Award News · September 24, 2026
Best Children’s Martial Arts School in Troy, Two Years in a Row
American Recognition Awards has named Mastery Martial Arts the Best Children’s Martial Arts School in Troy, Michigan for 2026. Last year, Insider Weekly gave us the same honor for 2025.
Get My Child’s Free 30-Day Pass →Kids ages 3 to 17 · 3656 Rochester Road, Troy
What the award is for
We teach kids. Martial arts is how we do it.
The award recognizes our child development program. Kicks and forms are part of every class. They are not the point.
The point is the child. We want kids who can stand up in front of a group and speak. Kids who listen the first time. Kids who try again after something goes wrong.
“People see martial arts and think we’re teaching kids how to kick and punch. What I’m really watching for is the moment a quiet child raises their hand, speaks in front of the class, or tries again after something feels hard. The skills on the mat give them a place to practice. The confidence they take home is the point.”Denny Strecker, Owner and Chief Instructor
What parents notice
What your child works on here
Every class builds four skills, in this order:
- Focus. Listening the first time and finishing what they start.
- Confidence. Looking adults in the eye and speaking up in class.
- Discipline. Making good choices when no one is watching.
- Leadership. Helping younger kids and setting the example.
Each new belt asks your child to show one of these skills, not only a new kick. You can see how that works on our karate belt order for kids page.
Two years running
Two awards from two different judges
You can read about last year’s award in our post on being named best children’s martial arts school of 2025.
Awards are nice. The rating we care about more comes from parents. Mastery holds a 4.9-star rating on Google across 277 reviews.
Who teaches your child
A kids-only school in Troy
Mastery Martial Arts teaches children only. No adult classes. Every program is built for kids ages 3 to 17, split by age so each child learns next to kids at their own stage. See our kids karate programs in Troy.
Classes are led by Denny Strecker. He has taught martial arts to children for 34 years and holds four black belts. He also wrote two Amazon best-selling books for parents: How to Double Your Child’s Confidence in Just 30 Days and From Chaos to Calm: How to Instill Focus and Discipline in Your Child.
Want more ideas you can use at home? Browse our free parent resources.
Thank you
This award belongs to our families
To every parent who drives to class after a long day, and to every student who came back after a hard night on the mat: thank you. You are the reason we get to do this work.
30 Days Free · Troy, MI
See why Troy families chose us.
Your child starts with a free, private introductory lesson and their first 30 days free.
Get My Child’s Free 30-Day Pass →3656 Rochester Road, Troy · (248) 247-7353