Princeton Academy of Martial Arts

If you are looking for a high quality martial arts education, you can’t get higher than PAMA.
I’ve been going to PAMA for a few months and it has already benefited me greatly. Teaching several martial arts styles, such as Muay Thai, Filipino Kali, Silat, Mixed Grappling, and Jeet Kune Do, of which they are among the direct training lineage of Bruce Lee, the staff are highly knowledgeable and skilled in their craft.
These classes are not the classes you see on television or in the movies, nor are they the standard martial arts classes you come across in every town. The training is varied, free-​flowing, and formless, but always challenging. The attitude with which the instructors approach the training is always «do what you can, but do it as hard and strong as you are capable.» This kind of approach has made it easy for me, someone who takes a long time to learn, to feel comfortable that I will get to where I need to be at my own pace.
The only criticism (if it can even be seen as one) is that the memberships combined with the equipment may take a toll on your wallet. The pro shop equipment it high quality and the instructional DVDs break down what you need to learn in an easy-​to-​follow manner. But in total it can be expensive. But this is understandable, as you are paying for a quality education from true professionals.
I can’t stress enough that if you are learning martial arts, the most important aspect of the training is to trust your instructors as well as your fellow trainees. PAMA has that in spades, as they let you be at your most comfortable and therefore most focused and most willing to keep going that extra step.

I’ve been a student year for about a year and a half now and I absolutely love it. When choosing to pursue Martial Arts lessons, I saught an authentic, welcoming, and dedicated school, which I found with PAMA. Everyone who teaches and attends classes here are family. The only regret that I have is that I don’t have enough time in my busy schedule (working and in grad school) to be more dedicated to my practice. I hope that I will soon have more time to properly enrich myself in the arts taught here (and yes there are multiple, AND you don’t have to choose between any!)
I would definitely recommend this school to anyone serious about wanting to truly learn martial arts (because we all know there are a TON of Americanized cookie cutter places…)

I’ve been coming here since 1994 and it’s one of the best MA training facilities on the East Coast. The depth of knowledge and teaching ability demonstrated there is extremely high. The students range from 6−60+ and there is a wide variety of arts to train in. A definite must for aspiring martial arts enthusiasts in the area!

I was first drawn to PAMA for the Kali classes they offered. I was immediately hooked and soon after started training in JKD and got hooked on that. Then it was Silat, and then Muay Thai, and grappling. So many arts are offered each with its own extensive curriculum and rooted in tradition.
Sifu Rick and his head instructors are always running and/​or training in class with you so you are training at a high level all the time. There is a great mix of students ranging in age and experience level. I have been training at PAMA for 4 years now and only scratched the surface of what it has to offer.

Princeton Academy of Martial Arts (PAMA) is more than just a martial arts gym it’s a place where one can discover their true potential and grow to become a better human being.
Sifu Rick Tucci has done a marvelous job in keeping the integrity in all the arts taught at PAMA and maintains a very high standard of all his students and instructors. PAMA is simply the best place to mature as a person and a martial artist.

I only did a few classes here but it is an amazing place. Similar to the other review, if you are in the area and are interested they are very welcoming and will show you around if you would like or even let you take a class.
The instructors are very knowledgeable and talented and where would someone even begin with trying to describe Rick?

Absolutely incredible place to study JKD, Kali, Silat, Grappling, Muay Thai, etc.
Sifu Rick Tucci studied under Dan Inosanto, who was a close friend of Bruce Lee is and the only person still actively teaching certified by Bruce Lee to teach JKD. He has maintained a close relationship to Guro Dan and regularly conducts weekend long seminars with him. Sifu Rick Tucci has an amazing ability to teach both very practical and efficient techniques while at the same time not losing an appreciation for the history, beauty, and «art» of the styles. He actively incorporates Bruce Lee’s writings into the classes and will teach you to think about what you are doing as a way of living and engaging the world as well as learn to defend yourself or compete in Kali and other style’s tornaments (if that is your thing).
I studied there for approximately three years before moving out of the area. I have never found another school like it and the only other place I can think of that I might want to train more would be the Inosanto Academy of Martial Arts in LA. So, if you are anywhere in the vicinity of Princeton, NJ and looking for a JKD oriented school, this is the place.