North Carolina Headlines

Chandler, AZ – July 31, 2026 – MUV Martial Arts, the Chandler studio that calls itself “a child development center disguised as a martial arts school,” marks its three-year anniversary this month with 225 active families, 500 students promoted through its belt system, and a plan to open three more locations across two states in the next 24 months. The growth rests on a bet that runs against every instinct most parents have – to beat screens, MUV borrowed from them.

MUV took the belt system every martial arts school uses and rebuilt it into a full video-game-style progression. Children earn XP through a seasonal achievement ladder that gates every belt promotion. The same mechanics that keep a child locked into a phone are the ones MUV uses to keep them showing up, doing the work, and coming back for more.

“Parents are told the answer is to take the games away,” said Adam Kifer, founder of MUV Martial Arts. “That is not the answer. Children respond to progress they can see and challenges they choose to face. We took the psychology that makes games addictive and pointed it at something that builds them instead.”

The model is working. MUV retains 94% of its members, a number well above the norm for children’s activity programs, and the studio is now preparing to grow from its single Chandler location to four. Two new schools are planned for New York and one more for Arizona over the next two years.

The growth comes as parents across the Valley wrestle with a hard question: how can they draw children away from their screens without making it feel like a punishment? Half of American teenagers now spend four or more hours a day on screens, according to an October 2024 CDC data brief, and the same research found daily physical activity falls sharply as screen time climbs. While much of the national conversation has focused on what parents should take away, MUV built its approach around giving children something engaging to work toward instead.

That answer starts with a simple idea. Confidence is not taught. It is forged. MUV creates a safe place for children to fail forward, to lose a round and step back onto the mat, to face a challenge they are not sure they can beat and discover they are stronger than they thought. The studio serves children ages 4 through 13, along with a teen and adult program, and partners with parents to build the character skills children need for life. Focus. Emotional regulation. The composure to stay steady when things get hard.

“We prepare children for pressure instead of protecting them from it,” Kifer said. “A child who learns to stay calm after getting knocked down in practice carries that into a classroom, a friendship, a hard day. That is the part that outlasts the belt.”

The approach reflects a broader shift in how children’s programs work. The market for gamified learning reached $3.5 billion in 2024 and is projected to more than quadruple by 2030, as educators and coaches adopt the streaks, levels, and progress tracking that platforms like Duolingo and Nike Run Club made familiar. MUV positions itself at the front of that shift.

MUV will mark the milestone on August 22nd with a third-anniversary celebration featuring a free Community Bullyproof Workshop open to the public. Families new to MUV can start with the studio’s introductory offer: 21 days of unlimited training for $21, which includes a performance shirt and a Parents’ Night Out.

MUV Martial Arts is located at 2815 S Alma School Rd, Unit A12, in Chandler. Details are available at muvmartialarts.com or by calling (480) 219-7513.

Media note: Adam Kifer is available for interviews on childhood resilience, screen time, and gamified child development. Photos and video of the XP system, belt ceremonies, and training sessions are available on request.

Social Media Handles: @‌muvmartialarts

Media Contact
Company Name: MUV Martial Arts
Contact Person: Adam Kifer, Founder
Email: Send Email
Phone: (480) 219-7513
Country: United States
Website: https://www.muvmartialarts.com/