Altoona’s premier martial arts facility for all ages
Alpha Martial Arts Academy – Carlos Machado
Welcome To
Alpha Martial Arts Academy – Carlos Machado
Welcome to Alpha Martial Arts Academy – Carlos Machado – an Altoona Jiu-Jitsu academy for all beginners! We pride ourselves on providing safety and structure in a family-oriented community. Our academy is a place where anyone can start Jiu-Jitsu and learn the fundamentals in a friendly environment. We welcome people of all ages and backgrounds — no need to worry about injury in our safe, structured environment. As a traditional Jiu-Jitsu academy, we keep respect on the mat and true martial arts integrity in sport and self-defense Jiu-Jitsu. If you’re looking for the best place to start Jiu-Jitsu, the perfect spot is here at Alpha Martial Arts Academy
Sign up for a FREE jiu-jitsu class!
Get your BJJ journey with Alpha Martial Arts Academy started with a FREE trial class!
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About Alpha Martial Arts Academy
About Our School
Our team strives to make every day a day of growth at Alpha Martial Arts Academy. We make Jiu-Jitsu in Altoona highly energetic and welcoming. The staff is happy to be there and wants to train people and teach them everything they can. Our style of BJJ training is playful, ensuring you have a fun time while learning life-altering skills. We don’t want anyone in our academy to be intimidated or scared about getting hurt. We are open, structured, and safe as we go through the fundamentals of Jiu-Jitsu. Everything we do is about making BJJ as beginner-friendly as possible for all those looking to start a new journey. We look forward to your addition to our training family and to get started on the mats!
History
Alpha Martial Arts Academy has been providing Jiu-Jitsu in Altoona since late 2023. Owner, Darren DeSalvo, brought a wealth of experience to our academy. Previously, he had run a Louisiana academy before moving to Iowa for his son to wrestle. While his son became a State Champion, Darren used his past experiences to build a school with a strong foundation focused on safety and structure. That past experience goes all the way back to 1996 when he first started training, including training with the Machado brothers since 2006. As we continue to grow Jiu-Jitsu in Altoona, we use BJJ as a tool to improve people physically and mentally. We strive to make our students’ lives better on and off the mat.
Call us about our schedule!
Give us a call and hear about the times you can roll onto the mats!
Alpha Martial Arts Academy
Instructors
Our group of instructors was hand picked to provide high-quality teaching to all our students. We have been together for multiple years and have created a place of learning and camaraderie. Take a look at our coaches and see who can help you become your best self.
Darren DeSalvo
Owner and Head Instructor
Nick Greb
Assistant Adult Instructor/Kids Instructor
Patrick Clay
Assistant Adult Instructor/Kids Instructor
Karl Cummings
Kids Instructor
Nino Pua
Kids Instructor
Jonathan Fialkov
Assistant Adult Instructor
Learn More About Our
Programs
Our BJJ programs are designed to help all beginners get their feet off the ground and learn the ropes of Jiu-Jitsu. No matter what your experience level is, you can become proficient on the mats. We have kids Jiu-Jitsu classes split between Little Jaguars (age 4-6) and Jaguars (ages 7-13) as well as our Fighting Fundamentals class (14+), a 30-week program to get you started!
Fighting Fundamentals (14+)
This program is designed to help teens and adults build up their Jiu-Jitsu skills. It is a 30-week program with a rotating curriculum that instills all the necessary BJJ fundamentals in training.
Little Jaguars (4-6) and Jaguars (7-13)
Our Little Jaguars and Jaguars programs separate age groups but both teach vital BJJ skills. We make sure our students learn the fundamentals and then can advance to the intermediate kids programs when they are ready.
What Our Students Are Saying
Alpha Martial Arts Academy is the perfect Jiu-Jitsu academy for beginners to get their martial arts journeys started. We teach both sport and self-defense BJJ in a safe, structured, and family-oriented environment. And don’t just listen to us. Take a look at what those in our community have to say about what makes us special!
“I highly recommend everyone, regardless of age or experience level, to give this Jiu-Jitsu gym a try. For me It’s not just about learning a martial art; it’s about personal growth!”
“I loved it. I learned a few different details than I hadn’t seen. Everyone was super friendly and safe. The owner def knows his stuff.”
Sign up for a FREE jiu-jitsu class!
Get your BJJ journey with Alpha Martial Arts Academy started with a FREE trial class!
Contact Us Today!
We welcome everyone in Altoona and those nearby including Bondurant, Des Moines, and Pleasant Hull to join our Jiu-Jitsu academy that is safe, structured, and family-oriented. We are located right next to HyVee Supermarket off 8th Street!