Of course. We have students of all skill levels, shapes and sizes. Our programs are designed to accommodate beginners and experts alike. top

Don't wait. The best way to get in shape is to come to class. You will find that you will get into shape as you learn and practice. Our classes scale to any level. top

It depends on your injury, but we can often find a way to work around injuries so you can still participate in our programs. Please let us know about any injuries you may have when we discuss your interests. top

Almost anyone with the right attitude. The activities and exercises in our classes can be adjusted to fit the pace and intensity level of each person. We will challenge you, but that challenge will be at the appropriate level for you. top

We have a great mix of people in our community including programmers, doctors, nurses, engineers, psychologists, police officers, marines, business owners and people in the service industry. The most important thing to note is that they all come together and support one another. top

Once you decide our programs are right for you, you should plan on a long term approach lasting several months or years. In order to really benefit, you should plan on attending at least 2 to 3 classes a week. With this commitment, we can guarantee you will progress. The more time you spend training, the faster you will learn and get into shape. Most people find that our classes are fun and training becomes addictive rather than a chore. top

Yes, missing classes occasionally is no problem. If you do miss a class, just know a few minutes of practice or training outside of class can make a big difference. We post workouts and homework on our blog that may help you keep moving forward when you can't make it to class. top

We have three paths to follow with our ongoing classes: the Fighter, the Athlete or the Warrior Athlete. The Fighter is focused on martial arts and self defense. The Athlete trains CrossFit to improve fitness, health, strength and conditioning. The Warrior Athlete path is for those who want to be ready for anything. This path includes both training for the the mastery of martial arts as well as the peak performance of a CrossFit athlete. top

It depends on your goals. We have members that train only martial arts and members who train only CrossFit. However, we find that combining martial arts and CrossFit is the best way to excel. The martial arts classes will teach you how to protect yourself and CrossFit will ensure your body is ready to apply the skills you develop. top

We have a community room and meeting room where we can meet for lectures, get some work done, or just hang out. We have wifi available. We have a shower and a dressing room. Our training rooms are air conditioned. We offer member's only online training resources. We have high quality training equipment that offer 1000's of training options. top

Just email or give us a call. We can answer your questions and set up an appointment to meet you. When you come to visit, we will discuss your goals and see which program is best for you. There is no charge for the appointment. It's an opportunity for us to get to know you better and determine how we can best serve you. top

We offer a discount to active duty military, law enforcement and first responders. We also offer a discount for couples. top

Absolutely. First, make an appointment so we can meet and discuss your interests. After we meet, you are welcome to watch the classes that interest you. top

Bring comfortable clothes that are suitable for exercise such as a t-shirt, shorts or pants. We typically practice both Pencak Silat and Dumog barefoot and Kali with shoes. top

For the Kali class, you will need a pair of rattan sticks, training knives, and our T-shirt uniform. For Pencak Silat, you will need the traditional Pencak Silat uniform. We will provide all of these things and more for you when you register. We will also recommend other gear appropriate for you as any needs arise. top

It’s up to you. Many new students enjoy starting with more than one program, others feel more comfortable with just one. Fortunately, all the classes we offer at the Tactical Arts Academy are closely related in principles and mechanics, so it is easier to learn them simultaneously. top

In order to have a good defense, you must understand the offense. Should you ever be attacked, it is likely that your attacker will have a weapon or the environment will offer one. Even when you are unarmed it is best you understand that a weapon could be involved in a confrontation. Studying the dynamics of edged weapons and impact weapons will make you safer. top

Each class begins with a salutation. We then spend the first few minutes of a class warming up the body with basic movements. The warmup often uses movements or builds skills that are directly relevant to the techniques we will be practicing later. In Kali, we spend 10 - 20 minutes on basics, including strikes and footwork as a part of our warmup. In Pencak Silat, we typically develop mobility through dynamic exercises such as footwork, coordination exercises, ground maneuvers, or simple entry drills. After the warmup, students work with partners on various techniques, progressing from simple movements to combinations, techniques and dynamic drills. In some classes, we divide students into small groups in order to focus on material specific to each student's experience level. In other classes, everyone works on the same material together. Drills range from learning to move properly, developing sound technique and body mechanics, to honing application skills with a practical exercise. The class is concluded with a salutation. top

We have been active for many years supporting the law enforcement and militarty community. This includes motivated individuals who have attended our programs as well as those we have attended our training officially through their departments. Below is a list of departments and associations who we have taught in an official capacity.

U.S. Marine Corps
U.S. Navy
U.S. Air Force Special Tactics Teams
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
U.S. Marshals
U.S. Border Patrol
Texas Department of Public Safety
Texas Capitol Police
Texas Governors Protective Detail
Texas DPS Narcotics Agents
Texas DPS S.W.A.T.
Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission
Texas State Guard
Travis County Corrections Complex
Travis County Sheriffs Department
Austin Police Department
Austin P.D. S.W.A.T.
Midland Odessa Police Department
Texas Police Association
Texas Tactical Police Officers Association
National Latino Peace Officers Association
Vancouver Police Department (Canada)
Philippine Marine Corps
Philippine National Police
Special Action Force Commandos (SAF)
Crisis Response Group (CRG)
Presidential Security Group (PSG)
Aviation Security Group (ASG)
K-9 Sniff and Rescue Team
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We offer workshops roughly every quarter at the Tactical Arts Academy that include defensive tactics such as weapon retention, edged weapon defense, improvised weapons, and the like. Check our schedule page for upcoming training opportunities. Other defensive tactics and combatives courses are held within the facility of hosting departments. top

Workshops held at the Tactical Arts Academy are usually open for both law enforcement personnel and responsible citizens. Courses held within the facility of hosting departments are restricted according to department policy. top

After discussing your goals and CrossFit for a few minutes, you will be lead through a warm up of basic movements, taught 2-3 skills and then given a workout in which the intensity will be entirely up to you. If you feel confident in your fitness ability you can go as hard as you want during the workout. If you have not worked out in awhile (or ever), you will be encouraged to finish the workout at a lower intensity. After your short workout, we will discuss our Athlete programs and see what is best for you. top

Bring comfortable clothes that are suitable for exercise such as a t-shirt, shorts or pants. Any athletic shoes will be fine. You may later consider investing in minimal or low heel running shoes, weightlifting shoes and / or any other shoe that allows you to perform better in class. Many who do Crossfit prefer Inov-8 brand running shoes, Vibram 5 Fingers or even Chuck Taylors which all allow you to get your heel low to the ground and move more like you are barefoot. top

The workouts you see posted on our blog are the ideal workouts for our most conditioned athletes. In class, these workouts are adjusted to better fit each person at their own fitness level. We do this by changing the weight, number of rounds or time requirements. We also substitute different exercises when necessary. Our members work on a progression to eventually do the workouts without modifications. To help everyone set shorter- term goals, we offer 3 tiers of workouts that allow members to see their fitness progress. top

CrossFit is a general fitness program that gives you a functional strength and conditioning base that will help you perform any other physical activity. To ensure you are well rounded, we do many types of exercises including simple pushups and pullups, running, biking, rowing as well as olympic weightlifting, basic gymnastic movements and kettlebell exercises. top

Our workouts follow the principles that elite athletes use when training for sports. This involves multi-joint movements and explosive exercises that condition your metabolism and build strength as well. In CrossFit, we develop 10 general skills equally. These skills are cardiovascular / respiratory endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, coordination, agility, balance, and accuracy. In one workout, you may combine jumps onto a box, 200 meter sprints, and lifting a weight from the ground to above your head. Most gyms offer "cardio" workouts or bodybuilding style weight lifting with machines. The cardio workouts are fine, but have limited results. The exercises done with machines typically develop muscles that are more bulky and better for a bodybuilding look rather than the functional strength and conditioning our workouts offer. Also, the typical gym workout follows a routine that quickly leads to a plateau. With us, you will rarely do the same workouts more than once. Each session is very different and therefore encourages your body to continually improve. top

We start each class with a warmup. The warmup may include basic skill work or a review of skills and exercises. Usually, we focus on how to safely and properly perform the exercises that will be included in the workout of the day (known as the WOD). We then will make sure everyone is prepared to start the WOD together while accounting for any personal adjustments to the workout scheme. This may include the number of repetitions, rounds, or the weight. This insures everyone is challenged at the appropriate level. Usually, everyone will begin the WOD together. During the WOD, we will coach and motivate you. Those who finish early will typically cheer for those still working out. If the workout is short, we may spend a little time afterwards developing additional skills or eliminating weaknesses. Finally, we will cool down and stretch for better recovery at the end of class. top

When first getting started you should come 3 to 4 times per week. CrossFit workouts can be safely done on consecutive days, but most people lose the ability to train intensely after 3 days in a row. Experienced athletes are able to train up to 5 or 6 days before taking a break. Overall you should listen to your body and increase the demands gradually over time. Your ability to train more often and see results more quickly is also limited by how much rest and sleep you get as well as the quality of your nutrition. top

Many of our members began seeing results after just 4 or 5 workouts. Everyone sees results within 2 - 4 weeks. The way our training method is structured, your body will respond on a hormonal level to make a change. This happens as a result of doing CrossFit workouts much more quickly than it does in the typical workout you may see in a big gym. top