Meeting point: 4013 Douglas Rd. Miami, FL 33133; check in at the garden entrance before class.

Do I need previous experience?

No prior experience is required; the instructor adapts drills for beginners and more experienced participants.

How old do participants need to be?

There is no specified minimum age listed; if you have questions about suitability for youth, contact the operator directly.

Wear comfortable athletic clothing and closed-toe shoes suitable for partner drills and mobility sequences.

How large are the groups?

Classes accommodate up to 20 participants, creating a small-group environment that allows for individualized coaching.

How do I book or cancel?

Book through the provided referral link and check the operator’s cancellation policy at the time of booking; policies may vary.

Kampong Garden Self-Defense: One-Hour Mobility Class in Miami | Workshop | Wellness

At the edge of Coconut Grove, The Kampong offers a rare slice of cultivated tropical wilderness where a one-hour self-defense and mobility class shifts usual workout rhythms into something quietly powerful. Located at 4013 Douglas Rd. Miami, FL 33133, this outdoor session pairs practical, hands-on self-defense instruction with movement drills that sharpen balance, hip mobility and situational awareness. Instructor Burak Eyilik teaches the Valente Brothers method in an urban-garden setting that feels both private and public: mature banyans, palms and flowering trees frame the practice space and make every pivot feel grounded in living roots.

The class is designed for all fitness levels and for people who want pragmatic skills without flash: drills emphasize efficient biomechanics, breath control, and how to create space or recover from an unbalanced position. Mobility sequences weave through joint-friendly progressions to improve ankle and hip range, helping students move better on pavement, beach sand or city sidewalks. Expect partner drills, brief scenario practice, and clear, repeatable techniques you can take home. No prior experience is necessary; wear comfortable athletic clothing and closed-toe shoes.

What makes this offering standout in Miami’s outdoor scene is the setting as much as the curriculum. The Kampong’s collection of tropical specimens—rare palms, mangrove relatives and citrus varieties—creates a microclimate that cools hot afternoons and softens hard concrete impulses. The garden’s history as a botanical collection adds a contemplative layer: training here feels like learning to move inside a living museum where plants that arrived with early twentieth-century collectors shade modern practice.

Practical logistics are straightforward: sessions run about an hour and accommodate up to 20 participants, making the class intimate but lively. The emphasis on body awareness and prevention means the benefits extend beyond personal safety to everyday mobility and injury resilience. For travelers staying in nearby Miami neighborhoods, this class is an efficient way to combine mindful exercise with a taste of local green space.

Bring water, a small towel, and an open mind; the instructor guides progression so newcomers leave with usable skills and a clearer sense of personal movement. Whether you’re visiting Miami for work, family, or a longer stay, this compact outdoor lesson at The Kampong turns an ordinary hour into a practical confidence-building experience rooted in place.

Sessions are scheduled year-round but shift with Miami’s humidity; mornings and golden-hour evenings feel best for sweaty training that still cools under canopy shade. The class’s small-group format fosters corrections and adaptive progressions for older adults, parents, and travelers looking to build situational confidence quickly. Layer movement practices with local walking routes afterward to test mobility gains in real urban terrain. Expect focused instruction, simple tools, and leave feeling more steady, aware, and ready for city life today.

About The Kampong - National Tropical Botanical Gardens

The Kampong — part of the National Tropical Botanical Gardens — is a historic tropical garden located in Miami, Florida on the shores of Biscayne Bay. The site preserves the Fairchild-Sweeney House and showcases the legacy of plant explorer David Fairchild through extensive exotic fruit trees, rare tropical species, and curated collections. Visitors can choose docent-led guided tours that highlight the estate’s history and plant collections, or self-guided tours that allow leisurely exploration with a provided map.

The Kampong hosts a rotating schedule of hands-on workshops and classes set in the garden landscape. Offerings include cyanotype printing for fabric, community indigo dip workshops teaching Shibori resist dyeing, edible gardening programming presented with UF/IFAS (recommended for ages 12 and up), watercolor courses led by local artist Eileen Seitz, and all-levels yoga with Sam Reynolds. Forest bathing sessions guided by neuroscientist Karina Del Punta focus on sensory practices grounded in science; evening Moonrise Forest Bathing is offered under the full moon.

Several specialty experiences such as macrophotography, ikebana, functional movement, and seasonal events invite creative engagement with plants and place. Cyanotype workshops note limited spaces to encourage advance booking. The Kampong combines plant conservation, education, and cultural programming on a historic estate, offering both structured interpretation and independent discovery for visitors interested in botany, art, sustainability, and Miami’s tropical landscape.

Public programs emphasize hands-on learning, conservation-minded practices, seasonal plant highlights, and the site supports research, education, and community engagement for residents and visitors from Miami and beyond, with year-round programming and volunteer opportunities available.