Open for Business: True Prodigy Athletics

Tony Guttierrez and his wife, Marie, were getting tired of driving their boys back and forth to different studios for various classes, not to mention the cost incurred for all the programs.

This prompted Guttierrez, who is certified to teach children's martial arts, to think about opening his own studio offering martial arts training for kids along with fitness programs. And, he thought, to make it reasonable and accessible for families, the studio would cap the fees for families.

True Prodigy Athletics opened in Elmhurst two months ago. The studio offers training in Muay Thai, jujitsu and fitness classes for children ages 4 and older. While it caters to children, classes are also available for adults.

Since he was 8 years old, Guttierez has trained in some form of martial arts, he said. He studied karate and Kung Fu. Then, he began training in Mixed Martial Arts, because of its popularity and visibility on television. He is also a certified Muay Thai instructor.

Muay Thai is a martial art from Thailand that involves striking. Students learn to strike using their hands, elbows, knees and shins. Jujitsu is a grappling sport.

“I took what I learned and created Play With a Purpose,” Guttierez said. “Essentially, kids get to play, to do martial arts, to do some Muay Thai and jujitsu.”

Groups for Play With a Purpose start at age 4, and the second age group is for 5-to-7-year-olds, he said. Once kids are older, they are grouped in the 8-to-14 category, when students explore more Muay Thai and jujitsu.

Unlike some studios, there are no gi's or belts for the children enrolled in Play With a Purpose.

“We wanted to make it parent-friendly without them having to buy a gi and pay for testing,” he said. Classes for younger students are more fitness-driven with some martial arts thrown in.

Guttierez offers students KRU Muay Thai training programs, which is curriculum-based—similar to how students train in karate. Students must learn certain patterns and movements before moving forward, he said. Students must learn offense, defense and technique before they get to make any contact.

The jujitsu program was developed in conjunction with New Breed Jujitsu of Chicago, he said. The program is very basic and does not involve high-level techniques at this point.

Students who participate in the programs learn discipline and social development, he said. For example, jujitsu requires kids to use their heads to figure out how to get into and out of positions.

“It’s not just about using force,” he said.

Classes are structured and there is always an instructor on the mat with students.

“I have yet to have a parent say this is too violent or just not sign up,” he said.

Guttierrez said another important element to the training is getting kids unplugged and getting fit. Martial arts allow students to use what they learn and apply it to real life situations. They are gaining self-confidence, problem solving skills and strategic thinking, he said.

“I look at my kids, all of them are in honors programs,” he said. “I know I can attribute that to them doing martial arts. Any physical activity that gets them thinking about what they are doing is important. When they get on the mat they know what they are doing, why they are here.”

Marie Guttierez said after a few classes, it becomes clear that the kids are showing confidence and pride. The kids begin to act as if “this is my gym" and bond with one another.

“This gym is kid-friendly and parent-friendly,” Marie Guttierez said. “There are different gyms for different things and (Tony's) dream was to have a gym that is parent-friendly.”

Learn more about True Prodigy Athletics its classes and pricing or call them at 630-632-8783 (TRUE). True Prodigy Athletics is located at 783 Industrial Drive. Find them on Facebook. 

Let Patch save you time. Get more local stories like these delivered right to your inbox or smartphone with our free newsletter. Fast signup here. For a different take, like us on Facebook.