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1996 to 2024, Celebrating 28 years in business.

Our Dojo's 28 Year History
Little Ninja

Preschool ages 3 to 5. This is a fun class for young children. It builds their hand and eye coordination, develops more precise motor skills and balance. It also prepares them for the Kobushi-Do class ages 6 to 12. They learn basic punches, kicks and grab escapes while gaining self confidence and the ability to train and get along with others their age.

Little Ninja, Preschool ages 3 to 5
Kobushi-Do Class

We have a great school age children's class called Kobushi-Do ages 6 to 12. It is a very effective Martial Arts and Self Defense program. We are currently accepting students into this program.

Children's Kobushi-Do ages 6 to 12
Teen and Adult Manabi-Masho Ju-Jitsu Class

We have a teen and adult class that is is based in self defense and reality martial arts. This is a great martial art for those wanting self defense without all the sports and competition. It is strictly a speciallized self defense art that has a modern classic Ju-Jitsu base with a blend of Modern Ninjutsu, Short Circle Aikido, Combative Judo, Karate, Krav Maga and Escrima with Kali and JKD techniques.

Adult and Teen Martial Arts and Self Defense ages 13 and up
Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu Ninjutsu Training

We teach authentic Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu. This is the authentic Japanese martial art of Ninjutsu.This is a great martial art for self defense, self protection and for mental refinement, life fulfillment and goal setting. This martial art will help you achieve a great sense of awareness, focus, and personal wellbeing. In the Budo Taijutsu (Ninjutsu) style, there’s striking, throwing techniques, grappling, joint locks with throws and takedowns, ground techniques, weapon techniques and disarms, exotic weapons not normally seen in other martial art styles and the use of stealth and survival training, and besides the physical aspects of the art are the mental refinement aspects that are taught. Budo Taijutsu (Ninjutsu) encompasses the Body, the Mind and the Spirit.Currently, we’re teaching Budo Taijutsu (Ninjutsu) and the Ju-Jitsu class on the same nights on separate mats. A separate class date coming soon.

Adult and Teen Bujinkan Ninjutsu Training ages 13 and up
Soke Murdock was awarded Best of Benson Award

Soke Murdock was just awarded the Distinguised Teaching Award on February 29, 2024.
"Dear Colleagues,
We are excited to share that you have been named Best Martial Arts Center by DistinguishedTeaching.com in 2024, placing you among the select few recognized winners.
We scored 146 Johnston County Karate Training schools across a variety of salient criteria, and Southern School of Martial Arts and Rivers Edge Bujinkan Dojo has been recognized as the Top Martial Arts Center in Benson. We want to reward your outstanding success and commitment to excellence".
Best,
Klaus Schneider
General Manager

Best of Benson Page
Police Tactics

Supplement your BLET training and learn effective police tactics and self defense to help keep you safe on the job.

Law Enforcement Officers and Military Police Officers 18 and up
Soke Murdock is a member of the World Head of Family Sokeship Council

Soke Murdock is a Grandmaster member of the World Head of Family Sokeship Council and It's International Martial Arts Hall of Fame.

Soke Murdock is now a member of the Action Martial Arts Hall of Honors

In January 2024 Soke Mark Murdock was inducted into the Action Martial Arts Hall of Honors. There are several legendary martial artists in this Hall of Honors. Here are a few: Stephen Hayes, Benny "The Jet" Urquidez, Bill "Superfoot" Wallace, Don "The Dragon" Wilson, Cynthia Rothrock, Kathy Long, Joe Corley and several others.

Soke Murdock with his Induction award.

This was a true honor to be inducted into such a prestigious orginization with so many legends of martial arts.

Soke Murdock is a Certified Level 6 Police Tactics Instructor

On March 5, 2024 Soke Murdock was elevated to a level 6 Instructor and received his Level 6 Instructor certification. Soke received his first certifation on September 14, 2023 as a level Level 5 Police Tactics Instructor under GM Danny Lane. Danny Lane is Chuck Norris's top instructor and best friend. If you are a Police, Highway Patrol or a Sheriff's officer you could supplement your BLET with our program. Call us to get started.

Soke Mark Murdock is featured in the 2023 Who's Who in the Martial Arts Cynthia Rothrock Tribute Biography Book

Soke Mark Murdock is featured in the latest 2023 Who's Who in the Martial Arts Cynthia Rothrock Biography Book and recognized by the American Martial Arts Alliance Foundation. "It is an honor to be included in this book among the top Martial Artists in the world", Soke Murdock.

Soke Murdock is a member of the American Martial Arts Alliance Foundation

In September of 2023 Soke Murdock was inducted into the American Martial Arts Alliance Foundation Hall of Honors. Soke was awarded a AMAA Legacy Award. Soke's bio was also featured in Cynthia Rothrock's Who's Who in the Martial Arts Tribute Book.

Soke Murdock with Cynthia Rothrock and Don "The Dragon" Wilson

This photo was taken at the Action Martial Arts Mega Weekend January 2024.

Soke Murdock with GM Stephen Hayes

This photo was taken at the Action Martial Arts Mega Weekend January 2024.

Soke Murdock Receives the Golden Life Achievement Award from The Prestigious World Head of Family Sokeship Council

Soke Murdock received the Golden Life Achievement award for over 40 years in the martial arts from the World Head of Family Sokeship Council on May 26, 2023. Soke Murdock has been attending the WHFSC events since 1996. He became a Master member of the Masters Division in May 2006 and a Grandmaster Member in May 2017.

Soke Murdock is a member of the UFAF

The UFAF is Chuck Norris's Federation. It is an honor to be a part of this orginization.

Soke Mark Murdock is a member of the UFAF Krav Maga Organization

Soke Murdock's Grandmaster rank is recognized by the United Fighting Arts Federation and he is a member of the United Fighting Arts Federation (UFAF) Krav Maga Organization, founded by Grandmaster Chuck Norris.

Soke Mark Murdock Was Awarded The UFAF Sheep Dog Award

Soke Murdock as awarded the Sheep Dog Award on November 12, 2023 from the United Fighting Arts Federation (UFAF) Krav Maga Organization, founded by Grandmaster Chuck Norris.

We are BBB accredited with an A+ rating.

Our dojo store front

Located at 27 Annette Dr. Suite 101, Benson, NC. 27504 in the McGee's Crossroads area.

At Southern School of Martial Arts we teach practical and “Real World Martial Arts and Self Defense”. Our students learn from a high ranking Grandmaster, 10th degree black belt with many years of experience. The Grandmaster is also the “Soke,” which means the head of the system. This means you get the Grandmaster, head of the system and the top instructor of the art teaching you all the material. At the Southern School of Martial Arts, you get the best of the best! On May 16, 2023 Southern School of Martial Arts will celebrate its 27th year in business in Johnston County, NC.

Soke Murdock is now accepting private students and small groups for private training. Please call for availability and the hourly cost.

We train the mind besides the physical training. It’s important to learn values and morals to go along with the physical aspects of the training. To schedule a free week trial, please visit the link or call 919-753-7964.

Kids

Our children's martial arts students learn effective martial arts and self defense. They gain self confidence, self esteem, self control and self disciple while being respectful and kind. They continually learn valuable life lessons and goal setting while they develop good character and morals.

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Adult & Teens

We offer a very effective self defense and martial arts program. It's a modernized classic Ju-Jitsu style with a blend of Ninjutsu, Aikido, Judo, Karate, JKD, Krav Maga, Eskrima and Kali. We also offer a traditional Bujinkan Ninjutsu class. Our adult class is a fun and exciting way to get some exercise. It's a lot more entertaining than going to an ordinary gym and spending all your evenings on a treadmill or a weight machine. Our students get personalized one-on-one training from a highly skilled instructor. With us you learn a skill that will stay with you for a lifetime and someday could save your life. Several of these techniques require only minimal strength to perform and they will still work when you're older or out of shape. Why not take a couple of evenings away from the gym and learn something interesting?

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White belt is the first step!

Tired of sitting on the couch and being a couch potato. Want to get in shape while having a lot of fun and learning a special skill that could someday save your life? Want to meet new people and develop new friendships and relationships? Do you want something better than a boring old workout at the gym? Why not stop by and try it? It will surprise you how much fun you can have.

Now Accepting White Belts!

Now accepting students for the Leadership Program

The Leadership Program allows for unlimited training in all classes, free belt testing, higher-level training with more advanced techniques and leadership material that starts the student off toward being an instructor.

You could make a lifetime of teaching our martial art style.

System founder, Professor John H. Casarez teaching the last seminar in his career in October 2019 at Southern School of Martial Arts, ending his 70 year career in martial arts.