AFTA Martial Arts

AFTA is a combat school, plain and simple. I spent 8 years at a local sport school, which I enjoyed, but there I learned to fight in tournaments with rules and a point system. If you want to learn to defend yourself against an attacker, or even multiple attackers, on the street and in a variety of situations, then AFTA is the school for you. You will still learn a little about traditional martial arts and discipline, and get your fair share of fitness, but the school focuses on self-defense and street survival. Only downsides are the school is a bit dirty and politics occasionally wind up on the mat, which detracts from the class.

I gave AFTA a 5-star rating for the following reasons:Character Development: I started training at AFTA when I was in the 8th grade. Needless to say, I had a lot to learn about life. My experience at AFTA taught me that I don’t get to give up just because I may have gotten kicked a little harder than I liked or my training partner was bigger, older or more experienced. I also learned a healthy dose of humility and respect for others. I carried these lessons with me into my career where they have served me well.Realistic Training: Don’t get me wrong, being able to connect with a good, solid punch or lock down a tight rear-naked choke are incredibly valuable skills to have. But if you’re not training to consistently and effectively strike your opponents most vulnerable areas such as the eyes and groin on the grounds that it’s somehow “unfair,” you are seriously handicapping yourself in any situation that doesn’t afford you a series of 3 minute rounds and a referee. If your training regime doesn’t include both defense from, and the offensive use of weapons like knives, ball bats and guns, then you are failing to prepare for some of the most dangerous situations you may ever encounter.People Skills: Having it expected that as a 13 year old, I should be able to stand in front of a group of adults and command their respect by leading them through a calisthenic routine in preparation for the beginning of instruction was probably one of the most valuable things I’ve ever done, especially given my current occupation. Training at AFTA also taught me how to confidently and constructively work with people from diverse backgrounds and who possess varying expectations regarding their training.I highly recommend attending AFTA Martial Arts. The skills taught are relevant and the people are friendly and eager to train. Many of the current and former students are LE or MIL and love nothing more than helping you expand your self-defense skill set both inside and outside of class. If you are considering a martial arts school, either for yourself or your children, I can’t think of a better place.

Expect nothing but the best at AFTA Martial Arts.  I enrolled my daughter in martial arts because she was so shy.  I didn’t want her to be a follower, I want her to be a leader.  I found her coming home from school and telling me the things she couldn’t do.  I want my daughter to be confident in what she does.  Eleven months later, my daughter is speaking louder so people can hear her when she speaks.  She is a lot stronger and she holds her head up high.  At home, I’m hearing more positive comments like, “I bet I can do that”.  She wasn’t able to do cartwheels in gym class, but she’s proud of herself because she can now.  These accomplishments may seem small, but she just turned seven and the amount of growth I’ve seen in her is amazing.  I am so proud of her.  Joel Bowling teaches his students respect, discipline, leadership, confidence, and yes martial arts too.  Joel expects nothing but the best from his students and that is exactly what he gets.  He sets the expectations high and his students rise because of that.  AFTA Martial Arts will be a remarkable place for your daughter or son to attend.Thank you,Angela

I trained here for 5 years before I joined the Air Force as a cop. The experience and education was invaluable. The self defense/combat mindset and skills that Mr Bowling teaches is unlike anything else you will find. After moving on to professional MMA, the Modern Army Combatives Program, and finding a martial arts school or boxing gym anywhere I get stationed, I would trade it all for more time at AFTA Martial Arts.

Great School!!! Period! I wish I had gone to AFTA much sooner in life. The knowledge that Master Bowling possess and teaches is amazing! Many of the students have trained at other schools. They say by far AFTA is the best martial art school around. I am very confident that if any situation should arise, my training of martial arts will help me succeed in handling the situation. The school is very intense and gratifying! Stop in and you will see what I'm talking about!

AFTA Martial Arts is a great place to learn discipline and self defense. Master Bowling is a knowledgeable instructor that brings experience in real life situations. His classes include all ages and both male and female. Several different levels of belts and degrees are in Master Bowling classes. I highly recommend anyone looking for a great way to learn to defend oneself to check out AFTA Martial Arts.

I had signed my daughter and I up about 4 years ago for the Self Defense classes. Just in the first night we learned so much from Master Bowling and the other higher belts.Master Bowling not only thought my daughter and I how to handle ourselves in any situation, he had taught us self confidence , and the desire and determination to succeed. Master Bowling is well respected not only from the adult and children students that attend his classes ,though, from the parents and visitors that come in and watch the classes.If you are looking for a school that not only teaches you or your child/ren self defense, kickboxing, and martial art techniques, this is the school to attend.

Over the years I have and always will recommend AFTA to anyone who is looking to get their child into Martial Arts or themselves. My son struggled with school and discipline. He played baseball and basketball his whole childhood and this didn't help with his focus and discipline where school is concerned. I wanted him to learn these things and signed him up at AFTA. That was the best decision in our lives. Dr. Bowling taught him self respect, discipline, leadership, self-control, survivor skills and one of the most important to also never quit. He also learned self defense, not this sport stuff that you use during tournaments to gain points, but real life techniques that will save his life if he was ever put in that situation. Dr. Bowling truly cares for his students and also takes an interest in their life. When disciplining my son at home wasn't enough I would drop him off at the dojo on a Saturday morning and he spent quite a few hours dusting all the trophies and awards that were displayed. His game system also sat on Dr. Bowling's desk for a couple months until the next report card came home. But, he never quit and he earned his black belt. 10 years later he still talks about his Martial Art days and how he wishes there was a dojo like AFTA where he lives.

AFTA Martial Arts is one of the best training decisions I ever made. I am a career combatives instructor and contacted the master for swordsmanship training, what I found was a wealth of knowledge and PRACTICAL SKILLS! That truely makes all the difference in the real world. Although I do not train unarmed self defense with his students I see them everyday I come in for class and I know from my experience they are really receiving in quality training. I highly recommend you try this school if you looking for "Real Self-Defense" it's a crazy age we live in. We must protect ourselves and our children! I hope to see you soon-Frost

I highly recommend this school to you, if you want to learn how to defend yourself. Unlike other schools in the area they teach sport martial arts. This school here MOSTLY focuses on street fighting/self defense and real life situations. I have trained at two other school in Rockford, and they don't stand a chance against this school. The way Rockford is getting now, I highly recommend everyone to learn some kind of self defense. If you just want to learn how to defend yourself, and love ones this school is right for you. I wouldn't even waste my time looking into sport schools UNLESS you want to fight in the ring.