TMAC Founding Philosophy

     When I earned my brown belt in karate as a 21-year-old in 1988, I thought that nothing could be more fun than to have a school to teach martial arts to others.  However, college graduation, full-time employment, graduate school, marriage, kids, and career responsibilities prevented that dream from becoming a reality. 
     More than two decades after it first seemed so appealing, the desire to begin a martial arts program presented itself again.  And this time, the perfect combination of timing, resources, interest, opportunity, and people were available to make the dream a reality. 
     In developing my own program, I looked back over my training at schools and programs in Florida, Alabama, and Texas and tried to draw out the best experiences from those places to create a school that is both high-quality and inviting to all students.  I realized that the programs and classes that I most enjoyed in my life were small, caring, uplifting, and possessed strong senses of community among the students and teachers.  This was the type of program that I wanted to develop and share with others--including my children.
     I've trained with teachers who have ISKA world championships and with the people who run the ISKA, organize the ISKA championships, and hand out the ISKA belts.  I've learned from police officers, professional kick boxers, instructors who studied under the originator of a style, master instructors, and from wise and experienced teachers who are role models to their students.  I consider myself fortunate to have studied under so many exceptional teachers and martial artists--one would be hard pressed to find a more experienced, skillful, and knowledgeable group of mentors.
     As a martial arts teacher, you will not hear me tell war stories of fights that I've been in and people that I've damaged with my marital arts skills (but the same can't be said of my training equipment).  In fact, I've never been in a fight in my life and really don't intend to ever get into one.  My martial arts training has given me the confidence and security to know that I could defend myself if the "true" need ever arises.  I want my students to feel the same way.
     At TMAC, our programs are small and inclusive.  We want to offer training opportunities to people who might not be able to train at other schools.  We welcome students and instructors from other styles and believe that we can all benefit from sharing our styles with others. 
     As you look around for a martial arts school, the best advice that I can give you is to visit a variety of schools and find one that best fits your needs and wants.  Please put us on your list of schools to visit, however, you just might find that ours is the one where you belong.

--Coleman Patterson, Ph.D.