About
Scottsdale Martial Arts Center offers preschool martial arts, kids martial arts, teen martial arts, and adult martial arts, including karate and Wado karate. The program also includes teen jujutsu, adult jujutsu, traditional martial arts, self defense, and weapon classes.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
Scottsdale Martial Arts Center has been serving Scottsdale since 1986. Ray Hughes started Scottsdale Martial Arts Center, Inc. (SMAC) in 1986 and built the dojo in 2002. All adult staff members are background checked, and Scottsdale Martial Arts Center adult staff members are Safe Sport certified and background checked through the SafeSport initiative. Ray Hughes started training in Wado karate in 1976 under Sensei Marlon Moore in Mesa, Arizona and holds dan (black belt) ranks in Wado Ryu (4th), JKF Wado Kai (5th), USNKF (6th), a 6th dan awarded by the late Dan Ivan, a 7th dan from USA Karate-do KyoKai with Sensei Chuck Merriman and Sensei Lee Gray on the testing board, and USA Wado Federation (7th). His roles include SMAC Owner, President Arizona Wado Karate, World Karate Federation (WKF) Official, and member of the USA Karate Technical Committee.
Since it opened in 1986, Scottsdale Martial Arts Center states that it has been dedicated to changing people’s lives one person at a time through martial arts, education, and coaching, and it describes its approach as realistic and practical self-defense. The program states that it strives to provide a safe, comfortable, and welcoming atmosphere for students and family members, and that it focuses on character development, life skills, and personal development for youth. It states a belief that martial arts can be for everyone, regardless of age, gender, or experience level, and that students learn skill sets to protect themselves. According to the mission statement, Ray Hughes’ mission is to give every child in Arizona the opportunity to learn life skills through the teachings of traditional martial arts, and his goal is to direct students interested in martial arts to a quality school in their area, regardless of style or art.
Ray Hughes formed two nonprofit corporations, USA Karate Arizona ASO and Champions Foundation of Arizona, to further the positive development of youth through the instruction of traditional martial arts. Scottsdale Martial Arts Center has a Yelp 5-star rating and an A+ rating from Expertise.com. Ray Hughes was named 2015 “Man of the Year” by USA Karate and has been National Champion Gold Medalist in USNKF Over 40 Kumite (Sparring) in 1998 and 1997. His competition history also includes Outstanding Competitor at the 1986 Traditional Karate Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada with an awarded trip to Japan, Grand Champion at the USA Wado Karate Championships (Utah Open), Competitor of the Year for the USA Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Federation, and School of the Year for the USA Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Federation. He competed on five USA Karate Teams, including two that won gold and one that won silver.
Parent and student reviews describe Scottsdale Martial Arts Center as “the best karate school in the state,” “a reputable Martial Arts Center,” and “true karate professionals in the Valley.” Unattributed parent reviews state that SMAC has imparted “invaluable life lessons” and “helping them to become leaders, with self confidence and respect for others,” that the dedication to teaching karate and “character and life lessons” is “inspiring,” and that one parent feels “very fortunate” to have found the school and recommends it “to anyone with children.”
Last updated January 8, 2026.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
Scottsdale Martial Arts Center has been serving Scottsdale since 1986. Ray Hughes started Scottsdale Martial Arts Center, Inc. (SMAC) in 1986 and built the dojo in 2002. All adult staff members are background checked, and Scottsdale Martial Arts Center adult staff members are Safe Sport certified and background checked through the SafeSport initiative. Ray Hughes started training in Wado karate in 1976 under Sensei Marlon Moore in Mesa, Arizona and holds dan (black belt) ranks in Wado Ryu (4th), JKF Wado Kai (5th), USNKF (6th), a 6th dan awarded by the late Dan Ivan, a 7th dan from USA Karate-do KyoKai with Sensei Chuck Merriman and Sensei Lee Gray on the testing board, and USA Wado Federation (7th). His roles include SMAC Owner, President Arizona Wado Karate, World Karate Federation (WKF) Official, and member of the USA Karate Technical Committee.
Since it opened in 1986, Scottsdale Martial Arts Center states that it has been dedicated to changing people’s lives one person at a time through martial arts, education, and coaching, and it describes its approach as realistic and practical self-defense. The program states that it strives to provide a safe, comfortable, and welcoming atmosphere for students and family members, and that it focuses on character development, life skills, and personal development for youth. It states a belief that martial arts can be for everyone, regardless of age, gender, or experience level, and that students learn skill sets to protect themselves. According to the mission statement, Ray Hughes’ mission is to give every child in Arizona the opportunity to learn life skills through the teachings of traditional martial arts, and his goal is to direct students interested in martial arts to a quality school in their area, regardless of style or art.
Ray Hughes formed two nonprofit corporations, USA Karate Arizona ASO and Champions Foundation of Arizona, to further the positive development of youth through the instruction of traditional martial arts. Scottsdale Martial Arts Center has a Yelp 5-star rating and an A+ rating from Expertise.com. Ray Hughes was named 2015 “Man of the Year” by USA Karate and has been National Champion Gold Medalist in USNKF Over 40 Kumite (Sparring) in 1998 and 1997. His competition history also includes Outstanding Competitor at the 1986 Traditional Karate Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada with an awarded trip to Japan, Grand Champion at the USA Wado Karate Championships (Utah Open), Competitor of the Year for the USA Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Federation, and School of the Year for the USA Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Federation. He competed on five USA Karate Teams, including two that won gold and one that won silver.
Parent and student reviews describe Scottsdale Martial Arts Center as “the best karate school in the state,” “a reputable Martial Arts Center,” and “true karate professionals in the Valley.” Unattributed parent reviews state that SMAC has imparted “invaluable life lessons” and “helping them to become leaders, with self confidence and respect for others,” that the dedication to teaching karate and “character and life lessons” is “inspiring,” and that one parent feels “very fortunate” to have found the school and recommends it “to anyone with children.”
Last updated January 8, 2026.
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