The Michigan State University Mixed Martial Arts Club is experiencing steady growth as interest in the sport rises across campus. Under the leadership of club president Julio Garcia, the organization has broadened its reach through new partnerships, seminars and a growing membership base.<\/p>\n
Garcia, now serving his second consecutive term as president, said his main goal when he first took the role last year was to increase the club\u2019s presence on campus.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I first became president, my main vision was to grow the club in numbers and in the social events that we do,\u201d Garcia said. \u201cI wanted to expand into new areas and opportunities we haven\u2019t really explored in the past.\u201d<\/p>\n
To achieve that, Garcia focused on building connections with other student groups. Over the past year, the MMA club has partnered with several cultural organizations, including the MSU Thai Club, MSU Japan Club and the Korean Student Association at Michigan State University.<\/p>\n
The club has also hosted seminars with former Ultimate Fighting Championship fighters. Recently, it collaborated with the Asian interest sorority Alpha Kappa Delta Phi.<\/p>\n
\u201cNone of us were expecting that one,\u201d Garcia said about the sorority partnership. \u201cBut it\u2019s been great for getting the word out and reaching different communities on campus.\u201d<\/p>\n
This outreach has led to noticeable growth. When Garcia first joined the club as a freshman or sophomore, practices typically attracted 20 to 30 participants. Now, he said, attendance often reaches 50 or more.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like interest is always growing,\u201d Garcia said. \u201cIt\u2019s really cool to see other people getting interested and stepping out of their comfort zone to check it out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Unlike many martial arts clubs that focus on a single discipline, the MMA club trains members in multiple fighting styles. Practices combine striking techniques with grappling, giving students a broad introduction to mixed martial arts.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like what makes this different is that it\u2019s not so focused on one aspect of physical activity,\u201d Garcia said. \u201cWe train striking, we train grappling, and everyone comes from different backgrounds and experiences. It\u2019s cool to see everyone working together to help each other improve.\u201d<\/p>\n
The club practices twice a week, with each session lasting about two hours. Members typically start with an hour dedicated to grappling before moving into striking drills. After structured training, the club opens the mat for additional practice and one-on-one coaching.<\/p>\n
Safety is a key priority, Garcia said, especially for beginners trying the sport for the first time.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe emphasize safety, especially at the very beginning of each semester,\u201d Garcia said. \u201cEvery member signs a digital waiver because it can be an injury-prone sport, but we really try to maintain safety so no one leaves with serious injuries.\u201d<\/p>\n
Looking ahead, Garcia hopes to continue expanding the club\u2019s membership while encouraging more members to compete in tournaments.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the things we\u2019re stressing this year is getting more competitors,\u201d Garcia said. \u201cWhether it\u2019s grappling tournaments, kickboxing tournaments, or MMA fights.\u201d<\/p>\n
The club may soon see even more opportunities with a new training space planned in the university\u2019s upcoming recreation facility.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the new IM building we\u2019ll be moving to, it\u2019s going to provide a lot more opportunities for us,\u201d Garcia said.<\/p>\n
For now, the club\u2019s focus remains on growth, both in numbers and in community, as more students across campus discover the sport.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve seen a lot of growth from the beginning of last year to this year,\u201d Garcia said. \u201cIt\u2019s great to see.\u201d<\/p>\n
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