At Forge Athletics in Naples, kids and teens ages 4 to 17 learn self-defense inside their martial arts classes, with classes six days a week at Coastland Center.
Self-defense is part of our kids and youth MMA classes. Students practice noticing trouble, using their voice, getting help, and creating space to leave. The skills are practiced properly over time rather than shown once, with coaching that fits each child's age and experience, and the confidence is earned rather than promised.
That is why self-defense at Forge is taught standing up and on the ground. Boxing gives a child hands that guard and move; the kick keeps a bigger person away; wrestling and jiu-jitsu give position and leverage over strength, and the way out from underneath if they are ever pinned. Alongside it we teach what the traditional arts are for: respect, discipline, leadership and a positive mindset. Whatever the style on the sign, the coach matters most, and ours supervise every minute.
Skills beyond the physical
Verbal de-escalation, assertive communication, confident body language, and knowing when and how to get help from an adult. Role-playing scenarios let kids practice handling situations before they meet them.
Being alert to surroundings, recognizing early warning signs, stranger safety, and making smart decisions to avoid trouble before it starts.
Students practice blocking, making space and escaping holds under a coach's supervision. The aim is to leave and get help.
Every stripe takes attitude as well as skill: focus, discipline, leadership and perseverance. Kids MMA at Forge Athletics in Naples builds the confidence and character that go with them.
Current class options include Little Dragons (ages 4-8), Kids MMA (ages 6-12), Kids MMA & Athletic Training (ages 6-12), Youth MMA (ages 11-17), and Youth MMA & Athletic Training (ages 11-17). Saturday also has Youth-Teen-Adult MMA (ages 13 and up). See the kids martial arts hub for the full program.
Kids MMA meets weekdays at 4:00pm and Saturday at 10:30am, Youth MMA weekdays at 4:45pm, Little Dragons Saturday at 10:00am, and Youth-Teen-Adult MMA (13 and up) Saturday at 11:15am. Full times are on the schedule.
What parents notice
"Self defense and confidence building skills that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives."
"It's not just judo or karate, but techniques in what to do if someone grabs or attacks you! It's just what he needs to boost his confidence!"
"My son looks forward to this class every week and we are so lucky to have found them!"
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Kids self-defense questions
Can martial arts help my child's confidence?
Training can help. Confidence is the change parents mention most, and at Forge it is built through genuine competence. Your child learns how to move, protect themselves, stay composed, and work through difficult situations with control. We cannot promise that training will solve every situation, but we can give your child real skills, stronger self-belief, and coaches who are invested in helping them grow.
What kind of self-defense do kids learn?
Self-defense is built into the martial arts program, not taught as a handful of tricks. Kids learn to defend themselves on the ground and against strikes, holds and throws: boxing and kickboxing for striking, then wrestling and jiu-jitsu for control and ground situations. Kids MMA classes also set time for self-defense techniques and safety talks. Kids practice those skills through coached drills matched to their age, experience, and maturity. The goal is a child who understands what to do, can stay in control, and learns to use their skills responsibly.
When is contact introduced?
There is no automatic date. The coach decides based on what your child shows during the warm-up and instruction. When contact is appropriate, it begins under close supervision with a carefully chosen partner, often an advanced student with good control or the coach themselves. The rule is simple: true martial arts etiquette means control. The coach adjusts the drill to keep your child safe, comfortable, and learning throughout.
Is my child too young or too shy to start?
Little Dragons starts at age 4. A shy child does not have to become confident before walking through the door. That is one of the things training can build. Coaches welcome them, introduce them to the class, and give them one clear step at a time. Nobody expects them to match experienced students on their first day. The first goal is simple: help them settle in, learn something real, and leave proud that they took the first step.
Can my child try a few classes before we join?
Yes. After the free first class, the Forge Kids Starter gives ages 6-12 four coached Kids MMA or Kids MMA & Athletic Training classes at Forge Athletics in Naples, $99 for Classes only or $129 with Forge boxing gloves. For ages 11-17 there is the Forge Teen & Youth Starter. At 11 and 12 the coach helps you place your child; nobody needs to buy both.
Who teaches the kids classes?
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. For the other questions to ask any kids school, see our guide to choosing a kids martial arts school in Naples.
My child is being bullied right now. What should we do first?
Start with the adults around your child: listen, write down what happened, and tell the school so it can act. Training does not replace that. In class, your child practices the words, the boundaries and the escapes with a coach, so they have something to do besides freeze or fight back. Our guide for Naples parents walks through the first conversations.
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.
For ages 11-17, the Forge Teen & Youth Starter covers Youth MMA and Youth MMA & Athletic Training.
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. Nothing to buy in advance.
After the free class, the Forge Kids Starter is four coached Kids MMA classes for ages 6-12, with or without Forge boxing gloves. See the starter.