Martial Way Blog

Mixed Martial Arts in Vermont – Why Parents and other Non-Fighters Should Love It!

As a parent, concerned citizen, and generally decent and civilized person, I am concerned about the sport known as MMA. Also referred to as Cage Fighting or Ultimate Fighting, MMA is the often bloody, potentially dangerous combat sport that is enjoying huge popularity with people in their teens and twenties. In many ways, the culture of MMA runs counter to the values traditionally taught in the Martial Arts – values such as respect, humility, and self-control. Why then, would I run an MMA program in my Martial Arts school?

At Martial Way, we run a program that teaches the physical skills, incorporates the fitness science, and builds determination, focus, and confidence – without the dangerous and offensive aspects of MMA. Our MMA program is perfect for an adult who has no desire to fight in a cage, but just wants to get in the best shape possible, while learning the same skills used by world MMA champions. It is great for a teen-ager who needs something to get him (or her) off the couch and involved in something positive and healthy. We run a program that provides all the positives and none of the negatives of MMA.

For adults, the classes are small and beginner-friendly. We encourage everyone to work at their own pace, and gradually increase their skills and conditioning. MMA fighters are the gold standard of the well-conditioned athlete in today’s fitness industry, and our training can get the average adult to an elite level of functional power, body composition, and endurance. And it can be done in a safe, clean, responsible environment.

For teens, MMA is cool. It has been marketed to them through movies, clothing lines, video games and reality TV – huge influences on popular culture. Unfortunately, it is often promoted through glorification of violence, trash-talking, profanity, and other things that offend parents, and (perhaps therefore) appeal to teen-agers.

When a young person joins our program, he (or she) participates, safely and under supervision, in the same kind of training that MMA superstars do. The skills and fitness benefits come slowly, along with messages of individual responsibility, self-discipline, a healthy lifestyle, and the development of a work ethic. The role models in the program are skilled, well-conditioned adults who have good jobs, often raise families, and want to teach others how to succeed as well. MMA motivates teenagers. If it gets the kids off the couch and video games, it’s a step in the right direction. If they stick with a program that promotes the life skills that we want for our children, there will be a lifetime of rewards.

Martial Way Self Defense runs programs in three locations in Vermont in Milton, Colchester and St Albans, with a wide variety of martial arts classes including: Kempo karate, Jiu-Jitsu, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Arnis, Wing Chun, Combat Fitness for children, teens and adults.  Call or visit any of our dojo’s to experience the Martial Way difference in first hand.