The
Pinellas Kickboxing Academy
We Welcome You, Future Champions.
If you are looking for an engaging way to get in or stay in shape, if you are looking for a boost in self confidence and increased discipline, if you are looking for self defense that has been tested in combat- then you have found it. PKA offers classes in fitness, basic kickboxing for the amateur and enthusiast, and competitive training. Our programs are seperated for children or adults and require no background.
At The Pinellas Kickboxing Academy, we have one requirement- dedication. Your talent or lack thereof means nothing compared to your heart. We are born with the talent we have; but we chose the heart that drives us. Your goals are our goals and we will work hand in hand with you, as an individual, to guide you to reaching and then surpassing the expectations you set for yourself.
We are proud to offer the highest quality striking instruction based on the tried and true principles and techniques of boxing, kickboxing, and Muay Thai. We also offer classes in MMA as well as Fitness Kickboxing. We look forward to discussing your goals and how we can help you achieve them. Contact us today for a free private intro lesson, and 2 weeks free training.
Your Coaches
Head Coach BJ Gress
Head Coach BJ Gress began training in 2003, studying at various MMA and boxing gyms. In 2005 he settled on training consistently at the Freestyle Fighting Academy in Southwest Miami, a premier MMA gym that has produced fighters that have competed in the UFC, Strikeforce, and other top fighting leagues. In late 2006, Gress moved back to the Tampa Bay area and started training at David Vieira’s BJJ/ Tampa Combat, and also began to compete in amateur kickboxing and BJJ tournaments. By early 2008, he had begun coaching the striking program at DVBJJ/MMA. Gress moved home to New Jersey in September 2009 and after nursing and rehabbing some injuries he resumed training at Kurt Pellegrino’s MMA Academy. After only 2 months there he became the assistant striking coach for one of the biggest MMA gyms and winningest fight teams in the Northeast. Although Coach Gress loved his time at Pellegrino's, he ultimately decided to move back to Florida. Currently, he has trained fighters for amateur title fights as well as sending a fighter to Thailand for a successful Muay Thai fight in the art’s homeland. He also looks to return to pro fighting in 2014, while continuing to help his students better themselves both on and off the mat.
Kid's Coach Mr. Kyle
Mr. Kyle began training in 2002 in Clearwater, FL at the Kinect Martial Arts Florida school run by Master Steve Elrod. There, he specialized in a form of traditional martial arts as well as in self-defense, before becoming an assistant instructor in 2004 and a head instructor in 2005. His duties there revolved around formulating and instructing the pre-school, children’s, and teens programs. In 2006 he moved to the Orlando area where he opened the Central Florida Martial Arts Academy, which instructed a style similar to what he had learned and taught in during his time at Kinect. In early 2012 Mr. Kyle returned to the Clearwater area, where he taught at the Largo Kickboxing Academy as well as the Pinellas Martial Arts Academy, primarily as children’s coach. Mr. Kyle enjoys working with his students immensely and is always thrilled by the progress children make not only in his classes but also in their grades, at home, and in every other part of their life thanks in part to his guidance and instruction.