No Barriers Martial Arts
An inclusive martial arts school helping neurodiverse individuals grow, adapt, and thrive — at their own pace.
WHAT WE DO
Eliminating Barriers to Martial Arts for the Neurodivergent Community
No Barriers Martial Arts is dedicated to overcoming barriers to entry that could keep neurodivergent students from fully engaging and excelling in martial arts classes
NBMA is a first-of-its-kind school designed specifically for children with special needs, such as ADHD, Autism, ADD, and Downs Syndrome. We believe every child deserves access to the transformative benefits of martial arts — confidence, discipline, and belonging — in an environment built around how they learn best.
Our classes are designed to help students achieve their goal of exercising and learning martial arts skills in a fun, adapted enviorment that supports their learning style. We build a strong foundation in skills, giving them a platform to launch their journey in martial arts.
New to the martial arts world, this unique program is designed to, upon graduation, prepare a student to excel in any traditional martial arts space. Neurodivergent Individuals often face a barrier when entering these martial arts spaces due to executive dysfunction, sensory processing differences, hyperfocus, social challenges, emotional regulation issues, low muscle tone, poor gross motor coordination, low spacial awareness, and hyperactivity. Students who graduate our program will be ready to enroll in the martial arts school of their choice while having fun and learning real martial arts skills such as strikes and kicks.
Students are welcome to train with us for as long as they choose, or transition from our program into intermediate and advanced training at other martial arts schools. Our goal is to support each student’s path and ensure their continued success in martial arts, wherever their journey leads.
Our pillars
Meet the instructors
The No Barriers Martial Arts instructors — [Location / Event / Year]. Replace this caption with your own.
I am a forever student of martial arts! Currently, I am a half brown half black belt in Shorei Ryu Japanese Karate, received from Sensei Joyce Brekke of JK Martial Arts, and a yellow belt in Song Moo Kwan Tae Kwon Do and Ao Denkou Jitsu, received from Sabumnim Cale Alberts of Sacred Mountain Dynamic Karate. I also enjoy studying many other styles of martial arts, such as Kali and Hapkido, whenever I have the opportunity. I have a deep love and passion for practicing martial arts and it has transformed my life in ways I never imagined! The most significant changes I have found in martial arts is gaining the confidence and self acceptance I have learned in my practice and meeting the amazing people it has brought into my life.
I am a neurodivergent person myself (ADHD) and a mother to neurodivergent children (ADHD, ASD). I have a chronic autoimmune disease from childhood that creates limitations in my mobility. Since I was young, I have wanted to dedicate my life to making the world better for the disabled community. No Barriers Martial Arts is one way I want to provide access to not only martial arts, but also to community engagement and meaningful connection with peers.
In addition to navigating the world as a disabled person and guardian to disabled children, I also have a background in teaching others in the community. In high school I was a volunteer tutor for fellow students, including students in special education. I have worked providing care to home-bound and hospice individuals and teaching job skills to adults with disabilities, predominantly individuals with Autism and Downs Syndrome. I have been a student teacher at JK Martial Arts, a specialty martial arts school teaching karate to neurodivergent students, under Sensei Joyce Brekke (now retired).
I am a young and emerging student in mixed martial arts. I began my martial arts journey with Sensei Joyce Brekke at JK Martial Arts, where I was introduced to adaptive teaching in martial arts for neurodivergent students. For 2 years I taught and studied at JK Martial Arts and community events such as SoFit, further developing my experience as both a practitioner and an instructor.
I have trained across multiple disciplines, including Shorei Ryu, Ao Denku Jitsu, Taekwondo, Hapkido, and Kali, under Sensei Joyce Brekke, Subumnim Cale Albert, Master Dan Piller, and Guru William Webb. I study with the intent to garner a widespread view of martial arts, applicable self defense practices, and the lifestyle, mindset, and culture that comes with it.
My mother, brother, and sister are neurodivergent, and my siblings and I have been homeschooled from a young age. I have always been surrounded by an environment of adaptive learning. Being the oldest, I take great pride in helping tutor, guide and care for my two younger siblings. This background has shaped my perspective and strengthened my ability to support diverse learning styles.
I have always valued the growth of others, and now I take an active role in helping people achieve it. In addition to teaching as an instructor at JK Martial Arts, I am also a volunteer math tutor for grades 1–8 at the Minnesota Vietnamese Launguage School supporting students in the Vietnamese community.
"this place is so cool you guys should come"
- NBMA Sr. Instructor
Why NBMA
What your child gains here
Martial arts isn't just physical — it's one of the most powerful tools for developing yourself. Here's what students build with us.
"The instructors are so cool and awesome"
- NBMA Sr. Instructor
OUR SCHEDULE
Class Times
Pick any two class times that fits your schedule, all class times are availiable for new students.
WHAT WE TEACH
Martial Arts Culture
This program will acclimate students to the traditions and ceremony of a martial arts space, knowing that it can be intimidating to any new student. Students will learn bowing in, to address instructors and peers with respect, to wear a traditional uniform with pride, the history and lineage of their school and instructors, to honor the long history and traditions of martial arts, and to engage in fellowship with their fellow martial arts practitioners. In doing so, we expose our students to the deeper meanings and benifits of martial arts, fostering mutual respect, self discipline, and community
Basic Martial Arts Techniques
Students will master entry level traditional martial arts techniques including strikes, kicks, blocks, stances, and forms. The techniques taught are a standard foundation of skills applicable to all martial arts styles, transferable to any future school. We ensure mastery of these skills no matter what the starting level of the student is, so that the student has the strength, coordination, and knowledge to perfom these basics. We break movements down into small steps and adjust the pace to the student, patiently continuing work on each skill until the student is ready to move on.
Strength and Coordination
Many neordivergent folks struggle with low muscle tone, achy joints, and trouble coordinating their bodies. Our program is designed to support students with these barriers by slowing the pace, breaking moves down into smaller steps, practiced in a supportive enviroment, to gently build not only muscle but memory and coordination. This allows students to build the strenth and coordination needed to perform techniques, insuring their long term success in martial arts.
Qi Gong
In addition to Martial skills, we also teach Qi Gong, a traditional Chinese practice, concidered to be "the grandfather of Tai Chi". It focuses on gentle, graceful movements and intentional breathing that can help lower stress, reduce pain, increase flexibility, improve cardiovascular health, and increase energy levels. Using a fun, dance like animal inspired Qi Gong form, we help students learn to coordinate their movements and build body awarness.
Self Defense
Students will learn techniques and mindests to apply what they have learned for sucessful self defense and spacial awareness. Our approach to self defense is; if you aren't in harms way, harm won't find you. Being aware of what's happening and knowing your surroundings are the best tools for avoiding a conflict. However, if push comes to shove, we teach our students how to apply the skills we practice, using the most effective techniques for keeping yourself safe while avoiding serious harm to your opponent, never promoting violence.
Safety
We prioitize and strictly enforce safety in our gym. We understand that practicing martials arts can feel intimidating and even scary. We practice "The 4 C's of Consent". A student can choose zero contact if they not feel comftorble and will never be pressured. We do not allow martial contact between students. At this stage in matial training, students may not have the control necessary to engage in safe peer to peer contact, so physical contact of strikes, kicks and blocks is restrained to pads held by instructors. We call this "pad work". Instructors are trained to keep students safe while practicing skills on pads. There is absolutly no sparing allowed on or off the mat and a strict policy of "coach says" is enforced (no strikes, kicks or blocks until coach says "go") to prevent accidents.
Growth Mindset
Personal growth is perhaps the greatest benifit of martial arts. NBMA is a place where we support students in their journey to self discovery; We teach students to bravely try hard things and keep going when they make mistakes; take pride in the hard work they put into their practice and stand tall with their achievments, to respect each other and stand up for themselves. We want students to graduate with the confidence to belive in themselves, on and off the mat.
Graduation
When ready, we celebrate their journey and help them confidently transition to a traditional dojo. Our program is unique in offering only the entry level basics that apply to all martial styles. Students start and end as a white belt to learn all the white belt basics at their own pace. We provide specialized instruction specifically for nerodivergent individuals built from over 2 decades of teaching exerience within the nerodiverse community. What is unique in our program is that the curriulum stops at the white belt. Where as in any other school, after graduating their white belt test, the student would move up to their next belt level (yellow) and continue working toward their black belt, here students graduate the program to go on successfully to start in any school and style of their choosing, including karate, taekwondo, or kung fu
A Place to Stay
We understand that some students may want to stay with us longer. NBMA is a place that students can stay for as long as the program is benificial to them. We will continue to teach any student who wants to stay on for the beinifits of accomodation, on-going exercise, and community. NBMA offers a great workout and fun enviroment to hang out with friends.
Invest in your child
Simple, transparent pricing
No hidden fees. No long-term contracts. Every enrollment includes a free first visit and ongoing communication with our instructors.
Monthly tuition
Private sessions
Uniforms
Get in touch
Contact us for more information or a free trial
Call to schedule a free 15 minute trial
"Don't worry. I'm neurodivergent too...and hate sales pitches. Just call or email and we can do some karate." - Coach Emily
Email: Emily@nobarriersmartialarts.com
Phone: 763-482-3221