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Martial Arts & Life Skills Training for Children, Teens & Adults in Oxford
Martial Arts Classes In the Didcot and Oxford area, Building Confident, Focused & Resilient Students On and Off the Mats
Professional Martial Arts Classes in Oxford for
Kids, Teens & Adults
Whether you’re a parent looking for positive structure for your child, or an adult wanting to feel stronger, fitter and more confident. SMAFO Martial Arts offers professional, beginner‑friendly martial arts classes designed to create real‑world results.
We help children develop discipline, focus and self‑belief… and adults reduce stress, improve fitness, and gain practical self‑defence skills, all inside a supportive, family‑focused martial arts school.
This isn’t just about learning to defend yourself.
It’s about confidence, control, character development and community.
Start with a simple, pressure‑free first lesson and see if SMAFO is the right fit for you or your child.
Learn more about us. Download our free guide and discover more about our classes before booking a class.
Further down this page, you’ll find all our class details and answers to common questions.
Struggling With Any of These Challenges?
FOR PARENTS
If you’re a parent searching for martial arts classes in Oxford, it’s usually because something feels missing: structure, confidence, focus, or positive direction.
Your child lacks confidence, focus, or discipline.
Too much screen time and not enough positive structure.
Worries about bullying, peer pressure, or emotional resilience.
You want strong role models and a supportive community around your child.
FOR ADULTS
If you’re an adult considering martial arts in Oxford, it’s often about more than fitness; it’s about feeling capable, confident, and back in control.
Feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or mentally drained.
Struggling to stay motivated with gyms or fitness routines.
Wanting to feel safer, stronger, and more confident in everyday life.
Missing a sense of community, purpose, or consistency.
You're Not Alone
And more importantly, these challenges are fixable with the right environment, guidance, and structure.
This is exactly why our martial arts programmes at SMAFO Martial Arts in Oxford are designed the way they are.
Challenges Our Classes Help You Solve
At SMAFO Martial Arts in Oxford, every new student starts with a free assessment lesson, so there’s no pressure to sign up to anything straight away.
This gives us the chance to understand your goals, experience the class, and follow a clear, structured path that helps you decide whether martial arts is right for you or your child, before progressing into more developed programmes.
Ninjas (Ages 4–6): Helps young children build confidence, coordination, listening skills, and positive behaviour through fun, structured martial arts designed for early development.
Juniors (Ages 7–12): Develops focus, discipline, resilience, and self-belief, helping children perform better at school, manage emotions, and handle social challenges with confidence.
Adults Kickboxing: Reduces stress, improves fitness and energy levels, and builds confidence through motivating, high-energy training without the pressure or intimidation of traditional gyms.
Ladies Only Classes: Provides a safe, supportive environment for women to improve fitness, strength, confidence, and self-defence skills alongside like-minded women.
Start with our FREE ASSESSMENT class, so you can see if it’s the right fit for you or your child with no pressure.
Here's What To Do
A Simple 3‑Step Path to Getting Started
We’ve made starting martial arts at SMAFO Martial Arts in Oxford simple, clear, and pressure‑free. Whether it’s for your child or for you, this step‑by‑step process helps you make the right decision with confidence.
Book Your Free Assessment
Choose the class you’re interested in and book a free assessment lesson at a time that works for you. This first session is about understanding your goals, meeting the instructors, and experiencing the class — with no obligation to sign up.
Experience Your Class
During the assessment, you or your child will take part in a real class while we observe, support, and answer your questions. We’ll then recommend the most suitable pathway based on ability, goals, and confidence level.
Your Journey Begins
If it feels like the right fit, you’ll move forward on a structured programme designed to deliver long‑term results, whether that’s confidence and focus for children, or fitness, stress relief, and self‑belief for adults.
This approach ensures everyone starts in the right place, progresses safely, and gets the maximum benefit from their training.
Let’s Get You Started
Choosing a martial arts school is an important decision. At SMAFO Martial Arts in Oxford, families and adults don’t just join for classes - they stay because of the results, the structure, and the way they’re supported from day one.
Why Families & Adults Choose SMAFO
Assessment‑First Approach: Everyone begins with a free assessment, so you’re guided into the right programme based on ability, goals, and confidence, not pushed into a one‑size‑fits‑all membership.
Clear Structure & Progression: Our programmes follow a proven pathway that builds skills, confidence, and consistency over time, so students always know what they’re working towards.
Beginner‑Friendly & Supportive: No prior experience needed. Classes are welcoming, inclusive, and coached with patience, encouragement, and professionalism.
Community‑Focused Culture: SMAFO is more than a martial arts school — it’s a positive community where children, teens, and adults feel supported, motivated, and valued.
Whether you’re enrolling your child or starting training yourself, we make it easy to begin, comfortable to continue, and rewarding to progress.
We Have Classes For Everyone
Book Your Free Assessment
NINJAS 4-6 YEARS
A fun first step that builds confidence, listening skills, and better behaviour.
If your child is full of energy, easily distracted, or a little shy in new situations, this is exactly what Ninjas was designed for. Our Ninjas classes in Didcot are short, structured, and packed with positive reinforcement.
Children learn to follow instructions, take turns, and stay engaged, while having so much fun they don’t realise they’re building the foundations of confidence and self-control.
Parents usually notice improvements in:
✅ Listening and focus (without constant reminders)
✅ Confidence in groups and new environments
✅ Coordination, balance, and body awareness
✅ Respectful behaviour and calmer emotional responses
JUNIORS 7-12 YEARS
Building focus, confidence, and resilience when it matters most.
If your child is at an age where school pressure is increasing, attention is easily lost, or confidence is starting to wobble, the Juniors programme is designed to support them at exactly the right time.
Our Juniors martial arts classes in Didcot combine structured training with clear expectations and positive coaching. Children learn how to listen, follow instructions, manage their emotions, and stay committed to their goals, skills that carry directly into the classroom and their home life.
Parents often see changes such as:
✅ Improved focus, concentration, and self-discipline
✅ Increased confidence when speaking up or trying new things
✅ Better emotional control and resilience under pressure
✅ Stronger respect for adults, peers, and themselves
ADULTS KICKBOXING
Get fitter, stronger, and more confident - without the gym intimidation.
If you’re an adult looking for a way to get back into shape, reduce stress, and feel more confident in yourself, Adults Kickboxing is designed with you in mind, even if you’ve never done anything like this before.
Our Adult Kickboxing classes in Didcot combine high‑energy training with clear structure and supportive coaching. You’ll burn calories, build strength, and release stress, while learning practical striking skills in a welcoming, beginner‑friendly environment.
This programme is especially popular with adults who:
✅ Feel bored or unmotivated by traditional gyms
✅ Want a more engaging way to improve fitness and energy
✅ Need a positive outlet for stress and mental overload
✅ Prefer structured sessions rather than training alone
LADIES ONLY CLASSES
Train with confidence, support, and zero intimidation.
If you’re looking for a fitness and self‑defence class where you feel comfortable, supported, and encouraged from day one, our Ladies Only classes are designed specifically for you.
These sessions provide a safe, welcoming space for women to improve fitness, build strength, and develop confidence without pressure, ego, or judgment. Training is structured, empowering, and suitable for complete beginners.
Women who join our Ladies Only classes in Oxford often want:
✅ A supportive environment where they feel at ease
✅ Improved fitness, strength, and energy levels
✅ Increased confidence in everyday situations
✅ Practical self‑defence skills without aggression
STUDENT AND PARENT TESTIMONIALS
What others are saying
“I have had nothing but positive experiences at SMAFO. To say my time there (just under 2 years) has been transformative to my life is an understatement. The staff are highly skilled and genuinely nice people, and the community is friendly and encouraging.”
— Paddy Killoran
“SMAFO is the place to be! If you’re looking to get your child into martial arts for whatever reason, I would highly recommend them! Great team and community, everyone wants to help each other out.”
— Lee Pratle
“Very friendly, supportive and knowledgeable instructors. Everyone is encouraging and all ages and abilities are made welcome.”
— Katherine Jolley
“My kids love their weekly training… it’s an excellent place to grow in confidence while working out! I would recommend.”
— Rob Hogg
About Us
SMAFO Martial Arts Didcot is built around one clear purpose
To help people become more confident, focused, and capable in everyday life, not just during training, but at home, at school, and at work.
Led by a father-and-son team, Mark and Mitchell Currie, the academy is driven by shared values and a long-term vision rather than quick wins or short-term results.
The focus is on building strong foundations, developing good habits, and supporting students through every stage of their journey.
At SMAFO Didcot, martial arts is used as a tool for personal development. Classes are structured, progressive, and age-appropriate, with clear pathways that allow students to grow at their own pace. Confidence, respect, discipline, and resilience are taught intentionally, not left to chance.
The goal of the academy is simple but powerful:
✅ To give children positive structure, strong role models, and skills they can rely on for life
✅ To help adults improve fitness, manage stress, and rebuild confidence in a supportive environment
✅ To create a community where families feel welcome, supported, and proud to be part of something positive.
Looking FoR ANSWERS?
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a few of the most common questions and answers to help you with all of our classes.
Do I (or my child) need any previous martial arts experience?
No. All of our classes are designed for complete beginners. Every student starts with a free assessment lesson so we can guide them into the right programme and support them from day one.
What happens in the free assessment lesson?
The assessment lesson allows you or your child to take part in a real class while we observe, support, and answer questions. There is no pressure to sign up — it’s simply to help you decide if SMAFO is the right fit.
My child is shy / easily distracted, will they be okay?
Yes. Many of our students start out shy, energetic, or lacking confidence. Our structured, positive coaching approach is specifically designed to help children build focus, confidence, and self‑belief at their own pace.
Will martial arts make my child more like a bully?
No. Our classes focus on respect, discipline, self‑control, and emotional regulation. Martial arts at SMAFO is about confidence and character development, not aggression.
I’m not very fit, can I still join as an adult?
Absolutely. You don’t need to be fit to start. Fitness improves naturally as you train, and all sessions are scalable so you can progress at a pace that suits you.
Is this suitable if I’ve never done kickboxing or martial arts before?
Yes. All adult programmes are beginner‑friendly and coached in a supportive, non‑intimidating environment. You’ll be guided step by step.
What should we wear or bring to the first session?
Comfortable sports clothing is perfect for your first assessment. We’ll guide you on uniforms and equipment only if you decide to continue.
Is there a long‑term commitment required?
No commitment is required before your assessment. After that, we’ll recommend suitable options and explain everything clearly so you can make an informed decision.
Where To Find Us
Didcot Leisure Centre, Mereland Rd, Didcot OX11 8AY
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