About
Bronx Martial Arts Academy Junior Program includes training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and Shotokan Karate as part of its Junior Program, with additional offerings at the academy that include Muay Thai, submission grappling, nogi Jiu-Jitsu, Jiu-Jitsu in the gi, karate, and kickboxing. Within the Junior Program, the Tiny Tigers karate program accommodates children from ages 4 to 5, and children over 6 years old can enroll in the BJJ program as well as karate. The academy provides a gi and a belt for a student’s first class in these programs.
• Ages: 4–18 years old
• Schedule: Opening hours Monday–Friday 7:00 AM–9:30 PM; Saturday 8:30 AM–3:00 PM
Head Instructor Doug Pelinkovic is a life-long martial artist and holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under professor John Danaher and a black belt in Shotokan Karate under Shihan Kai Leung, and he is a 3rd-degree black belt in Shotokan Karate. Professor Pelinkovic is a 3-time USA national team member, a 4-time national champion, and a multiple-time state and regional champion, and he has trained for twenty years at the Renzo Gracie Academy in New York City with members of the Gracie family and several mixed martial arts fighters and champions. The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructors at the academy are described as Renzo Gracie and John Danaher black and brown belts, Shotokan Karate classes are taught by national and international champions, and Muay Thai instructors have traveled to Thailand and trained with the best. The leadership team for these programs includes Head Instructor Doug Pelinkovic, along with staff members Stanley Rosa (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt), Igor Popovic (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt), Rahul Bhowmick (Shotokan Karate Black Belt / Muay Thai Instructor), Bernard Clemons (Shotokan Karate Black Belt), Berto Morales (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt), Christian Morales (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Brown Belt), Joey Hernandez (Muay Thai Instructor), Johnny Garcia (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Purple Belt), and Anthony Gerbasi (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Brown Belt).
The Bronx Martial Arts Academy states that it sets high standards for itself and that students and instructors challenge each other to achieve their best in all that they do. The academy states that it believes that through the practice of martial arts, people become better and that through effort and dedication, martial arts training improves their lives and the lives of those around them. The academy describes itself as having a family friendly atmosphere.
The facility is described as the cleanest, most professional training environment, with mats and gear always clean, intact, and ready for use, and with locker rooms, bathrooms, and showers always clean. The academy provides a gi and belt for the first class, asks students to arrive 15 minutes before class, and recommends bringing a towel, toiletries for showering, and flip flops to walk from the locker room to the mats. Shoes are not permitted on the mats, students are instructed not to walk around outside barefoot before class, and all jewelry should be removed before coming to class. Academy gi colors are limited to white and royal blue, uniforms purchased outside the academy must have an official school patch, and uniforms must be washed before each use and kept in good condition. For No Gi training, students must wear a rashguard and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu shorts and must wear at least one academy item, with specific rules for spats and restrictions on t-shirts, basketball shorts, and shorts with pockets or zippers, and only school-approved sparring equipment may be used for karate and Muay Thai.
Last updated April 16, 2026.
• Ages: 4–18 years old
• Schedule: Opening hours Monday–Friday 7:00 AM–9:30 PM; Saturday 8:30 AM–3:00 PM
Head Instructor Doug Pelinkovic is a life-long martial artist and holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under professor John Danaher and a black belt in Shotokan Karate under Shihan Kai Leung, and he is a 3rd-degree black belt in Shotokan Karate. Professor Pelinkovic is a 3-time USA national team member, a 4-time national champion, and a multiple-time state and regional champion, and he has trained for twenty years at the Renzo Gracie Academy in New York City with members of the Gracie family and several mixed martial arts fighters and champions. The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructors at the academy are described as Renzo Gracie and John Danaher black and brown belts, Shotokan Karate classes are taught by national and international champions, and Muay Thai instructors have traveled to Thailand and trained with the best. The leadership team for these programs includes Head Instructor Doug Pelinkovic, along with staff members Stanley Rosa (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt), Igor Popovic (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt), Rahul Bhowmick (Shotokan Karate Black Belt / Muay Thai Instructor), Bernard Clemons (Shotokan Karate Black Belt), Berto Morales (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt), Christian Morales (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Brown Belt), Joey Hernandez (Muay Thai Instructor), Johnny Garcia (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Purple Belt), and Anthony Gerbasi (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Brown Belt).
The Bronx Martial Arts Academy states that it sets high standards for itself and that students and instructors challenge each other to achieve their best in all that they do. The academy states that it believes that through the practice of martial arts, people become better and that through effort and dedication, martial arts training improves their lives and the lives of those around them. The academy describes itself as having a family friendly atmosphere.
The facility is described as the cleanest, most professional training environment, with mats and gear always clean, intact, and ready for use, and with locker rooms, bathrooms, and showers always clean. The academy provides a gi and belt for the first class, asks students to arrive 15 minutes before class, and recommends bringing a towel, toiletries for showering, and flip flops to walk from the locker room to the mats. Shoes are not permitted on the mats, students are instructed not to walk around outside barefoot before class, and all jewelry should be removed before coming to class. Academy gi colors are limited to white and royal blue, uniforms purchased outside the academy must have an official school patch, and uniforms must be washed before each use and kept in good condition. For No Gi training, students must wear a rashguard and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu shorts and must wear at least one academy item, with specific rules for spats and restrictions on t-shirts, basketball shorts, and shorts with pockets or zippers, and only school-approved sparring equipment may be used for karate and Muay Thai.
Last updated April 16, 2026.
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