Amanda's Adaptive Martial Arts
Amanda’s Martial Arts, 2971 India Street, San Diego, CA 92103
About
Amanda's Adaptive Martial Arts offers kids martial arts classes, cubs martial arts classes, teen martial arts classes, adult martial arts classes, a Jiu-Jitsu class, adaptive martial arts, and self defense. The program includes Amanda’s Adaptive Martial Arts Certification Course, as well as books and a movement-based coloring book related to adaptive martial arts available for purchase.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
• Schedule: Kids classes (ages 5+) meet Monday and Wednesday at 6:00pm, Saturday at 9:30am and 10:30am, and Sunday at 4:00pm; Cubs classes (ages 3–5) meet Wednesday at 5:30pm and Saturday at 9:00am; Teen classes (ages 11–18) meet Monday at 5:00pm; Adult classes (ages 18+) meet Monday and Wednesday at 4:00pm; a Jiu-Jitsu class meets Thursday at 5:00pm.
• Price: A single $20 donation can allow a child to try a class for free; a $100 donation can support a month of weekly classes for a family that cannot afford to pay; gloves suggested donation – $55; kids pullover hoodie suggested donation – $35; kids shirts suggested donation – $25.
Amanda’s Adaptive Martial Arts is a 501c non-profit organization with a mission of bringing the fitness and social benefits of martial arts to any child who desires it and teaching the benefits of martial arts to children with special needs. The program welcomes kids of all abilities and uses a sliding scale supported by donations to allow children who could not otherwise afford to participate.
Executive Director Amanda Piepgras is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant since 2002 and a Certified Autism Specialist (CAS) verified by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), with CAS credential number CAS23705326 issued 08/29/2023 and expiring 08/18/2027. She has been working with children with special needs since 1999 and has studied karate, Muay Thai, and jiu-jitsu since 2006. Master Jack McBride, a 5th degree black belt in Taekwondo who has been training since April 1992, is an instructor at Amanda’s Adaptive Martial Arts and became a Certified Autism Specialist in September 2023 under IBCCES. Ernesto Ruiz is a special education teacher in the San Diego Unified School District specializing in moderate to severe education needs since 2012, holds a Master’s degree in Public Health with a specialization in Mental Health (2015) and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing (2012), is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, and trained in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from 2010 to 2023. Marco Garcia has been an Assistant Instructor for Amanda’s Adaptive Martial Arts since it first opened in 2021.
Amanda has taught adaptive martial arts and self defense at South East Consortium for Special Services, Inc., We Rock the Spectrum, Gigi’s Playhouse, The Challenge Center, and various martial arts gyms in the San Diego area. Amanda’s Adaptive Martial Arts has been recognized by Shoutout Socal and has earned Hall of Fame honors.
Parents describe Amanda as knowledgeable, kind, patient, and fast with communication, and they note that she and Assistant Instructor Marco give kids one-on-one attention in class. One parent reports that a 9-year-old son on the spectrum enjoys the kicks, jabs, and “Hi-ya” screams in class, and another parent notes that the class works well for children with motor skill challenges and for families who may be hesitant about mainstream classes.
Last updated July 8, 2026.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
• Schedule: Kids classes (ages 5+) meet Monday and Wednesday at 6:00pm, Saturday at 9:30am and 10:30am, and Sunday at 4:00pm; Cubs classes (ages 3–5) meet Wednesday at 5:30pm and Saturday at 9:00am; Teen classes (ages 11–18) meet Monday at 5:00pm; Adult classes (ages 18+) meet Monday and Wednesday at 4:00pm; a Jiu-Jitsu class meets Thursday at 5:00pm.
• Price: A single $20 donation can allow a child to try a class for free; a $100 donation can support a month of weekly classes for a family that cannot afford to pay; gloves suggested donation – $55; kids pullover hoodie suggested donation – $35; kids shirts suggested donation – $25.
Amanda’s Adaptive Martial Arts is a 501c non-profit organization with a mission of bringing the fitness and social benefits of martial arts to any child who desires it and teaching the benefits of martial arts to children with special needs. The program welcomes kids of all abilities and uses a sliding scale supported by donations to allow children who could not otherwise afford to participate.
Executive Director Amanda Piepgras is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant since 2002 and a Certified Autism Specialist (CAS) verified by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), with CAS credential number CAS23705326 issued 08/29/2023 and expiring 08/18/2027. She has been working with children with special needs since 1999 and has studied karate, Muay Thai, and jiu-jitsu since 2006. Master Jack McBride, a 5th degree black belt in Taekwondo who has been training since April 1992, is an instructor at Amanda’s Adaptive Martial Arts and became a Certified Autism Specialist in September 2023 under IBCCES. Ernesto Ruiz is a special education teacher in the San Diego Unified School District specializing in moderate to severe education needs since 2012, holds a Master’s degree in Public Health with a specialization in Mental Health (2015) and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing (2012), is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, and trained in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from 2010 to 2023. Marco Garcia has been an Assistant Instructor for Amanda’s Adaptive Martial Arts since it first opened in 2021.
Amanda has taught adaptive martial arts and self defense at South East Consortium for Special Services, Inc., We Rock the Spectrum, Gigi’s Playhouse, The Challenge Center, and various martial arts gyms in the San Diego area. Amanda’s Adaptive Martial Arts has been recognized by Shoutout Socal and has earned Hall of Fame honors.
Parents describe Amanda as knowledgeable, kind, patient, and fast with communication, and they note that she and Assistant Instructor Marco give kids one-on-one attention in class. One parent reports that a 9-year-old son on the spectrum enjoys the kicks, jabs, and “Hi-ya” screams in class, and another parent notes that the class works well for children with motor skill challenges and for families who may be hesitant about mainstream classes.
Last updated July 8, 2026.
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