DeForest, WI
A quick hello from our team on what's changing — and why your family is going to love it.
To our DeForest families,
First, the important part: you keep your rank, you keep your location, and you keep the front-desk faces you already know. The place you walk into on Monday, August 31 is the same building, the same community, and the same commitment to your family that it's always been.
What changes is what you gain. As part of the LVLUP family, your training grows into a proven curriculum used across our schools — with weapons and sparring built in, a bigger community to grow alongside, and events and tournaments that were hard to offer on your own. We'll bring it in gradually, and everything you've already learned with MPK carries right over and serves you well.
We know change can feel uncertain, especially when it's something your family loves. Our promise is simple: we'll make this easy, we'll honor what you've earned, and we'll be right here on the mat to answer every question.
— Master Mike Moh & the LVLUP Team
Your DeForest martial arts program has joined LVLUP Martial Arts, a family of schools right here in the Madison area. The building, the community, and the front-desk faces you know are all staying — what's new is everything standing behind them. As a single school, there's only so much one program can offer; as part of LVLUP, your family gets a proven national curriculum, a bigger community, and opportunities that were hard to provide alone. You keep everything you loved — now with a lot more behind it.
Same heart, bigger engine. That's the whole idea behind “Midwest Professional Karate, powered by LVLUP.”
The same welcoming faces you know, now backed by LVLUP's world-class instruction.
A 6th-degree black belt and ATA World Champion, Master Mike Moh founded LVLUP in 2013 and grew it into a family of top-rated schools across the Madison area. He's also a Hollywood actor — best known for playing Bruce Lee in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. His mission is simple: build confident, resilient, and respectful students who have the tools to succeed on and off the mat.
A 4th-degree black belt and 4× ATA World Champion, Mr. Z leads the day-to-day martial arts program in DeForest. Certified in the LVLUP system and known for his energy and structure on the mat, he's focused on giving every student the best instruction possible — every single class. He's the friendly, familiar face your family will train with week in and week out.
This is the energy and skill your family gets to train with every week — 4× ATA World Champion Mr. Z, right here in DeForest.
Here's the reassuring part: your schedule barely changes. Classes run at the same times you already know — Monday through Thursday evenings, no Saturday classes. What's mostly different is the names: the class and rank groups have simply been renamed to match the LVLUP system. The updated schedule takes effect Monday, August 31.
| Time | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3:45–4:20 | After-School — Beginner | After-School — Beginner | After-School — Beginner | After-School — Beginner |
| 4:20–4:55 | After-School — Int / Adv | After-School — Int / Adv | After-School — Int / Adv | After-School — Int / Adv |
| 5:00 | Tigers (30 min) | Tigers (30 min) | Tigers (30 min) | Tigers (30 min) |
| 5:35 | Beginner | Beginner | Beginner | Beginner |
| 6:20 | Int/Adv/Black Belts | Int/Adv/Black Belts | Int/Adv/Black Belts | Int/Adv/Black Belts |
| 7:05 | — | Athlete Dev — Combat Weapons | — | Athlete Dev — XMA |
📚 After-School classes run Monday–Thursday — two 35-minute classes back to back: Beginners at 3:45–4:20 PM and Intermediate/Advanced at 4:20–4:55 PM. This daily schedule is for the current school year; next year we'll move to twice-weekly classes for each group.
Not sure where your child belongs? We'll place them — just ask.
Key rule: solid & white-stripe belts convert to the LVLUP Recommended rank; black-stripe belts convert to the Decided rank. A few color names shift between systems (Gold→Orange, Orange→Yellow; Red→Brown, Brown→Red), but your rank position is preserved — no one is demoted.
Two more testings this year — October & December — on the current fee structure. Starting in 2027, LVLUP runs 5 testings per year (about every 10 weeks), with fees included in tuition.
A minimum of 4 classes per stripe, and 3 stripes to qualify to test.
Camo belt and up. Most weeks, camo+ students start class in sparring gear for partner drills and a round or two — bring your gear.
All levels. Bring your weapon to every class — we rotate through our major weapons. Single nunchucks start in September.
Up to 2 classes per week — a great fit for most families.
For students who want to compete and train more.
Coming to DeForest down the road — for students ready to lead and mentor.
Keep wearing your Midwest Professional Karate uniform for now. We'll transition to the LVLUP dobok over time — no rush, no surprise costs.
LVLUP or MPK T-shirts are welcome until October 1. After that, uniform season begins.
Straight from your family FAQ. Tap any question to expand it.
LVLUP Martial Arts — DeForest
7125 River Rd, DeForest, WI 53532
✉️ deforest@lvlupma.com
📞 (608) 571-1990
Curriculum & belt reference: lvlupma.com/members
Have a question about the transition? Stop by the front desk — we'll walk you through anything, including your personal belt conversion.
Questions? We're here. Come see us on the mat.
