Rise Martial Arts

Rise Martial Arts is a family-led karate and martial arts school in Pflugerville, Texas, serving local families since 1999 and family-led by the Barkley family since 2005. For more than 25 years, Rise has helped children, teens, and adults build real martial arts skill, focus, confidence, discipline, and character through structured training and personal coaching.

The Barkley family’s connection to Rise goes back to the beginning. David Barkley joined as one of the school’s first students in 1999, and the rest of the Barkley family joined soon after. In 2005, Steve and Tammy Barkley took leadership of the school, continuing a family connection that had already been growing on the mat for years. Today, David serves as Head Instructor and Program Director and teaches alongside his own sons, Ethan and Blake, who also grew up training at Rise and now instruct on the mat.

Rise teaches one karate-centered martial arts system with Taekwondo-grounded forms, structured skill progression, and controlled sparring introduced as students advance. Students do not train in separate karate and taekwondo programs. Instead, they train in one connected curriculum that includes structured forms, disciplined kicking mechanics, athletic movement, clear skill development, and controlled point sparring when students reach the appropriate stage.

Programs at Rise are organized by age and developmental stage, with dedicated class times for each major stage of training. Students move through a clear pathway: Tiger, Dragon, Foundation, Warrior, Teen, and Adult.

Tiger is designed for preschool students ages 4–5. Dragon is built specifically for Kindergarten and 1st grade students, giving them a class environment of their own rather than mixing them with Pre-K students or older elementary students. Foundation serves 2nd–6th grade beginner students.

As students progress, the Warrior Program provides the next stage of youth training, with separate class times for intermediate and advanced Warrior students. Teen/Adult students train in structured classes designed to build skill, fitness, confidence, and practical personal growth.

Rise Martial Arts uses the Warrior Keys student growth framework: Vision, Discipline, Determination, Courage, Confidence, and Respect. These are not just slogans or themes of the month. They are coaching tools used during class to help students name goals, build discipline, adjust after correction, face challenges, understand their abilities honestly, and value the people and process that help them grow.

Advancement at Rise is based on demonstrated readiness, not time or paid testing events. Students work through a Skill Card system that tracks progress step by step. Within each belt, students earn stripes by demonstrating specific skills and readiness in class. When requirements are complete and final readiness standards are met, students advance through the regular instructional process. Rise does not charge belt testing fees.

Rise also does not require term contracts. Families continue training because the program is working for the student and family, not because they are locked into a long-term agreement.

Located in Pflugerville, Texas, Rise Martial Arts serves families from Pflugerville, Round Rock, Hutto, Manor, North Austin, and surrounding communities. Families can schedule a free first class to experience the training environment in person.