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Former Docarmo’s Taekwondo Center lead instructor Ashton Cabrera is bringing his passion for confidence-building and discipline to Greenville with the opening of Cabrera’s Taekwondo Academy. Located at 802 North Conecuh Street, the academy is now accepting students aged 5 and up for private lessons and group classes.

“It’s something that I feel Greenville really needed to have,” Cabrera said. “Especially for the kids that need an outlet but don’t want to play ball or anything like that.”

The academy’s opening comes in response to the sudden closure of Docarmo’s Taekwondo Center’s Greenville location in September, which left many students without a place to continue their training. Cabrera, a second-degree black belt with a decade of experience, took matters into his own hands, determined to give former students and new ones alike a place to grow and thrive.

Cabrera’s dedication to Taekwondo stems from his own journey of overcoming social anxiety and building self-confidence. 

Reflecting on his transformation, he credits the martial art with helping him develop skills he’s now eager to pass on to his students.

“I like seeing them progress, when they’re trying to learn something, and they just keep trying and trying,” Cabrera said. “When they finally get it, they’re so proud of themselves.”

Kiera Keeney, who will assist Cabrera at the academy, emphasized his effectiveness as an instructor.

“I trained under him for a long time,” Keeney said. “I learned a lot and I think people will really enjoy the classes, especially the kids. The kids love him.”

Keeney, who also worked with Cabrera at Docarmo’s, shared her excitement about reconnecting with former students and welcoming new faces.

“We’re excited to see a lot of the kids we’ve gotten to know and it’s just fun to see them all getting excited about learning new things,” she said.

Parents in the Greenville community have already expressed gratitude for the new academy. Marcus Anderson, whose seven-year-old daughter was a student at Docarmo’s, shared how important the outlet has been for his child.

“She loved it,” Anderson said. “I can really tell the difference since she stopped going. She does cheer during football season, but she has no interest in any team sports, and she really needs that way to stay active and the discipline it was providing.”

Those interested in learning more about Cabrera’s Taekwondo Academy can call (334) 708-0508 or visit the academy’s Facebook page.