Grand Master Ken Craig
KCTO, TOMM, ECSM, DCSM, PMA
International Program Director

The Martial Arts Program (MAP) is our primary vehicle for positively changing peoples' lives and environments through training, camaraderie, exchange of ideas, and supportive mentorship.

This program works at several different levels and in a number of different ways, and is one of the most significant programs in the TMAA suite as it touches on, and impacts almost every other area of TMAA's operations and goals.

As professional and experienced martial artists, we all know the emmense and often imeasurable benefits that everyone can enjoy through participation in structured martial arts classes. Today more and more people are recognizing the benefits of such training and are seeking out opportunities to learn about themselves, and better themselves physically, emotionally, and psychologically. Unfortunatley however, despite many significant improvements in the martial arts business and ethical ethos over the last twenty years, many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, elderly, disabled, and low income individuals feel unwelcome or even threatened in many commercial studios.

TMAA MAP addresses these issues by opening up our regular training classes to literally everyone, while we focus our marketing and energy on attracting and encouraging participation by members of the above mentioned communities.  As a non-profit, community benefit organization, we keep tuition fees at a very reasonable level (often less than half the cost of similar commercial studios in the same area.)  We also offer tuition for trade, and even lower cost scholarship opportunities for individuals who are financially unable to meet the minimum tuition fees.

How Does MAP Work?

In brief, the TMAA MAP brings together martial artists from all disciplines and provides opportunities for them to train together, share and exchange information, engage in friendly and positive competitive opportunities, advance through multi-style seminars and events, and provides promotional opportunities in all disciplines we recognize. We also encourage the participation of complete novices through experienced martial artists in our full promotional martial arts training programs.

We achieve this at three principal levels:

At the local level,

MAP provides opportunities for LGBTQQI, senior, youth, and disabled individuals to participate equally, fairly, and safely within structured, quality martial arts and self-defense programs. We do this by:

• Supporting existing organizations that work within the communities we serve, through in-kind donations, service support, referrals, etc.;
• Identifying qualified, committed black belt instructors and helping them to establish programs within their local areas; and,
• Providing seminars on a variety of martial arts and self-defense related topics.

At the regional level,

MAP brings these like-minded martial arts students and instructors together at a variety of venues to allow them to meet, exchange information and ideas, and extend their support network. We do this by:

• Supporting or establishing competitive opportunities for LGBTQQ, senior, youth, and disabled individuals and their allies;
• Supporting or establishing seminar and certification opportunities for LGBTQQ, senior, youth, and disabled individuals and their allies; and,
• Establishing quarterly regional instructors meetings.

At the national level,

MAP brings these like-minded martial arts students and instructors together at a variety of venues to allow them to meet, exchange information and ideas, and extend their support network. We do this by:

• Supporting or establishing national level competitive opportunities for LGBTQQ, senior, youth, and disabled individuals and their allies;
• Supporting or establishing national seminar and certification opportunities for LGBTQQ, senior, youth, and disabled individuals and their allies; and,
• Establishing annual national instructors meetings.