Empowerment Through Martial Arts: How Devine’s Martial Arts is Building Strength and Community in Brigantine and Mays Landing
Empowered.
That’s how Heidi and Todd Devine want people to feel at Devine’s Martial Arts.
“I want them to feel, through hard work and dedication, they can achieve anything,” Heidi said, “even if they thought it was impossible when they first stepped foot in our doors.”
Empowerment isn’t the only goal at Devine’s Martial Arts, which has locations in Brigantine and Mays Landing. The business’ motto is “Encourage, Enable and Empower” – the three E’s that truly go hand-in- hand.
“Martial arts is kind of incredible, and it’s truly for anybody,” Heidi said. “We have everyone from the person who comes in who’s athletic and gets it right away to someone with special needs. When we work as a group and work together in classes, everybody is on their own journey.”
The Mays Landing Devine’s Martial Arts location will be celebrating a decade in business this October, whereas the Brigantine studio is two years young. Opening up in their hometown was a “no-brainer,” according to Heidi.
“We live here. My husband was born and raised here. Our kids go to school here. Our family is here,” Heidi listed.
“When this opportunity arose, it was exciting.”
With no martial arts businesses on the island, it also filled a need.
“Before we had the Brigantine location, a lot of people said we should have something here,” Todd said.
Programming is slightly different at each location. Both studios offer martial arts for kids through adults. In Brigantine, there is also a cardio kickboxing program.
Each spot includes a summer camp for kindergartners through fifth-graders. The Brigantine camp is July 22-26 and August 5-9 at the Community Presbyterian Church. The Mays Landing camp is full-time, Monday to Friday, from the time the school year ends until Labor Day.
“It’s almost like a separate business that we run,” Heidi says of the camp.
The Mays Landing studio also hosts day camps during the school year based off of the local school district calendar, providing a fun and enriching spot for parents to bring their kids during spring and winter breaks and other days off.
“They’ve been a huge hit. Parents are thanking us left and right,” Heidi said. “A lot of these kids can’t go to daycare, but they’re too young to stay home by themselves.”
Parents can also take advantage of Parent Night Out events, which are held in Mays Landing. The monthly program is four hours of themed fun, games and activities in a safe and clean environment for the kids, giving parents a chance to run errands, grab dinner or just get in a little “me” time. The evening’s price includes pizza for the kids, too.
“I think, part of it, is that we are parents, so we understand the importance of having a place that you know, like and trust to bring your kids,” Heidi said. “Another part of it is really just looking at what we can offer the community.”
Community is a big focus at Devine’s Martial Arts – both the community built within its walls and the community beyond. Heidi and Todd have made it a point to make their business a presence in both towns beyond the studios. They take part in school and town events, raise money for a variety of worthy causes and host an annual spring fundraising bash. In addition, Todd works with kids all year round as the SRO officer at Brigantine Community School.
“Without the community, we don’t have what we have,” Heidi said. “To be able to give back in any sort of way is just really important to us.”
Todd agreed.
“It’s great to be able to give back to the community,” he said. “And it helps us to reach more people so we can change more lives.”
Devine’s Martial Arts
Brigantine Location:
4288 HARBOR BEACH BLVD, BRIGANTINE, NJ
Mays Landing Location:
4450 BLACK HORSE PIKE, MAYS LANDING, NJ
Contact Devine’s Martial Arts:
609-837-0956
FACEBOOK: @DEVINESMA
INSTAGRAM: @DEVINESMARTIALARTS
YOUTUBE: @DEVINESMARTIALARTS4772