About Progressive Martial Arts
About PMA
Progressive Martial Arts was founded in Denver in 1985 by Mr. Stewart Lauper. Mr. Lauper and his senior staff bring over 70 years of training in several different martial arts to their classes.
As our name implies, we have a progressive approach to our teaching and training. We bring the best elements of old style training: Honesty, Courtesy, Discipline and respect... and blend them with fun, fitness oriented modern methods of the 21st century.
At PMA, we have found this method has worked very well over the last 20+ years. People can learn values and principles of ancient, traditional martial art in a relaxed, contemporary setting. The key to doing anything well is being persistent and disciplined - and making hard training fun.
Who Can Train in the Martial Arts
We have students as young as 3 and 4 years old and as old as 85 (Really!). No special skills are required to learn martial arts. Students need only desire to learn, grow and have fun.
We also ask that students train with a Positive Mental Attitude. This helps you progress more quickly and makes you more pleasant to be around.
Students at Progressive Martial Arts generally train in a combination of private lessons and group classes.
Your rate of progress through rank is entirely individual. It depends on your ability to learn, the time you have to practice, etc. PMA is not a "rank" oriented school, but rather a skill oriented one. It is not possible to earn a black belt here in one or two years, but takes many years of dedicated training.
The Benefits of Martial Arts Training
People train for a variety of reasons:
- Self Defense
- Confidence
- Discipline
- Physical Fitness
- Personal Development
- Competition
- Awareness
- FUN!
In addition to the tangible benefits of training, the biggest intangible aspect of training is an improved sense of self-esteem. Martial Arts training gives everyone (especially children) a "CAN DO" attitude that transfers to other aspects in their life. Students come to see their training as a very worthwhile investment in their future.
Getting Started at PMA
Anyone interested in training at Progressive Martial Arts can start out with an introduction consisting of four half hour private lessons and one hour long group class. All by appointment. The cost for this introductory package is $50.
This allows the student to "try out" the school, meet different staff members, view the curriculum and get a general feeling of the atmosphere of the school, we feel that students can then make an informed, intelligent decision about continuing their training here.
This introductory period also affords parents the opportunity to view their children so they can determine, along with the staff, if their child is serious enough, mature enough and has an adequate attention span to train in the martial arts at this time.
