I tried a couple different gym before going to IFA for almost a year. Franks gym was by far the best gym that I went to. Frank is an incredibly patient teacher and explains the reason for every technique. You learn not only how to fight, but an understanding of psychology and the strategy of fighting. His top control seminar was completely eye opening to understanding a web of responses.The atmosphere of the gym is relaxed and there are no egos. There are experienced students who will roll with you and are incredibly generous with their knowledge. Highly Recommended!

Ive been training here for the past 6 months in both Kali and BJJ/Wrestling and I dont regret it for a second. Frank Benn takes a holistic and realistic approach to martial arts with a heavy focus on sparring, practical application and athleticism. Training here is humbling, but rewarding; you will not be coddled, and you will not be given a belt after 3 months and told you can take down 10 men with a single glare, but you will absolutely be treated with respect and patience whether youre a total newcomer or a seasoned veteran of combat sports.The more experienced members here are happy and willing to aid in your growth as a fighter, and Frank himself has a wealth of knowledge and experience to share. If youre looking for a well-rounded and challenging curriculum from an honest and talented instructor, IFA is the place to go.

I’ve been here for almost two years in the women’s fight class and it’s probably one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.I have fun while learning valuable skills, I’ve made friends with an amazing group of women, and because of the work I’ve done in Frank’s classes I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in.Building these skills and refining techniques really help build your confidence and your self-esteem. I was a complete beginner when I first started out, thought I “wasn’t built” for what grappling and boxing took, but with time the academy has totally changed my perspective of what I’m capable of.

Ive been training here for about a year. What got me in the door? Learning a skill set that would help me feel safe (and not in a COVID way, but feeling comfortable traveling alone). The fitness aspect is a nice bonus.What keeps me here? The community, knowledge, practicality, holistic approach and humble demeanor of everyone. Franks knowledge and approach is extraordinary. He will take time to answer questions and explain the why behind something. Understanding the context and history of fighting makes me better. Class is not a series of moves strung together arbitrarily, but instead with intent and purpose.This is different than any other gym I have used in the past in that I am valued as a person with goals. Come here and you are not just a membership. This is not a gym of egos. We all have to start somewhere. The people I train with are also great, everyone is here to help each other.Whether you are new to a discipline of fighting or looking for a new gym, look no further. This place is AWESOME!

I’ve attended IFA for about a month now, and have been thoroughly pleased with my experience thus far.I’ll preface this by saying this isn’t your run-of-the-mill martial arts academy. Regardless of your experience, the classes will challenge you, and you will learn something new every single day. Frank offers a conditioning class that aids in your performance that I highly recommend taking. You will sweat and you will be sore, but you will be pleased with your results if you stick with it.Frank (owner) has been in this business for years, and it shows. There’s never a question that he can’t answer. If you’re looking for personal feedback, he’ll be honest with you, but he’ll deliver it with tact. He genuinely cares about his students’ well being and improvement. Frank has several loyal students that have been with him for years, and are great resources for practice and constructive criticism.Remember, you can’t put a price on a good education. Nothing good comes easy, and success is no accident. Bring your towel, a sense of humor, and get ready to work.

UPDATE: Im still training at this gym and still loving it!! The classes are high-quality and very helpful. So glad I have this community in my life!I really appreciate that Frank has made such an effort to keep all gym members safe during the pandemic. Everyone wears a mask all the time, the fans are running to circulate the air, and people make a real effort to social distance. I wouldnt feel comfortable going back to a fully indoor gym at this time. But, this feels as safe as possible.----------------------------------Ive been training here for almost 2 years now. I started as a complete beginner to martial arts. Frank has been an amazing instructor. He works hard to give great instruction, and to make everyone feel welcome. The vibe here is very friendly. He really fosters a terrific atmosphere of terrific people. The training that Frank provides is truly great. I feel so much more empowered and strong since beginning my training here. I would encourage anyone to consider a class here.

To me, everything about the academy is great, but I will focus on just two things. First, Frank is very experienced and knowledgeable about combat in general. Hes been fighting and teaching for a very long time, which is something theres no substitute for. Second, everybody there helps teach newer students, and does so with intelligence, care, and kindness. They repay the debt of having received a great education by passing it along to others. All you need to succeed is a willingness to learn and a good attitude. The fee structure allows you to get a ton of value for your money if you commit to showing up consistently. Id recommend the place to everyone from beginners to professional fighters.

Excellent school for various reasons.The instructor, Frank, is extremely knowledgeable about martial arts and fitness in general. He is a technician that has honed his craft over many decades, and it shows whenever you get the chance to have a sparring match with him, whether in striking or grappling. He is very generous with his knowledge, and he really cares about helping his students improve. He goes above and beyond, by being available outside of class, recommending fighters to watch to learn specific styles, and analyzing what made successful fighters so successful, among other things.The community is very nice, as well. The people here do not mind sharing their knowledge, and they truly care about helping everyone else improve and keeping them healthy. This isnt the place where you will be pushed to the point that you injure yourself when there was completely no need. In fact, the combat conditioning classes are designed to push people to be better athletes in order to reduce the injury rate. That is not to say that they are easy, though. They are still very challenging. You just wont be forced to give an excessive amount more than what you can give in a given day, especially if you are ill.The classes are physically challenging, and technically loaded. You learn a great deal over the course of one class, and time is set aside to spar daily.The point is that in my opinion, you wont find better technical instruction, or a better community, elsewhere in Austin. If you want to really learn how to fight, get fitter, and have fun along the way, this is the place.

Ive been training here for about a year and a couple of months, and the experience has been nothing but great. Each of the programs (boxing/Muay Thai, Jiu Jitsu, Kali stick and knife fighting) are very thorough in instruction and its all based on what works. Frank Benn is an extremely knowledgeable coach and instructor and has more experience than one can imagine. Highly recommended MMA gym.

Best academy in Austin. Frank really knows his stuff and they dont try and swindle you into signing up for a whole year up front!

One of the best academys in Austin. Frank is very dedicated and one of the best instructors. Really recommended!

I have seriously enjoyed learning how to fight at IFAA and hope that I can keep training for a long time. As a female beginner, I was a little intimated when I first showed up, the only woman in a room full of guys, but everybody was friendly and respectful. Frank Benn, the instructor, put me at ease by making it clear that everyone is valued equally as a student: women, men, veterans, newbies, in shape, out of shape, it doesnt matter. Frank sees boxing and grappling as vital life skills that everyone should learn, but he doesnt dumb it down either. He meets you at your level, gets you to work hard, then suddenly youre actually kind of good at throwing knees or getting a triangle. There are currently several other female students now, but we spar with with everybody. As Frank says, if I should happen to need my fighting skills in real life, its not likely its going to be against another woman. The fighting and conditioning classes are intense but fun, Im in great shape, and I know I can protect myself if I have to. Overall, Im just really happy to be a member of this academy.

IFA Academy is my favorite thing in Texas. Ive lived in a lot of places and always look for a martial arts gym somewhat like this and I was lucky enough to find one close to my house. Frank Benn, the owner and lead instructor, is an expert in martial arts and has committed his life to the study, training and teaching of the subject. I believe he started training kids back when he was in high school so they could stand up for themselves...and hes still training today.The other instructor Andrew is also a great asset to the team and gives tons of advice, positive feedback, constructive criticism and even records sparring matches so students can look back and learn from their bouts.There are countless benefits that come from being a member of this school, but there are two main focuses: Learning to Fight/Defend Yourself and Getting in Excellent Shape. This isnt Tae Bo, we practice combat in a controlled environment. The school offers boxing, kickboxing, grappling, jiu jitsu, womens defense, stick fighting and Filipino knife classes.The environment is extremely friendly and welcoming, but we take training seriously also. No one in this gym is here to show off or hurt anyone, we just want to train, improve our skills and have a really good time.I dont plan to live in Texas for too much longer, but there is nothing I will miss more about it than this school and I hope I can find another one that even comes close to this one.

I have been attending classes for about 3 weeks. I am taking the conditioning, and eskrima classes. I have never attended group classes for exercise. I am a very self conscious girl with hang ups nothing can make go away, or so i thought. This school is incredible. The students are incredibly accepting of new people, and are always more than willing to help make you feel more at ease while training. This is not easy training! My body is already changing, and my endurance is improving as well. I was stuck in a rut that i couldnt push myself out of. My own workouts at home were not challenging me enough. This school has really given me the kick i needed! The eskrima class i signed up for on a whim, and now i find myself practicing more than an hour a day at times. Learning self defense is very important to me, and this is an amazing class for that. Lastly, getting the opportunity to train under some one like Frank Benn is an opportunity i was not willing to pass up. His extensive knowledge, and honest, real world training will prepare me for actual worst case scenarios. I am thankful in many ways for this school, and cannot wait to update my review in a few months! Join now. You will not regret it, but any future attackers will.

Mr. Benns IFA is an outstanding martial arts academy. His curriculum covers all the fighting forms, and he is a knowledgable and effective teacher. The unique thing about IFA is the Integrated part. Mr. Benn continually integrates one form to another, so that no student has a gap in their capability. Further, we spar every day to apply the skills from class against adversaries, not just drill them against partners.

If you are reading this you are at a crossroads. You are at a crossroads because you have the opportunity to train with an instructor like Frank Benn. Frank is one of the few trainers out there that can get you up to the skill level you need to fight professionally.I found out about IFA through a friend. I have practiced martial arts my entire life, and when I heard about the curriculum here I knew immediately what it was. Its one of the most comprehensive programs out there comparable to places like American Top Team (which I also checked out) and other top UFC fight schools. This is not a place where you earn belts; this is a place where you learn to win fights. You WILL learn how to win fights here. I have an entire closet full of belts, and I dont care about that; I care about winning. Frank Benn has been teaching MMA in central Texas since 1990. I have seen him take BJJ black belts to school like they were noobs.At IFA you will have the rare opportunity to be admitted to the inner sanctum of boxing. You will learn to see, move, and hit like a pro boxer. You will learn high level strategies in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu that arent taught at other schools. You will not wait six months to start sparring here.There are no titles of master or professor at IFA. The atmosphere here is friendly and unassuming. IFA is not here to take your money. IFA is here to teach you how to fight. Dont be scared. Not everyone here is professional fighter, most are just normal people like you.The stick and knife fighting class is also very good. I am trained with many weapons, I know how to beat most opponents with a weapon, and I can tell you that Frank is much much better than I am, and in my opinion he is better than anyone I have ever trained with.The bottom line here is pretty simple: this is the longest operating MMA gym in central Texas, and whether your goal is to learn self defense, get in shape, or go from zero to pro, IFA is a great place to do it. Hope to see you soon!

I have been going here for about 6 months, and can honestly say that I still improve at something every class I attend. I am a former black belt from an after-school karate type program from my teens, and I started coming here initially because I had this feeling in the back of my head that I wasnt very competent actually at all. That turned out to be true. In 4 months here, I was better skilled than 6 years with my karate training.I showed up and watched a boxing and jiujitsu class, and a few of the students took time out of their own training to talk to me and give me the lay of the land. I would highly recommend observing a class or two to get a feel for it. Things that I have come to appreciate in no particular order: 1. No kids. It is a school of adults, a few twenty somethings, a few students, and a surprising amount of people who are early 30s. Nobody is here wasting time. I take time out of my evenings with the wife, and time that I could be working to come here. 2. From what I have been exposed to bjj wise, the wrestling really gives sport jiujitsu people fits. 3. People spar with me, every class. No one tries to knock my block off, but its plenty hard, unless I ask to go light. The instructor, and other students are very respectful of injuries.The teacher, planned curriculum, and the community of students are the biggest things this place has going for it.Update: I have now been training for a little over a year and a half. Everything previously mentioned still stands. My fitness has continued to improve, and more importantly to me my rate of improvement has stayed consistently rapid. I didnt know enough before to realize the quality of instruction in regards not only to knowledge that is easily available to me through Frank (who teaches every class...not his assistants.....the lead instructor teaches EVERY class.) , but also that my 18 months seems equivalent to 3 years f training in other environments.In this time my wife started training with us as well and has seen good results. If you are interested in any of the disciplines offered here, I think its a mistake not to train here for 2-3 months to see if its a fit.Also the new improved facility is very cool. As Frank likes to boast, the biggest heavy bag in Texas resides here, and the new cage wall just went up around our 1000 sqft of dedicated mat space.

Integrated Fighting Arts is the place to go in Austin if you want to learn mma, boxing, kickboxing, bjj, and eskrima or if just want to get im shape. Frank Benn, the head instructor, goes the extra mile and not only includes conditioning and techniques in all his classes, but fighting tactics and strategies. He also takes the time to tailor his lessons to the specific needs of his students and has a superior understanding of fighting mechanics. He doesnt just teach you how to fight, he teaches you how to learn how to fight. On top of all of this he offers whip ass conditioning classes to help you get in shape with a really great variety of really killer exercises. There really isnt anywhere like it.

I just joined the Academy 3 months ago. Even though I have practiced sports all my life, I am new to MMA, Box, FMA and all those acronyms, much less practicing them!I was referred to Franks academy by one of my best friends, who studied with him 20 years ago, (the only reason he is no longer attending is because he lives outside of Austin). He (a PDH and college professor) said (I quote him): What I learned with Frank is the most useful stuff Ive learned in my life. So, with that kind of recommendation under my belt, I came and check out the gym.And I am truly happily surprised about the level of expertise and professionalism Frank has and devotes to prepare every single class, so every time I go for training I am learning something new, a new drill, we build over the previous sessions, and start integrating them into a whole discipline. (Hence the Integrated Arts words in the name). And yes, you learn to fight. Physically and also Mentally.Now, onto the other people attending: What a great group of people. The more advanced students will always pair up with the newer ones and guide them in such a manner that they learn the proper techniques and make sure they dont get hurt and especially that everyone gets a good workout and has fun. So this place has a great balance of a very tough workout, never repetitive or boring, paired up with a lead teacher that not only knows but CARES, and obviously that attitude is transferred and an unseen bond among us.This is not your typical fashion gym where the people just care about themselves and how good they look in the mirror or are listening to their own music while ignoring the rest, but a real community of people who yes, are working out, but together, while learning and developing new skills and friends.So, What else can I say? Joining the IFA Academy has been the best investment I have made on myself in a long, long time.

Frank is an amazing coach. He combines hard work, technique, and camaraderie within a very well thought out and practical curriculum. I can really feel a noticeable difference in my conditioning after only training here for a short time. Ive also gained a tremendous amount of knowledge in wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu, Filipino Martial Arts, and Boxing / Muay Thai. The other practitioners at IFA are also very kind and respectful, always willing to help you strengthen your skills.

Ive been a member of IFA since 2002, and Im not sure there is a way I can put into words how great this academy is. It takes no time at all to realize just how knowledgeable Frank is when it comes to fighting, and the amount of thought and preparation he puts into his curriculum is amazing. Frank strives to make sure everyone who walks through his door gets a solid education on how to fight, because he genuinely cares, which is something you just dont get elsewhere. Hes thorough in his instruction (which you can see by checking out the videos on the ifa website), and wont hesitate to help you solve any problems or issues you have when you get tripped up.One of the other great things about the Academy is the people. Over the years, weve had many people come and go, but weve never had anything but the most helpful and level headed members. The older students work hard on helping the new people learn the basics and build each other up, and its hard not to be proud of your partners when you end up catching a perfect cross, or being the victim of a flawless takedown.If youre interested in learning to fight, I cant recommend IFA strongly enough. If youre just looking to get in shape, three classes a week, plus two conditioning courses will have you whipped into shape in no time! And if youre just looking to meet some good, interesting people and have some fun, well, we can handle that, too.

Have you ever felt like finding a good place to train MMA is a huge hassle? I definitely have. I would walk into a gym and be put off by either the bro / alpha atmosphere, or the lack of strategy brought up in a what if scenarios. When I found IFA gym I knew I had finally found something I had been looking for since I was 18 years old. When I first started training in BJJ in 2005, all I could find were gyms committed to training for competition. Which was all well and good but I was also looking to learn how apply this stuff in a knock down drag out fight. Not to mention, trying to find a boxing gym, Muay Thai gym, and weapon art and distill it into skills, techniques, and strategies to apply to a real fight and tournament. When I moved to Austin I searched around and finally found IFA. I thought this was too good to be true, and it certainly turned out to be awesome. Not only did I find a gym that taught BJJ, wrestling, boxing, muay thai, and kali all in one package, but also an instructor who could combined them efficiently and could also teach strategy to supplement them. Also a big bonus was that he threw in conditioning classes for free! We are talking ladies and gents, the hardest , most exhausting, yet will guarantee you ridiculous freaking strength and cardio workouts. This is the type of stuff cross fit charges you out the ass,but you get for free from an experienced coach teaching you it as an add on for free as long as you are in one of the curriculums. The level of teaching, comprehensiveness, and detail is paragon to what of seen. I have been a student at IFA for 3 years now. Due to an injury I have not been able to train as much but I still attend because I feel like I still get more in one class than I can get in three months with some other instructor. Seriously do your self a favor and come train at IFA.

I have been training here in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for a few months now and thus far I have improved all aspects of my game; whether its my wrestling, top control, or guard work. Theres a few aspects that really appeals to me when it comes to training in BJJ. The first one is that the instructor is thorough in everything he teaches and is willing to explain why everything functions as it does. Another great aspect is that every day we spar standing up, a great aspect that you dont get at every BJJ academy. Also the price for classes is at a competitive rate and is definitely worth trying out.So come on by its a great class to either start or continue your training in BJJ, Kickboxing, or the Stick and Knife class.