Now enrolling in North Port. Your first Confidence Class is free.First Confidence Class free.
About Transform Martial Arts in North Port, FL
Strong On The Mat. Strong In Life.
We're Not Your Typical Martial Arts School.
Good. Because your kid isn't typical.
Transform Martial Arts is an ATA Songahm Taekwondo academy in North Port built around one idea: there's a champion in every student waiting to be brought out. We partner with parents to develop confident, resilient young leaders - and we do it through authentic, traditional Taekwondo.
The forms, the sparring, the belts? Those are the vehicle. Confidence that lasts a lifetime is the destination.
Why Transform Exists
Plenty of schools teach technique. We teach character through technique. There's a big difference.
Kids aren't taught how to handle failure, regulate their emotions, push through discomfort, or lead when things get hard. Those lessons aren't on a school curriculum. They're on the mat, every class, in the middle of real challenge.
We meet students where they are. Some walk in fired up, some walk in nervous - and both leave standing a little taller.
Chief Instructor Ms. Erica Goldt
4-Time World Champion · A.A.S. in Songahm Martial Arts Instruction · Team AKA
Our North Port academy is led by Sarasota County native Ms. Erica Goldt. Erica has deep roots in this community and has dedicated her life to mastering the martial arts, earning an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in Songahm Martial Arts Instruction. She brings an extraordinary level of competitive and instructional expertise to our mats, having trained under industry legends like Jackson Rudolph, Mike Chat, and the late Sensei Sharkey.
Erica's competitive achievements speak for themselves:
- 4-Time World Champion (and counting!)
- Top 10 Perennial Competitor on the world-renowned NASKA circuit
- Proud Member of Team AKA
- 46-Time State Title winner
- 25-Time Southeast District Title winner
Beyond the medals, Erica's true passion is coaching. She specializes in creating a high-energy, encouraging environment where every student feels pushed to grow, supported through challenges, and inspired to reach their full potential. Her ultimate goal is to help your child, teen, or yourself develop the strong character and leadership qualities that last a lifetime.
Meet Master Brooke Bairos
6th Degree Black Belt · ATA Master Instructor · ATA World Champion Title Holder
Brooke Bairos has spent nearly three decades in Songahm Taekwondo, and she's still training. She stepped onto the mat in 1996 and never stopped - earning her 6th Degree Black Belt, an ATA World Champion title, and recognition as the 2026 ATA Instructor of the Year for both North America and Worldwide.
Today she leads Transform Martial Arts in North Port, Florida and serves as a regional leader and A-Level tournament host within the ATA. That means our students train inside a real competitive pipeline - with a coach who has stood on the podium herself and knows exactly how champions are built.
Strong on the mat. Strong in life.
What people notice first about Brooke is her energy in class. What keeps them here is the mentorship. She invests as much in her instructors as she does in her students, because a school only grows as fast as the people teaching in it - and she's built a team that keeps developing so every class is better than the last.
Her focus has never been trophies alone. It's confident leaders - kids, teens, and adults who carry perseverance, respect, and integrity into everything they do long after the belt is tied.
That's the standard she holds Transform to, every single class.
What Makes Us Different
We're not here to hand out participation trophies. We're not a drop-off babysitting service.
We train athletes. We hold high standards. And we give high fives when they're earned.
Real Martial Arts
Authentic ATA Songahm Taekwondo - forms, sparring, self-defense, weapons
Real Life Skills
Focus, discipline, emotional regulation, resilience
Real Results
Kids who show up differently at home, in school, everywhere
And here's what families notice most: we invest heavily in instructor development. Our students aren't just learning from black belts - they're learning from instructors who keep training, growing, and getting better, so every class is stronger than the last.
Progress over perfection. Every student matters.
Our Mission
Partnering with parents and students to build confidence, character, and resilience through Songahm Taekwondo - developing confident leaders on and off the mat, one class at a time.
What We Believe
Confidence isn't taught. It's forged.
We don't protect kids from failure. We prepare them for life.
Your kid won't learn this in school. But they'll need it for life.
We believe the most important thing you can give your child isn't a trophy case. It's an unshakeable belief in themselves. A trained mind. A disciplined body. And a community that pushes them to be better every single day.
That's what we build here.
Our Core Values
These aren't words on a wall. They're how we train, teach, and treat each other every single class.
Perseverance
Progress over perfection. We keep going when it gets hard - that's where growth lives.
Respect
For instructors, for training partners, for yourself. It starts with a bow and carries off the mat.
Integrity
We say what we mean and do what we say, whether or not anyone is watching.
Courage
Choose courage over comfort. Every new belt, board, and bout starts with a decision to try.
Community
Every student matters. Nobody trains alone here - families grow together.
Growth
Our instructors keep training too. Better coaches means every class is better than the last.
This Is More Than Martial Arts.
This is a team. This is a family. This is Transform.
When your child walks through our doors, they're not joining a program. They're joining a movement of parents and athletes who refuse to settle for less than who they're capable of becoming.
We're working toward something bigger: a world with more resilient kids, more confident leaders, and fewer adults who never learned to believe in themselves.
One athlete at a time. One rep at a time.
Join the Transform family.
Ready to See the Difference?
One free Confidence Class. No card, no obligation.
A full class, a uniform loaner and a parent guide - all free.
About Transform - Frequently Asked Questions
The most common questions parents and prospective students ask about who we are and how we teach.
What makes Transform Martial Arts different from other martial arts schools?+
Transform is a character development academy built on authentic ATA Songahm Taekwondo. While many studios stop at belts and technique, our curriculum pairs the Songahm system with five developmental pillars: focus, discipline, emotional regulation, leadership, and resilience. We also invest heavily in instructor development, so our team keeps training and growing - which is why every class is better than the last, and why families stay for years.
Who leads Transform Martial Arts?+
Transform is led by Brooke Bairos, a 6th Degree Black Belt, ATA Master Instructor, ATA World Champion title holder, and the 2026 ATA Instructor of the Year for both North America and Worldwide. She began training in Songahm Taekwondo in 1996, leads Transform Martial Arts in North Port, Florida, and serves as a regional leader and A-Level tournament host within the ATA.
What ages and styles do you teach?+
We teach authentic ATA Songahm Taekwondo to ages 4 through adult across three programs. Tigers serves ages 4–7 with foundational movement and focus. Karate Kids serves ages 8–12 with full curriculum, character development, and leadership work. Teens & Adults serves ages 13+ with forms, sparring, conditioning, and mental toughness.
Is Transform religious, traditional, or modern?+
Transform teaches a traditional Korean martial art - Songahm Taekwondo - with a modern approach to teaching. We honor respect, discipline, and humility, and we meet students where they are, coaching for the realities kids, teens, and adults face today. We're not affiliated with any religious organization.
What is Transform's mission?+
Partnering with parents and students to build confidence, character, and resilience through Songahm Taekwondo - developing confident leaders on and off the mat, one class at a time.
What are the core values that guide every class?+
Perseverance, respect, and integrity sit at the center of everything we teach, alongside courage, gratitude, community, and constant growth. Instructors reference these values in every class, and students are recognized for living them out - not just for technique on the mat.
Where is Transform Martial Arts located?+
We're located at 14889 Tamiami Trail, North Port, FL 34287. The studio serves families across the North Port area including North Port, Wellen Park, Port Charlotte, Venice, Englewood, and Punta Gorda. Free parking is available directly in front of the front entrance.
How do I try a class for the first time?+
The easiest way to get started is our free Confidence Class. It includes a full class with a lead instructor, a uniform loaner, and a short game-plan chat afterward. Most families use it to experience the curriculum and meet the team before committing to enrollment.