About Us

Chuck and Carolina opened Contemporary Martial Arts, Inc. in 1996. Along with Carolina’s 2 children, Dave Martin and Tanya Martin(now Mrs. Tanya Hudson!), Chuck and Carolina laid down the foundation for what is now considered one of the best, most complete martial arts’ curriculum for kids/adults in the Southeast. Competing in sport karate, grappling and full contact kickboxing tournaments, CMA was raising eyebrows from their very first tournament! While competing in the SC Sport Karate Circuit, CMA students won over DOZENS SC STATE TITLES in EVERY DIVISION FROM WHITE BELT TO BLACK BELT before the SC Sport Karate Circuit faded away. CMA students won STATE TITLES in: freestyle forms, traditional forms, musical forms, weapon forms, musical weapon forms, and point sparring! It only took 3 short years for Contemporary Martial Arts, Inc.(CMA) to be ranked by NBL/SKIL as one of the TOP 25 SPORT KARATE SCHOOLS IN THE WORLD, coming in at #15! The next 4 years CMA was ranked in the TOP 25 SPORT KARATE SCHOOLS IN THE WORLD as well, and the last year CMA competed in sport karate, we were ranked #12! During the short time CMA competed in sport karate, we produced well OVER A DOZEN WORLD CHAMPIONS in freestyle forms, traditional forms, musical forms, weapon forms, musical weapon forms, and point sparring.  

Chuck received his black belt under David “Chip” Prather, in 1993. Mr. Prather, is a living legend in the karate world of northeast Georgia, and has been teaching karate since the early 70’s! Without Mr. Prather, Contemporary Martial Arts would not exist. Mr. Prather has since promoted Chuck to 3rd degree black belt.

Ryan Peace began training at CMA in Hartwell, GA in 1996 at 7 years old. Ryan quickly began competing in sport karate and has won 13 SC State Titles, multiple national championships and was a 3X World Sports karate champion. Ryan earned his black belt from Chuck at 17 years old in Sho-Kushin Karate.

Ryan began training with Chuck to compete in Jiu-Jitsu, MMA and Muay Thai fights at the age of 14. Ryan had his first fight at 16 years old and has compiled an amateur record of 4-1 (MMA) and 8-1 (Muay Thai). He won the amateur U.S. Muay Thai belt and also the amateur Southeastern U.S. MMA belt. Ryan turned pro at 19 years old in Muay Thai and was named Bangkok Fight Night Pro Fighter of the year in his first year.

Ryan also wrestled through high school and briefly in college.

Ryan has trained several professional and amateur fighters of all ages in both Muay Thai and MMA including current Bellator fighter Cee Jay Hamilton.

Ryan opened Upstate CMA in June of 2022 looking to share his knowledge gained from 25 years of Martial Arts experience.