Strong Heart Academy Kids Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & MMA Programs
Strong Heart Academy, 3150 E Union Hills Dr, #115, Phoenix, AZ 85050
About
Strong Heart Academy Kids Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & MMA Programs offers Kids Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a Tiny Tigers kids BJJ class, MMA for Kids, Karate, Muay Thai, Boxing, and No-Gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The programs are part of a family friendly BJJ academy that also offers an MMA 101 Class, Women’s Jiu Jitsu, and women’s self-defense. The academy focuses on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and has multiple kids’ Jiu-Jitsu instructors to be able to focus on its students and their individual games rather than a standard corporate chosen gameplan.
• Ages: 4–16 years old
• Schedule: Phoenix Arizona MMA 101 Class Friday at 6pm; Kids BJJ One Month Special with four weeks of classes; One Month BJJ Special for adult men and women with 30 days of unlimited classes
• Price: Kids Quick Start Special — $150 Savings; Adult BJJ Quick Start Special — $150 Savings
Strong Heart Academy was established in 2009 and has been serving North Phoenix and Scottsdale for over 15 years as part of a Phoenix martial arts community. The academy offers a Kids’ BJJ program, a Tiny Tigers program for kids 4–6, a Kids Brazilian Jiu Jitsu program for children 6–13 years old, a Tiny Tigers class for ages 5–6, Kids BJJ for ages 8–12, and Teens classes for ages 13–16. The program states that kids cannot compete with bad grades and that it does not accept bad habits.
The leadership and coaching team includes Mike Martin, the owner and a 4th Degree Black Belt who is also a black belt in Karate before BJJ, along with black belt instructors Tod Gerrish, Shea Smith, Adrian Ramirez, Mike Demers, Casey Quist, John Habinek, David Weaver, and Patrick Taft, and Kids BJJ brown belt instructor Tracy Valentine. Additional listed instructors include BJJ black belt Shea Smith, brown belt Riley Truitt, and purple belt Tony Castro. The academy is part of the Caio Terra Association, and Professor Caio Terra is described as a 15-time world champion and a pioneer in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and founder of the Caio Terra Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Association.
The mission statements for Strong Heart Academy describe it as a family friendly BJJ academy where families grow stronger together on and off the mats, with martial arts programs made to offer a secure, welcoming environment where kids may grow in self-assurance, respect, and discipline while having fun and meeting new people. The academy also states that it prides itself on being a welcoming and inclusive martial arts community where everyone is encouraged to push themselves to their limits and support each other along the way.
Strong Heart Academy notes that students receive access to monthly online classes, that anyone can subscribe to a streaming service full of online training, and that families can join the community and stay connected via social media, podcasts, and more, as well as visit a store for Strong Heart merchandise. The first step is described as taking a free trial. The academy also mentions that children in Arizona can get paid to take classes through an MMA Empowerment Scholarship for Kids and invites families to join the Phoenix martial arts community and transform their lives.
Testimonials include a quote from Caio Terra stating that the people teaching Jiu Jitsu should be good people who have a good heart and will teach not just Jiu-Jitsu but also help with life. Another testimonial from Tracy V. on Google describes Strong Heart as having knowledgeable professors, excellent teachers, plenty of class options, extremely clean mats, and a welcoming atmosphere, and mentions looking forward to getting kids training there. A testimonial from Logan Reinhard describes Strong Heart as an awesome gym with friendly and strong rolls and notes that Mike could not be nicer.
For equipment and logistics, the program states that participants need a mouthpiece, good hygiene with clipped nails and being clean, a Gi with belt, and a signed waiver before starting.
Last updated January 10, 2026.
• Ages: 4–16 years old
• Schedule: Phoenix Arizona MMA 101 Class Friday at 6pm; Kids BJJ One Month Special with four weeks of classes; One Month BJJ Special for adult men and women with 30 days of unlimited classes
• Price: Kids Quick Start Special — $150 Savings; Adult BJJ Quick Start Special — $150 Savings
Strong Heart Academy was established in 2009 and has been serving North Phoenix and Scottsdale for over 15 years as part of a Phoenix martial arts community. The academy offers a Kids’ BJJ program, a Tiny Tigers program for kids 4–6, a Kids Brazilian Jiu Jitsu program for children 6–13 years old, a Tiny Tigers class for ages 5–6, Kids BJJ for ages 8–12, and Teens classes for ages 13–16. The program states that kids cannot compete with bad grades and that it does not accept bad habits.
The leadership and coaching team includes Mike Martin, the owner and a 4th Degree Black Belt who is also a black belt in Karate before BJJ, along with black belt instructors Tod Gerrish, Shea Smith, Adrian Ramirez, Mike Demers, Casey Quist, John Habinek, David Weaver, and Patrick Taft, and Kids BJJ brown belt instructor Tracy Valentine. Additional listed instructors include BJJ black belt Shea Smith, brown belt Riley Truitt, and purple belt Tony Castro. The academy is part of the Caio Terra Association, and Professor Caio Terra is described as a 15-time world champion and a pioneer in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and founder of the Caio Terra Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Association.
The mission statements for Strong Heart Academy describe it as a family friendly BJJ academy where families grow stronger together on and off the mats, with martial arts programs made to offer a secure, welcoming environment where kids may grow in self-assurance, respect, and discipline while having fun and meeting new people. The academy also states that it prides itself on being a welcoming and inclusive martial arts community where everyone is encouraged to push themselves to their limits and support each other along the way.
Strong Heart Academy notes that students receive access to monthly online classes, that anyone can subscribe to a streaming service full of online training, and that families can join the community and stay connected via social media, podcasts, and more, as well as visit a store for Strong Heart merchandise. The first step is described as taking a free trial. The academy also mentions that children in Arizona can get paid to take classes through an MMA Empowerment Scholarship for Kids and invites families to join the Phoenix martial arts community and transform their lives.
Testimonials include a quote from Caio Terra stating that the people teaching Jiu Jitsu should be good people who have a good heart and will teach not just Jiu-Jitsu but also help with life. Another testimonial from Tracy V. on Google describes Strong Heart as having knowledgeable professors, excellent teachers, plenty of class options, extremely clean mats, and a welcoming atmosphere, and mentions looking forward to getting kids training there. A testimonial from Logan Reinhard describes Strong Heart as an awesome gym with friendly and strong rolls and notes that Mike could not be nicer.
For equipment and logistics, the program states that participants need a mouthpiece, good hygiene with clipped nails and being clean, a Gi with belt, and a signed waiver before starting.
Last updated January 10, 2026.
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