Q. Describe your business and how you got started.  Red Dragon Karate is a full time martial arts studio with many programs to choose from.  Established in 1981 by Tony Irvin, the school teaches an American Freestyle System with influences found from many different styles including Tae Kwon Do and our base style of Pentjak Silat.  Owner and chief instructor, Jeff Melander, began training here at age 9, acquired the school in 198 just before his 16^th birthday and today is a 5^th degree black belt who leads approximately 25 classes each week.

Q. Are you known for anything special?  We provide quality training to anyone who wants to better themselves through martial arts practice.

Q. What do you like most about your business?  Teaching students, young and old, the positive way of life that the martial arts provide.  Helping them to achieve their individual goals and become more confident in themselves so they can handle whatever life may bring them.  Staying in top physical shape myself while promoting the benefits of physical fitness, self-defense and character development.

Q. What do you feel is your biggest challenge with your business?  Competing with all of the other activities that people put into their busy lives.  Also, clearing up misconceptions about what karate is.

Q. What do you want the community to know about you?  I was born and raised in Ballston Spa and strive to give back to the community the benefits that martial arts training has provided to me.  We are a proud member of the Ballston Spa Business & Professional Association and participate in most events that the village promotes.

Q. Anything else?  We offer Self-defense workshops each month to prepare ourselves for this sometimes hostile world.  We also offer family classes so that moms, dads, brothers, & sisters can train together.  About 80% of Red Dragon’s enrollment is families.