More than a dojo

Meet Mr. H

Mr. Hernandez has been teaching martial arts in El Paso for the better part of two decades. Some of his current students are the kids of students he taught back in 2007. That's the kind of place this is.

He's tough in the right way. He expects effort, he expects respect, and he calls kids out when they're not bringing it. He's also genuinely funny and the kids love him for it.

What sets him apart is how he meets every student where they are. A shy 6-year-old, a competitive teenager, a kid on the autism spectrum, a mom trying something new at 40. He figures out what they need and gets them there.

What we actually teach

Karate technique, MMA fundamentals, and self-defense are the obvious answers. But the real curriculum is goal setting. We teach kids how to set a goal, work for it on a daily basis, and feel what it's like to actually earn something.

That turns into better grades, better behavior at home, and better humans. Goals are the master skill for success in life, and the mat is where they learn to chase them.

Our values

• Respect
  For yourself, your training partners, your family, and your community.
• Effort
  Show up. Work hard. Repeat. Belts come from the work, not the wish.
• Confidence
  Earned through reps, not handed out. The real kind that holds up under pressure.
• Family
  Parents, siblings, and friends are part of what we do here.