Tiger Schulmann's Mixed Martial Arts

Tiger Schulmann's in Wayne NJ is one of the best martial arts schools in the area, period. My son has been training with Sensei Zapfel and his team since 2013 and is currently a red belt. As a disclaimer, I am not associated with the TSK organization in any form other than my son being a student. I think it's important to also note that I, myself, was active in the martial arts as a kid and as a young adult, so my observations will be based on my personal experience. With that said, below are some of the key reasons I feel TSMMA Wayne is a top quality school: Grit: I think more anything else, the kids that train at TSMMA Wayne develop a sense of no-quit attitude. An attitude that transcends to other endeavors. Moral Compass: When a kids is confident, they don't feel the need to bow to peer pressure. They have a better sense of what is right and what is wrong. I see this in the kids and particularly in the higher ranking belts. Instruction: One of the most amazing things that I see on a daily basis is how Sensei Zapfel and his team has the ability to push the kids beyond their comfort zones and challenge them to get to the next level without barking orders like a drill instructor. It's a difficult task to accomplish day in and day out. Additionally, his technical breakdown of a move or combination, be it striking or grappling, is presented in a digestible format so the kids get a quicker understanding of the movement. Cost: I also want to address the cost issue raised by some reviewers. In my opinion, it's a small price to pay for a future investment in my child's ability to tackle any challenge that life may throw at him. Yes, you can choose other sports to do this, but for me, with my background, I choose the martial arts. I think you should check them out and see for yourself.

After watching my kids take part here a few times, they and the staff convinced me to take a class. It was a lot to take in and I was wiped out after the last round (alright, the third round) but I realized there and then that this was for me. It's interval training with strength training and stretching, at least on paper. In practice, what's so unique is the focus is on honing a series of basic techniques and then learning how to piece them together. You are so focused on the nuances of the steps that make up the technique that you fail to realize just how much work you're doing. It's a workout with a difference...you don't even know you're working out until you're gasping for breath at the end of the 8th round, after which there are two rounds of strength training, 3 minutes each. It's incredible just how long 3 minutes can feel. The staff are friendly and focused. Yes, it's on the expensive side, especially if you don't show up for class (it's a fixed price per month). The secret, then, is to SHOW UP FOR CLASS. Other than a business trip or being sick, I haven't missed any classes...can't say that happened with my gym 'schedule'. I've lost quite a bit of weight (249lbs, dropped to 219lbs and counting), have gained a ton of energy, focus and even a gain in confidence, not so much because of a change in appearance, but knowing that I have taken on a new challenge that I never thought would be for me and am apparently not completely sucking. My diet has also changed radically, largely because I don't want to undo all of the hard work that I'm doing during class. The '90 day challenge' is held once a year and has a sharp focus on nutrition and is a great part of the program. The staff are all very supportive and friendly. They're also incredibly skilled. I've seen Sensei demonstrate jabs, crosses, hooks, round kicks, front kicks and knees for 8 months now, and I still find something to learn about each of them during every class. It never gets old because you can always get faster, stronger and better with each technique. Just when you think you've got the hang of it, you realize that executing them as a combination is a whole different animal. The students are very supportive, too. It's not uncommon to get a quick tip from a more experienced partner while you're on the bag. Overall, it's a unique and powerful experience. In my case, it's been nothing short of life changing. Commit to it and you'll see. I gotta run, class starts in half an hour!

Awesome place!

The Tiger Schulmann's MMA School of Wayne, NJ and Sensei have been such a positive influence on my son. For the past 4 years I have watched him develop from a shy toddler into a confident young man. The training program encourages self-discipline, non-quitting spirit and integrity. I believe learning these important skills help him in every aspect of life ie., school, home life, sports and many other areas. I highly recommend this program for both boys and girls.

Some of the kids in my 10 year old sons classes are training fighters looking to be a great martial artist... Some of the kids have focus issues in need of structure, my son is a timid type, shy, and small for his age, and the last four years of training has been invaluable. He is very focused with everything he does now even with baseball and school and I attribute that to his training here. Grappling classes make him stronger and kickboxing makes him faster, and his sparring classes give him that real world experience so he can protect himself and this is a gift I know he will carry on his entire life. Sensei Zapfel has always stopped to work with him when he needed it and always pushed him beyond his abilities. He's still not a competition fighter, but I'm happy he still attends class and tries his best. As for me, I have been training for four years as well and probably in the best shape of my life since I started. The other adults training with me are always pushing me to my limit and Sensei Zapfel is right there making sure I'm pushing back. As a 38 year old adult, it is an awesome feeling to be grappling and kickboxing with other adults and even training for competition. The tiger Schulmann's own exclusive competition is a safe and exciting way to put my abilities to the test and I think every adult should break away from their repetitive routine even the boring gym and try this out for a few weeks... The workout is insane and the nutritional advise and guidance is a huge help to getting and staying healthy. I have great respect for my fellow students that attend classes daily and push their limits with me.