Amanda's Adaptive Martial Arts
Amanda’s Martial Arts, 2971 India Street, San Diego, CA 92103
About
Amanda's Adaptive Martial Arts offers adaptive martial arts and self defense classes, including Kids Classes, Cubs Classes, Teen Classes, Adult Classes, and a Jui-Jitsu Class. Classes include instruction in martial arts skills such as jiu-jitsu and are organized into different groups for children, teens, and adults.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
• Schedule: Kids Classes (ages 5+): Monday and Wednesday evenings, plus Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon options; Cubs Classes (ages 3–5): Wednesday evening and Saturday morning; Teen Classes (ages 11–18): Monday afternoon; Adult Classes (18+): Monday and Wednesday afternoons; Jui-Jitsu Class: Thursday afternoon
• Price: A single $20 donation can allow a child to try a class for free; a $100 donation can bring a month of weekly classes within reach for a family that cannot afford to pay.
Amanda's Adaptive Martial Arts states that it teaches the benefits of martial arts to children with special needs and is committed to bringing the fitness and social benefits of martial arts to any child who desires it. The program welcomes kids of all abilities and offers a sliding scale to children who could not otherwise afford to participate. Amanda’s Adaptive Martial Arts is a 501c non-profit organization and has earned Hall of Fame honors.
Executive Director Amanda Piepgras has been working with children with special needs since 1999 and has been a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant since 2002. She has studied karate, Muay Thai, and jiu-jitsu since 2006 and holds a Certified Autism Specialist (CAS) credential issued by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), with credential number CAS23705326, issued 08/29/2023 and expiring 08/18/2027. Master Jack McBride, a 5th degree black belt in Taekwondo who has been training since April 1992, 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 from CSU San Marcos (2012), and is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt who trained 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 was recently recognized by Shoutout Socal, and additional funding is provided by unspecified supporters.
Amanda’s Adaptive Martial Arts offers a certification course and sells gloves, kids pullover hoodies, and kids shirts for suggested donations, which are available for purchase before and after all classes. The program has published a book titled “Amanda’s Adaptive Martial Arts Methods: How to best support students with special needs” and a movement-based coloring book titled “Amanda’s Adaptive Martial Arts: Move & Color at Home.” Listed benefits for students include improving attention span and self-discipline, learning proper fighting form and gaining strength, boosting confidence and self-esteem, increasing ability to listen and follow directions, and engaging in activities that provide sensory input and build motor planning skills.
Parent testimonials describe Amanda as knowledgeable, kind, patient, and fast with communication, and note that she gives one-on-one attention in class. Parents report that their children, including those on the spectrum and those with motor skill challenges, enjoy the classes, look forward to attending, and get a lot of exercise, and they thank Amanda and Assistant Instructor Marco for their work with the kids.
Last updated April 9, 2026.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
• Schedule: Kids Classes (ages 5+): Monday and Wednesday evenings, plus Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon options; Cubs Classes (ages 3–5): Wednesday evening and Saturday morning; Teen Classes (ages 11–18): Monday afternoon; Adult Classes (18+): Monday and Wednesday afternoons; Jui-Jitsu Class: Thursday afternoon
• Price: A single $20 donation can allow a child to try a class for free; a $100 donation can bring a month of weekly classes within reach for a family that cannot afford to pay.
Amanda's Adaptive Martial Arts states that it teaches the benefits of martial arts to children with special needs and is committed to bringing the fitness and social benefits of martial arts to any child who desires it. The program welcomes kids of all abilities and offers a sliding scale to children who could not otherwise afford to participate. Amanda’s Adaptive Martial Arts is a 501c non-profit organization and has earned Hall of Fame honors.
Executive Director Amanda Piepgras has been working with children with special needs since 1999 and has been a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant since 2002. She has studied karate, Muay Thai, and jiu-jitsu since 2006 and holds a Certified Autism Specialist (CAS) credential issued by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), with credential number CAS23705326, issued 08/29/2023 and expiring 08/18/2027. Master Jack McBride, a 5th degree black belt in Taekwondo who has been training since April 1992, 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 from CSU San Marcos (2012), and is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt who trained 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 was recently recognized by Shoutout Socal, and additional funding is provided by unspecified supporters.
Amanda’s Adaptive Martial Arts offers a certification course and sells gloves, kids pullover hoodies, and kids shirts for suggested donations, which are available for purchase before and after all classes. The program has published a book titled “Amanda’s Adaptive Martial Arts Methods: How to best support students with special needs” and a movement-based coloring book titled “Amanda’s Adaptive Martial Arts: Move & Color at Home.” Listed benefits for students include improving attention span and self-discipline, learning proper fighting form and gaining strength, boosting confidence and self-esteem, increasing ability to listen and follow directions, and engaging in activities that provide sensory input and build motor planning skills.
Parent testimonials describe Amanda as knowledgeable, kind, patient, and fast with communication, and note that she gives one-on-one attention in class. Parents report that their children, including those on the spectrum and those with motor skill challenges, enjoy the classes, look forward to attending, and get a lot of exercise, and they thank Amanda and Assistant Instructor Marco for their work with the kids.
Last updated April 9, 2026.
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