Academy launches MMA/Grappling clinic
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
We need your support!
Local journalism needs your support!
As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed.
Now, more than ever, we need your support.
Starting at $15.99 plus taxes every four weeks you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website.
Subscribe Nowor call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527.
Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community!
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Brandon Sun access to your Free Press subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
*Your next subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $20.00 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.00 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/12/2024 (351 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Brandon’s mixed martial arts (MMA) community was in the spotlight Friday evening as the Brandon Fitness Combat Academy hosted the MMA/Grappling Clinic with Curtis (The Demon) Demarce.
Academy board member Ryker Batson told the Sun the clinic was organized to introduce MMA as a formal program at the academy.
“We are using the opportunity to bring Demarce, a Brandon native and professional fighter with over 30 matches under his belt, home,” Batson said in an interview on Friday. “This clinic is open to all ages and fitness levels. Curtis will lead participants through boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu. It’s a fantastic opportunity for the community to learn from someone with his experience.”
Alexander Mykle, 6, takes boxing lessons from Brandon Fitness Combat Academy board member Ryker Batson (left) during the MMA/Grappling Clinic held at the academy on Friday evening.(Photos by Abiola Odutola/The Brandon Sun)
The Brandon Fitness Combat Academy, which opened in May 2024, is a non-profit organization that promotes combat sports in the city.
“We wanted to grow what we were already doing in the community,” Batson explained. He noted that the academy initially operated boxing programs at Peak Performance, often donating their time to provide training opportunities for youth from underprivileged backgrounds.
“Registering as a non-profit allowed us to expand, create a central location with a ring and establish a legitimate combat sports program in Brandon,” Batson said. He added that proceeds from the clinic would go back into the organization to support future amateur events, covering costs such as renting venues or paying officials.
Batson emphasized the academy’s mission to promote sports like wrestling, boxing and Jiu-Jitsu.
“We’ve travelled across Manitoba and western Saskatchewan running clinics, but having a central location has always been our goal,” he said.
While the academy dreams of owning its facility one day, Batson said the focus is currently on growing community involvement in combat sports.
“Our priority is to promote these sports and make them accessible to everyone, as it would help establish a more legitimate boxing and MMA program in Brandon,” he added.
Pro MMA fighter Curtis (The Demon) Demarce (left) teaches Maksim Volosnikov (middle) and Robert Clipler some freestyle Greco-Roman techniques during Friday’s clinic.
The clinic, he said, attracted about 30 participants and is seen as a key step in establishing Brandon as a hub for combat sports. Batson expressed excitement about the event, saying it represents the academy’s broader vision to bring combat sports into the mainstream and provide opportunities for Brandon residents to engage with disciplines like MMA and grappling.
» aodutola@brandonsun.com
» X: @AbiolaOdutola