Tired of Not Achieving Your Goals?
Welcome to Knoxville Martial Arts Academy – Knoxville’s ONLY real choice when it comes to Martial Arts instruction.
Choosing the Right Martial Arts studio
The fact is, joining a gym is a profound decision, even for the beginner: you work eight hours a day, commute half an hour each way, and after hitting the gym for a session and a shower, that leaves only a few hours for family.
Which means you better choose wisely, because, let’s face it, not all gyms are created equal. There’s no question that the instruction you receive at a world-class gym far surpasses that of a regular gym. Just imagine how you’ll feel after an entire year of training, you enter a Jiu Jitsu tournament or take an amateur Mixed Martial Arts fight and after a devastating loss, you realize that if you’d only paid the extra $50 a month for the gym down the street you might be two or three times better. A much worse scenario would be if you needed to rely on your martial arts lessons for self-defense, only to realize your gym wasn’t all that they promised…
KMAA is the only gym in Tennesse to place not only one but two competitors into the world famous UFC Octagon; first with Rafaello “Tractor” Oliveira and second with Ovince Saint Preux. The same techniques that helped them succeed on the most elite Mixed Martial Arts stage in the world are the same techniques we’ll teach you.
Our. Stuff. Works.


“What if I don’t want to compete?”
Even if you have no desire to become the next Ultimate Fighting Champion, KMAA has been helping people achieve their fitness and health goals for almost 20 years. Check out our more than 100 Facebook reviews.Here are two of them:
“I have had more than 38 years of training in traditional martial arts. I have been training with the students and instructors of KMAA for the past two years. It is an honor to work with instructors who possess such knowledge and such willingness to share their knowledge with others. Anyone serious about advancing their self-defense skills,MMA fighting skills, or physical conditioning should become part of the KMAA team.”
– Chief Roger Overholt, ( pictured Left)
Owner and Head Instructor Overholt’s Karate Studio,
Morristown Chief of Police
“I wandered in by myself a year ago and it was one of the best things I ever did! I knew absolutely nothing, tried the MMA class right off the bat. I was super awkward and OBVIOUSLY new, and also out of shape. I had five people offer help and guidance during that class. Five!
To be clear, I hate gyms. I’ve never owned a gym membership in my life until this one. Because this doesn’t feel like a gym. I’ve never even been given the opportunity to feel insecure or self-conscious because the amount of encouragement and positivity leave no room for those thoughts to rear their ugly heads.
And the last thing: it’s FUN. Never before have I laughed so much during a workout… That’s extra abs people! I hate missing the gym during the week because I miss the people, the vibe and the fun it brings to my week. So come try it with me!”
– Christina Ricker (pictured Right)
So whether it’s your first class like Christina, or you’re the chief of police with forty years of martial arts experience, we’d love to help you achieve your goals!
Transform yourself.
You woke up today and looked in the mirror.
And you said to yourself, “Gosh darn it, I’m going to get in shape!”
Just one problem – you don’t quite know HOW.
It’s okay; we’ve all been there. This might be the first, tenth, or the fiftieth time you’ve tried to lose weight and get healthy. Sure, things didn’t work last time, or the time before that, or even the time before that…”but things are going to be different THIS time,” right?
So you hop on the internet, search “how to lose weight,” and see 7.8 billion websites that promise you fast results with minimal effort. You get overwhelmed, intimidated, and then go back to doing whatever it is that you normally do.
KMAA can end that vicious cycle.
“I came into KMAA at more than 300 lbs. and now I’m a professional MMA Competitor at 185 lbs (and I’ve fought at 170 lbs before!). I came to KMAA just to get into shape and here I am living my dream of being a professional Athlete! KMAA has changed my life for the better and it can help you too!”
“I walked into KMMA at 320 lbs (Left). in horrific shape and was embraced by everyone immediately. I would not have found success without every member of that gym there pushing and encouraging me the entire way. Don’t try to do it alone. Let us at KMAA partner with you to achieve your goals. I bought this shirt (right) on our honeymoon, but when I got home, it was too small. I found it today and it fits! This means I am smaller Than I was when I got married!”
Knoxville Martial Arts Academy
4201 Martin Mill Pike
Knoxville, TN 37920
(865) 771-9775