MMA right in our backyard

By Cristine Armfield

Ready for the ultimate workout? A workout that will provide you with defensive skills, flexibility, strength, endurance, and most importantly the confidence and ability to fight like a champion? At the Alderwood Mixed Martial Arts gym, better known as AMMA, you can expect to achieve just that. Classes are composed of kickboxing, wrestling, submission fighting, and hardcore conditioning.  On Saturday I attended one of these rigorous workouts to see just what makes an ultimate fighter.

When you walk into the gym you find yourself amused by all the workout equipment: boxing gloves, workout shorts, shirts, undergarments, hoodies, jerseys, and all the protective gear you would need in a fight.

From this point you can continue down the hallway to a one-of-a-kind fighting gym. Unlike many commercial MMA gyms, AMMA is equipped with more than enough mat space for sparing sessions, conditioning workouts, and the best of all—the gym provides a full-size fighting ring.

Josh Hostetler, a fulltime coach and professional fighter, believes that his job at AMMA is to breed fighters and competition. Not only is this his goal, but he also believes in providing his recreational students a good workout, confidence, and more importantly a good time. The work out I attended was labeled on their roster as MMA.  However, there are other classes at different times including Submission Wrestling, Sparring, Mitt Class, and Open Mat.  Classes generally run 1-2 hours long.

My work out began with a rigorous conditioning session; jogging, sit-ups, push-ups, front rolls, back rolls, and shrimping—and yes, you look like a shrimp doing it! Shrimping is a move that improves your position for your ground game. This session generally lasts about 20 minutes and acts as both a warm up and a cardiovascular exercise.

After this, the students partner up and begin to spar, practicing new moves and innovated ways to succeed in their game. Surprised as I was, through all the huffing and puffing, the sweat and exhaustion, each and every student supported one another in fault and success. At AMMA, you have my word that you will feel nothing but comfortable in your work out.

Ultimately, the workout definitely improves your endurance, strength and most importantly your confidence. Also, it is a major calorie burner! AMMA hopes that when you leave their facility you have enjoyed your workout and feel your time was well spent.  AMMA encourages all to come: men, women, and even children. So whether you are looking for a recreational workout or have been inspired to become a MMA fighter you are more than welcom to join in on the ultimate workout.

For more information you can contact the facility at 425-670-2662 or email them at Alderwoodmma@hotmail.com, you can also visit their website at www.alderwoodmixedmartialarts.com.