The right class for every age
Forge Athletics teaches kids martial arts in Naples, at Coastland Center. Ages 4 to 17 train in three age bands, with classes six days a week: Little Dragons builds the foundations, and Kids MMA and Youth MMA teach boxing, kickboxing, wrestling and jiu-jitsu as one skill set. Kids and youth classes run 30 to 45 minutes and are led by Coach Wil Jr and Coach Nikki, who both grew up training under Coach Wil Pino. The first class is free.
Over thirty years of teaching, Coach Wil has promoted more than fifty students to black belt. Twelve of them went on to win national and world titles.
Preschool and early elementary martial arts: movement, coordination, listening, and confidence, taught with warmth. Saturdays at 10:00am.
See class times
Kids MMA five weekdays plus Saturday, with Kids MMA & Athletic Training on Monday, Wednesday and Friday adding strength and agility work.
See class times
Real MMA for preteens and teens, Monday through Friday, with Youth MMA & Athletic Training on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, plus Saturday at 11:15am for ages 13 and up, all levels.
Explore Teen & Youth MMAWeekday classes run at 4:00pm (kids) and 4:45pm (youth), with Saturday classes in the morning. Full grid on the schedule. Placement can also account for experience and maturity, so contact us if you are unsure which class fits. Comparing a class for your child with one for yourself? See all the MMA class options.
For ages 6-12, the Forge Kids Starter is four coached Kids MMA or Kids MMA & Athletic Training classes, with or without Forge boxing gloves. See the starter.
We teach mixed martial arts: boxing, kickboxing, wrestling and jiu-jitsu, taught as one connected skill set. Kids MMA & Athletic Training and Youth MMA & Athletic Training also include strength, agility and athletic development, the kind that carries into every sport they play.
What a class looks like
Kids MMA and Youth MMA classes at Forge Athletics run 45 minutes, in the same order every time:
- Warm-up, 5 minutes. In place, around the mats or in line.
- Physical training, 10 minutes. Shuttle runs and line drills, bag strikes and combinations, parkour and relays.
- Learning and self-improvement, 15 minutes. MMA techniques, partner and live drills, kicks and combinations, self-defense techniques and safety talks.
- Team challenges and live games, 10 minutes. One-on-one games, board breaking, cone races, and team games such as dodgeball, Karate-Ball and Forge-Ball.
- Cool-down, 5 minutes. The class wraps up, and stripes and belts are awarded.
Two versions, one week
Kids MMA & Athletic Training runs Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and Kids MMA runs Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. The two versions are built to complement each other: each day works different skills, and the curriculum builds week to week, so skills level up along the way. Youth MMA for ages 11-17 follows the same pattern on weekdays.
What the Athletic Training days build
- Agility and balance: parkour, foundational tumbling and games.
- Coordination and footwork: line drills, relays and partner drills.
- Endurance, speed and explosiveness: shuttle runs, bag strikes and combinations.
- Grounding and strength: kicks that pivot, twist, torque, push and drive in every direction, and foundational exercise movements.
Many of the games are constraint-led: a rule, a space or a piece of equipment sets a limit, and kids work out how to solve it. It builds problem-solving and skill in a form kids are drawn to.
What the MMA days build
Self-defense skills, confidence and the character traits traditional martial arts are known for. Kids learn to defend themselves on the ground and against strikes, holds and throws, through boxing, kickboxing, wrestling and jiu-jitsu. Goals come through the stripe and belt system: rank is earned by what a child does, physically and mentally.
The mental side, and where it is trained
- Respect and leadership: partner training and drills, coach chats, and the stripe and belt system.
- Discipline and control: sparring and grappling, and self-defense training.
- Focus and determination: striking pads and targets, and live wrestling and jiu-jitsu partner drills.
Little Dragons, 30 minutes
Little Dragons (ages 4-8) follows a shorter shape: a 5-minute warm-up and stretch; 10 minutes of relays, an obstacle course, foundational tumbling and basic kicks; a 10-minute MMA lesson, 5 minutes of boxing and kickboxing in boxing gloves and 5 minutes of grappling and self-defense; then a 5-minute cool-down with seated meditation, and stripes and belts awarded.
What parents see at home
"He had never liked any kind of sports before; yet at this studio, he was hooked from minute one."
"She has grown in her confidence, and strength over the last year with her lessons."
"He is always excited to come to class and wishes he could be here every day."
Rated Excellent on Google · read our reviews
Beyond the class schedule
One-on-one coaching for young athletes: sport-specific skills, strength, and confidence built at their pace. See kids personal training.
Practical, age-appropriate self-defense skills taught through structured martial arts training. See kids self-defense.
One-on-one martial arts coaching for children ages 4 and up. The coach adapts the work to your child's experience and how they learn, practicing martial arts skills and coordination at their pace. Start with a free consultation to discuss your child's goals.
Wednesday mornings for homeschool children ages 6-12: athletic development, martial arts foundations and coached games in a six-session block. See the dates and join the interest list on the homeschool page. Co-ops can also contact Forge about arranged group training.
Camps for ages 6-14 on days Collier County schools are out, with martial arts, athletic challenges and a ton of fun games led by our youth coaches. See camp dates and prices. For the summer weeks, see our summer camp.
An active, coached celebration with martial arts activities planned around the children's ages and experience. Details and the starting package are on the events calendar. Contact Forge to discuss your preferred date, group size, and party options.
Questions parents ask first
Is martial arts safe for my child?
Yes, and safety is built into how every class runs rather than added on top. Coaches actively supervise from start to finish, and children are taught proper technique, control, and respect before they are ever asked to work with a partner. Students train with others of similar age, size, and experience whenever possible. Like soccer, basketball, or gymnastics, occasional bumps and bruises can happen, but structured curriculum, coach supervision, and emphasis on control keep injuries uncommon.
What age groups do you offer?
We offer three age bands: Little Dragons for ages 4-8, Kids MMA and Kids MMA & Athletic Training for ages 6-12, and Youth MMA and Youth MMA & Athletic Training for ages 11-17. Classes run six days a week; on Saturdays the 11:15am class is Youth-Teen-Adult MMA for ages 13 and up, all levels, and 11 and 12 year olds train in Kids MMA at 10:30am. Placement can also account for experience and maturity, so contact us if you are unsure which class fits.
My child is shy and has never done this before. Will they be okay?
Yes. Many students arrive shy or completely new. We introduce new students gradually, partner them appropriately, and guide them through each step. Your child will not be expected to keep up with experienced students on day one.
Can I stay and watch, or do I drop my child off?
Either is fine. Parents are welcome to stay and watch from our viewing area, or drop off and return when class ends. From drop-off to pick-up your child is supervised by our staff and instructors. At pick-up, no child leaves without their parent or guardian, and our staff can walk your child out to your car at the drive-up pickup area. Many parents walk Coastland Center while their child trains.
Do your kids MMA classes include sparring?
Yes, but not on your first day. Students begin with stance, footwork, technique, defense and control, and light contact is introduced gradually and only when a student has the skill and maturity to take part safely. Protective equipment is worn, partners are matched by age, size and experience, and coaches supervise closely.
What exactly do you teach in the kids and youth classes?
We teach mixed martial arts: boxing, kickboxing, wrestling and jiu-jitsu, taught as one connected skill set. Kids MMA & Athletic Training and Youth MMA & Athletic Training also include strength, agility and athletic development. We may describe the overall category as martial arts, but MMA is the accurate description of what students learn.
Do kids wear a uniform?
Yes, once enrolled, and never for a first class. Students wear a Forge Athletics shirt or Forge rash guard with Forge shorts or gi pants, or plain grey or black sweatpants with no zippers, and in MMA class they wear the belt they receive from their instructor. Kids classes need boxing gloves, and teens in Youth MMA add MMA gloves and shin guards. Everything is sold at the front desk. For a first class, comfortable clothes are all your child needs.
Will this actually help my child's confidence, or is that just marketing?
It helps, and here is why: confidence grows when a child becomes genuinely good at something hard. In Kids MMA at Forge Athletics in Naples, ages 6-12, that happens through learning, practice and visible progress, class by class, with coaches who notice it and say so. Parents mention it in their reviews because the child earned it, not because we promised it.
What does my child need for their very first class?
Comfortable clothes they can move in and a water bottle, nothing else. Nothing is bought in advance for a first Kids MMA class at Forge Athletics in Naples. The Forge uniform, a dryfit t-shirt with Forge gi pants or Forge MMA fight shorts, is only required once your child enrolls, and boxing gloves can be bought here then.
What if my child tries it and does not like it?
That is completely fine. The first Kids MMA class at Forge Athletics in Naples is free, so your child meets the coach and feels the class before you decide anything, and memberships have no long-term contracts. Tell us your child's age and experience when you arrange the visit so the first class is the right one.
What happens when my child ages out of one class into the next one? Will the new times still work with school and our schedule?
The age bands overlap on purpose, at ages 6-8 between Little Dragons and Kids MMA and at ages 11-12 between Kids MMA and Youth MMA, so your child grows into the next group at their own pace, based on their development, skill and comfort rather than a birthday. When your child is close to moving up, you and the coach meet to decide the best option for their skill level, goals and training schedule. Kids MMA and Kids MMA & Athletic Training serve ages 6-12. Youth MMA and Youth MMA & Athletic Training serve ages 11-17 on weekdays, and on Saturdays the 11:15am class is Youth-Teen-Adult MMA for ages 13 and up, all levels, with 11 and 12 year olds in Kids MMA at 10:30am. Each age group has class options six days a week. Memberships are not locked to one time, so your child can attend any class that matches their age group and membership level. Tell us your schedule and we will help you find the times that work.
Is there a Starter for my child's age group?
Yes. The Forge Kids Starter is four coached Kids MMA or Kids MMA & Athletic Training classes for ages 6-12 at Forge Athletics in Naples, $99 for Classes only or $129 with Forge boxing gloves fitted at the first class. Ages 11-17 have the Forge Teen & Youth Starter; at 11 and 12 the coach helps you choose. Little Dragons does not have a Starter.
Questions parents ask when comparing schools
Who teaches my child?
On weekdays, Coach Nikki leads Kids MMA and Youth MMA, together with Coach Wil Jr on Monday and Thursday and Coach Wil Pino on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, and an assistant coach helps in every weekday class. On Saturday, Coach Wil Jr and Coach Wil Pino lead the kids class, and Coach Wil Jr leads Little Dragons. Coach Nikki and Coach Wil Jr both grew up training under Coach Wil Pino, who has taught martial arts for over thirty years.
How many kids are in a class, and how many coaches?
Little Dragons classes usually have 2 to 5 children and never more than 8, with one or two coaches. Kids MMA and Youth MMA classes usually have 4 to 12 students and never more than 18, with two or three coaches on the mat. If season pushes a kids class to 14 to 16 students, we add another class time rather than let the coaching thin out.
How long is a class?
Little Dragons classes run 30 minutes, and Kids MMA and Youth MMA classes run 45. A 45-minute class keeps the same order: a 5-minute warm-up, 10 minutes of physical training, 15 minutes of technique and self-defense, 10 minutes of team challenges and games, and a 5-minute cool-down when stripes and belts are awarded. Weekday classes start at 4:00pm for Kids MMA and 4:45pm for Youth MMA, and Saturday classes run in the morning, with Little Dragons at 10:00am.
How do belts and stripes work?
Students move through White, Yellow, Orange, Green and Grey belts, then Blue and Purple, then Brown and Brown-Black, and then black belt. On each belt they earn stripes, and every stripe takes three things: steady attendance, the right attitude (discipline, focus, leadership and perseverance), and the skills listed for that rank. About every four to five classes, each student gets a chance to show what they have learned. For a beginner, those skills are a balanced fighting stance, basic strikes, guarding, footwork, falling safely and standing up from the ground in a defensive guard; higher belts add combinations and harder defense, standing and on the ground.
How does my child move up to the next belt?
When your child has earned all their stripes, their coach talks with you. If your child is ready, you agree on a day for them to test during their regular class, so the coach can plan time for them to show their skills, techniques and combinations with control. If your child is close but needs more practice, the coach sets up extra one-on-one time after class, usually 10 to 20 minutes, sometimes over a few sessions depending on the belt. That extra time is part of the membership, at no extra charge. A full personal training session is there if you want one, but it is never required.
How long does it take to earn a black belt?
With steady training, each beginner belt takes about 2 to 6 months, Blue and Purple about 6 to 9 months each, and the Brown belts about 9 to 12 months each. On average, reaching black belt at Forge takes 8 to 10 years.
Are there testing or belt fees?
No. There are no stripe fees and no belt fees. The one exam with a fee is the black belt exam, which covers its advanced preparation and the embroidered black belt.
What does it cost to get started?
The first class is free. After that, the Forge Kids Starter is four coached classes for ages 6 to 12, $99 for classes only or $129 with Forge boxing gloves. Once your child enrolls, they wear a Forge t-shirt with Forge gi pants or fight shorts and need a pair of boxing gloves, which you can buy at the gym. Memberships have no long-term contracts.
Karate or MMA: which is better for my child?
Ask a martial arts school which style is best for your child, and you will usually hear the one it teaches. Our answer is different: a well-rounded martial artist needs boxing, kickboxing, wrestling and jiu-jitsu taught as one connected skill set, so a child can defend themselves standing up and on the ground. Boxing teaches the hands, footwork and defense; karate and taekwondo kicks are the great equalizer against a bigger, stronger person; jiu-jitsu and wrestling teach position and leverage over strength; MMA teaches a child to put it together. That is why Forge teaches kids MMA, and why Kids MMA & Athletic Training adds strength, agility and athletic development. Whatever the style on the sign, the coach matters most. Comparing schools? Our guide to choosing a kids martial arts school in Naples walks through the nine questions to ask.
My child has ADHD, or just cannot sit still. Will this work for them?
We are coaches, not clinicians, so we will not promise what training does for any diagnosis. What we can tell you is how the class is built, because parents of children who struggle to sit still ask us exactly this. A Kids MMA class runs in short blocks: a five-minute warm-up, ten minutes of physical training, fifteen of technique and partner drills, ten of games with a rule or a limit to solve, and a five-minute cool-down. Nobody sits and listens for long; the body is the lesson. Two or three coaches are on the mat, so a child who drifts is brought back by name. Progress has a near horizon: about every four to five classes a child gets a chance to show what they have learned, and stripes mark it. Tell us at the front desk what helps your child at school, and we will use it. The first class is free, and it is the honest way to find out.
Why do kids quit martial arts, and what does Forge do about it?
In our experience, kids quit for three reasons: the class stops being fun, they stop feeling seen, or progress goes dark and the next belt feels years away. We build against all three. Every class ends in games and challenges, and the week alternates two kinds of class, so no two days feel the same. Two or three coaches are on the mat, and we want every child to feel connected, seen and understood, by name, every class. Progress is kept visible: about every four to five classes a child gets a chance to show what they have learned, and stripes mark the road to the next belt. When your child is close to moving up, you and the coach meet to decide the timing together. And because memberships have no long-term contracts, a family stays because the child wants to come back, which is the only reason that lasts.
Give their energy a place to grow.
An active child needs a challenge. A hesitant child needs a welcoming place to begin. At Forge, coaches guide both through martial arts skills, movement and age-appropriate challenges, with plenty of encouragement along the way.
Start with four Kids MMA or Kids MMA & Athletic Training classes and a pair of Forge boxing gloves to keep. Your child gets time to try the training, meet the coaches and begin finding their feet.
- Four coached group classes
- Forge boxing gloves, fitted at your first class and yours to keep
- Use your classes within four weeks of your first class
One-time purchase for one child. No automatic membership enrollment. Take your first class within 60 days of purchase. Full refund within 3 business days of purchase. Paying by credit card adds a 2.9% processing fee. For new students only. One per person. Not available to current or former members.
Prefer to try one class first? Start with a free session.
Bring them in for a free class
Your child trains, you watch, then you decide. No pressure and nothing to buy in advance.