Martial Arts in Toronto

Muay Thai Niagara Combative Arts occupies an immense 3,200-square-foot facility, with more than 35 bags, and one of Ontario’s most experienced staff of instructors. Students can take Brazilian ju-jitsu with Andrew Cseh, who's gone 70-6 in competition, or seek the expertise of 2008's CASK Thai-boxing Coach of the Year, Roger Lumyoung. Adult classes run seven days a week, with sessions available for women only, children, and defenseless scarecrows.

Although seventh-degree black belt Mike Martin is a world taekwondo champion, his most-prized distinction is simply "dad." He takes the concept of family seriously, incorporating it into his studio's philosophy. He helms martial-arts classes in which whole clans of moms, dads, and siblings can learn the art of self-defence or settle unresolved remote-control battles together in the same session. He also leads classes designed exclusively for adults only and for kids only. In addition to hand-to-hand combat, Rising Sun instructors also lead kickboxing classes and boot camps, as well as courses in Korean swordsmanship.

International flags hang over the mat-covered practice area, which also boasts wall grips for climbing and a mountain-range mural. The space additionally plays host to kids’ birthday parties in which tots spend their afternoon taking in a martial-arts lesson, climbing on the walls, and breaking boards with their bare hands, just like carpenters who've replaced their hands with saws.