ABK Collective"Character is the First Line of Defense"
Begin your training in Martial Arts at ABK! Our experienced instructors and supportive community will help you develop discipline, respect, physical prowess, and mental fortitude through the practice of traditional and modern techniques at ABK: the only outdoor school for martial arts in East Bay, California.
The goal of our organization is to bring students the highest quality instruction in a safe environment with care and attention for every student.
It is our mission to provide students with the tools necessary to learn focus, determination, self discipline, respect and self defense. Our aim is to allow the opportunity for students to learn the invaluable benefits of Traditional Martial Arts training, which will allow them to develop their physical and mental potential to live a happier, healthier and fulfilled life.
Master Anthony Lerma
Founder of American Budo Kwan, Karate A to Z and UMA, Owner of ABK Collective
We service the communities of Danville, San Ramon, Alamo, Walnut Creek, Lafayette, Orinda, Montclair and Piedmont, CA
Why we Train Outdoors?
The Power of Outdoor Martial Arts Training for Kids
At our school, we believe that traditional martial arts training is about more than just physical skills—it’s about nurturing the whole child. That’s why we offer a variety of outdoor programs that take advantage of California’s beautiful climate and natural surroundings.
Why Outdoor Training? Modern children spend much of their time indoors and on screens. Training outside offers unique benefits that support their physical and mental development:
Healthy Sunlight & Vitamin D: Safe exposure to sunlight helps children naturally produce vitamin D, which is vital for bone strength, immune function, and mood regulation. In California’s mild weather, outdoor classes let kids soak in sunshine responsibly while staying active.
Fresh Air & Better Oxygenation: Movement in fresh air improves oxygen flow to the brain, which supports focus, memory, and neurological development. Outdoor environments also encourage deeper breathing, helping reduce stress and improve overall respiratory health.
Connection with Nature: Surrounded by trees and open spaces, kids experience reduced tension and increased calm. Studies show that time in nature helps regulate the nervous system and improves attention span, making it easier for children to learn and stay engaged.
Stronger Bodies & Minds: Training on varied terrain challenges balance, coordination, and awareness of the position and movement of the body in ways that indoor floors cannot. This enhances motor skills and builds resilience—not just physically, but mentally and emotionally.
Building Focus, Confidence, and Well-Being Outdoor martial arts isn’t just exercise; it’s a holistic experience. By blending disciplined training with the healing power of nature, children develop better self-regulation, improved attention spans, and a deeper sense of well-being. Parents often notice that their kids are calmer, happier, and more focused both in and out of class.
We are proud to provide programs that give children the best of both worlds: the structure and tradition of martial arts and the freedom and health benefits of training outdoors.
How to start training at ABK Collective
Choose from our Programs:
ABK (Ages 5 and Above)
curriculum consistent with traditional martial philosophy for character development and includes traditional forms, self defense, sparring, weapons training and test breaking. ABK is a well rounded system that teaches life skills to deal with challenge, confrontations (bullying) and emotions, as well as everyday movements for everyday life.
Accepting new students
To Start: New Student Intro available
Karate A to Z (Ages 3.5-5)
designed and developed specifically for the emotional and physical needs of young children Karate A to Z incorporates skills such as focus, balance, strength, coordination, self control, and provides students with an awareness of the sights and sounds of the alphabet.
Accepting new students for a class starting 6/1/2025
RBSD: Reality Based Self Defense (private lessons and seminars)
practical self-defense techniques tailored to real-life situations and lifestyle, enhancing your confidence and personal safety.
Accepting a limited number of private students and special event workshops.
BJJ Defense (age 15 and above)
expert-led training, improving your defense against ground fighting skills, agility, overall physical conditioning and psychology of fighting
Accepting a limited number of private students.
UMA: Functional Fitness (private lessons and group training)
Lotus Circle Tai Chi
Tai Chi teaches self awareness and body awareness, focus, strength and flexibility, natural free breathing. Daily Practice leads to improved Posture, Balance, Core Strength, Circulation, Flexibility, Attention, Concentration, Mood.
45 minute private lessons
Accepting new students
What Makes ABK Stand Out
ABK's Methodology: Where Creativity Meets Movement and Traditional Philosophy
ABK offers exciting and challenging Martial Arts classes that are taught in a traditional modality, incorporating fun drills and games that not only help to ingrain martial skills, but also instill attributes such as leadership and cooperation while using functional fitness and mobility exercises to improve the student's strength, balance, coordination and flexibility. Training at ABK develops both the mind and body.
Testimonials
What our clients say
Rafal U
A year ago I enrolled as one of the first students of the new RBSD program, which is a self-defense system designed and constantly developed by Master Lerma. Although we live abroad now, I have regular online classes and continue my journey with martial arts. The RBSD is a very practical system that allows one to feel confident in most of the real life situations. The idea of sets of basic eights helps memorize and establish proper reflexes to respond immediately to various threats no matter if they come from someone, who practices popular martial arts like kick boxing, BJJ, MMA, karate or someone who is simply experienced in street fights. Master Lerma proposes new drills regularly and changes the focus of our private classes so that, I can stay engaged, have fun and grow my skills. I fully recommend their school, ABK classes for kids and youths, and the RBSD system for adults.
Dave M.
Absolutely the best training by Master Lerma who delivers over 30 years of practical and formal training to each lesson. He is calm, patient, and truly listens to his students teaching them in the way they learn best.
I have the privilege of being his student that started in February 2023 with uninterrupted 1 hour session per week. Master Lerma’s training has advanced me with knowledge of the Art, the purpose for each technique, and its history.
But it doesn’t stop there, through Master Lerma’s coaching and inspiration, I have lost 27 pounds and I have increased my body definition!
You’ll find it is fun to have him coaching you, builds confidence to managing potential encounters in today’s uncertain social climates, and has excellent physical fitness and health benefits!
It is with my sincere and most humble pleasure to highly recommend Master Lerma’s program for all ages, even beyond my age of 67 years old!
Todd G.
Our son was born with some minor learning and physical disabilities, including low muscle tone and weak gross motor skills. We always felt he could benefit from a self-defense class, but were always unsure about when to start him. We can assuredly state that your class has been extremely beneficial for our son. Aside from the obvious physical growth and improved coordination, his self-esteem, confidence, work ethic and even grades have improved immensely.
Paul VL
My son and daughter are in karate at ABK. Karate at ABK has been especially helpfun to my son, who started in the A to Z program at age 4 and is currently a brown belt at age 7 1/2. He loves Master Lerma!
The disciplined environment is key, where consequences are immediate and non-negotiable, where he must fit in with the rest of the class and not deviate from instruction. Most important, an environment where he must focus on the task at hand even though he has other things on his mind. These are the things that karate provides, and the things that will serve him well the rest of his life.
S. M.
Dear Master Lerma,
I want to take a moment to thank you for all the time and effort you have devoted to our daughter. We brought her almost two years ago, a shy and very withdrawn 4 1/2 year old child. During the fourteen months she studied in your A to Z class, my husband and I watched as you patiently helped her to learn and master various moves. As a result of your patience and mentoring over the last two years, she has developed a measure of confidence that shows not only in her Karate, but also in her school work where she is an above average student. Thank you again for working with my husband and I to help our daughter develop into her full potential. We consider you a co-partner in her development, and look forward to many, many years working together.
Rafal U
A year ago I enrolled as one of the first students of the new RBSD program, which is a self-defense system designed and constantly developed by Master Lerma. Although we live abroad now, I have regular online classes and continue my journey with martial arts. The RBSD is a very practical system that allows one to feel confident in most of the real life situations. The idea of sets of basic eights helps memorize and establish proper reflexes to respond immediately to various threats no matter if they come from someone, who practices popular martial arts like kick boxing, BJJ, MMA, karate or someone who is simply experienced in street fights. Master Lerma proposes new drills regularly and changes the focus of our private classes so that, I can stay engaged, have fun and grow my skills. I fully recommend their school, ABK classes for kids and youths, and the RBSD system for adults.
Dave M.
Absolutely the best training by Master Lerma who delivers over 30 years of practical and formal training to each lesson. He is calm, patient, and truly listens to his students teaching them in the way they learn best.
I have the privilege of being his student that started in February 2023 with uninterrupted 1 hour session per week. Master Lerma’s training has advanced me with knowledge of the Art, the purpose for each technique, and its history.
But it doesn’t stop there, through Master Lerma’s coaching and inspiration, I have lost 27 pounds and I have increased my body definition!
You’ll find it is fun to have him coaching you, builds confidence to managing potential encounters in today’s uncertain social climates, and has excellent physical fitness and health benefits!
It is with my sincere and most humble pleasure to highly recommend Master Lerma’s program for all ages, even beyond my age of 67 years old!
Todd G.
Our son was born with some minor learning and physical disabilities, including low muscle tone and weak gross motor skills. We always felt he could benefit from a self-defense class, but were always unsure about when to start him. We can assuredly state that your class has been extremely beneficial for our son. Aside from the obvious physical growth and improved coordination, his self-esteem, confidence, work ethic and even grades have improved immensely.
Paul VL
My son and daughter are in karate at ABK. Karate at ABK has been especially helpfun to my son, who started in the A to Z program at age 4 and is currently a brown belt at age 7 1/2. He loves Master Lerma!
The disciplined environment is key, where consequences are immediate and non-negotiable, where he must fit in with the rest of the class and not deviate from instruction. Most important, an environment where he must focus on the task at hand even though he has other things on his mind. These are the things that karate provides, and the things that will serve him well the rest of his life.
S. M.
Dear Master Lerma,
I want to take a moment to thank you for all the time and effort you have devoted to our daughter. We brought her almost two years ago, a shy and very withdrawn 4 1/2 year old child. During the fourteen months she studied in your A to Z class, my husband and I watched as you patiently helped her to learn and master various moves. As a result of your patience and mentoring over the last two years, she has developed a measure of confidence that shows not only in her Karate, but also in her school work where she is an above average student. Thank you again for working with my husband and I to help our daughter develop into her full potential. We consider you a co-partner in her development, and look forward to many, many years working together.
Rafal U
A year ago I enrolled as one of the first students of the new RBSD program, which is a self-defense system designed and constantly developed by Master Lerma. Although we live abroad now, I have regular online classes and continue my journey with martial arts. The RBSD is a very practical system that allows one to feel confident in most of the real life situations. The idea of sets of basic eights helps memorize and establish proper reflexes to respond immediately to various threats no matter if they come from someone, who practices popular martial arts like kick boxing, BJJ, MMA, karate or someone who is simply experienced in street fights. Master Lerma proposes new drills regularly and changes the focus of our private classes so that, I can stay engaged, have fun and grow my skills. I fully recommend their school, ABK classes for kids and youths, and the RBSD system for adults.
Dave M.
Absolutely the best training by Master Lerma who delivers over 30 years of practical and formal training to each lesson. He is calm, patient, and truly listens to his students teaching them in the way they learn best.
I have the privilege of being his student that started in February 2023 with uninterrupted 1 hour session per week. Master Lerma’s training has advanced me with knowledge of the Art, the purpose for each technique, and its history.
But it doesn’t stop there, through Master Lerma’s coaching and inspiration, I have lost 27 pounds and I have increased my body definition!
You’ll find it is fun to have him coaching you, builds confidence to managing potential encounters in today’s uncertain social climates, and has excellent physical fitness and health benefits!
It is with my sincere and most humble pleasure to highly recommend Master Lerma’s program for all ages, even beyond my age of 67 years old!
Todd G.
Our son was born with some minor learning and physical disabilities, including low muscle tone and weak gross motor skills. We always felt he could benefit from a self-defense class, but were always unsure about when to start him. We can assuredly state that your class has been extremely beneficial for our son. Aside from the obvious physical growth and improved coordination, his self-esteem, confidence, work ethic and even grades have improved immensely.
Paul VL
My son and daughter are in karate at ABK. Karate at ABK has been especially helpfun to my son, who started in the A to Z program at age 4 and is currently a brown belt at age 7 1/2. He loves Master Lerma!
The disciplined environment is key, where consequences are immediate and non-negotiable, where he must fit in with the rest of the class and not deviate from instruction. Most important, an environment where he must focus on the task at hand even though he has other things on his mind. These are the things that karate provides, and the things that will serve him well the rest of his life.
S. M.
Dear Master Lerma,
I want to take a moment to thank you for all the time and effort you have devoted to our daughter. We brought her almost two years ago, a shy and very withdrawn 4 1/2 year old child. During the fourteen months she studied in your A to Z class, my husband and I watched as you patiently helped her to learn and master various moves. As a result of your patience and mentoring over the last two years, she has developed a measure of confidence that shows not only in her Karate, but also in her school work where she is an above average student. Thank you again for working with my husband and I to help our daughter develop into her full potential. We consider you a co-partner in her development, and look forward to many, many years working together.
Contacts
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