Frequently Asked Questions
What do you teach?
Our academy focuses on the use of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, folk & freestyle wrestling, judo, western boxing, muay thai, and kickboxing to teach you how to have answers to almost all problems you may encounter in a real life altercation. Eventually your path may also include the blend of all those martial arts, and weapon instruction. These options are for advanced students.
Do I need to be in shape to start?
No! There are no prerequisites to start. Most people are concerned about their fitness levels, previous injuries, or age and immediately disqualify themselves. The beauty of what we do is this, we encourage you where you are, and work with you to get you to where you want to be. You can modify anything in class as necessary to meet personal physical limitations and most importantly, we encourage it to help keep you motivated and excited about coming.
What do I need on my first day?
This is a simple one, you need your body, a positive attitude, workout clothes, and water. We offer water at the academy but encourage students to bring their own. The one thing you DO NOT need though is your ego!
How do memberships work?
All of our programs are done on a month to month basis. This means you will never be put on a contract to be a member of The Bender Academy. Tuition payment is done through a third party that auto-withdrawals monthly dues directly from your bank account on a predetermined day. If cancelling a membership is necessary, we do ask that we receive a 30 days notice.
Can I do a drop by when in town?
Absolutely, if you are in town for work or similar and want to train with us then we'd love to have you. The daily drop-by fee is $20 at the door.
Why should I even learn this?
We believe that there is a need for self-protection for those who are followers of Jesus Christ. There is no secret that attacks and prejudice towards Christians has increased, while we are not condone you trying to hurt other people, we are giving you the tools necessary to protect not only yourself but also your family if the situation calls for it.
Why The Bender Academy?
The biggest things that set us apart is very simple. First, we are a proud Christian based academy that is not willing to waiver on our faith to satisfy the public. Second, we use the martial arts to teach how to protect against real fights, unlike other schools who focus on sport fighting or competition. While they all have value, we believe that our focus in teaching and our bold declaration of faith makes us an easy choice for those who find value in those areas.
Can I try it first?
Yes! Every single new arrival is offered a free week of training to make sure the atmosphere, information, and schedule is what they are looking for. That means for 7 calendar days you get to come to as many classes that you are eligible for before making the decision to join up.
Any special rates available?
We offer a few year round membership discounts. Discounts are available if you are a first responder, LEO, or active military. We also offer a very generous family plan based on the number of family members. For more information on those, please contact the academy so we can give you exact information.
