Located on 15444 Tradesman, White Tiger MMA is across I-10 from The Rim shopping center, less than a mile from UTSA. Owner and Instructor Angel Soto has been training martial arts for most of his life, and pushes his students capabilities to their limits. In addition to an arsenal of techniques, White Tiger offers a stellar workout, with an emphasis on flexibility and cardio. You can get an idea of what White Tiger has to offer on youtube. Soto’s collaborator in grappling is Sam Coffman, who helps to round out the students skills for MMA competition. White Tiger offers classes for kids, Muay Thai beginners, and advanced MMA and submission grappling. The school will teach boxing also, starting in May. For more information contact Angel Soto at 210-379-3878.
By Raul Rangel
Muay Thai is a martial arts steeped in tradition, and alive with the spirit of competition. If you’re looking for an authentic Muay Thai experience, look no farther than the corner of Babcock and Hillcrest in San Antonio, at VongPhet Muay Thai Academy. Masters Ku Vong and Ku Phet hail from Laos, where the national sport is just as prevalent as it is in Thailand. Ku Vong has fought in more than a hundred professional Muay Thai fights in and around his homeland, and is highly respected in the Muay Thai community. Ku Vong and Ku Phet are longtime friends and have trained and taught together for many years. Ku Phet also teaches his family’s martial art, Phongsavane Sinlapa, or Shadowfist. Shadowfist is a Kung Fu based martial art that incorporates styles and techniques common to many other martial arts, to create a lethal ’streetfighting’ type of self defense. It’s goal is to disable the opponent as quickly as possible to eliminate danger. This school also trains fighters for maximum striking effectiveness in mixed martial arts competition, and is a great environment for a fighter preparing for an upcoming bout. Muay Thai is great for getting in shape as well. Whatever your goal or interest, VongPhet Muay Thai Academy has something to offer. The address is 2819 Hillcrest Dr, and the contact phone number is 210-860-9676.
by Drew Wallen
Located on 5345 Glen Ridge Dr, Alive MMA is one of the largest training faicilities in San Antonio. Since August 2007 Alive has been making sure their fighters are well rounded with Boxing, Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, Kick Boxing, and MMA. Also, with a focus on rudimentary conditioning (think caveman), Alive offers classes to help prepare you for your fight. The environment is the basic work hard, train hard attitude that makes a fighter come back for more. Alive MMA makes training a little easier for all by being open 7 days a week, with classes sure to fit anyone’s schedule. And even for those who train at other schools, one Saturday a month, Alive hosts an open enrollment grappling tournment to test your skills. With a growing list of fighters, Alive MMA is one of the best gyms in San Antonio. For more information call 210-248-9255.
By Raul Rangel
One of the top schools to train at is Texas Powerhouse on the Northeast side of San Antonio. The school is located on 3203 Nacogdoches Rd. Powerhouse is one of the longest running and highly decorated MMA gyms in San Antonio. Owner and head professional trainer Jamie Miller welcomes all types of people into his gym who are willing to train and learn. There are different levels of training offered. Fernando Rodriguez is the team’s Jiu-Jitsu trainer. Monica Carrizal and Joe Cruz train Thai boxing. Adam Schindler and Aaron Suarez teach MMA, and Frank Caballeros is the head amateur trainer. Powerhouse also puts a focus on wrestling, which is a great skill to learn when taking the fight to the ground. Miller bases his team’s success on a great working environment and the dedication of his students and staff. Students learn and work with each other on different points of their game. This also lets the team know when someone is ready for the next step. Powerhouse welcomes and encourages women to learn and train. There are also classes for kids, age 5 and over. Texas Powerhouse is a real force in MMA, and if you need proof Jamie Miller offers 3 free days. For more information contact Jaime Miller 210-710-7348.
By Raul Rangel
Located on 7715 Mainland Rd., Relson Gracie teaches the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with the style and honor that are synonymous with the name Gracie. With a schedule to fit all trainning needs, owner and instructor Joshua Lauber guarantees you’ll have one of the best workouts of your life. A direct student of Relson Gracie, Lauber credits Jiu-Jitsu for keeping a tone body “there are just some muscles exercise equipment cannot work out like Jiu-Jitsu can.” Lauber also points out that Jiu Jitsu is a great way for kids to stay in shape, gain self confidence, and learn discipline in a positive manner. But this is not an after school babysitting service, so don’t look for a Gracie bus to pick up your child after school. Students of Relson take great pride in their school and represent it with grace when competing at tournaments and holding exhibitions. Next time you can, grab a Gi, and check out Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.
By Raul Rangel
With an array of fighters ranging from professional to amateur to enthusiast, Know Pain Fight Club is one of the top martial arts training facilities in San Antonio. It is located at 5720 Mobud outside loop 410, just before you hit Bandera Rd. David and Suzette Valles, owners and operators of the gym, boast on keeping their school in top shape for fighters. With their team of trainers: Mike Rangel- Chief Instructor, Bubba Martinez- Head Instructor, Steve Gonzales- Conditioning Instructor, and Gary Actezuma- No-Gi Jiu Jitsu Instructor, fighters are always assured that when they go into battle they are ready and properly trained. The school also prides itself on having its fighters make weight and be free of injury, and making sure that a fighter is mentally and physically ready to fight. Even if you are just looking for a great workout the Fight Club welcomes people that are interested solely in the training aspect. However, after a few months, you just might get that urge to step into the cage. Keep the attitudes at the door when coming here, all students train and learn as a family. And, if you are in need of some equipment or just want a new shirt, Texas Fight Gear, located in the front of the school, carries all your favorite brands including Tapout, Punishment, UFC, Xtreme Couture, etc…. So, whatever your hearts desire in MMA is, be sure to check out Know Pain Fight Club. For more information call 210-842-3667.
By Raul Rangel