PEOPLE in the Bradford district have the chance to follow in the footsteps of star fighters Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey at a new mixed martial arts (MMA) club.
Core Combat Sports, based in Saltaire Road, Shipley, is offering people a host of MMA classes, from beginners to the more advanced fighters. It will also run sessions for children aged between seven and 11 and juniors from 11 to 16 years and have classes for men and women.
The classes will be given by business owner Isaac James and his assistant coach Ben Harrison.
Mr James says MMA has become more accepted into mainstream culture after being broadcast on channels including BT Sport, which has boosted its popularity.
Mr James, 27, who lives in Guiseley, is a qualified personal trainer and MMA has been his passion since he was 15.
His club will open to the public from Monday, May 2, and will initially be open for classes between 4pm and 8pm and Mr James will at first run his business alongside his other job in procurement.
The venue will also see participants given the chance to learn Muay Thai, or Thai boxing, a martial art and combat sport that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques.
Mr James said: “People will learn valuable skills in the classes and 95 per cent of the people don’t want to step into a ring or cage. But 100 per cent of people will leave with some new skills that they didn’t have before that might save their, or someone else’s, lives.
“We do want to cater for all. We will do kids classes, women’s only self-defence classes and ones for first-timers. We want a community-based type atmosphere and place for people to come to.
“MMA is a realistic interpretation of what fighting is. It is no longer obscure.
“It’s been my passion. I was 15 when I started MMA and when I was 16 my ambition was to move to the US and start my own MMA gym. I have done one of those things now.
“If I can earn a living doing martial arts, it’s not going to feel like work.”
MMA, sometimes called cage fighting, is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting. It includes techniques from various combat sports from around the world.
One of the sport’s famous organisations is the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) which has included stars including McGregor, Rousey and Brock Lesnar.
Go to corecombat.co.uk or go to @corecombatsportsshipley on Facebook or @core.combat.sports on Instagram.
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