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About Polander Academy Of Martial Arts

Family-Owned Since 1995

Polander Academy of Martial Arts is a true family business — owned and run by husband and wife Hanshi Peter Ciecwierz Polander and Magda Polander. Since 1995, we've had the privilege of serving the Bethesda community, making us the area's oldest martial arts school. When you walk through our doors, you're not dealing with a corporate franchise or a rotating cast of managers — you're working directly with the owners who built this dojo and have poured over three decades into it. That kind of continuity matters. It means the person answering your questions today will be the same person greeting your child at the front desk next year.

No Outside Billing, No Middleman

We handle our own billing in-house — there's no third-party billing company standing between you and the school. If you ever have a question about your account, a payment, or your membership, you speak directly with Peter or Magda, not a call center. It's a small thing that makes a big difference in how personal your experience feels here.

No Long-Term Contracts, By Choice

We don't lock our students into long-term contracts. We've built our school on the belief that people stay because they see real value in the instruction — not because they're bound by a piece of paper. Our retention comes from results: real self-defense skills, genuine personal growth, and a community worth showing up for. If you're not seeing that value, we'd rather you tell us than feel stuck.


Areas We Serve:

  • Bethesda
  • Chevy Chase
  • Rockville
  • Silver Spring
  • Potomac
  • North Bethesda

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Kids Martial Arts Gaithersburg

Ion M.

Love the teacher, the disciple and the philosophy. It is way above other places I have seen. Good job Sensei Kyoshi.  

Kids Martial Arts Gaithersburg

Yerbol Z.

I have met Kyoshi back in 2006. His teachings helped me develop mental and physical agility. Techniques I have learned in his dojo improved my motor skills, eye hand coordination, asymmetrical hand to hand combat in narrow spaces and were vital in my years in military. Polander Academy is a place where you are always welcome, place of knowledge and respect, place where people share their skills with passion and attention to details.

Kids Martial Arts Gaithersburg

Liam O.

Before I was at Polander Academy, I was part of a karate program that was good at first, but after two years I felt like the classes were getting worse and worse. Using yelp, I looked around for programs in my area and found three or four. After looking at all of them, I chose Polander Academy. They have classes for everyone over the age of three, Little Dragons for kids 3 who are years old to kids who are 4 years old, Dragons at 5 - 7, Tigers at 8 - 12 or so, and the adult class for everyone 13 years old and up. At Polander academy, the style of Ryu-Te Kempo Karate is taught, meaning "empty hand." This means that you will learn how to defend yourself without the use of weapons such as the Bow Staff and the Jo Staff, although you can learn both of these weapons. The first thing you will typically learn here is the defense against the right hand punch, with more and more advanced techniques taught to you the further you progress in the belt system. Sparring class is also offered and you are encouraged to join, with it helping with your self defence. The teachers know the best way to help you when you are stuck on a form and are very helpful.

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