Local martial arts teacher adds new training to the roster
Want to learn to submission grapple and fight just like the
mixed martial arts guys on TV?
Schleeter’s Academy of Martial Arts in downtown Hollister is now
offering a class that allows students to not only train in the
popular sport but compete as well.
”
We’ve had such a demand for this type of fighting. So many
people see it on TV and want to learn it that now it has become
part of our black belt program,
”
said 42-year-old instructor Patrick Schleeter, who has a
fifth-degree black belt in Hapkido and a fourth-degree black belt
in Farang Mu Sul.
Local martial arts teacher adds new training to the roster
Want to learn to submission grapple and fight just like the mixed martial arts guys on TV?
Schleeter’s Academy of Martial Arts in downtown Hollister is now offering a class that allows students to not only train in the popular sport but compete as well.
“We’ve had such a demand for this type of fighting. So many people see it on TV and want to learn it that now it has become part of our black belt program,” said 42-year-old instructor Patrick Schleeter, who has a fifth-degree black belt in Hapkido and a fourth-degree black belt in Farang Mu Sul.
Schleeter’s academy offers two types of classes in submission grappling and mixed martial arts. One allows students to train and workout like ultimate fighters. The other is for students who eventually want to take the training further and compete in the fast-growing sport.
“If they want to go in that direction and actually compete, we also have a no-holds-barred fight team that competes in a number of local tournaments,” said Schleeter, who went on to explain that his school has connections with another San Francisco-based school that can give his students greater exposure and access to the sport.
The school’s fight team is an FMS team, which stands for Faran Mu Sul and goes under the name Vale Tudo for mixed martial arts.
“We teach all phases of this type of fighting,” Schleeter said.
According to Schleeter, the first phase is punching and kicking. From there, fights go to the tie-up or the clinch position. When it goes to the ground, that’s where the grappling comes in. Although punches are allowed and used often from the ground or grappling position, the objective is to put the opponent into submission through chokes, arm bars and leg locks, which leads to tap-outs.
Since this type of fighting involves a number of techniques and moves, Schleeter has lofty goals for his classes.
“My goal is to teach my students three new moves per class and nine moves a week, which comes down to 450 new moves a year,” Schleeter said.
Mixed martial art style fighting gained popularity 15 years ago in order to determine which art was most effective in a fighting situation. Originally it started with black belts in karate going up against boxers and eventually wrestlers got into the mix.
“That was the big hype back then,” Schleeter said. “They discovered that karate guys, exclusively, weren’t very good on the ground, just as wrestlers weren’t as good standing up. That’s why everyone is cross training now. In boxing, you look for a left or a right. In mixed martial arts, you need to watch the hands, elbows, knees and feet. And take downs then become a chess game on the ground.”
Schleeter has been involved in martial arts for 25 years and has been teaching it for 20.
The monthly fee to enroll in a kickboxing class at Schleeter’s Academy of Martial Arts is $65; mixed martial arts classes cost $75 a month, or $85 for both. Located at 618 San Benito Street in Hollister, the academy is open six days a week and is closed on Saturdays in order for students to compete in tournaments.
For additional information call, 831-630-3177.
