Master Anthony Lewis Atkins has spent 35 years in martial arts, a journey that began in childhood, sparked by karate films and a school that happened to open in his neighborhood. What started as curiosity grew into a calling. Now a 4th Degree Black Belt in both Chinese American Kenpo and Tang Soo Do, and a seven-time NASKA World Champion, Master Atkins brings rare competitive excellence and genuine warmth to every class. For over two decades at Action Karate Huntingdon Valley, he has made it his mission to help students of every age discover what they’re truly capable of.
A world champion competitor with 35 years of experience across Chinese American Kenpo and Tang Soo Do, specializing in youth development, confidence building, and adaptive instruction for students at every level.
Builds self-confidence in children from their very first class
Develops discipline and focus
Guides adults toward real self-defense skills and personal growth
Adapts techniques and movement for students of varying abilities
Teaching philosophy
Master Atkins believes that the most important thing a student can do is show up and give their honest best. And his job is to make sure that best keeps getting better. His approach is simple but powerful: he asks each student to be the best version of themselves, then he adjusts the curriculum to meet them there. No two students learn exactly the same way, and Master Atkins has never believed in a one-size-fits-all classroom.
Whether he’s working with a three-year-old taking her first wobbly stance or a teenager pushing toward their black belt, he watches for the moments that matter most: the raised hand, the eye contact held a beat longer than before, the quiet student who finally speaks up in front of the class. Those breakthroughs, he says, are what this is really about. His motto, “1% better each day,” isn’t just something he teaches. It’s how he trains, how he leads, and how he’s built a career spanning more than three decades on the mat.
