Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Classes For Beginners in Richmond BC
Beginner Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Classes
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Classes for Teens & Adults: Ages 14+
Art of Kickboxing offers Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) classes in Richmond BC, Metro Vancouver, for teens (14+) and adults. Our beginner-friendly MMA classes provide the fundamentals of arm control, grappling, take-downs, groundwork, and striking-to-grappling transitions, necessary and practical for real-world self-defence scenarios.
The class focus is blending striking and grappling which includes learning set-ups and entries, clinch work, takedowns, ground transitions, and basic MMA-specific drills.
Our mixed martial arts (MMA) classes are hands-on educational and step-by-step technical-based and include learning to blend your kickboxing, boxing, or Muay Thai skills with wrestling, Judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu techniques, which are some of today’s most practical self-defence martial arts for the everyday person. You’ll engage in tie-in technique drills through padwork training and hands-on practice, giving you a complete skillset to protect yourself and your loved ones.
These classes are not meant for those specifically looking for a cardiovascular fitness workout program. There is no full MMA sparring for beginners.
MMA Training Led By UFC Veteran: Coach Tristan Connelly
Our MMA classes are taught by both Head Coach Kris (Saturdays 11:00AM–12:00PM) and Veteran UFC Fighter Tristan Connelly (Thursdays 8:00PM–9:00PM). These classes are a very unique opportunity for those that want to compete in the UFC or other MMA competitions, to learn from Coach Tristan who has actually fought in the UFC, and ask questions such as what steps to take to get into the UFC.
Both Head Coach Kris and Coach Tristan trained in MMA together more than a decade ago, as training partners under the same coach at the same MMA gym, providing our students the opportunity to learn from some of the most experienced MMA coaches in Metro Vancouver.
Coach Tristan has achieved:
- Fighting in the UFC
- Featherweight & Lightweight Champion
- 9 Competition Submission Wins
- 2nd Degree Black Belt in BJJ
MMA Class Schedule & Details:
- Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Fundamentals
Thursday: 8:00PM–9:00PM
Saturday: 11:00AM–12:00PM
- Class Size: 4-10 Students
- Class Duration: One Hour
- Class Location: 4471 No. 6 Road, Unit #125a, Richmond, B.C.
- How to Join: Text or Call 604-805-3382, send us a message on WhatsApp, or visit us in-person during our class hours. We provide one free trial class for those that want to try out our classes, no commitment!
Teens & Adults Training Program: Pricing
Here are our class memberships, the Unlimited Monthly & Annual Memberships include all of our monthly classes, including Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), kickboxing, boxing, Muay Thai, and BJJ classes. MMA classes are not available on the Once-a-Week Training Membership.
Additionally, we provide Unlimited BJJ & MMA Only Training Memberships which gives access to all our BJJ & MMA classes, for those who only want to train in BJJ and/or MMA.
Membership Pricing Plans:
- Unlimited Month-to-Month Training Membership: $189.99/Month
- Unlimited Annual Training Membership: $1799.00/Year (Save $480/Year)
- Unlimited BJJ & MMA Only Training Membership: $139.99/Month
Gear up for success with these essentials:
- Clothing: Breathable, flexible, comfortable workout attire (think shorts, sweatpants, athletic tees, or tank tops).
- Footwear: Students can train barefoot, with socks, or with clean boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, or wrestling shoes. Any casual shoes not specific to boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, or wrestling, can be brought to the studio but they must be removed before stepping on the training mats.
- Gear: We provide gloves and shinguards to borrow for the class (but you’re welcome to bring your own.)
- Water Bottle: We highly recommend students bring a water bottle with them to class. A water fountain is not currently available at the studio.
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Class Structure
MMA Class Training: What to Expect
Above: The standing kimura, an effective practical self-defence Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu technique. Join our MMA classes or sign up for 1-on-1 Personal Training sessions to master this self-defence technique. See more on Instagram at @artokickbox.
For beginners in submissions or those looking to build a strong foundation in grappling and self-defence, our Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) classes focus on blending your striking skills with grappling skills: Wrestling, Judo, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), martial arts renowned for practicality and controlling the opponent.
Students in our MMA classes will learn how to combine striking martial arts such as boxing, kickboxing, and Muay Thai with grappling martial arts. Our MMA classes are perfect for those who want to learn practical real-world self-defence skills as they blend the standing defence techniques of Judo’s arm control and throws with wrestling or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) ’s groundwork and submissions.
The majority of our Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Classes are about drilling the techniques learned that class, so the student can memorize them easily, as each technique has many steps that can be difficult to remember for beginners.
Here’s how we structure our MMA classes:
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Warm-Up (10 Minutes)
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Dynamic Mobility Drills: Increase flexibility and prepare joints for grappling with hip escapes, shoulder rolls, and leg swings.
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Breakfall Practice: Master Judo’s ukemi (safe falling techniques) to build confidence and prevent injury.
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Grappling-Specific Conditioning: Animal movements (bear crawls, shrimp drills), grip-strength exercises, and light calisthenics to activate muscles used in BJJ and Judo.
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Technique & Partner Drills (50 minutes)
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Judo Fundamentals: Learn throws (O-goshi, Seoi Nage), takedowns, and grips to off-balance opponents.
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Striking to Grappling Transitions: Practice closing distance from strikes into clinches and takedowns, then transitioning smoothly to ground control, escapes, and submissions (armbars, triangles, rear-naked chokes) from positions like guard, mount, and side control.
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Positional Sparring: Apply techniques in controlled scenarios (e.g., escaping mount, defending throws) to build muscle memory.
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Self-Defence Applications: Adapt Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) techniques for real-world situations, like defending against grabs or controlling an aggressor.
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How Our MMA Classes Stand Out
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Beginner-Centric Approach: No prior experience needed—our coaches break down techniques step-by-step.
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Emphasis on Memorizing the Techniques: Focus is on memorizing the techniques so that students leave the class with a lifelong self-defence skill learned.
Kickboxing Belt System
Students are awarded with ranked belts through our kickboxing belt system, unique to Art of Kickboxing, which celebrates their discipline in class, their effort, and also their technique proficiency.
FAQS
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I sign up for a membership at Art of Kickboxing?
You can text or call 604-805-3382, message us on WhatsApp, or visit us in person at 4471 No. 6 Road, Unit #125a, Richmond, BC to enroll your children. We’ll provide you with one free trial class—no commitment required, simply show up ready to learn!
2. Do I need prior Martial Arts experience to join?
Not at all! Art of Kickboxing’s classes are designed for complete beginners, so no previous experience in martial arts is required. Our coaches have extensive experience in training complete beginners and are very patient and passionate when teaching.
3. Are women welcome to Join?
Absolutely! We highly welcome and encourage both teen girls (14+) and women to join any of our classes and train at Art of Kickboxing.
4. Is 1-on-1 Personal Training Available?
Yes! For those who prefer to learn or train alone, we provide private 1-on-1 personal training sessions for Kickboxing, Boxing, Muay Thai, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). Our personal training availability is typically in the morning, due to our classes being held in the afternoon. Here are our pricing plans.
5. What happens if I miss a class?
We have no issues with students missing classes, and they can continue with the next class or attend classes when they feel like it. We understand that everyone’s schedules outside of classes may be different, and therefore, there are times when students may be unable to attend class or don’t want to attend class for whatever reason. There’s no need to feel guilty for missing a class, however there may be some key lessons missed, but we’ll try our best to catch the students up.
6. Is There Sparring in the Class?
No. There is practical practice in our MMA classes, but no sparring for safety reasons. Students who want to try light sparring can talk to one of our coaches to see if they’re ready to spar. Light sparring would be done in our co-ed kickboxing classes; however, only those who we feel are safe enough to spar will be allowed to spar. We highly prioritize safety, and everyone who participates in sparring should understand the risks involved.
7. I have Health or Developmental Conditions, can I still Join?
Although our classes are very safe, as they are designed for beginners, those who have health or developmental conditions should consult a medical doctor before starting classes at Art of Kickboxing, with respect for your safety. If the medical doctor believes that it is safe for you to participate in martial arts classes, we welcome you to join us and will do our best to accommodate you!
8. What Is A Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Class?
An MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) class is a martial arts training session that encompasses a variety of martial arts techniques such as judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, wrestling, kickboxing, and Muay Thai. Contrary to popular belief, MMA is highly technical, with a focus on practical applications, self-defence, and developing a wide range of combat skills. Our classes at Art of Kickboxing emphasize technical instruction in both striking and grappling, making it a great training program for individuals of any skill level.
9. Is MMA Hard for Beginners??
At some gyms, MMA training might seem intimidating, but at Art of Kickboxing, our focus is on making MMA training accessible for beginners. Our qualified instructors work with each student one-on-one, teaching every technique step by step in a patient and supportive manner. We understand that every student comes in with different comfort levels, and our training is tailored to accommodate all experience levels. This ensures that even complete beginners can enjoy the benefits of MMA without feeling overwhelmed.
10. What Is MMA Training Best for?
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) training provides the most well-rounded self-defence toolkit for anyone to have. Learning MMA is a great choice for those who want to work in security, law enforcement, the military, or those who live in high-crime environments. As well as those who are thinking about competing one day. Even if a student only wants to compete in kickboxing, learning submissions, takedowns, grappling, and ground techniques can give an amateur kickboxer a completely different fight perspective that could benefit them during a kickboxing match.
Explore our schedule & pricing plans for more details. Feel free to contact us for additional information.
Join Art of Kickboxing
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) lessons for Beginners
Art of Kickboxing provides the best beginner Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) classes in Richmond, BC, Metro Vancouver which introduce you to the fundamentals of combinging striking skills with grappling techniques from martial arts such as wrestling, Judo, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Try a free trial class today!
We are conveniently located in Richmond, BC, just minutes from Vancouver, Burnaby, and New Westminster. We warmly invite all those interested in training in MMA to join us at Art of Kickboxing for authentic, beginner-friendly Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) classes.
In our Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) classes, you’ll develop the techniques needed to effectively control and defend yourself in a variety of situations, while building mental toughness and discipline. Whether you’re looking to enhance your self-defense abilities or step into the world of MMA, we’re here to help you grow with expert guidance in a supportive and focused environment.