Anyone fight in Ohio?

stickman · 11-27-2006, 07:24 PM

I am 20 years old from Lakewood (near cleveland) ohio. I have a strong desire to start training and would like to eventually compete in some amateur mma fights. I am not sure what my first step should be or what camps are in ohio- if you are from ohio or have any info for me please let me know

lethalweapon · 11-27-2006, 09:24 PM

It's good to see a person actually interested in competion. I don't live in ohio but if there are no MMA Gyms around go to a boxing gym or wrestling club or jiu-jitsu dojo. Learn a smaller art or try to find all of them and combine them.

Kentified · 11-28-2006, 05:29 PM

I live in Cleveland, I'm very interested in starting MMA competition in a few years (I'm only 16 right now) but I've been looking into starting to train in brazillian jiu jitsu in January. I know that there is a camp run here by Mark Coleman that trains MMA fighters including Dan Bobish, the KOTC heavyweight champion. But I believe it's in Columbus. Search google for ohio mma schools and see what comes up.

saskfighter · 11-29-2006, 12:17 AM

Gorge Gurgel has a few schools in ohio , there are many good schools there. i would say that you should just start training in somthing , anything (other than kung fu hehehee) like boxing , kickboxing , jiu-jitsu or wrestling anything just get a base in somthing. goodluck.

Kentified · 11-29-2006, 02:10 AM

Yeah but I believe his school is in Columbus which is a good 3 hour drive.

mks6968 · 01-04-2007, 10:22 AM

Progressive martial arts in Independence is a great school to train at its the home of strongstyle fight team 125 a month for there unlimited program if you don t mind driving a little bit ohio bjjc in Northfield is a great bargain at like 50 70 month

sitnspin · 01-04-2007, 03:25 PM

To take Saskfighter's suggestion a step further, pretty much any kind of gym that trains a fighting art that you're able to start at right away will be worth your while. Even something like regular old Karate where they've got you memorizing katas and making crazy sounds when you kick, because you'll still be getting a workout, and you'll be improving your cardio, flexibility, strength, etc, not to mention the mental side of things like your discipline and sense of respect for your teammates / opponents, which all the arts teach.

I'm not saying you should skip something like BJJ or muay thai or full-on MMA classes in favour of karate (before someone jumps all over me) -- just that if that's all that's nearby and affordable, it's better than nothing.

Kentified · 01-04-2007, 05:31 PM

Yeah I'm currently studying at Premier Martial Arts, received my black belt in Shorin-Ryu karate December of 05. I'm actually working there now but I'm looking to supplement my training with another art and I'm really hoping to find a good BJJ school around here.

fighterbynature · 01-22-2007, 12:23 PM

I own a gym that i have just opened in delaware ohio and we are looking for fighters of all levels and styles so if anyone is interested please email me at
deadendmma@yahoo.com and let me know nd ill get back with you asap with more info...thanks

codkaz · 06-29-2007, 02:29 PM

if ur still looking, strong style martial arts, run by marcus maraneli, on 6900 Granger road, its like ten minutes from cleavland

Kentified · 06-29-2007, 04:34 PM

Wow thats crazy, I just called Marcus last week and am planning to start at the beginning of August.

codkaz · 06-29-2007, 04:54 PM

wow ur sixteen, sweet me too, now ill have a sparing partner for muay thai and such, that was the biggest problem for me was being the youngest there

Trbowrx71 · 06-29-2007, 08:56 PM

Franklin trains in ohio at JGMMA but its in west chester near cincinnati and is quite a hike from cleveland.

Any thing is better then nothing though, so find anything ya can and start there.