Council Recognizes Local Business – Martial Arts for Life – for Their Community Involvement

By Marianne Ivers

Published May 2, 2025 at 7:00 AM

NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ – Mayor Al Morgan and the Borough Council recognized Martial Arts for Life on their 20^th anniversary for their contributions to the New Providence community. Morgan read a proclamation recognizing the business at the Tuesday, April 29 Borough Council meeting.

Martial Arts for Life is located at 1260 Springfield Avenue and it is a family-oriented Martial Arts school that has offered training for men, women, teens and children from ages 5 to over 65 years old since 2005. “Martial Arts for Life offers a diverse physical curriculum that includes martial arts such as jiu jitsu and Thai boxing. The school was founded by Richard and Michelle Brugger of Mountainside NJ. Richard is a Master Instructor who has been training in the Martial Arts since 1993 and teaching since 1995. Michelle is a 3rd degree Black Belt and has been training in the Martial Arts since 1996,” the proclamation read.

“Martial Arts for life promoted their first group of students to 1st Degree Black Belt in November of 2009 and has since promoted a total of 195 students to 1st degree Black Belt, 58 students to second degree Black Belt, and 8 students to 3rd degree Black Belt. The life skills and character education curriculum taught at Martial Arts for Life was featured in SUCCESS magazine and four articles on best practices for school owners,” Morgan read.

The proclamation also touted the Brugger’s community involvement, as they have been active in both the martial arts and local business community. Michelle was President of the New Providence Business & Professional Association for a decade and is also a member of the New Providence Downtown Improvement District. Furthermore, “Martial Arts for life has been dedicated to community involvement and charitable contributions, raising over $75,000 since 2012 for the New Providence-based NJ Sharing Network Foundation via their Martial Arts for Life 5K Team. The school has also raised over $10,000 since 2014 for local schools and parent/teacher organizations through their annual Skills for School Fundraiser, which donates 100% of the funds raised.”