Business & Tech

Martial Arts Center Opens at The Hills in Basking Ridge

Four 'masters' in tae kwon do already teaching students of different ages.

Top Mixed Martial Arts has moved into a retail space at the far end of the Highlands Village Center in The Hills, and already is offering lessons in tae kwon do, cardio kick boxing and other martial arts for area students.

Top Mixed Martial Arts, with four masters and partners who opened the one-of-a-kind martial arts center on April 8, already had about 75 students signed up as of Monday, said one, Wonwoo Choi of Parsippany.

Besides offering classes and individual instruction in tae kwon do, a style of martial arts, Top Mixed Martial Arts also teaches cardio kick boxing, Olympics-style sparring, and a class in the weapons of long stick and nunchucks, said Choi and another master, Byungseok Kang.

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Choi, who said he himself is from San Diego, said the masters all taught at previous locations before joining together to begin their own center. Although he is 32, Choi said he has been training for 26 years, and the others also have extensive experience.

The center already is open from Monday through Saturday, although the official grand opening is expected in June, Choi said.

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A summer camp is being planned, although details still are being worked out, he said.

The martial arts masters will teach children as young as age three or students into older age, Choi said.

But so far, he said most to sign up have been children, with teens and adults making up the balance.

Choi said students seek martial arts training for multiple reasons. That can include seeking self-defense training before leaving for college and for the other reasons that TMMA lists on its literature — including discipline, focus, confidence and respect.

The center now is offering some promotions for the first students to sign up. Choi said the partners especially had liked the location in The Hills.

Hours now

Hours now are Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Those who want information can call 908-506-1016, or email baskingridgetmma@gmail.com. Kang said TMMA does not yet have a website, but will create one.

Peter Wisniewski, executive vice president and principal for Coldwell Banker Commercial, Feist & Feist Realty Corp., the firm is leasing agent for the Village Highlands property on behalf of the KRE Group in Bridgewater, in early March said a martial arts school would be opening soon in part of the former McGrath's Hardware store.

"We are in discussions with another use for the balance," he said of a remaining portion of the former hardware store. At that time, he said the leasing agent also was in discussions with some restaurants that would be a good mix at the center to occupy to space left vacant when Fresh Restaurant closed at the end of 2012.


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