Ethereal Arts Self Defense
Stow’s Best Martial Arts School
February 2026 Tournament
A fun competition held at the dojo for kids and adults.
This event will be held in the dojo on Saturday February 28th so there will not be any regular classes that day.
This event is for enrolled students of Ethereal Arts Self Defense only. Not open to the public.
Welcome To
Ethereal Arts Self Defense
Welcome to Ethereal Arts Self Defense, a family-friendly martial arts school in Stow, MA! We provide a wholesome environment that is open for anyone to train. Students are taught life skills through the art and values of martial arts. It doesn’t matter if you join us to compete, learn self-defense, or improve your health and fitness. You’ll learn lessons on and off the mat from our qualified team, including two masters and a grandmaster level instructor. They can help you and your kids become more well-rounded, even improving children’s grades in school! Does this sound like a place for you? Then come join us and see what you can accomplish on our mats!
30 Days for $30!
Come join us for our 30-day trial. For just $30, you can discover a new way of training martial arts in Stow at Ethereal Arts Self Defense!
Who We are at
Ethereal Arts Self Defense
Our School
When you walk through our doors, you’ll find a fun but focused school ready to help everyone. Our students enjoy class while learning and improving physically and mentally. We encourage students to apply this attitude to the rest of their life, including sleep, diet, and mindset. This is not just a short-term experience. Training at Ethereal Arts Self Defense will change your life now and way into the future! Whether it’s in Karate, Tai Chi, Muay Thai, Jujutsu, or Weapons training, our goal is to make a strong impact in your life. Everything we do has a purpose to help you grow. That continues into our self-defense tactics and use of “cancellation” training. Students are taught how to shut down an opponent’s current and future moves. This provides you with the greatest possibility of stopping the threat and keeping yourself safe. All of our training goes beyond being a hobby—it requires dedication and time to achieve success in whatever you are training. Ethereal Arts Self Defense is a Stow martial arts school that can change your life for the better!
History
Owner Eric Frost opened Ethereal Arts Self Defense in 1996 to provide everyone in and around Stow a martial arts school where they could belong, be considered, and feel heard. And he hasn’t looked back since. The school has only continued to grow, transitioning from Kenpo Karate only to offering many different martial arts programs. We have evolved with martial arts so everyone can find a place where they feel they are involved. This journey all began with Eric’s interest in Kung Fu in 1984. Starting Kenpo Karate first helped him improve his grades in school—something he works to help students with today—but it became so much more. He has been inducted into the Action Martial Arts Magazine Hall of Honors, the Gathering of Eagles Martial Arts Hall of Fame, is featured in Official Martial Arts Who’s Who In The Martial Arts: Directory & Biographies, and Martial Arts Masters & Pioneers Who’s Who Really Who in Martial Arts. Even with his accomplishments and hard work, Eric makes sure that each student can find a home in his school. This is because martial arts is more than just techniques and awards, it’s a lifestyle.
Our Martial Arts
Instructors
The Ethereal Self Defense team has a great passion for martial arts. Everyone has different skills they bring into the school to help students thrive on and off the mats. There is someone for you to train with in Kenpo Karate, Jujutsu, Tai Chi, Muay Thai, Kali, or Weapons. This includes two master instructors, as well as a grandmaster-level instructor. Take a look to see who makes our school the best spot for Stow martial arts!
Grandmaster Eric Frost
Master Mike Sweet
Master Jeff Cosgrove
Sensei Kara Senecal
Sensei Terra Buck
Sensei Zach Wooden
Assistant Instructor Griffin
Our School Schedule!
Check out our class schedule and find a time Monday–Saturday to join us at Ethereal Arts Self Defense!
Explore our Martial Arts
Programs
There is a huge variety of options to get started at Ethereal Arts Self Defense. Looking for Karate? Muay Thai? Jujutsu? Tai Chi? Weapons? It’s all here for you to get started! Our training is kept intelligent and respectful for everyone to thrive in. Take a look and find the best spot for your Stow martial arts training today!
Kenpo Karate (ages 5 and up)
Kenpo Karate is a hybrid martial art that incorporates many different forms and techniques. At Ethereal Arts Self Defense, we use intelligent analysis to diagnose what our opponent is doing and formulate a strategy to limit dangers. It is perfect training for self-defense, as well as fitness and competition.
Tai Chi Chuan
We teach the combined style of Tai Chi with many weapons and empty handed forms available within the art. On the physical side, we teach range of motion and how to maintain cardiovascular health intact for better blood circulation. Spiritually, students are able to meditate and receive a centering, calming experience. And last, but not least, we teach the combat side as well. Though this facet of the art is not often sought out by students it is offered to those that seek to learn the entire art. This makes our Stow Tai Chi class as holistic as possible.
Muay Thai (ages 13 and up)
This is an interactive, intense art for students. Our hands-on training is taught with safety in mind as we focus on direct, powerful, and assertive techniques. The higher level of physicality is perfect for students looking for body conditioning, cardio, strength, and overall health. Come learn self-defense while also getting in great shape!
Filipino Martial Arts/Kali (Stick and Knife Fighting)
Our approach to Kali (Stick and Knife Fighting) is very cerebral. When handling these weapons, angles and lines are incredibly important. Students are taught lots of different strategies, as well as a sense of caution. As we use our training tools, we treat them as if they were the real deal. It is important to use intelligence and respect when developing your skills.
Jujutsu
We base our Jujutsu strategies on the 330+ lessons taught from Japanese training. The training is not as focused on in-ring use like Brazilian Jujutsu, but provides a greater emphasis in self defense. We do still provide competitive training, allowing Gi and No-Gi Grapplers to thrive. You’ll improve your street awareness while learning small-joint manipulation to keep yourself and your loved ones safe.
Live Action Weapons (Foam Weapons)
We provide intelligent, respectful weapons training for all our students. Using foam weapons actually made for the purpose of safely and efficiently training, we teach differences in strikes for different students. Our students wear protective helmets that protect the face and provide maximum safety. Nevertheless, this is not a watered down version of self-defense. With kids and adults participating in the same class, everyone is taught smart ways to stay aware and safe with weapons.
Words from Our Community
Ethereal Arts Self Defense is a place to learn life skills, self defense, and competitive skills in a friendly environment. While we have multiple high-level instructors, we also bring in a positive atmosphere that encourages growth and hard work. Want to hear more? See what our students say about what makes us special!
“This school is excellent for children, beginners, to people who have been doing martial arts their entire lives. The exercise that each class gives you is another benefit.”
“It’s amazing how Grand Master Frost has a created an environment that is both nurturing and respectful all at once. I’m so happy we found this school and highly recommend it.”
“The classes fit my schedule and the instructors are respectful and happy to discuss accommodations for any special needs. I’ve made progress in a short time.”
“Grandmaster Eric is an excellent and well rounded teacher and adjusts his style to the individual student. Great place, great value!”
“All of the instructors are incredibly patient with the students and are all wonderful teachers. I highly recommend them if you are thinking of enrolling your child in martial arts.”
30 Days for $30!
Come join us for our 30-day trial. For just $30, you can discover a new way of training martial arts in Stow at Ethereal Arts Self Defense!
Contact Us!
We are happy to serve the Stow martial arts community and also welcome those from Hudson, Marlborough, Maynard, and Sudbury. You can find us on Route 117 across from Shaw’s Plaza, directly next to Stow Cafe. Our front door is inside the Bank of America ATM lobby!