Founded by life-long martial artist, Bruce Corrigan, in the late 1980s, Progressive Martial Arts Academy is the most respected martial arts and self defense studio in the area.

The Corrigan family's first school was opened in Virginia while Bruce was in the United States Navy. In 1998 the Corrigan family moved to East Tennessee where they have lived and taught martial arts ever since. PMA Oak Ridge was opened in 2005 and is owned and operated by Bruce Corrigan's son, David Corrigan. PMA now has a location in both Oak Ridge and Knoxville, Tennessee.