Anderson Alvrado said he sees his Great Neck martial arts business as a way for people to not only learn self-defense, but self-confidence as well.
“We are big believers in the yes-we-can attitude and in life skills,” said Alvrado, who owns and manages GMA Martial Arts Great Neck at 713-715 Middle Neck Road.
Alvrado said he has seen many people walk into his studio with a lack of confidence.
“Not only the kids but adults and teens have the fear of getting hurt,” he said.
But, he said, with patience and dedication to his kickboxing and martial arts program, just about anybody can get over their lack of confidence.
“I think everybody should come down and try it,” Alvrado said. “There’s nothing to lose and a lot to gain.”
Alvrado, a Glen Cove resident, has been teaching martial arts and kickboxing in Great Neck for two years.
He said he opened up the program after noticing there was no “kickboxing or karate place in town.”
Since opening, Alvrado said, he has not only worked in his studio, but at summer camps and after school programs as well.
“We’re very involved with the community,” he said.
To celebrate his time in Great Neck, Alvrado will be opening up his studio on Sept. 10 at 5:30 p.m. for local residents and elected officials to see what his business has to offer.
“We’re going to try to have the mayor and board of trustees here, as well as guest speakers,” Alvrado said. “We’re just going to try to show them what we do.”
Alvrado said he’s been practicing martial arts since he was child in Venezuela.
At age 14, he got his black belt in karate and at 19 he moved to the United States.
Alvrado said like many of his trainees, he got into martial arts “mainly for confidence.”
He said he started taking fitness kickboxing classes three years ago as a way to stay in shape.
Before opening his own business, Alvrado worked with his brother Hender at GMA Martial Arts Glen Cove at 4 Cedar Swamp Road.
Alvrado said he plans on a long stay in Great Neck.
“We’re going to be here for many years to come,” he said.
For more information on GMA Martial Arts Great Neck, visit greatneckkarate.com
Reach reporter Anthony O’Reilly by e-mail at aoreilly@theislandnow.com, by phone at 516.307.1045 x203 and on Twitter @ ORiled_Up. Also follow us on Twitter @theislandnow and Facebook at facebook.com/theislandnow.
