By T.J. Gordon
Boxing, wrestling and martial arts have long been popular sports and a good way to keep fit, but the combination of these activities has evolved into a new combat sport known as MMA (mixed martial arts).
MMA is a fusion of boxing, kickboxing, wrestling, judo and jiu-jitsu are at the core of the sport, which involves grappling/ground attacks and stand-up fighting styles. Any age group and gender can practice MMA. Gyms and MMA schools offer classes to children as young as 4 and seniors can join as well.
The health benefits in practicing MMA are plentiful. Team Octopus co-owner Koon Lau mentions that grappling and striking opponents involves aerobic endurance and rapidly increasing the heart rate. Those techniques enhance coordination, balance, flexibility, and muscular strength as well. Furthermore, Lau says MMA workouts are “great stress relievers and confidence boosters.”
“There’s no better feeling than the one you get after learning how to kick some ass,” Lau declares.
Richard Trammell, a kickboxing and karate champion, compares the sport to football. While acknowledging that the sport is rougher than others, Trammell says MMA also teaches self-confidence and discipline.
MMA champion Roan “Jucão” Carneiro (also chief instructor for the Atlanta chapter of American Top Team), says the sport teaches a person how to be respectful, confident, train hard to achieve an objective and practice self-control. One can also learn how to defend him or herself from larger opponents when taking MMA courses.
“People are drawn to MMA because of its effectiveness in real-life situations,” Lau explains. “Knowledge of MMA greatly helps when faced with a real unarmed, combat fight on the street. The number of women starting MMA has also increased, since it’s a great form of self-defense.”
Modern MMA in the United States has been in place since 1993, with the formation of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Yet it wasn’t a household name until 2005 when The Ultimate Fighter, a Spike TV reality show where professional MMA fighters trained and competed with each other for a UFC contract, helped bring the sport to the mainstream.
MMA in Atlanta began in the mid 1990s when John D’Angelo promoted the first bouts in the area. Gyms also began to promote events featuring their fighters; those would eventually help increase memberships. Additionally, Atlanta is historically a city filled with martial art legends.
“Atlanta has always been a good fight town,” says Trammell. “Boxing and kickboxing have been big in Georgia over the years.”
Carneiro attributes fight promoter Brett Moses with establishing the strong MMA community in Atlanta.
“He developed many events here in Atlanta and brings the high level fighters to fight in events,” says Carneiro.
Georgia MMA rules call for rigid safety measures at both the professional and amateur levels. For example, a fighter must wear shinguards and mouthpieces during bouts.
Numerous MMA-based schools and gyms are sprouting up in the Atlanta metropolitan area.
If you’re looking to get fit for the summer, take your anger out on the bag, learn how to take down an assailant, or prepare for a career in MMA, then explore one of these gyms provided in the sidebar.
Intown MMA Facilities
KnuckleUp Fitness
5956 Roswell Rd.
Sandy Springs, GA 30328
404-339-KICK (5425)
knuckleupfitness.com
KnuckleUp Fitness
5815 Windward Pkwy Suite 100
Alpharetta, GA 30005
404-339-KICK (5425)
knuckleupfitness.com
American Top Team Atlanta (ATTA)
2110 Faulkner Road, Atlanta, 30324
(770) 364-0777 or attatl.com
Bangkok Boxing Fitness
1019 Collier Road, Atlanta, 30318
(404) 603-9898 or bangkokboxingfitness.com
Team Octopus
5799-B New Peachtree Road, Doraville, 30340
(678) 368-4331 or saraivamma.com
Trammell Fitness and Martial Arts (Shidokan Atlanta)
1465 Chattachoochee Ave., Suite 800, Atlanta, 30318
(404) 605-0094 or shidokanatlanta.com
Unit 2 Fitness
240 Ponce De Leon Ave., #2, Atlanta, 30308
(404) 745-3019 or unit2fitness.com
X3 Sports – Midtown
240 N. Highland Ave., Building 3- Suite B2, Atlanta, 30307
(404) 525-2269 or x3sports.com
