Francisco Salguero winning GFC 1
About Mixed Martial Arts
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is a full contact combat sport that, as the name implies, allows for a variety of techniques to be used in competition including striking as well as grappling techniques. MMA was first brought to the United States in 1993 in the form of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) by the Gracie family from Brazil who are also the founders of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. These early UFCs brought about a revolution in Martial Arts training when Royce Gracie won the first three events held using grappling techniques to subdue all of his opponents who were typically bigger and stronger than he was. Since then, the sport of MMA has risen in popularity to become one of fastest growing sports in the country.
The modern sport of Mixed Martial Arts requires expertise in all areas of combat including striking (hands, feet, elbows and knees), grappling (clinching, takedowns, ground techniques), and submissions. Equally important is the physical conditioning needed to perform at peak levels while in the cage or the ring, as well as the mental preparation to feel prepared for your opponent. An MMA fighter is only as good as the people surrounding him.
About our MMA Program
At Yamasaki Academy of Woodbridge our coach, Francisco Salguero is himself a professional MMA fighter. We have a stable of excellent fighters that have participated in events such as Gladiator Fight Club, Lights Out Combat, Washington Combat, DC; Max, EFC, and Operation Octagon. We know what it takes to be a fighter in today’s growing sport of Mixed Martial Arts from throwing the proper left hook, all the way to managing fighters to be the best they can be. And, as part of the Yamasaki Family, our MMA program is overseen by UFC Fighter and Head Coach Aaron Riley who runs the Yamasaki MMA programs at our Rockville, MD and Springfield, VA locations. We believe we have one of the strongest MMA teams in the area and it shows in the records of our fighters and Title belts that we own. That being said, not everyone coming to our MMA classes plans to be the next UFC champion and have no intentions of competing and we welcome anyone to the Yamasaki MMA family.
MMA classes at Yamasaki Academy of Woodbridge are designed for students with some fundamental knowledge of striking and/or grappling. This class will involve live sparring consisting of kicking and punching to the body and head as well as takedowns and striking on the ground. There is also a strong emphasis on cardio and/or endurance training in our MMA classes.
