Nebraska Academy of Martial Arts, LLC

The Nebraska Academy of Martial Arts (NAMA) held its first class on February 28, 1994. That class was taught by the founder and chief instructor, Kimberly Woolery, at the time a 23 year old 2nd degree black belt. An open house was held on Sunday February 27, 1994 when the first original 10 students were signed up. The doors opened on the 28th with 5 beginner kids and 5 beginner adults, and only 2 instructors, Ms. Woolery and her instructor, Mr. Dale Miller.

By the 10 month anniversary of NAMA, the school had hit over 100 students and has not dropped below that number since. The average number of enrolled students at NAMA is about 120-150 students in the Taekwondo program, alone. The school now has over 30 instructors, varying from Senior Certified Instructors to our newest Junior Instructors, and we can’t forget the Trainee Instructors!! Each level of instructor has a testing qualification to complete to advance, starting with Junior, then T
rainee and finally the much sought after Certified, or “Black Stripe’ instructor!

When NAMA opened, we were affiliated with Martial Arts Research Systems, a kind of “parent organization” founded by Ms. Woolery and Mr. Miller’s instructor, Mr. Dale Lee Craig. The organization was new in 1991 and dissolved a few years later. Ms. Woolery did not join another organization, and became an independent school to keep dues at a minimum. Several other schools with similar backgrounds, have also become independent over the years, and most of us have come together to form a sort of alliance, for the purposes of tournaments in the area!

In 1998, Ms. Woolery joined the Omaha Police Department. While working midnights, she kept NAMA going strong during the evenings. That same year Ms. Woolery earned her 4th degree and eventually 5th degree in 2007. Also in 2007 , Mr. Jon Edwards, a 2nd Degree Taijutsu Black Belt, joined forces at NAMA with his MMA program. His program boasts a great base group of students and he has already been joined by more instructors to assist with the growing classes.

The Nebraska Academy of Martial Arts hosts many activities through the year: such as a regional TKD tournament every January, an adult summer camp every August, several kid’s lock-ins, four belt testings, and four belt rank ceremonies every year. We also have a Junior Black Belt Club (JBBC). The club offers the kids many fun activities, plus opportunities to become junior instructors, demo team members, and much more! Our newest group is our Competition Team, started in 2009. The Team is one of the most successful groups NAMA has ever had.

Please checkout our website for more details on the Taekwondo and MMA programs as well as the JBBC and Competition Team groups.