About Westchester County Martial Arts

Elite Defensive Tactics is truly a Mixed Martial Arts School. We have age specific curriculum for the younger children and teen-agers: Lil’ Dragons, ages 4-5, Lil’ Ninja’s, ages 5-6, Tigers, ages 7-9, and the Panthers, ages 10-13. In addition to those programs, we also have Adult curriculum specializing in the mixed martial arts aspects of "stand up" JuJitsu, the technical aspects of ground fighting common to Brazilian Jiu jitsu, and the devastating hand and foot speed of Kenpo Karate. With these arts you will become an overall well rounded mixed martial artist.

Elite Martial Arts Academy provides the student with a safe, clean, and friendly atmosphere. Senior Instructor Gary Gione is a retired NYPD Lieutenant who has been practicing, studying, and teaching martial arts for over 35 years. His expertise has enabled him to survive 20 years of undercover work in the tough streets of New York. You will learn from experience, not theory. 

At Elite Defensive Tactics, we strive to develop and continually improve our students in three basic areas: Self-Defense Skills, Personal Development, and Life Philosophy.

Our students are taught to evaluate situations, avoid potential problems and eliminate unavoidable problems. Students become physically able to defend themselves when necessary, which greatly contributes to a much heightened level of self worth. One can easily see this in our students as they become more proficient in their self-defense skills, and eventually come to realize that the smartest decision is to avoid physical conflict at all costs, if possible. Again, teamwork is encouraged over competition amongst each other.

Self-Defense Skills:

At our Westchester Academy we emphasis self defense. As a law enforcement officer, I had seen so many situations a victim, if they knew self-defense, could have avoided being a target for an attack. We believe that everyone has a right to protect him or herself. Self-defense training is like taking an insurance policy out on you.

Personal Development:

Our number one goal is to improve our students' physical condition as well as their confidence and self-esteem. We believe that a person's improvement in both of these areas are directly related. Through our training, students are able to increase their level of health and fitness while fine tuning their martial arts skills. While the students' fitness levels and abilities expand, we always encourage them to work as a team and help each other to reach their goals, as opposed to competing with one another. As a result, our students experience a noticeable increase in both their physical and mental well being.

Life Philosophy:

With the discipline and self esteem gained from our martial arts training, students possess the confidence to approach and solve problems in all areas of life with self control and an eye towards the good of the world. An engrained respect for self and others enhances the student's ability to make decisions that promote peace and stability in their lives. The student gradually develops a desire and obligation to treat others in his/her path with gentleness, compassion, and respect.