about us
Have you been considering Martial Arts Classes classes? Do your kids have a lot of energy that needs to be burned off? Are you a beginner or pro? No matter what your goals are or what you’re looking to accomplish, you can do anything at our Guelph Family Martial Arts facility.
about us
Come and train under the expert guidance of World Champion Nathan Skoufis and become part of the family!
Martial Arts training at GFMA increases self-esteem, fitness and flexibility and teaches students respect for themselves and for others. We have Karate programs suitable for children and adults of all ages and abilities. Children learn Karate in a safe, supervised environment and our trained instructors are specialists in keeping kids motivated and interested while they are learning self-defense techniques that can last a lifetime. In addition, classes are full of fun, exciting activities and character development lessons.
It is an honour for us to be a part of each and every student's learning experience and we thank you in advance for taking the first step towards making Guelph Family Martial Arts part of your Family.
Why Choose Us
Guelph Family Martial Arts (GFMA) is a family-friendly fitness facility that offers karate and fitness (cardio kickboxing) training by World Champion Instructors. Our classes are for everyone and every level of physical fitness, so you and your family can feel comfortable in our program. Kids programs start as young as age 3 and provide a fantastic base for your child's overall development.
Trained Professionals
Our mentors have undergone years of vigorous training and are true masters of martial arts. In fact, Nathan Skoufis is a 23-time world champion and knows what it takes to train students of all ages.
Convenient Schedules
We know our students are busy with work and school which is why we offer convenient schedules for a wide range of classes. Simply give us a call or email us to book a spot that works best for you.
Classes For All Ages
Who ever said that martial arts is just for kids? We have various classes for teens and adults alike so they can continue to improve their physical and mental strength, and overall, just have fun.
Highly-Rated
We’ve been voted the #1 martial arts leaders in Guelph since 2016 and couldn’t be more proud of our accomplishments and our students who have made this possible. You can rest assured knowing that you’re being trained by the best instructors around.
Facility & Philosophy
OUR FACILITY IT FULLY EQUIPPED WITH STATE-OF-THE-ART EQUIPMENT SO YOU CAN REACH YOUR GOALS
Our facility is 3,000 square feet; our large training floor is equipped with padded mats to ensure a low impact workout. Our facility is carefully sanitized daily to ensure the safety of our clients. At GFMA we are always adding new equipment to our collection, including a large selection of free weights, agility ladders, medicine balls, bosu balls, battle ropes, skipping ropes, kick shields, hand targets and free standing striking bags to name a few. Due to the large number of equipment we have on site ensures each student will not need to compromise their workout because of equipment shortages. We believe the incorporation of these training aids, along with our instructor's vast knowledge of fitness results in a fantastic, safe workout.
Martial arts training at our studio focuses on personal growth and development. The program develops life skills including focus, fitness, confidence, discipline, stress coping strategies, perseverance, bullying prevention and many more. The benefits of the program extend far beyond only physical and making a well rounded student. Our program helps focus on how to properly deal with emotions and to channel them into a positive avenue and outlet. Our program translates to better grades in school with the newly developed skills. We also develop self regulation which is useful in all areas of life. We utilize martial arts as a vehicle to develop human potential. Our program has been voted #1 in the area for the benefits it provides by Three Best Rated, Top Choice Awards, Readers Choice Awards, Canadian Kids Guide and Star of Service. The program has been featured on CTV, CBC and Global News for the benefits it provides to students of all ages. The studio has also been featured on national T.V. and radio.
We were Voted #1 in these Categories
- Adult Activity Program - Diamond
- Children’s Entertainment - Diamond
- Family Activities - Diamond
- Kids Activities - Diamond
- Summer Camps - Diamond
- Kids Camps - Diamond
- Boot Camp - Diamond
- Fitness Club - Diamond
- Personal Training - Diamond
- Weight Control Services - Diamond
- Martial Arts - Diamond
Best martial arts instructors Nathan & Sophie Skoufis
New activities and environments can cause anxiety. We have very patient instructors, and it is a non-judgmental environment. Our program is perfect for students of all ages and experience levels to ensure engagement and maximize learning goals.
Martial arts are routinely highlighted for the physical benefits it provides, however our program goes much further. Martial arts are a vehicle that aids in personal development and growth, as well as teaching self defense techniques. Leaving you to imagine how different life would be without martial arts. Our goal is to better every person's life that we come into contact with. At Guelph Family Martial Arts, we are exactly that, a family, we work together to achieve your personal goals. Martial arts dates back thousands of years to ancient times, our school incorporates traditional aspects, however we are always adding and researching new methods. We put maximum thought and effort into our program, trying to constantly innovate our program to keep the experience exciting
Our school is one community that goes far beyond our workouts, GFMA hosts many events throughout the year. These events aim to foremost allow our students to have some fun, but also allow our students to become more familiar with each other. Our events include a yearly open house that includes activities such as music, bouncy castles, face painters, demonstrations and lots of food. We hold two annual sleepovers at the dojo to allow parents or caretakers to have an evening to make plans or relax, which is a GFMA favorite, an evening including games, activities, movies and much more. We also hold P.A. Day Camps, March Break Camps and Summer Camps, our camp experience is amazing, as we carefully plan our schedule to maximize enjoyment. We also host an annual Christmas Party and Awards Banquet equipped with the most delicious buffet dinner, that highlights the past year at GFMA, along with the proceeds sponsoring children in our area. We also offer birthday parties, that include amazing martial arts games, with a black belt instructor.
The difficulties most individuals find at other schools or gyms is the workout becomes less exciting or making your own workout routine at the gym can be difficult and can be hard to self-motivate; as well without proper knowledge and supervision, injuries can frequently happen. Leave it to GFMA to plan the workout. We pride ourselves on having a safe and controlled environment to ensure every student feels comfortable. The benefits of martial arts training are large scale as you will see improvements not only in self-defence but also in physical fitness and healthy living, self-esteem and confidence building, balance and posture, memorization and retention, self-discipline and responsibility, coordination and motor skills, stranger awareness and personal safety, respect for yourself and others, school, social skills and friendship and more.
For a student to grade to their next belt, it is requirement to have a form filled out by their teacher and parent or caregiver to ensure that the student is showing respect, modesty, courtesy and more outside of the school.
Instructors
NATHAN & SOPHIE ARE A MOTHER AND SON DUO WHO ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING YOU WITH AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE
Sensei Nathan Skoufis
Nathan Skoufis is a fifth degree black belt and a 23x world martial arts champion. He has claimed world titles in NASKA, NBL, IFMA and NAFMA and is a member of Team Canada. Also one of the few martial artists to win both major world titles in the same year multiple times. He has won international gold medals while representing Canada on the world stage. He has won international grand champions in the major martial arts sanctioning body.
He was awarded as the top 40 individuals under the age of 40 award and top 20 individuals under the age of 40 for his contributions to the community in making a positive difference for the youth and adults. He also received the Youth Champion for the area on behalf of the city and District Multicultural Festival. He also received the Youth Ambassador and Inspiration Young Community Leader on behalf of the City of Guelph and District Multicultural Festival. Skoufis has received honours and awards on behalf of the City of Guelph, Province of Ontario and Government of Canada. Including on behalf of several Mayors, MP and MPP. Including Justin Trudeau, Andrew Scheer, Jagmeet Singh, Doug Ford, Kathleen Wynne and many more.
Skoufis has been rated #1 in the world several years by the most prestigious and largest sanctioning bodies in martial arts. Skoufis also won overall/all weight grand champion world champion at the World Championships several times, one of only a few martial artists to ever achieve this goal. Skoufis is a member of the Hayabusa International Martial Arts Team. Hayabusa is the most prestigious martial arts company which also sponsors UFC Champion George St. Pierre and Nieky Holzken. Skoufis has trained with fellow Canadian George St. Pierre. He also is one of the youngest martial artists to start competing as an adult at twelve years old and to win national and international grand champions.
Skoufis has competed and won the top international events. He was also awarded the Young Innovator Award on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce and University of Guelph for the positive impact he has had on the area and the benefits of his studio on facilitating personal development. Skoufis is active in the community as a motivational and inspirational speaker including anti-bullying events for several school boards.
He is also an active contributor to charities including the Children's Foundation, Hope House, Drop-In Centre, Guelph General Hospital, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Upper Grand School Board, Toasty Toes, Women in Crisis, Guelph Soccer, Rockwood Soccer, Guelph Foodbank and many more local initiatives. Throughout the year he operates events including his annual Christmas Gala which has raised funds for local charities.
Skoufis has been featured on CTV, Global News, CBC, Local, National, International, Radio, T.V. and many more for his success and studio. Skoufis has been the featured story for a variety of news outlets. Skoufis was named as a national coach for the 2020 Winter Games where he coached many athletes to gold medals. He has coached many regional, provincial, national and international champions and is the areas most sought after coach for his insight, experience, professionalism and teaching skills.
His ability to coach recreational and competitive students and alter the focus of the program is always highlighted. He started his studio while in first year at the University of Guelph and competing internationally. He is a university alumni with an honours degree. He was also included in a list of the top martial artists and top male fighters from the top martial arts company. He was also voted as the #1 instructor in the area for the last several years.
Sensei Sophie Skoufis
Sophie Skoufis has been rated #1 in the world several years in a row by the most prestigious and largest sanctioning bodies in martial arts. Skoufis also won overall/all weight grand champion world champion at the World Championships many times, one of few martial artists to do so. Skoufis has competed and won the top international events including the Diamond Nationals, US Open, AKA Warrior Cup, PANAM Internationals and Quebec Open. Skoufis is active in the community as a motivational and inspirational speaker including anti bullying events for several school boards. She is also an active contributor to charities including the Children's Foundation, Hope House, Drop-In Centre, Guelph General Hospital, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Upper Grand School Board, Toasty Toes, Women in Crisis, Guelph Soccer, Rockwood Soccer, Guelph Foodbank and many more local initiatives.
Throughout the year she organizes events and has raised funds for many local charities. Skoufis has been featured on CTV, Global News, CBC, Local, National, International, Radio, T.V. and many more for his success and studio. Skoufis has been the featured story for a variety of news outlets. Sophie Skoufis was named an official RBC Woman of Inspiration Nominee.
Sophie Skoufis is a fifth degree black belt and multiple time world martial arts champion.
Skoufis was named as a national coach for the 2020 Winter Games where she coached many athletes to gold medals. She has coached many regional, provincial, national and international champions and is the areas most sought after coach for her insight, experience, professionalism and teaching skills. Her ability to coach recreational and competitive athletes and alter the focus of the program is always highlighted.
She also has received her MBA and worked in a very competitive area of franchising where she spent years motivating, empowering and inspiring other franchisees and was in charge of the training program for many new operational owners and operators. Her focus and tireless work is helping, motivating, empower and inspiring young women of all ages to achieve their personal goals. She was also included in a list of the top martial artists on sportmartialarts.com. She was also voted as the #1 instructor in the area for the last several years.
VIEW OUR CLASS SCHEDULE
We strive to offer convenient programs that work with your family’s busy schedule. If you’re ready to learn more about our class schedules, or want to learn more about us in general, contact us today!
Guelph Family Martial Arts Oath
I will develop myself in a positive manner, and I will avoid anything that will reduce my mental growth or my physical health.
I will develop self-discipline in order to bring out the best in myself and others.
I will use commonsense before self-defense and never be abusive or offensive We are a black belt school.
We are motivated, we are dedicated, and we are on a quest to be the best.
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We look forward to hearing from you and showing you why we’re the leading martial arts studio in Guelph. Contact us today to find out more information about how martial arts can positively impact your life.
