Martingilio Martial Arts

Okinawan te, Ryukyu Kempo, Tai Chi Chuan, Modern Arnis, Jujitsu

Life protection arts from a
vetted and experienced instructor.

What makes us different.

Shihan Chris Martingilio is an award-winning martial arts educator (ARC 2022) who personally teaches every class and every student in his school. See his bio.

The martial arts program is similar to a private school, with limited class sizes, and individualized student attention from a devoted instructor. Students who meet Shihan Chris’ high expectations are rewarded with self-confidence, mental toughness, and lifelong skills in self-defense. Creating long term relationships with students and developing supportive training groups is of the utmost importance.

 
  • In-person private training at my location or yours.
  • Small group to large group training.
  • Local, National, and International Seminars
  • Corporate training
  • Schools, colleges, organizations
  • Lessons via Zoom for distance learners

CUSTOMIZED & PRIVATE TRAINING

Kyusho Jitsu

Our martial arts programs are intended to educate, create new skills, and understanding of the arts. We teach pressure-point techniques and joint locks that will increase the effectiveness of any style of martial art. All of our programs include this method of self defense.

Ours is a School of Education. Not Recreation.

Testimonials

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Grace Berens profile picture
Grace Berens
April 15, 2026
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Master Chris is more than amazing. He is the kind of person who genuinely cares about every single student like he’s known them forever. From the moment you walk in, you already feel supported and respected. He has a way of teaching that makes everything click, no matter your experience or level, and he never moves on until everyone understands. Master Chris keeps the social environment super fun and positive. His humor makes training something you really look forward to instead of something you have to push yourself to do. He also personalizes his coaching. He takes the time to understand your goals and helps you build skills that actually matter for you. When it comes to him judging your skills, he’s not judging to tear you down or make you feel small, he’s judging for your potential and pushing you to advance with confidence. It’s great to have someone who is this skilled, this dedicated, and this invested in their students, and I feel lucky to be learning from him. One other very important thing is how much he cares about who we are outside of martial arts. He asks each of us high schoolers individually if we have homework, and if we do, he tells us to prioritize that first, even if that means missing class or leaving early. That says so much about the kind of person he is. He understands that building a student’s character means teaching responsibility, discipline, and balance, not just martial arts. By putting our education before his own class, he shows us that our success in life matters more to him than anything else, and that kind of selfless leadership is amazing to have. That is what makes him such an incredible instructor and even a better human being, because the lessons he teaches us about life will stay with us far longer than any belt ever will.
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Andy Berens
April 14, 2026
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My daughter and I are both enrolled in class and went into it grateful for the chance we were going to get to spend time together and learn a lifelong skill. But we soon learned that it was much more than that. Chris didn't just enroll us, he wanted to understand why we were inquiring, who we are. My daughter and I knew nothing about martial arts going in but when Chris took the time to understand us as individuals, it made us feel welcome from the very first day. He continues to use what he knows about each of us and applies it every class. The environment is non-competitive, warm and friendly. There are no tournaments, no hidden fees or paying additional money to belong to a special group. It's real, individualized learning at a pace that is ours to determine as students. We have both met many new friends as well. And that best part is that it is really truly F-U-N!
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David Howard profile picture
David Howard
December 4, 2025
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The man knows his stuff ! Very nice dojo and a very great person . If you are thinking about joining a dojo look no further than Martingilio Martial Arts !
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Piper Kraemer profile picture
Piper Kraemer
May 2, 2024
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Martingilio has the best environment possible, grandmaster Chris is extremely knowledgeable about a wide variety of topics involving martial arts. Being there is an amazing experience!
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Matthew Gregg
February 21, 2024
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Very knowledgeable and engaging!
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Antonio Gonzalez profile picture
Antonio Gonzalez
February 17, 2024
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My family and I have been coming to Martingilio Martial Arts since 2005, Grandmaster Chris Martingilio has not only been an amazing instructor, but a personal friend and mentor for us as well. My siblings and I have had the pleasure of training at MMA since we were very small and we have had the chance to not only watch the school grow and develop, but watch ourselves grow and develop with them as well. Through Martingilio Martial Arts we have learned important life lessons such as discipline and respect on top of learning how to defend ourselves and our loved ones safely and legally. I have also had the privilege to meet, train, and learn from some of the top Martial Artists in the world through Martingilio Martial Arts! Grandmaster Chris makes the classes fun, engaging, and exciting and I would highly recommend Grandmaster Chris and Martingilio Martial Arts to anybody who wants to better themselves, to learn an efficient and reliable form of self-defense, and anyone who is looking for a great school to teach their children not only to defend themselves and others, but to develop their character as well. I don’t know where I would be today without Martingilio Martial Arts!
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Vanessa Teff
February 16, 2024
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My family and I have known Chris for 20+ years. We have each sought out his training individually. Because of my positive and transformative experiences training with Shihan Chris, I will never go anywhere else. His knowledge in this arena is bar none. When training in this field, you want your instructor to be an expert, to have immense experience and to be able to communicate effectively so you understand how this applies to your life and that's exactly what Shihan Chris does. He doesn't train you to only become good at martial arts. He trains you to apply the martial arts to every day life. As a female, his self defense teaching is A MUST! For those reasons, he's the only one I train with, refer to for advice and also recommend. I am grateful my parents met him in the 90's as I continue to reap the benefits. My son just turned one and he'll be trained by Shihan Chris when he's old enough. I can't speak highly enough about him.
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Toby Scheller profile picture
Toby Scheller
February 13, 2024
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I have trained with Chris for almost 5 years and he is a great person and a amazing teacher.
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Claire Johnson profile picture
Claire Johnson
February 12, 2024
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Shihan Chris is not just an incredible teacher of martial arts, but has a wonderful knack of "seeing" each student for who they are and making a connection that lasts long after the lesson is over.
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Nick Dougherty profile picture
Nick Dougherty
February 12, 2024
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Excellent and detailed training of classical martial arts. Best in the area. Warm atmosphere and very welcoming.
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Our Team

CHRISTOPHER MARTINGILIO
SHIHAN

CHRISTOPHER MARTINGILIO

OWNER & FOUNDER

Bio

Bio

Master Chris has turned a lifelong passion for teaching others into a Martial Arts Dojo like no other. Sensei Chris began his formal training of the martial arts in 1989, and taught at 3 dojos before deciding he needed to make a change. Bothered by the commercialization of the martial arts and seeing more and more black belts awarded to people who had simply “put in the time” without mastery, Master Chris opened Martingilio Martial Arts. Established in 2004, Martingilio Martial Arts has continued to grow into his vision of integrity, credibility, and research in martial arts.

 

Training under many of the greatest martial artists in the world has helped Master Chris to become a highly skilled fighter as well as a great teacher. He has taught courses in the US and Europe, and his instruction is in demand at various dojos around the country. He regularly teaches in public schools, colleges, businesses, and police academies.

 

DIANA MARTINGILIO
MASTER
DIANA MARTINGILIO
INSTRUCTOR

Bio

Bio

After earning a Bachelor’s Degree from UW Madison in Bio-Chemistry, Diana trained extensively under the instruction of Master Chris and Master Jeff Burhop. Two years after her martial arts training began, she desired to go back to UW to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. Diana’s hard work in both the martial arts and her medical career has paid off. At night, Diana is an Emergency Room Nurse and in the mornings she teaches both Ryukyu Kempo and Kickboxing classes. Her focus and attention to detail has helped her to become a very effective fighter and a charge nurse in the emergency room.

 

RYAN PLENDER
SENSEI
RYAN PLENDER
INSTRUCTOR

Bio

Bio

Ryan is employed in community corrections and enjoys teaching/ training Kempo.

 

He is a great trainer and leader in the class.

 

TEJASWINI MANIVANNAN
SENSEI
TEJASWINI MANIVANNAN
INSTRUCTOR

Bio

Bio

Teju started taking classes at the age of 8. After a few years of training and never missing a single class,

 

Teju was asked to lead the class. She accepted and struggled through the drills she was leading. In tears, after the class,

 

Teju approached her teacher and said that “teaching was very hard.” She wiped off her tears and asked if she could lead again.

 

The more she taught, the easier it became. Teju now participates and teaches in every single class at Martingilio Martial Arts.

 

With 1000’s of hours of training under her belt, Teju continues to lead, teach and learn in all of the kids and Adult classes and is respected

 

By everyone that she has worked with.