Having won “Best of Omaha” 10 years straight, San-Mai is Omaha’s Premier Martial Arts School. We offer a wide range of styles for all age groups, 3 and up.
San-Mai is Omaha’s Premier Martial Arts School, having won “Best of Omaha” 10 YEARS straight. We are a professional, full-time business and hold ourselves and our students to very high standards. Great care goes into every aspect of our school.
We have three large classrooms, a sitting area for parents, siblings and other family members to wait and do homework, eat or work on their computers while the students are in class, not to mention multiple dressing rooms and restrooms.
San-Mai does not pump out Black Belts. There is no guarantee of rank, that must be earned, but there is a guarantee of proper training in both technique and traditional martial art mental, emotional and physical training. There is a reason we have been around so long, and are so respected in the industry. Come by and have a tour and to start a free trial week of unlimited training!
Master Hollis Dickerson, owner of San-Mai Martial Arts, has been studying, instructing and operating martial arts schools for over 38 years. Having been in the martial arts business for as long as he has, Master Dickerson is one of the most experienced and established school owners in the Mid-West. His experience and rankings are vast with him holding very high rank in three systems: Traditional Kukkiwon Tae Kwon Do, Hapkido through the World Kido Federation and, Philippine Weaponry, known by some as Escrima.
After earning both his B.S. and his MBA from The University of Nebraska, Omaha, Master Dickerson made the decision to retire from the corporate world and run his martial arts school full time. Because martial arts are Master Dickerson’s life, passion, and his sole business, he is able to focus his attention on every detail of the school and the students needs which allows for San-Mai to be run professionally, proficiently and with very high instructional standards.
At San-Mai we believe that top quality instruction leads to top quality results and top quality results lead to excellent instructors.
The instructional staff at San-Mai is selected and trained personally by Master Dickerson. The outstanding students that are chosen to take part in the Leadership Program are part of a multi-year intensive program learning much more than physical skills, but communication, various teaching techniques, interpersonal relationships and more. Only when the students are ready are they promoted to associate instructor. Only after further training and experience do the associate instructors get promoted to full instructor and it is only then that they are able to teach their own classes. Every instructor continues to learn from Master Dickerson in weekly instructor development classes.
At San-Mai we want to give you an opportunity to try the classes that we offer before making a decision to sign up, so we are giving new inquiries a week of unlimited in-person classes. This means that you can take every live, in-person class that we offer during that trial week as long as they are age and level appropriate for you.
Both my son and I got our Black Belts in Tae Kwon Do here – they offer very traditional martial art styles for all age groups. Kids learn with kids their own ages not like other schools that lump them into one class. The owner, who is local, is currently adapting to health restrictions and is holding social distancing smaller classes as well as online classes.
Farah R.
Client
San Mai’s creativity and consistency throughout the corona virus pandemic was really impressive, and very much appreciated by our home. We really appreciated your dedication throughout the quarantine.
Sara
Parent
San-Mai’s ability to adapt and change during the Corona Pandemic has been truly impressive. They were able to implement a study from home plan immediately and were setup for virtual classes within a week! My son is active in many sports but San-Mai was the only one who was able to make it so he could still remain active and continue to develop his skills during these unprecedented times. My kid absolutely loves going to class and I am truly grateful for all they do for their students.
Joe
Parent
San Mai is an excellent institution that completely surpassed my expectations. My son joined when he was 5. He had tried soccer and baseball but didn’t really enjoy them. This he just fell in love with. My daughter ended up joining as well after him—she was inspired by how much he enjoyed it. The extremely qualified teachers (black belts all of them, some masters), go above and beyond—they seem to really care that the children actually learn tangible skills and improve on those skills, while still having fun. On top of that, I feel that my children learned important life skills as well: safety topics are discussed, kindness and most of all, respect (“yes sir!” “no sir!) I also love how there is a viewing area to watch the kids that is sound proof, with room for my 1 year old to run around and shout and play (and for older kids to do homework and watch TV). I can’t recommend San Mai enough.
Kaitlin Walsh
Parent
This place is full of learning and chances to grow. I recommend this place to anyone looking for self defense or just to keep your self fit.
Bryan Ehret
client
The quality of the instructors, the professional and friendly environment, the general atmosphere are excellent. The children learn much more than the actual physical aspect of martial arts. They learn about attitude, respect, perseverance, endurance, and confidence. It is like a great family. The owners and all the instructors are very friendly, very open, ready to listen, and ready to help. The location is very well organized and very clean. And there is always something else going on, a seminar, a special occasion for children or adults, and great birthday parties (who would not want to cut a birthday cake with a Katana?). I cannot imagine a better martial arts environment.
Client
The staff are amazing, focused, friendly, and family oriented. I always feel at home there.
Client
Our son participates here and absolutely loves it. The instructors are fantastic and extremely enthusiastic about what they do. You become part of a family when you join. I highly recommend them.
Client
