Main Street Martial Arts Self Defense Aikido Taekwondo Jujitsu Karate Sword After School
About
Many martial arts schools have teachers without thorough teacher preparation and many gyms out there have inexperienced personal trainers. At Main Street Martial Arts, our teachers and trainers have over 30 years of experience and thorough teacher preparation to help students and clients identify and understand basic fundamental principles and then move their art and training forward for effective progress. If you've tried services or programs in other schools or studios and you haven't made sustainable gains, then Main Street Martial Arts or Main Street Fitness Consulting could be your next choice. Try our programs out and see if they work for you.
Ask to try a free class or ask for a one-month gift certificate at no cost. Furthermore, our non-profit model allows us to help people who cannot easily afford these services. While other programs turn you away if you cannot afford it, we actually work WITH you to make sure that we set up an affordable package that both accomplishes your goals and fits in your budget. We have programs that start as low as $7/hour of practice WITH a professional coach on the floor to teach you from the very basics to advanced training that words cannot describe!
Our program includes all-natural warm-ups, stretching, muscle conditioning, cardio training, self defense, martial arts, weapons practice, Aikido, Grappling, Taekwondo, Kickboxing, Jujitsu, Karate, Mixed Martial Arts, Sword attack and defense, Knife defense, Spear/Staff attack and defense, and much more! No matter what your current level of conditioning, or health, or ability, you can do *something* and we will carefully and gradually build you up at your own pace from wherever you are and help you grow to the best that you can be. We care about every one of our members professionally and personally, as we become a community and a family here, all students, all learning together. Our practices are always highly engaging and interesting. You won't even realize that you're "exercising" when you're training with us. And it's fun!
Furthermore, we work with people of all ages from our young children's classes for students from 5-11 years old, to our youth classes for students from 7-13 years old, to our teen classes for students from 12-17 years old to our adults classes for students 18 years old all the way to 75 years old, or older! Why stop at 75!?
We also have some very special classes after-school for young and youth students. And, we have a brand-new Women's Only Self-Defense Martial Arts class, which is absolutely fantastic. This class is woman-led and for women only. Please ask about this class especially when you contact us.
As a volunteer owner/manager, Head of School, and Chief Instructor at Main Street Martial Arts, I absolutely love the opportunity to work with people and help them to meet their goals. Everyone who comes is given a fair and affordable package for their practice and training, and we create an equitable environment so that everyone has an equal opportunity to learn in their program of choice. We have seven excellent teachers and I love to work with them as well to help grow their students and create the best programs available in our region.
We have worked with over 2,000 people from all different walks of life in 19 years. We've worked with senior citizens all the way down to toddlers. Our typical students current mostly range in age from 7 to 50 years old. But we do have a few younger students, and a half-dozen or so older students. We are also a safe space for people of all backgrounds and special abilities (powers), and anyone who wants to learn is welcome to come and try a free class and interview with us. We are volunteers. We are a nonprofit family community center. We welcome everyone.
I have especially enjoyed working with high school teens who are working on senior projects for martial arts and are trying to write a paper on "The Secrets of the Martial Way." It's a lot of fun to mentor young people and adults who are hungry to learn and grow.
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
We offer individual adults and families a free-trial appointment and we will give you a free introductory class and then meet with you to explain all of the programs and costs. We are a nonprofit family community center run by volunteers. We do not high-pressure sell anyone to join! If you love the teacher and the class and the other students after you try the free class, you are welcome to become a member. And if you don't absolutely love it, or you only want to join for a short period of time, you are welcome to discuss your situation with us and we'll come up with options.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Mr. Michael L. Werth Sensei is a Rhode Island certified public school teacher with 19 years of experience, working here in Providence, RI. He is also the Department Head of Mathematics and Computer Science at Central High School. Prior to that, Mr. Werth was the Manager of Technical Resources, specializing in database, network, and telecommunications administration. He has been an entrepreneur for 31 years. Currently, Mr. Werth is seeking professional certification in School Administration with the Rhode Island Department of Education.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
Try our programs out and see if they work for you. Ask to try a free class or ask for a one-month gift certificate at no cost. Furthermore, our non-profit model allows us to help people who cannot easily afford these services. While other programs turn you away if you cannot afford it, we actually work WITH you to make sure that we set up an affordable package that both accomplishes your goals and fits in your budget. We have programs that start as low as $7/hour of practice WITH a professional coach on the floor to teach you from the very basics to advanced training that words cannot describe!
How did you get started teaching?
Mr. Michael L. Werth Sensei started martial arts in January of 1991 while he was in graduate school training to become a public educator. In August of 2000, Werth Sensei opened Aikido - Downtown in Downtown, Providence, RI in the Capital City of Rhode Island. Six years later, we opened Main Street Martial Arts and we've now been operating for over 19 years.
What types of students have you worked with?
We have worked with over 2,000 people from all different walks of life in 19 years. We've worked with senior citizens all the way down to toddlers. Our typical students current mostly range in age from 7 to 50 years old. But we do have a few younger students, and a half-dozen or so older students. We are also a safe space for people of all backgrounds and special abilities (powers), and anyone who wants to learn is welcome to come and try a free class and interview with us. We are volunteers. We are a nonprofit family community center. We welcome everyone.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
I have especially enjoyed working with high school teens who are working on senior projects for martial arts and are trying to write a paper on "The Secrets of the Martial Way." It's a lot of fun to mentor young people and adults who are hungry to learn and grow.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Always try a free class, first. If you like the teacher and the other students, chances are that you will like the practice as well. No matter what "style" of martial arts you pick, it is important that you have a qualified and experienced teacher who will guide you in your journey. Martial Arts is not a sport, it is a discipline. In martial arts, you forge your mind body and spirit into a force for the common good. You cannot learn anywhere else what you will learn in martial arts from a teacher with thirty years of experience. You will develop your body and mind into a finely tuned machine. You will develop complex and powerful fine motor skills and powerful mental and emotional insights into yourself. You will become more in tune with yourself as a spiritual being, no matter what religious faith you practice. (Main Street Martial Arts is not a religious organization.) Martial arts helps you grow mentally, physically and spiritually, and you will be better at everything that you do after you master martial arts. Come see Michael Werth Sensei and try a class and I'll talk to you more about it and how it will relate to your life.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
1) What are your goals for martial arts practice or physical fitness, in general? 2) For parents, what are your goals for your children in martial arts practice? 3) How hungry are you for learning and to know the journey of the way and the secrets of the martial arts? 4) How much experience does your prospective teacher have? 5) Can your prospective teacher actually "teach"? Although some martial artists are very amazing in their physical ability, do they also have the pedagogical skills to develop ANY student to help them grow from where they are and take them to their full potential? The magic of the power of a true teacher cannot be underestimated. 6) Are martial arts a short term goal for some fun for you, or are they a long term way of life for you leading to long-term health and fitness? Obviously, it can be fun to practice for a few months, but if you think that you can put more time in, you will build on your knowledge as you go. Martial Arts teaches you how to learn. If you are someone who wants to learn as much as you can in your life, then martial arts is for you.