Professional Martial Arts Academy

Sensei is amazing as a coach and as a human being. My grandkids are going to his academy. He is always finds balance between to be kind and at the same time strict with the kids and children adore him

I will be reviewing PMA Plaistow, focusing on three key aspects: instructors’ technical skills, training environment safety, and the gym’s culture. Rick is a talented and experienced martial artist. As an instructor, he possesses the unique ability to simplify complex techniques, making them accessible. His genuine encouragement is subtle but effective, and he provides feedback in the right measure - enough for consistent improvement without overwhelming students. I particularly appreciate that Rick’s confidence earned through experience and his gracious teaching style emphasize what students can achieve rather than showcasing his own abilities. Additionally, Rick prioritizes safety by offering guidance on avoiding injuries and mildly reminding students when necessary. This focus on control significantly reduces the risk of harm in a contact sport. The training itself is practical and results-driven, and benefits from Rick’s professional fighting experience. The culture, like most gyms, takes its lead from the head instructor, so students treat each other with respect and good humor, and offer helpful feedback when asked but always to encourage students with less experience get better, and never to show off what they can do themselves. The training sessions are intense, yet enjoyable, and I consistently leave each class feeling better than when I arrived. Overall, my experience with PMA Plaistow has been excellent. It is a gym where martial artists can progress their skills while having a great time

Sensei Rick is a wonderful instructor. He encourages students to challenge themselves to become the best possible martial artist they can be. The school is very clean and bright, and the atmosphere is welcoming to everyone. If you live in the Plaistow area, this is the place for families to learn martial arts!

Rick and Laura are awesome and the classes are very structured, informative and fun! I imagine it doesn't get much better than being taught by a former Olympian! Reasonably priced with time options to meet almost anyone's needs. I would highly recommend!

I train in the adult Muay Thai program at PMA and highly, highly recommend it. First, you're training with a professional fighter who really knows his stuff. When you ask a question or learn a technique, you can understand the practical application of it. Rick is an excellent teacher all around. He explains things very clearly, and gives you feedback while not overwhelming you with it. There's also a huge variety in classes which I really appreciate as it keeps things interesting and I feel like I'm always learning something new while improving my skills. It's also a very safe training environment, and I'm not worried about coming away with an injury every week. But the safeness doesn't mean you're not learning real Muay Thai and boxing, and there are several people there who train for actual fights.