News

Back to School Strong: Free Martial Arts Classes This September!

School is back—and Born Strong Martial Arts is helping kids start the year with confidence, focus, discipline, and practical self-defense skills!

Throughout September, children ages 5–12 are invited to experience a FREE martial arts class every Wednesday at 5:00 PM at Samuell Grand Recreation Center in East Dallas.

Our classes give children an opportunity to get active while developing skills that can carry into the classroom and everyday life. Students will be introduced to martial arts in a positive and encouraging environment focused on building confidence, improving focus, and learning age-appropriate self-defense.

When: Every Wednesday in September at 5:00 PM
Ages: 5–12
Cost: FREE
Where: Samuell Grand Recreation Center, 6200 E Grand Ave., Dallas, TX 75223

There is no better time to discover what your child is capable of.

Come meet Born Strong Martial Arts and start the school year strong!

For more information, call or text (945) 275-6418 or email us at: info@bornstrongmartialarts.org

Fight Like a Girl: Self-Defense Workshops for Girl Scouts

Born Strong Martial Arts is proud to partner with the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas to offer our Fight Like a Girl Self-Defense Workshops designed to help girls build confidence, awareness, and practical self-defense skills in an encouraging and empowering environment.

As an Official Program Partner of Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas, Born Strong Martial Arts is offering Girl Scout troops a special opportunity to experience a 75-minute self-defense workshop for up to 30 girls.

The regular workshop value is $250, but Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas can book for only $150, a $100 savings when scheduled by October 1, 2026.

And the benefits don't stop after the workshop! Girl Scouts can also receive 20% off Born Strong Martial Arts classes by texting GSNETX20 to (945) 275-6418.

Help your Girl Scouts discover just how strong, fierce, and unstoppable they can be.

Ready to book your workshop?
Call or text (945) 275-6418
Email info@bornstrongmartialarts.org

Space is limited to 30 girls per workshop. Reserve your session today!

Born Strong Foundation named Newcomer Nonprofit Finalist at 2026 Nonprofit & Corporate Citizenship Awards

July 23, 2026

When people think about martial arts, they often picture punches, kicks, self-defense techniques, and belt promotions.

But martial arts is about much more than learning how to fight.

At Born Strong Foundation, doing business as Born Strong Martial Arts, we believe martial arts can be one of the most powerful tools for helping young people develop confidence, discipline, resilience, leadership, and respect—skills that extend far beyond the training floor and into their homes, schools, and communities.

That belief is what led our team to establish Born Strong Martial Arts in East Dallas.

Before forming the nonprofit, our team saw firsthand how many families wanted their children to experience the benefits of martial arts but could not afford the costs traditionally associated with training. Hundreds of families expressed interest over the years but faced financial barriers that prevented their children from participating. We believed there had to be another way.

Today, Born Strong Foundation works to make quality martial arts instruction and personal development opportunities accessible to children and families regardless of their financial circumstances.

Through scholarships, affordable martial arts programming, community partnerships, free self-defense workshops, and youth leadership opportunities, we are working to remove barriers while giving young people the tools to become stronger physically, mentally, and emotionally.

A Milestone for a Young East Dallas Nonprofit

That mission recently received recognition on one of North Texas' most prominent nonprofit stages.

The annual awards, presented in partnership with Communities Foundation of Texas, recognize outstanding nonprofit organizations as well as companies and leaders who support and advance nonprofit missions throughout North Texas. More than 900 nominations were submitted for the 2026 awards, and the program recognized 136 finalists.

Born Strong Foundation was selected as one of only four finalists alongside Empower the Voice, Isaiah 117 House, and Live Like Knox Foundation in the Newcomer Nonprofit category. Big Heart Theater was named the 2026 category winner during the awards celebration held July 23 at South Side Ballroom in Dallas.

For an organization still early in its journey, simply being included among so many established and impactful North Texas nonprofits represents an extraordinary milestone.

But for us, the recognition means something even bigger.

The Recognition Belongs to Our Community

Since the beginning of 2025, Born Strong has served hundreds of youth and families through recreation center programs, school partnerships, community events, women's self-defense workshops, and youth leadership opportunities.

Along the way, we have watched students who once struggled with confidence begin stepping forward as leaders. We have seen young people learn how to de-escalate conflict, stand up to bullying, demonstrate greater self-control, and accept more responsibility at home, at school, and in their communities.

Those outcomes do not happen by accident.

They happen when a community chooses to invest in its young people.

That is why being recognized by D CEO is not simply an accomplishment for Born Strong Foundation. It is a reflection of the community that has helped make our work possible.

It reflects our students who continue showing up and challenging themselves.

It reflects the parents and families who believe in what we are building.

It reflects our instructors, volunteers, board members, donors, and supporters who give their time, resources, and expertise.

And it reflects the community partners who have opened their doors and helped us bring martial arts, self-defense, mentorship, and leadership development to more children and families throughout East Dallas.

This recognition belongs to all of you.

Stronger Youth. Stronger Communities.

The future of East Dallas depends in large part on the young people growing up in our neighborhoods today.

Every time a child gains confidence, learns self-control, develops leadership skills, stands against bullying, or chooses to resolve conflict peacefully, our community becomes a little stronger.

That is why we do this work.

Being named a 2026 D CEO Newcomer Nonprofit finalist is an honor we will always remember. But awards were never the reason Born Strong Foundation was created.

The real reward happens on the training floor.

It happens when a shy student finds their voice.

It happens when a child who wanted to quit learns perseverance.

It happens when a young person discovers that being strong does not mean intimidating someone else—it means developing the discipline and confidence to make better choices.

And it happens when families who may otherwise have been unable to afford martial arts are given an opportunity to see what their children can become.

We are grateful to D CEO for recognizing our organization and to everyone throughout East Dallas and North Texas who continues to believe in our mission.

This recognition represents an important chapter in our story—but we are only getting started.

We look forward to expanding opportunities, building new partnerships, reaching more families, and continuing to create places where young people can discover their own strength.

Because when our youth become stronger, our communities become stronger too.

More information at: Winners Announced: *D CEO's* Nonprofit & Corporate Citizenship Awards 2026 - D Magazine