Owaza Martial Arts

Owaza Martial Arts is a martial arts school in Spring Hill, FL. The studio offers appointment-only classes for kids and adults, focusing on self-defense and traditional disciplines including Jiu-Jitsu, Karate, Judo, Tai Chi, and Aikido. Programs are tailored to specific age groups, with foundational training for children ages 5 to 8, structured confidence-building for youth ages 9 to 17, and comprehensive training for adults and seniors. Specialized offerings include a women-only certified self-defense program and a cane self-defense course that adapts traditional blocks, strikes, and joint locks for practical personal protection. The curriculum emphasizes a results-driven approach, mental discipline, and physical fitness, while classes remain closed to spectators to maintain a focused training environment.

The school was founded in 1979 by Hanshi James Rivera, a 9th Dan Soke Dai with over 60 years of martial arts experience. His training lineage includes study under O'Sensei Richard Lazarus in the Dai Nan Wan Ryu system. The instructional team includes Dr. Juan Otero Jr., a Hanshi and Grandmaster in Okinawan Goju-Ryu and Goshin-Ryu with 60 years of experience, who joined as Senior Advisor and Instructor in 2025. Sensei Steven Reyes, a Senior Instructor and 9/11 first responder, began his training in 1973 and earned his Sandan in 2025. Hanshi Billy Diaz serves as the Puerto Rico Representative, bringing additional expertise in Kenseikan Kempo Karate Jutsu. The studio has been featured on News 8, 9, and 10, and requires a completed background check for adult memberships.

The location sits on County Line Road, approximately a quarter mile from the road's main stretch. It is located less than half a mile from Adventure Coast Fun Park and Shady Hills Elementary School. The Spring Hill Branch Library is about a mile and a half away, while Deltona Elementary School is roughly two miles from the studio.

Owaza Martial Arts holds a perfect 5.00 rating from the customers who have reviewed it. This positive feedback reflects the studio's long-standing presence in the community and its dedicated approach to teaching authentic, combat-tested techniques.

With decades of combined instructor experience and a curriculum blending multiple traditional arts, Owaza Martial Arts provides a focused path for students in Spring Hill seeking both physical skill and mental discipline.