Meet Our Instructors A Quality Experience Team with 30 years experience.
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“Chuck Cawthon is legitimately one of the best martial arts instructors I have ever known. His students wether it be karate, kickboxing or MMA are second to none and his commitment to teaching the intricate details of combat sports are truly world class. He sets an example for all of us to follow”.
Brian Plempel4 x World karate Champion & Multi School Owner
“Chuck is a great friend and a well rounded martial artist. His knowledge of the kicking game and the fighting aspects of karate and how they integrate into combat sports can help any fighter improve. Chuck is one of the best at both using the sport karate style in combat sports as well as devising strategies to deal with this style of opponent. I know that if one of my fighters is going up against a karate based fighter Chuck is my first phone call.
Head Coach of Straight Blast Gym(SBG) Athens in Athens, Georgia. He is a member of the Georgia Mixed Martial Arts Hall Of Fame, multiple “Trainer of the Year” awards in Georgia, and also original trainer of former UFC Light heavyweight Champion Forrest Griffin.
Adam Singer
“We had Chuck out to show us some next level kicking and we were not disappointed. There were all experience levels at the seminar we hosted and everyone walked away with increased knowledge and skill. We can't wait to have him back.”
Phillipe GentryGeorgia Fighters’ “Trainer of the Year”, Head Coach/Owner, Straight Blast Gym Buford
“Chuck Cawthon has a very unique and successful approach to blending traditional martial arts techniques and ideas with modern arts and sport essentials. He is a fantastic coach. He also does a great job of keeping the training legit while keeping the mood light. Five stars.”
Stephen UpchurchInstructor/Trainer/Coach at KnuckleUp Fitness Buckhead, Georgia
“As I began martial arts at CMA in 1996, I did not know what I was getting into. I walked into a very small building on North Forest Ave. It was the thick of summer. here was no central air or even a window unit—only a large industrial fan. The ceilings were low and there was a pole wrapped with styrofoam and covered in duct tape—later I would learn this is the what we practiced kicks on. There were no girls in karate class, except Carolina and Tanya. There was a weird looking man with very long dark curly hair wearing a black belt. I was 7 years old and wasn’t sure what the heck my parents were getting me into. But as time went on, I would learn this was more than just karate classes. CMA grew and I grew with it. The karate school was not only a place of learning martial arts, practicing discipline and patience, and building teamwork skills—it was a place for me to build confidence, build relationships, and be the person I wanted to be! It was a place to be a part of an unbelievable martial arts family. To this day, it still is all of these things! It is amazing to watch how this karate school continues to grow and thrive. None of this would be or would have been possible without that weird curly-haired man! ”