A MARTIAL ARTS GYM IN DOWNTOWN DURHAM.
ELITE COMBAT SPORTS TRAINING INSPIRING CONFIDENCE, COMMUNITY, & JOY.

About Us

Both of our coaches started training martial arts for the same reason: to learn to defend ourselves, our friends, and our communities against violence. We knew that “self defense” against a violent attacker requires an understanding that if a person starts a fight with you, then you are already in a fight with them. We quickly found that, while the physical techniques and skills gained through combat sports provided a robust toolkit for managing and reducing damage if attacked, perhaps an even bigger asset was the nervous system training we gained along the way: the ability to remain calm in dangerous situations.

With a combined total of over 30 years of multi-disciplinary teaching experience and 25 years of combat sports experience, our coaches pride ourselves not only on our elite fighting skills, but also on our passion for teaching and our enthusiasm for sharing our knowledge with others. Just as we revel in the infinite puzzles of martial arts, so, too, do we enjoy the pursuit of refining and expanding our approaches to teaching as we seek to support a wide variety of learning styles.

We provide friendly, liberation-centered instruction for the beginner and the seasoned practitioner.  We aim to cultivate a culture that is anti-racist, anti-sexist, and that actively uplifts queer and trans martial artists. Whether you have no athletic background and are hoping to acquire self defense skills, or you’re a competitive combat sports athlete looking to improve your game, we hope to train with you soon!

Classes

Kickboxing
Punches, kicks, knees, and elbows. Drawing primarily from Muay Thai and western boxing, these classes also feature techniques from other striking disciplines.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
The premier ground-fighting art, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) uses leverage, body mechanics, and often attire (the gi) to establish positional dominance and/or submit an opponent with techniques like chokes and joint locks. These classes often feature techniques from wrestling and judo as well.

Queer & Trans Self-Defense
Meets the first Saturday of each month.