For nearly two decades, Scott Tannenbaum has dedicated his career to teaching martial arts, helping thousands of students develop self-defense skills, confidence and discipline at TNT MMA Training Center in North Phoenix.
Since opening his first gym in 2008, Tannenbaum has trained more than 5,000 students, coached fighters through more than 150 mixed martial arts bouts and traveled internationally to share his techniques with martial artists and law enforcement personnel.
Now, as the owner of TNT MMA Training Center on Deer Valley Road, Tannenbaum is focused on building a lasting community where families and individuals can learn practical self-defense while developing skills that extend beyond the gym.
“I really focus on quality,” Tannenbaum said. “I’ve also worked very hard to create an environment that’s welcoming for all people from all walks of life.”
Tannenbaum’s interest in martial arts began when he was 4 years old, watching Bruce Lee movies with his father. Inspired by the films, he began studying kung fu before transitioning into aikido, Japanese jujitsu and other disciplines.
His introduction to Brazilian jiu-jitsu came during a seminar taught by Royce Gracie, whose success in early Ultimate Fighting Championship competitions helped popularize the discipline.
After watching Gracie defeat larger opponents, Tannenbaum became fascinated with the effectiveness of ground fighting and dedicated himself to mastering the techniques.
He eventually earned his sixth-degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Rigan Machado, whose mentorship influenced his approach to instruction.
Tannenbaum said Machado’s willingness to answer questions, encourage competition and support students helped shape the welcoming environment he later established at TNT.
Originally focused on training competitive fighters, Tannenbaum gradually shifted his business toward families, beginners and individuals interested in practical self-defense.
Unlike traditional Brazilian jiu-jitsu schools that emphasize training in a gi, or martial arts uniform, TNT specializes in no-gi instruction, in which students train in shorts and shirts while incorporating striking and grappling techniques.
Tannenbaum believes the approach better prepares students for situations outside controlled competitions.
“I’ve created a way to train them so if they are ever in a real fight, they have real applicability versus a false sense of security and ability,” Tannenbaum said.
His teaching philosophy also emphasizes individual progress rather than awarding promotions based solely on attendance.
Students must demonstrate their understanding of techniques and meet established standards before advancing to another belt.
For Tannenbaum, those expectations reinforce the importance of perseverance, accountability and overcoming challenges.
“It’s not about winning; it’s about getting better,” he said.
That philosophy extends to students who began training as young children and have since grown into teenagers helping instruct younger participants.
Tannenbaum said watching those students develop leadership abilities has become one of the most rewarding aspects of operating the gym.
He believes teaching others helps students strengthen their communication skills while building confidence through shared accomplishments.
Beyond instruction, TNT has developed into a community where friendships and personal relationships extend outside the training facility.
Tannenbaum said students from different professional and personal backgrounds regularly support one another, including business owners who become customers of fellow students.
The gym has also played a role in several marriages, including his own.
“I met my wife at my gym,” Tannenbaum said. “She came in one day to try a class and we were married two years later.”
Some of those couples now have children who train at TNT, creating another generation of students connected to the gym.
Despite his international teaching experience and competitive background, Tannenbaum said the greatest measure of success comes from the personal impact he has made on students.
Former students occasionally contact him years after leaving the gym to explain how their training continues to influence their lives.
Looking ahead, Tannenbaum hopes to expand his influence in law enforcement training while encouraging more martial arts schools to emphasize self-defense.
Ultimately, he wants students to remember TNT as a place that improved their lives beyond physical fitness.
“If I can take them away for an hour, hour and a half from whatever’s bothering them and send them out the door and kind of set a reset switch or give them something to look forward to at night, that’s huge to me,” Tannenbaum said.
For more information, visit tntbjj.com