Pittsburgh's Best Mixed Martial Arts Facilities
From Bruce Lee movies and Ralph Macchio standing on one leg in crane position to today's mixed martial arts gladiators duking it out in caged octagons, professional fighting is on the rise. The Ultimate Fighting Championship that commands the majority of media attention within the confines of the mixed martial arts world has effectively replaced boxing as the number one pay-per-view spectacle, but MMA is much more than the bloody battles of the UFC. Mixed martial arts incorporates a multitude of hand-to-hand combat styles including boxing, kick-boxing, muay Thai, Greco-Roman wrestling, judo, tae kwon do, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Sambo and even elements of sumo wrestling. The vast majority of the fighters at gyms that provide this training, however, are not trying to become then next Randy Couture and most will never fight professionally. Instead, it's the discipline, strength, endurance, agility and sense of accomplishment that brings them back to gyms like these, Pittsburgh's best five, time and again.
Wolfpack Boxing Club
Pittsburgh Sports Performance Complex
331 Station St.
Bridgeville, PA 15017
(412) 257-9868
www.masc73.com
Price: $50 for two sessions
Advance registration required.
Open Gymp Hours: Mon, Wed, Fri – 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Tues and Thurs – 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Sat – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Pittsburgh Sports Performance Center (formerly the Martial Arts Sports Complex) in Bridgeville is owned and operated by former Pittsburgh Steeler Craig Wolfley and his wife Faith. It is the home of the Wolfpack Boxing Club and focuses its training programs on athletes seeking to improve their overall athleticism not only for boxing or martial arts but to improve performance in all manners of individual and team sports. Students interested in joining the Lone Wolf Boxing Club must undergo an assessment session before admittance. This is conducted to assure each student is properly placed into the skill level program that fits his or her individual level, age and weight class.
Steel City Martial Arts
3842 Library Rd.
Pittsburgh, PA 15234
(412) 531-2122
www.steelcitymartialarts.com
Price: prices vary by program
Click here for schedule
Steel City Martial Arts offers instruction in jiu-jitsu, karate and self-defense tactics at its training facility on Library Road in Castle Shannon. SCMA assures each client a first-rate training experience with a 30-day money back guarantee. Enrollment is open for the women's jiu-jitsu instruction, with a free first session. Steel City takes its training seriously, not awarding black belts to children younger than 16 or encouraging tough-guy mentalities that get in the way of building disciplined skill sets.
Pittsburgh Fight Club
4573 Campbell's Run Rd.
Pittsburgh, PA 15205
(412) 787-1162
www.fightclubpittsburgh.com
Price: prices vary by program
Hours: Mon to Fri – 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Sat – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Pittsburgh Fight Club is one of the Pittsburgh area's only fully functioning mixed martial arts and combat conditioning training centers. The facility, in Robinson Township, contains a state-regulation-sized boxing ring, two MMA cages, an 1,100-square-foot room filled with heavy bags, massive jiu-jitsu and training mats, and a professional massage therapy center. Fight Club Pittsburgh offers course instruction for children, women, beginners and professional mixed martial artists.
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Pittsburgh Martial Arts and Boxing Academy
503 Main St. East Rd.
East Pittsburgh, PA 15112
(412) 823-7538
www.themaap.com
Price: $30 two trial sessions/$80 per month
Advance registration required.
Click here for schedule
Pittsburgh Martial Arts and Boxing Academy is conveniently located in Lawrenceville, near the Strip District. It specializes in free-style martial arts, boxing, kick-boxing and self-defense at excellent rates. PMABA guarantees there will be no hidden fees or start up costs for its programs. University Students living downtown are encouraged to contact PMABA about class sessions that fit their busy school schedules.
Mark Shrader's Mixed Martial Arts
122 E. Maiden St.
Washington, PA 15301
(724) 222-2664
www.shradersmma.com
Price: prices vary by program
Click here for schedule
Located on East Maiden Street in Washington, Mark Shrader's Mixed Martial Arts offers a full-spectrum mixed martial arts training experience worth the trip a little south of Pittsburgh. With classes in karate, jiu-jitsu, cardio kick-boxing and ultimate cage fighting, Shrader's MMA is sure to provide the perfect training experience for everyone from children and beginners to hard-core cage fighting enthusiasts.
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Marcel Tourdot is a freelance writer from Pittsburgh. His work can be found at Examiner.com.
