve and maintain overall strength, I would highly recommend ABMA. Rest assured that the instructors at ABMA know how to focus on strength training at all levels. I have always maintained a highly physical profile and enjoy intense workouts- and believe me, these instructors don’t go soft on anyone!

   Most importantly, I’d like to add that America’s Best has had an extraordinary influence and positive results in shaping my youngest son. When I first brought him over for kickboxing classes, he was- as many kids are at that age- struggling with, and making, poor decisions. As he’s now grown into a fine, confident, and strong young man, I can look back and see that he was positively influenced by the overall training, and by so many of the great people who work for and associate with ABMA.

Tim Flynn

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    After almost 15 years of martial arts training in 4 different schools, I came to America’s Best Martial Arts. I found America’s Best to be far and away the best school I’ve ever trained in! I love the school so much that I travel 70 miles round trip from my house to attend classes 3 times a week. It is very much a family-oriented atmosphere, and focuses on combining hard training with practical application in a safe environment. I’d recommend this school to anyone! You don’t have to want to be the next great UFC champion to train in the martial arts. At America’s Best you’ll find there are many different types of people with different levels of ability, all with the desire to better themselves and the people around them.

Patrick Padia ABMA Black Belt

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    My son started in karate at age five. He began as a Little Dragon and slowly and diligently worked his way up through the ranks to become a brown belt at 8 years old.

    He loved going to Karate from day one. He would always get excited to go and worked hard to learn his forms, combinations and fighting techniques. He was very proud of his school and being a martial artist and had the utmost respect for his instructors and fellow students.

    His dream of becoming a black belt was crushed when the Karate school in which he was a student, closed its doors without notice. I had to explain to my son a harsh reality of which an 8 year old has very little understanding. As I watched tears stream down his face, I too felt hurt and betrayed.

    With the support and guidance of the instructors from the school that closed, we followed their lead and went to a highly respected Karate Academy called Americas Best Martial Arts (ABMA). We were invited by the owner Mark Baier to come in and visit the Academy and ask questions and take a look around. Within minutes, people who were working out at ABMA were saying, “Hello” and “welcome.”

    This school was awesome! One wall was lined with trophies and awards. Another wall was covered with pictures of many students and their instructors. My son and I felt a very welcoming, friendly, comfortable, family atmosphere. The energy there was amazing!

    Needless to say, we signed up. Mr. Mark Baier, the owner of ABMA encouraged us with sincerity and kindness and the most professional attitude. We can still recall his wonderful humor, laughter, and a smile to remember.

   We are now in an academy where honor, respect, dignity and strength are not only practiced, but a way of life.

    I was so impressed with the instructors at ABMA that I actually started in Karate myself. I felt like a family member, not a parent.

    I have worked my way up the ranks to a blue belt, and my son, who came from a totally different school as a brown belt, has worked his way up to earn his 1^st degree black belt at ABMA and has learned many valuable lessons and skills in which he is very proud. He is excited to be a part of ABMA and has never looked back.

    This has been a life changing experience for both of us. We are on the competition team and participate in tournaments with the FKB competition team at ABMA.

    We are both so proud and honored to be representing such a great Karate Academy as Americas Best Martial Arts.

Sincerely,

Rebecca Richmond and Ian Trembly