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A Family Approach to Mixed Martial Arts?

March 21, 2008

Schulenburg Family Mixed Martial Arts is one of the first schools in the country licensed to teach the Pro-Star Martial Arts curriculum that has been developed by Masters John Graden and Joe Brignoli of the Martial Arts Teachers Association. You can find out more about them and their programs at martialartsteachers.com  As founding members of Pro-Star, we’re really excited about the intensity and focus of this program and recommend it highly to anyone considering starting Mixed Martial Arts.

Mixed Martial Arts can trace it’s history back to the early 1900’s (catch wrestling, vale tudo) when boxers and karateka from various schools in Europe, Japan and the Pacific Rim competed in contests with the idea of proving not only the best fighters but the best school of martial arts. The Gracie Family has held contests in Brazil since the 1920’s and Japan has also sponsored mixed martial arts competitions for the last 40 years.

The Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC), created in 1993, really brought Mixed Martial Arts to the broader public for the first time. The early contests - “no-holds-barred” spectacles - were too violent for the general public and it took some reorganization of the contests (including a few rules!) to make them the popular attraction they have since become. These days “cage contests” including UFC, Pride, King of the Cage, Gladiator Challenge, etc. are common and watched by millions.

Early Mixed Martial Arts fighters usually brought their specialty to a fight, whether it was boxing or wrestling, Jujitsu or Kung Fu. These days, the specialists are gone and the modern Mixed Martial artist has trained in both Standup Fighting (kicks, strikes) and Ground Fighting (holds, submissions). A good Mixed Martial Arts program combines both Kickboxing techniques with Grappling skills - along with judo, boxing, wrestling, Muay Thai ideas - to create a well rounded fighter with the abilities to successfully compete in any venue.

Mixed Martial Arts is a versatile style, able to readily adapt it’s limited rules to the no rules situations that are required in self-defense on the streets.

We teach a three year program culminating in a Black Belt. Unlike traditional karate schools, we are NOT self-paced. Testing is mandatory every two months and students know that their ultimate success is based on being prepared, with a working knowledge of the required skills.

Our first year focuses primarily on kickboxing skills, the second year brings in a lot of grappling techniques and the third year is really about putting it all together. In contrast to the “skills and drills” of the first two years, year 3 focuses on sparring, putting together the standup and ground fighting games with an emphasis on position and strategy.

Mixed Martial Arts has a reputation as being dangerous, a nasty bit of street fighting with no rules. With that history, it is essential to always emphasize safety. Learning control in striking and kicking, learning to pace submissions - and knowing how to tap-out - are reviewed in every class. Gloves, hand wraps, foot pads, shin guards and mouth guards are required for each student and helmets and rib guards are available in class.

We wear traditional karate uniforms but encourage T-shirts as well, particular in years 2 and 3. In addition to our “skills and drills”, we also use general and specific conditioning exercises for both warm-up and cool down. Our classes are 50 minutes in length and will leave you sweating.

Our basic MMA course is $100 per month and students are encouraged to attend a minimum of 2 classes per week. The uniform is included if a student signs up for a 6 month course and basic gear is added to those signing up for a year. We have family discounts as well as seasonal specials - and classes are always open to parental observation.

We are a family school and while we readily admit to creating some fierce, competent fighters, we truly emphasize that we focus on fun and fitness. We’re not trying to create the next world champion cage fighter - we would rather create better people. Being a leader, learning how to speak in public, knowing when and how to take charge, being aware of what goes on around you in the real world - that’s what we’re all about!

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About the Author: Master Kurt Schulenburg has a 4th Degree Black Belt in the traditional Martial Art of Tang Soo Do. He has also studied Judo and Tae Kwon Do, and is currently a Black Belt Instructor of the Mixed Martial Arts in Woodstock, Illinois. Mr. Schulenburg is a Certified MATA Trainer as well as a Pro-Star Mixed Martial Arts Founding Member.

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