Testimonials

What our students are saying about us:

"Since I joined the ACWA, I have been amazed by what I've learned. This is a class that teaches you things that you can apply to the real world not just in class. The atmosphere is great. Everyone is encouraging, upbeat, and excited to be there. The class is also adaptable to everyone. Each person can find movements that work for them and ways to utilize their strengths and discover and improve their weeknesses. We learn real world practical self defense and after just a month I already feel more confident because I am able to protect myself. I think that everyone should have the experience of taking this class."    Madeline N.


"What really sets the A.C.W.A. apart from other organizations that teach self defense is the understanding that self defense is practical only when it can be learned quickly and efficiently. Where many martial arts studios limit you to what you can learn in a certain amount of time, the instruction here at the A.C.W.A. is designed to teach as much as you can learn in as little or as much time as you need. I now feel much safer when I go out knowing what I've learned. Excellent instructors, practical and effective lessons, at a very reasonable rate make this program one of a kind. Time and money well spent!" ." Emily W.


"The ACWA is awesome! I have a varied background in the martial arts, but this group is something different. The techniques Justin teaches, and the mind set behind them, are simple and effective. In a "traditional" martial art, these skills are viewed as very advanced and generally not taught until the black belt level, if at all. It blew me a way that someone would teach them in my very first class! I have been in and out of the martial arts all of my life. Tae Kwon do, Thai Boxing, Aikido, Capoeira, MMA...You name it, I did it...I spent a lot of time and money trying to find something that made sense. No long katas, no fancy moves. Something that just worked when you needed it. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING compares to the ACWA! I learned more practical skills in my first few months there than in 14 years worth of traditional training. Between ACWA, KFM, and TFT I know I can take care of my self when the $hit hits the fan. I have the knowledge, the skills, and the fitness to take care of myself and my family. But the most important thing the ACWA taught me was how to keep myself out of bad situations. Justin's classes on "situational awareness" are worth the price of admission alone. Why don't other schools teach this? It is the most important information anyone, martial artist or not, can have. That knowledge alone could save your life. I wish I had found Justin and the ACWA years ago. He would have saved me a lot of time and frustration. I HIGHLY recommend them!" Ryan C.


"It seems I attract the wrong sort of people, those who want to try to take advantage of me, follow me home, etc. Thus far I have been lucky, nothing has escalated to be physical in nature, but I knew if I did not do something, eventually my luck would run out. I started looking for answers, but found mostly "martial arts" stuff that would take me years of practice and did not look real practical anyway. I ended up searching "self defense" and found the A.C.W.A. website and decided to give them a call. I was a bit nervous; this was new to me, but I decided what the hell ;-) Everyone was really nice and the class went at a pace that I could really learn at. I now understand a bit more about the reality of what I can personally can and cannot do (I'm pretty small so throwing you is out, but I have some really sharp elbows that I was shown how to use to my advantage, etc.) I feel comfortable with everyone here and I get the opportunity to train with both men and women. Anyways, I don't think there are a lot of classes that offer this amount of all encompassing material. I don't know any martial arts teacher that takes their class to a shooting range and brings their gun to class to make sure we know how to make it safe. So if youre like me and want real life skills and practical self defense that you can ACTUALLY use in a short amount of time, then give them a call, I'm glad I did." Gigi W.


"This is a great class for anyone with a willingness to be prepared for a situation where you may have to rely on yourself alone to protect you and your loved ones. I'm just a regular guy and I have no aspirations to be the next mixed martial arts champion so this class is perfect for me. The focus of the classes cover a wide variety of topics such as strikes, defensive positions, handling weapon threats and also encompasses the psychological aspects of confrontation. All the topics are always grounded in the "real world" where there is no soft mat or referee. We have a wide range of students both male and female, young and young at heart. Justin is an easy going instructor and makes class fun but challenging with his passion for the subject. I urge you to come check out a session and decide for yourself." Cory M.


"After doing a good amount of research on several different styles of self defense and attending a trial class. I was immediately impressed with what I saw and since my main goal is more about defending myself and my loved ones in real world situations than it is about winning trophies, I knew this was where I wanted to be. As a beginner it's great to know that Justin trains in such a way that I'm able to keep up while the more experienced students don't seem to be slowed down or held back. If I have questions about certain moves/techniques, they not only get answered but demonstrated as well. Something else I've noticed is that students of other styles join and talk about how they've learned to very easily layer these new techniques on top of what they already know. I would say that regardless of your prior training and/or level of expertise, you should definitely come check out A.C.W.A. Between the combatives, weapons systems, Keysi and fitness training, you will definitely be happy you did."    Jason F.


"Never in my life have I been able to learn any form of self defense. I have tried it all from Kung-Fu to Tae Kwon Do to MMA and failed each time due to the fact that I could never learn forms, which to me, were simply useless. At a free MMA meetup group, I ran into Justin Everman as he was invited there to show his art. Wow! I was so impressed and I learned in that one night! Being 5 foot nothing and 95-100 lbs kind of makes me a target to men and bigger girls. Let's just say that if you have no confidence and have a learning curve like I do, then this is the ONLY way to learn the best real life self defense in the real world."   Shana T.


"As former LEO and studying multiple systems, I can say that this is the best school of training I have seen. There is something here for everyone!"   Colt F.




"After doing various other martial arts for about seven years. Three months after joining, I had overwrote nearly all of my previous training with better, more applicable techniques. Everything just makes sense."    Luke B.


Having no previous experience with any professional fighting styles or martial arts, I was a true beginner when attending my first classes. The first few classes felt a bit strange, as you attempt to articulate and understand your natural reaction tendencies. However, upon understanding how your own body acts and reacts to situations, you learn to use these understandings to your full advantage. The classes are full of diverse people with differing backgrounds and experiences, providing a realistic training environment with room for all skill levels. Having been a student for about a year now, I am truly amazed with the development I have achieved, and especially my increased ability to manage adrenaline and aggressiveness under stress. I would recommend this class to anyone looking to develop their own capabilities of real self-protection, and also those looking for an athletically challenging skill set away from more traditional formalized martial arts."    Steven S.


"Through some changes in my life, I searched for a different style and was referred to the A.C.W.A.as an alternative to the traditional martial arts. I found that both Keysi and the A.C.W.A. Combatives training takes the fundamentals of what works from many styles and creates what I like to called an applied sciences of martial arts. This is training in a real setting with different variables so you work with your instincts instead of a technique. You learn to defend under pressure and how the body reacts when you perform the techniques. Whether you are young, small, overweight, short, tall, in shape, older, have training or no training this academy has answers that will work for you. I strongly recommend this academy as the training is applicable to reality."    John T.


"For those looking for diversity, finding a place that trains in more than one form of fighting can be tough. Most places will teach you only judo, boxing, TKD, etc. Training here really shows how it is best to diversify to be prepared for all situations."    Abel K.


"Finally, functional women's self defense! In my time training both in ACWA and KFM, I've changed immensely, both physically and mentally. In watching the classes evolve, I've seen myself evolve as well. I never thought I'd be confident to hold my own in a violent situation, but here I am. I find myself looking forward to the classes each week, not only to see what new thing I'm going to learn, but to see how far we go. I've never left a class disappointed in what I've learned that night. Usually I'm walking out the door amazed at what I've found myself capable of."    Jamie S.


"The class is informative and fun; I' ve studied martial arts before, and before I discovered this class, I expected to have to bounce around in various disciplines to get everything offered here. The moves taught are the most effective I've seen, and Justin adds psychology to make them--and you--even more effective. "    Michele N.


"Fun, friendly, welcoming and engaging environment! Justin and his teachers do a great job making sure everyone is learning at a comfortable pace all while feeling challenged at the same time. Does a great job balancing different participants size, skill level, experience, age, etc. Highly recommended for anyone interested in fighting or self defense techniques. "    Felix D.


"Justin, the instructor of ACWA and KFM, offers practical self-defense methods. Moves and tactics stem from natural defensive reactions that you can utilize right away. This is very different from traditional martial arts that require many hours to learn set forms. Instructor is skilled and knowledgeable in the fighting system and in how to teach it. In addition, his humor keeps students engaged! Highly recommended for beginners and those with extensive fighting backgrounds. "    Moses L.


 





"After training in multiple systems of both MMA and self defense, I feel that my experience with ACWA/ KFM has been the most beneficial. This style of training has both increased my physical abilities and my overall knowledge of my surroundings while adapting to my environment. It can be molded to any person regarding athletic ability, size or experience. In my opinion it supersedes all other styles."    Nick B.


"I attend this school and I really enjoy it and highly recommend it to all, especially us women. I feel we should all learn how to defend ourselves in this crazy world. Please contact the instructors via the website and I promise you will not regret it."    Miriam C.


"I've been doing martial arts for several years and I'm usually very picky about the schools that I choose. It normally takes me a month or so to finally make a decision but this time it was fairly easy. The instructors were helpful and knowledgeable. They actually taught real life skills rather than doing the ABC's for several months unlike most of the traditional schools I have joined/taught at. I highly recommend checking out the classes. There a great group of motivated and like minded people."    Richard O.


"I am 37 and have never had any sort of martial arts or self defense training. The training allows you to use instinctive moves in a defensive as well as offensive manner and not to mention, also a great workout. You won't learn fancy kicks or theatrical moves, but what you will learn are powerful tools which are usable and effective on a single as well as multiple attackers. After the first few classes I was confident I could defend myself as well as reverse the roles from being the hunted to becoming the hunter!"    Joe T.


"I believe that the greatest successes are born from having true passion for what you are doing. That passion is exactly what Mr. Everman possesses when it comes to tactical combatives. I truly believe that he eats, sleeps and breathes self defense... and this is the kind of individual that you want instructing. During the time that I was a student in Mr. Everman's class, I learned how to adapt and respond to situations that previously I would have felt helpless in. His program changed the way I approach all aspects of my life, from business to relationships to self defense. Mr. Everman's instruction can be challenging, but it will ultimately allow a student to grow as a person in ways they never imagined possible."    Greg S.


"Self defense is a personal responsibility. There's no guarantee that should you or your loved ones be attacked that someone else will come to the rescue. In fact, if you are attacked chances are it was because the attacker did not believe anyone would assist you. I realized that though I assumed I would fight back I honestly didn't know how. So, I sought out a self-defense course to help me learn how to respond should I have to defend myself or my loved ones. I found KFM and instantly knew it was for me. It is completely different than any other fighting style I had seen. It's popularity has been steadily growing with the success of Batman Begins and The Dark Knight but you can still tell the difference between KFM and everything else. The more I learned the more I wanted to know. That's when I signed up for the full package. I continued my KFM training but also began attending Tactical Fitness Training on Thursdays. This class helps me trim fat and increase my dexterity. An intensive workout to assist in flexibility and quickness, I highly recommend TFT for anyone looking to get in shape. ACWA provides a more comprehensive look at self-defense. I began attending Combative Weapons Systems (which is a weapons oriented component of the larger ACWA program) on Thursdays as well. This has helped me learn not only how to defend against various weapons but also what to do once the tool is in my hands. The regular ACWA courses have expanded on the knowledge base I began building with KFM. I have learned that while strength is good, balance is better; quickness is important, but timing is critical. ACWA has helped me prepare for a number of scenarios without forcing me to memorize circumstances. I have been given a number of tools which I can quickly put together based on the specific situation and how my body uniquely moves. Overall, I feel much more confident should a situation arise in which I would need to act. Now, my natural instinct to fight has been coupled with legitimate skill. Those two combined help swing the pendulum back in my direction and give me the ability to turn the would-be predator into prey."    Cameron S.


"Forget the Bruce Lee movies where a kungfu expert flies through the air doing amazing acrobatic feats while beating up the bad guys. Forget Karate Kid where he had to wax a car for hours to learn the blocking motion. Many of us have not been training since we were very young, nor do we have the countless hours it takes to hone a skill like Karate or Tae Kwon Do. KFM is intuitive, relevant to actual fighting scenarios (not a ring or cage, many attackers vs. only one), easy to learn and easy to execute. Like anything in life, it takes training to perfect. However, after just one class you get the sense that "I can do this! I can really defend myself and/or others like this". It's more than just a defense or fighting method, it's an attitude. A transformation from the sense of always looking over your shoulder to seeking out what could be a threat and immediately knowing what to do about it. From prey to predator. The training is great. The workout is great. The confidence is great. One of the best things I've ever been a part of and, as my post should show, something I vehemently believe in. I challenge you to a single class and see if your attitude toward self defense isn't changed as well."
Craig B.


"A.C.W.A. Combatives builds big ability fast! I was truly impressed at the real world applications and training that come from ACWA! We are trained in scenarios that happen everyday around us, just turn on your six o clock news! A.C.W.A. has benefited me by giving me extreme confidence to handle many real world situations. Being a practioner and a 1st degree black belt in karate, the strategies, techniques that I learn in ACWA has taken me at least three years to learn in karate, but A.C.W.A. takes it to another level with the ease of learning each and every technique that is natural in movement. The instructors are very friendly, skilled, and want to see the success in all their students. I highly endorse both A.C.W.A. Combatives and KFM has your first options in self defense training. It is well worth the investment."    OJ H.


"The thing I like most about the training is Justin's "leave your ego at the door" concept. He is very patient, as are his top students, willing to take the time to go over things until you get it. Training has made me look at situations differently, learning how to take full advantage of what I have, and how to use it effectively. It definitely gets you prepared for most , if not all real world situations, down to wearing everyday apparel to enhance everyday situations. The fitness aspect is there as well, not only are you learning how to defend yourself but its an amazing workout as well."    Jason M.


"These trainings do not require you to spend two years practicing, bowing, and formalizing in order to take something home with you today. Every day you go home with useful knowledge and understand that will help you in the real world, not some Super Duper Challenge Ring, FIGHT! There are no points to be counted, no sparring partner to beat you up. It's just you and other participants like you who are just as eager to learn, practice, and play with the skills that are developed in class. "    Nicole G.


"Justin and his team of instructors are great. They will answer any questions you may have and work with you to develop the tools that you already have while showing a few that you didn't know about. Unlike traditional schools that might teach you how to protect yourself in several years, here you will learn practical defenses on your very first day. Probably the greatest things about this school are that there are no silly uniforms to wear and no stances to stand in for hours practicing how to block an imaginary opponent from the middle of the 15th century. Here you learn wearing normal clothes practicing against another person. What you will learn here is how to block attackers wielding weapons, fight off attackers from the ground, how to get out of choke holds and how to protect yourself in close quarters situations that we all find ourselves in, like between cars in a parking lot. What you won't learn here is how to break a brick or a board, because really, why on earth do you need to be able to break it unless it is ... They will answer any questions you may have and work with you to develop the tools that you already have while showing a few that you didn't know about. Unlike traditional schools that might teach you how to protect yourself in several years, here you will learn practical defenses on your very first day. Probably the greatest things about this school are that there are no silly uniforms to wear and no stances to stand in for hours practicing how to block an imaginary opponent from the middle of the 15th century. Here you learn wearing normal clothes practicing against another person. What you will learn here is how to block attackers wielding weapons, fight off attackers from the ground, how to get out of choke holds and how to protect yourself in close quarters situations that we all find ourselves in, like between cars in a parking lot. What you won't learn here is how to break a brick or a board, because really, why on earth do you need to be able to break it unless it is attacking you? Oh yeah, there are no competitions and no trophies to earn in this, this is not a sport, this is for real. The only trophy you will get if you ever need to use it is being able to walk away, your attacker, well...he might not be so lucky. Check it out and see for yourself, the first class is free, and there is no pressure to sign up. What do you have to lose? Besides fear."    Peter P.