On most afternoons in Nolita, the scene outside Martial Arts Family Studio looks the same: parents standing outside the front windows on Mulberry Street watching their kids train inside.
Now that exact moment is showing up on Apple TV+.
The downtown Manhattan studio, better known as MAFS, was recently featured in the premiere of Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed, the new Apple TV+ thriller starring Emmy-winning actress Tatiana Maslany. In one scene, Maslany’s character watches her child train inside the real studio at 290 Mulberry Street, using the actual storefront and class environment instead of a recreated set.
Families interested in enrolling their children or touring the famous filming location and taking a picture in the same spot Maslani was standing, can find more information by visiting www.martialartsfamilystudio.com, calling (646) 335-5034, or visiting the studio at 290 Mulberry Street.
For families in the neighborhood, it feels familiar because it is.
MAFS has quietly become one of those afterschool spaces many downtown parents know through word of mouth. The studio focuses on Taekwondo, along with dance and gymnastics classes, but what keeps families coming back is usually bigger than the sport itself.
The structure, routine, and discipline seem to stick with kids long after class ends. Parents often notice increased confidence, better focus, and more independence, especially in kids who are initially shy or hesitant trying new things.
Unlike large competitive gyms, the atmosphere feels intentionally community-focused. Instructors know students by name. Younger kids look up to older students. Parents gather outside the windows during class pickup. It feels more neighborhood-driven than performance-driven.
That authenticity is likely part of why the Apple TV+ production chose the space in the first place.
This is also not the studio’s first national appearance. Back in 2021, MAFS was featured on The TODAY Show when Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager trained with Master Yu ahead of the Olympics. But despite the TV attention, the studio still feels grounded in everyday downtown family life.
And in a city where parents are constantly searching for activities that help kids build confidence, focus, and resilience, that is probably why MAFS continues to stand out.
