Our Local Rich History

    Our location has been the home of martial arts instruction for over 30 years. Originally began as Wind and Sea Taekwondo, founded by Mr. John Schwabbler in 1987.  Mr. Schwabbler was a well respected instructor who headed the establishment for 27 years before passing down the reigns in 2014 to one of his junior instructors, Mr. Kyle Burns. 

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    Great Neck Martial Arts Academy traces its roots to the Wind and Sea Enlisted Recreation Center at the Norfolk Naval Base, where Mr. John Schwaebler offered free martial arts lessons from 1987 to 1991. Deciding to mix passion with business, Schwaebler founded Wind and Sea Taekwondo to serve the greater Virginia Beach area. The academy became such a success that it moved to the Great Neck area shortly thereafter. In 2002, Schwaebler passed the mantle of Chief Instructor to Mr. Todd Megenity as the school underwent a series of upgrades and program changes to better suit the needs of students. The school would continue to thrive and eventually become Great Neck Martial Arts Academy in 2015, when Chief Instructor Mr. Kyle Burns assumed ownership. Today, Mr. Burns maintains the rigorous martial arts program started almost 40 years ago.

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At Great Neck Martial Arts Academy,  Our mission has always been to combine tradition and innovation, emphasizing self defense and self-discovery rather than competition. We pride ourselves on inner-development over solely outward display. At Great Neck Martial Arts Academy, each vigorous hour spent training is seen as an opportunity to build confidence, discipline and both mental and physical strength.