Since 3 August 2003
About Galvan’s Martial Arts
Three brothers opened this school in Brownsville in August 2003. Twenty-three years later the same three are still teaching, alongside Master Martha Galvan and a room full of black belts who came up through the school themselves.
Galvan’s Martial Arts was the first school in the Rio Grande Valley to teach Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and it is one of the longest-running schools in the area. It is self-defense oriented — what is taught here is meant to work, not only to score points — and it has an unusually deep bench for a school this size.
Everybody who teaches here holds a black belt. Nine are named below, and more teach than are listed — we are adding them as we get their photographs.
Tae Kwon Do
Seven instructors, seven national champions
Every instructor on this list has competed individually and on the Black Belt Team. The team has been undefeated national champions for 16 years.
Jose Manuel Galvan — Master MemeSenior Master, 7th Degree Black BeltOldest brother · founding member · head kickboxing coach
Emmanuel Jose Galvan — Master MannySenior Master, 7th Degree Black BeltMiddle brother · founding member · owner and head instructor
Manuel Alejandro Galvan — Master AlexMaster, 5th Degree Black BeltYoungest brother
Martha Galvan — Master MarthaMaster, 4th Degree Black Belt
Joey AguilarMaster, 4th Degree Black Belt
Cristian CastroCoach, 3rd Degree
Emiliano HernandezCoach, 3rd Degree
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Five Professors on the jiu-jitsu mats
Galvan’s Martial Arts is a Gracie Humaita school. The full lineage is on the jiu-jitsu page.
Emmanuel Jose GalvanProfessor, 4th Degree Black Belt
Martha GalvanProfessor, 4th Degree Black Belt
Manuel Alejandro GalvanProfessor, 3rd Degree Black Belt
Luis CantuProfessor, 2nd Degree Black Belt
Nathanael CarrProfessor, Black Belt
Beyond the mats
What else is taught here
Kickboxing and MMA
All three Galvan brothers are certified to teach kickboxing and MMA, with their MMA certifications earned through American Top Team. To be precise: the school is not an ATT affiliate — ATT closed its affiliate program — but the certifications stand.
Fugakukai Aikido
Professor Manny Galvan holds a 3rd Degree Black Belt in Fugakukai Aikido and Master Martha Galvan a 1st Degree Black Belt. There is no separate Aikido class — the techniques are taught as part of the advanced self-defense curriculum inside Tae Kwon Do.
Self-defense beyond martial arts
The self-defense side of this school goes further than most. Professor Manny Galvan is a Level 2 Knife Combatives Instructor, and both he and Master Martha Galvan are NRA Instructors in Basic Pistol, Personal Protection Inside the Home, Personal Protection Outside the Home, Basic Rifle, and the Texas License to Carry.
The whole curriculum, written down
Galvan’s Martial Arts is the only school in the area with its entire curriculum written, posted for students, and available on video through GMA Coach — so students can follow the syllabus between classes instead of trying to remember it.
Find us
In front of Sunrise Mall
Galvan's Martial Arts2310 N. Expressway 83, Suite A1Brownsville, TX 78521
The front desk is open 5:00pm – 9:00pm, Monday to Friday.
Students train here from across the Rio Grande Valley — Harlingen, San Benito, Los Fresnos, Olmito and Port Isabel.
Your first 30 days are free
Come and train. No contract to sign before you know whether you like it.