Mecklenburg Martial Arts
Discipline for Every Generation
Welcome To
Mecklenburg Martial Arts
Welcome to Mecklenburg Martial Arts—your premier Charlotte Mixed Martial Arts and a Carlson Gracie Junior affiliate school! We are more than just a martial arts gym; we are a vibrant, community-based facility forged in discipline and mutual respect. We offer Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, and Fitness programs to help you achieve your goals.
Our mission is to empower you to cultivate not only physical strength, agility, and essential self-defense skills, but also to foster mental resilience, unwavering focus, and profound confidence. We are dedicated to creating an environment that is both challenging and welcoming, designed to push you towards your full potential through engaging martial arts lessons while always ensuring you feel a true sense of belonging.
At Mecklenburg Martial Arts, you will discover a place where you can truly grow, learn, and become an integral part of a dedicated martial arts family.
Sign up for our one-week
free martial arts class trial!
Come join us for a free week of training! Take advantage of this great opportunity and see our Mixed Martial Arts school in Charlotte!
About Us
At Mecklenburg Martial Arts, you’ll find a team of highly motivated and dedicated martial arts instructors ready to guide you. Our experienced team includes one of the Southeast’s highest-ranked Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belts, and we also offer traditional Muay Thai and Kickboxing training. All our qualified instructors are passionate about sharing their extensive skills and knowledge, creating an environment where every student feels both challenged and supported.
We prioritize your comfort and individual progress, understanding that skill development happens at your unique pace. In every session, we provide tailored guidance and constructive feedback, ensuring you grasp techniques correctly and safely. This personalized attention allows us to adapt our teaching methods to suit diverse learning styles, maximizing your potential for growth. Beyond instruction, we cultivate a fun and engaging social setting, offering regular gatherings and seminars to enrich your overall martial arts journey. At Mecklenburg Martial Arts, you’ll discover an all-encompassing martial arts experience designed just for you.
History
Tony and Alexis Boncore poured their passion into Cor Fitness MMA, a vibrant Charlotte-area hub for mixed martial arts, and fitness. The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic unfortunately forced its closure, leaving a void for their dedicated students.
Bennie Gray, a lifelong martial artist and committed former member of Cor Fitness MMA, established Checkmat Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu directly across the street. His goal was to provide a seamless transition and a new home for those eager to continue their martial arts journey, sharing his extensive MMA experience. Years later, Bennie offered Tony and Alexis a remarkable opportunity to buy into his martial arts school, enabling them to rejoin the community they cherished.
The strong foundation of this new venture was further reinforced by the inclusion of Paulo “Musho” Elsimaani, a highly regarded Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu professor whom Tony, Alexis, and Bennie had known since 2015. Bennie wisely brought Paulo aboard to lead the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu program at Checkmat BJJ, ensuring top-tier instruction and a familiar face for many students.
This collaborative spirit ensured that while Cor Fitness MMA closed, its essence—its community, instructors, and dedication to martial arts—found a new and flourishing expression through the newly created Mecklenburg Martial Arts.
Check out our martial arts schedule!
Make sure to check out our martial arts schedule. Take a look and find the right time for your martial arts training!
Meet the Team
Mecklenburg Martial Arts
It’s truly unique that Mecklenburg Martial Arts’ core team of instructors shares such a deep, long-standing history. Many of us have known each other since 2015. We invite you to come in and learn and understand how these enduring relationships have forged a remarkably strong and unified group of martial arts professionals, all dedicated to fostering student growth within the Charlotte community.
Alexis Boncore
Mixed Martial Arts Fitness Instructor Co-Owner
Tony Boncore
Black Belt Kickboxing Fitness Instructor Co-Owner
Bennie Gray
Kru Muay Thai BJJ Black Belt Co-Owner
Professor Paulo “Mushu” Elsimaani
6th Degree BJJ Black Belt
Head Instructor
Aristote Katima
BJJ Black Belt Instructor
Mark Walls
BJJ/Judo Black Belt Instructor
Matheus Santos
BJJ Black Belt Instructor
Frank McMillan
Muay Thai/Kickboxing Instructor
Check out our martial arts schedule!
Make sure to check out our martial arts schedule. Take a look and find the right time for your martial arts training!
Learn More About Our
Programs
Our comprehensive mixed martial arts program offers various options for your training journey.
Join us for Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, or our dedicated fitness classes. Discover the perfect fit for your martial arts goals and let’s train together!
What You’ll Need:
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (Gi): Bring a Gi for class
Kickboxing & Muay Thai: You’ll need 14–16 oz boxing gloves, shin guards, and a mouthguard
Trying Us Out? First-timers don’t need any gear—just bring yourself and a smile!
Adult Jiu-Jitsu
Our Adult Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes offer a comprehensive curriculum covering both foundational techniques and advanced strategies. Students will master the art of grappling, ground control, submissions, and effective self-defense, cultivating a deep understanding of leverage and body mechanics. Beyond the physical benefits, our program emphasizes problem-solving, mental discipline, and fosters a strong sense of community, ensuring growth both on and off the mat.
Children’s Jiu-Jitsu
Designed for our younger practitioners, our Children’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes instill core martial arts fundamentals in an engaging and age-appropriate environment. We focus on developing crucial life skills such as discipline, respect, humility, focus, and confidence. Our instruction heavily emphasizes foundational techniques, all grounded in the traditional philosophies of Jiu-Jitsu, promoting not only physical coordination and balance but also strong character development.
Muay Thai
Step into the world of “The Art of Eight Limbs” with our traditional Muay Thai program. Students will learn to harness the power of their fists, elbows, knees, and shins through dynamic striking combinations and robust defensive techniques. Originating from Thailand, this powerful martial art builds exceptional physical conditioning, explosive power, and mental fortitude, providing practical self-defense skills applicable both inside and outside the training environment.
Kickboxing
Our Kickboxing program offers a dynamic blend, drawing from the powerful techniques of both American and Dutch Kickboxing styles. Students will master a diverse range of strikes, combining the precise handwork and footwork often seen in American Kickboxing with the devastating low kicks and fluid boxing combinations characteristic of the Dutch approach. This comprehensive training will significantly improve your cardiovascular health, coordination, and overall fitness while developing formidable striking skills, enhancing both your physical prowess and practical self-defense capabilities.
Fitness
Our fitness course is a dynamic, boot camp-style class rooted in High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). This program focuses on a multitude of effective bodyweight and lightweight exercises to build strength and endurance.
Explore Our
Memberships
Ready to start your martial arts journey?
We offer a variety of membership options to fit your needs, including a Kids, Adult, and Family Packages. Even better, you can experience a week of our martial arts classes with our FREE trial! Explore our offerings, find the perfect fit, and discover a new lifestyle at Mecklenburg Martial Arts
Kids Membership
Bring in the kids for a positive, self-development journey. You can sign them up for kids martial arts classes at $89/month where they will learn invaluable skills to take into the rest of their life.
Adult: 1 Martial Arts or Fitness Class
Our adult martial arts/fitness membership provides a great opportunity to get your journey started. You can join one martial arts or fitness program at $99/month as you become a more well-rounded physical athlete
All Inclusive Membership
Want to fully commit to 2 martial arts and Fitness? You can sign by joining 2 or more of our programs for $129/month. Come join us and see what you can do with our martial arts family!
Family Discounts
We encourage you to bring in the whole family to train martial arts with us. Once you sign up, additional family members receive 10% off our normal rates. It’s the perfect offer to get all your loved ones in the gym and feeling their best.
One-Week Free Martial Arts Class Trial
Are you unsure about joining a martial arts school? Then sign up with us with no risk. You can get started with our one-week FREE martial arts classes trial today! Come on in and see how you can become your best self.
Check Out Our
Schedule
As a family-oriented Charlotte based Mixed Martial Arts school, we’ve designed our schedule to fit your busy life. With classes available Monday through Saturday, we offer times that easily accommodate school and work commitments. Check out our schedule and find the perfect time to join us on the mats!
Meet Our
Affiliates
Cor Athletic Gear
Cor Athletic Gear is an athletic and martial arts clothing line built for those who train with purpose and live with intensity. Designed for fighters, athletes, and everyday warriors, our gear blends performance, durability, and clean design—on the mat, in the gym, or on the go. Cor Athletic Gear isn’t just apparel—it’s your armor. Train hard. Stay sharp. Represent the Cordrinkflowater.com
FLOWATER
FloWater transforms ordinary tap water into a premium amenity. 7x Advanced Purification removes up to 99.9% of contaminants, including PFAS, microplastics, lead, and more, delivering clean, great-tasting water—without the plastic. That’s the kind of water you deserve, and we won’t settle for less.
To learn more, visit drinkflowater.com
Sign up for our one-week
free martial arts class trial!
Come join us for a free week of training! Take advantage of this great opportunity and see our Mixed Martial Arts school in Charlotte!
Contact Us!
We proudly provide the Charlotte community as well as the communities around us – including Mint Hill, Indian Trail, Monroe, Matthews, and Waxhaw. We are located at the intersection of Lawyers and Lebanon Road, next to Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park!