Three Rivers Academy is the most unique and longest running academy in the area, serving western Kentucky and the surrounding area since 1995.
PROGRAMS
GROUP LESSONS
TRY ALL OF OUR CLASSES FOR ONLY $35
NO COMMITMENT OR OBLIGATION
BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU
MON + WED 7:00-8:00 PM, SAT 10:00-11:00 AM
Our most popular class, Jiu-Jitsu is based on easily learned principles of leverage and positioning, allowing you to defend yourself from an aggressor twice as large. Our instructors have a rich history and unique certification in this art, along with decades of training and teaching experience. Learn realistic, empowering self-defense in a martial art that is well-known for being the most practical in the world.
NO-GI JIU-JITSU
THU 7:00-8:00 PM
Without the use of a traditional jiu-jitsu uniform, grappling techniques are executed a bit differently and this class helps the practitioner build a well-balanced arsenal of techniques for dealing with a variety of situations.
JUN FAN KICKBOXING
MON, WED 6:00-7:00 PM
Under the direct lineage of Bruce Lee, our instructors are certified through his top student, Guro Dan Inosanto, to teach this well-rounded system. A fast-paced class, Jun Fan Kickboxing includes the use of punching, kicking, trapping and take-downs. The overall goal is to coordinate the kicking and boxing so they are totally blended to offer you an amazing workout along with a skill set of effective techniques.
TAI JI QUAN
THU 6:00-7:00 PM, SAT NOON-1:00 PM
A practice that seeks stillness within movement, Tai Ji Quan is an ancient martial art with rounded and lively postures, like a limitless circle. The movements seem to have no strength, yet the use of power is internal and the postures move in accordance to this power. Reap the many health and mental benefits that come from practicing this enduring, ancient form that’s appropriate for practitioners of all ages and fitness levels.
KALI SILAT
TUE 6:30-7:30 PM, THU 7:00-8:00 PM
In this weapon-based class using sticks and practice blades, you will explore the techniques, principles, and concepts of Filipino Kali and Indonesian Silat as taught under the lineage of Guro Dan Inosanto. The movements are crisp and efficient, utilizing the most direct lines and angles of attack. The practice of this art enhances natural attributes such as coordination, timing, speed, endurance, strength and agility.
SPECIALIZED LESSONS
INSTRUCTOR TRAINING
THIRD SUNDAY EACH MONTH
This program is designed to give teen and adult students the opportunity to be leaders within the academy. Students can develop leadership skills while assisting with classes, and gain a deeper understanding of the arts by learning teaching techniques in specialized weekly sessions. Candidates must apply for this program.
LAW ENFORCEMENT
CUSTOMIZED TO FIT YOUR SCHEDULE
Increase your focus, strength, and confidence in dealing with combative situations and learn techniques that are proven effective, including weapons retention techniques. Designed exclusively for local law enforcement personnel, this membership option provides a mix of group and private sessions at a substantial discount. Our instructor for this program is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, as well as the head defensive tactics instructor of the Paducah Police Department.
PRIVATE LESSONS
AVAILABLE DAY OR EVENING, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK
Learn at your own pace, with classes that fit your schedule, and instruction exclusively in the areas of the art or combination of arts that interest you. Choose from Jiu-Jitsu, Jun Fan Kickboxing, Kali Silat, Systema, Tai Ji Quan, Thai Boxing, or Breath Work and Mindsets.
Customized and private sessions are a Three Rivers specialty, and our wide variety of program options make these lessons more affordable than you may think.
Private lessons can include more than one student. You and a friend or family members can create a class that meets at your convenience and training with a partner can minimize the cost.
HISTORY
HISTORY
The idea of Three Rivers Martial Arts Academy was developed in March 1995 on the back of a Chong’s restaurant placemat. Seven martial artists, all from different backgrounds, wrote down what we wanted the academy to be. We hoped to relate to others the change we saw in ourselves through martial arts.
We wanted it to be an idea, not a promotion. We vowed to teach in a way that would demonstrate to the community that the study of martial arts was on par with any other field of endeavor such as medicine, engineering, etc. That year, we opened in a small space at the Executive Inn, and grew to fill a larger area in the same hotel within a couple of years.
We were excited about what we were doing and knew it was special because we saw growth in the academy despite being located in a basement behind a floodwall. In April 1999, we moved to 900 Broadway in historic downtown Paducah. To accommodate our growing academy, we moved again in 2008 to Energy Fitness. Our last move was in 2020 to our new location on the opposite side of The Gym, which is a state-of-the-art fitness facility, formerly Energy Fitness.
With the help of friends, family, community leaders, and dedicated students that have grown into experienced instructors, the academy has continued to unfold into the most accredited and professional school in the area.