By Ben Mason
Opinion Editor
A new mixed martial arts (MMA) club has been created on campus. Director of the LFC, Johnnie Jenkins, met with students who expressed interest in the club this March to discuss meeting times, assemble gear, and show the club its work-out space. The club is open to all students, male and female, with or without prior experience in martial arts.
Sophomore Colin Kidwell said, “I believe everyone has something to teach and something to learn. We are always looking for guys and girls who are interested in the club no matter what background in the sport they have.”
The club meets Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights from 7-8 p.m. in the yoga room in the basement of Cain Gymnasium. Members practice boxing, wrestling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai kickboxing, and Judo moves. They have ample space and equipment for many more members, and hope to see an even bigger turnout next semester.
Freshman Dylan Stewart said, “We are a fun club dedicated to the practice of any and all martial arts. Our primary objective is to learn and help one another understand and be able to preform a wide aresnal of moves. We anticipate that we’ll grow quickly: and encourage anyone with any background to help teach. Hopefully, with our funding next fall, we can improve our facilities even further.”
The club will become official next fall, and hopes to glean a small budget from the SGA in order to bring in guest speakers and purchase new equipment that will enhance every member’s experience. There is no word yet on who will be the club’s faculty liaison, but a few members have approached Professor of anthropology Bill Schindler with the subject.
Current club regulars include freshmen Dylan Stewart, Aaron Turner, sophomore Kidwell, and junior Duncan Leech. If you are interested in the club and have any questions, the current members would be happy to hear from you via e-mail. You may also stop by Johnnie Jenkins’s office in the LFC with any concerns you have, or to fill out the required paper work. Nothing else is necessary to bring to the club, aside from a mouth guard (optional for practice, required for for sparring), comfortable athletic clothes, and an open and motivated attitude.