DMXMA

Da Mo Xin Martial Arts

達摩心武術

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Hello

I’m Alan Figueroa, founder and head instructor at Da Mo Xin Martial Arts.

I’m passionate about creating a school where martial arts are not just about kicks and punches, but about building confidence, resilience, and character. I strive to make every student feel supported, respected, and empowered, whether they’re stepping onto the mat for the first time or working toward their black belt

I’ve trained in Southern Praying Mantis Kung Fu since I was 16. I began martial arts out of a simple love for movement and the discipline it demanded, but it quickly became something much deeper — a passion that shaped not just how I moved, but how I approached life. The focus, strategy, and perseverance I developed on the mat became a lens through which I viewed challenges, relationships, and personal growth. Over the years, I explored a variety of other martial arts, including Capoeira, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Tai Chi, Wrestling, Ninjutsu, Wing Chun, and Muay Thai. Each style added layers to my understanding of movement, timing, and the mental aspects of training, but Southern Praying Mantis has always remained my foundation — the heart of my martial arts journey and the core of what I wanted to share with others.

It was this passion for martial arts that naturally led me to become a personal trainer. I wanted to help people move better, gain strength, and discover the confidence that comes from mastering their bodies. Working in the fitness industry taught me invaluable lessons about teaching and connecting with people. I learned how to motivate students, structure sessions to meet their individual needs, and break down complex movements into simple, understandable steps. These experiences were instrumental in shaping my teaching style — patient, structured, and encouraging — although it was only through formal mental health training that I truly refined and perfected this approach.

Before the mandated pandemic shutdowns of 2020, I had made the leap from the gym to teaching Kung Fu and Tai Chi full-time. Tai Chi, in particular, became my main source of income as I ran classes for elderly students across the metropolitan area. It was incredibly rewarding work — I loved seeing people gain strength, balance, and confidence in ways they never thought possible. But when the shutdowns closed my classes for nine months, it was a devastating blow. Not only was my income severely limited, but the sudden halt in routine and connection also had a significant impact on my mental health. It was during this difficult period that I decided to pursue studies in mental health, completing my Certificate IV and Diploma in Mental Health.

My journey also led me to start my own martial arts club. As a father of three, I struggled to find a high-quality martial arts program that was affordable and suitable for all my children to attend together. For years, my kids had to take turns training at different clubs, which was complicated and far from ideal. In 2018, just two years before the pandemic, I decided to create my own solution: Da Mo Xin Martial Arts. My vision was to establish a club where families could train together in a supportive, structured environment without the compromises I had experienced. It was a decision born from both necessity and passion — a desire to offer a truly high-quality, inclusive martial arts experience for my children, and for every student who walked through our doors.

This choice opened an entirely new world of opportunities and fundamentally changed my personal trajectory, as well as the trajectory of DMXMA. What had once been a full-time academy evolved into a part-time club, allowing me to integrate my martial arts expertise with mental health principles. Today, DMXMA is more than just a place to learn kicks and punches; it is a space where students build resilience, confidence, and life skills alongside physical strength. Every class reflects my journey — the dedication, the challenges, and the lessons I’ve learned along the way — and my goal is to create a supportive, empowering environment where every student can grow, not only as a martial artist, but as a person.