Minnesota Martial Arts Academy
Encyclopedia
Minnesota Martial Arts Academy (MMAA) is a martial arts training center in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota
that was founded in 1992 by Greg Nelson, a former NCAA Division 1 wrestler at the University of Minnesota
.
, Shooto
, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Mixed martial arts
. The academy's fight team, Team X-Factor, has a winning percentage of 80%
Greg Nelson combined his background in wrestling, from college, with the Thai-boxing training he began in 1983 to form the basis of MMA. Starting the company in 1992 his school also incorporated shoot wrestling
and submission fighting to form the basis of its Mixed martial arts
training. As MMA grew it attracted athletes such as Brock Lesnar
and Sean Sherk
.
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
that was founded in 1992 by Greg Nelson, a former NCAA Division 1 wrestler at the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
.
History
MMAA provides training in combative martial arts that include Muay ThaiMuay Thai
Muay Thai is a combat sport from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. It is similar to other Indochinese kickboxing systems, namely pradal serey from Cambodia, tomoi from Malaysia, lethwei from Myanmar and muay Lao from Laos...
, Shooto
Shooto
Shooto is a mixed martial arts organization that is governed by the Shooto Association and the International Shooto Commission. Shooto was originally formed in 1985, as an organization and as a particular fighting system derived from shoot wrestling. Practitioners are referred to as shooters,...
, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
. The academy's fight team, Team X-Factor, has a winning percentage of 80%
Greg Nelson combined his background in wrestling, from college, with the Thai-boxing training he began in 1983 to form the basis of MMA. Starting the company in 1992 his school also incorporated shoot wrestling
Shoot wrestling
Shoot wrestling is a combat sport that has its origins in Japan's professional wrestling circuit of the 1970s. Professional wrestlers of that era attempted to utilize more realistic or "full contact" moves in their matches to increase their excitement...
and submission fighting to form the basis of its Mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
training. As MMA grew it attracted athletes such as Brock Lesnar
Brock Lesnar
Brock Edward Lesnar is an American mixed martial artist, actor and a former professional and amateur wrestler. He is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion and is ranked the No.5 Heavyweight in the world by Sherdog...
and Sean Sherk
Sean Sherk
Sean Keith Sherk is an American mixed martial arts fighter currently fighting for the UFC. He currently holds a professional mixed martial arts record of thirty-six wins, four losses and one draw. Sherk has fought in both the UFC and Pride FC, and is a former UFC Lightweight Champion...
.
Notable fighters
- Sean SherkSean SherkSean Keith Sherk is an American mixed martial arts fighter currently fighting for the UFC. He currently holds a professional mixed martial arts record of thirty-six wins, four losses and one draw. Sherk has fought in both the UFC and Pride FC, and is a former UFC Lightweight Champion...
- Former UFC Lightweight World Champion - Brock LarsonBrock LarsonBrock Orville Larson is an American mixed martial artist from Brainerd, Minnesota. He most recently competed in the welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Larson also competed in World Extreme Cagefighting, before it discontinued its welterweight division, and on the...
- UFC, WECWorld Extreme CagefightingWorld Extreme Cagefighting was an American mixed martial arts promotion. It was purchased by Zuffa, LLC, the parent company of Ultimate Fighting Championship , in 2006. In its final incarnation, it was made up of 3 weight classes: 135, 145 and 155 lbs. To accommodate the smaller...
Title Contender - Chris TuchschererChris TuchschererChris Tuchscherer is an American professional mixed martial arts fighter and former Collegiate wrestler. While wrestling for Minnesota State University, Moorhead he became a two-time NCAA Division II All-American, and as a mixed martial artist he has won several regional heavyweight championships...
- UFC, Dakota Fighting Championship Heavyweight Champion, Division II NCAA National Wrestling Champion - Nik LentzNik LentzNik Lentz is an American mixed martial artist. Lentz is currently signed under the Ultimate Fighting Championships promotion, fighting in the lightweight division.-Background:...
- UFC - Jacob VolkmannJacob VolkmannJacob Joseph Volkmann is an American mixed martial artist competing in the lightweight division and formerly at welterweight. A professional MMA competitor since 2007, Volkmann had made a name for himself fighting in the Midwest...
- UFC, Former VFC Welterweight Champion, FILAInternational Federation of Associated Wrestling StylesThe International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles, also known in French as Fédération Internationale des Luttes Associées , is an international wrestling federation that holds events around the world. It is the governing body of international amateur wrestling...
- Grappling World Champion 80 kg, Three Time NCAA Division 1 All American Wrestler - Nick ThompsonNick ThompsonNicholas Delton Thompson is a retired American mixed martial artist. He retired with a professional mixed martial arts record of 38-14-1. He has fought professionally on both the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Bodog Fight shows...
- Former BodogFIGHTBodogFightbodogFight was a mixed martial arts promotion founded by online gambling magnate Calvin Ayre. It was a part of Ayre's bodog.com Entertainment Group....
Welterweight World Champion, UFC Veteran, StrikeforceStrikeforceStrikeforce is a U.S.-based mixed martial arts and kickboxing organization based in San Jose, California. It is headed by CEO Scott Coker and owned by Zuffa, LLC...
, Sengoku - Jon MadsenJon MadsenJonathan Michael Madsen is an American mixed martial artist. He was a cast member of Spike TV's The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights fighting for Team Rashad.-Mixed martial arts career:...
- UFC TUF 10 cast member - Derrick NobleDerrick NobleDerrick "The Eraser" Noble is an American professional mixed martial artist from Cuba, Illinois.-Biography and career:Derrick began martial arts training at the age of 13 in Taekwondo, and he eventually earned a Black Belt in Hapkido from Master Bob Long. He attended Eastern Illinois University...
- BodogFIGHTBodogFightbodogFight was a mixed martial arts promotion founded by online gambling magnate Calvin Ayre. It was a part of Ayre's bodog.com Entertainment Group....
, UFC Veteran - Paul Bradley - The Ultimate Fighter Season 7 - StrikeforceStrikeforceStrikeforce is a U.S.-based mixed martial arts and kickboxing organization based in San Jose, California. It is headed by CEO Scott Coker and owned by Zuffa, LLC...
, Two Time NCAA Division 1 All American Wrestler - Logan ClarkLogan ClarkLogan Thomas Clark is an American mixed martial artist.-Biography:Born in Southeastern Minnesota, Clark was raised on a farm north of Dover, MN. In 1987, at the age of 2, Clark's father died leaving his mother to raise the family. Clark has 3 siblings: Tyrel Clark, Doron Clark, and Amanda Clark...
- UFC & WECWorld Extreme CagefightingWorld Extreme Cagefighting was an American mixed martial arts promotion. It was purchased by Zuffa, LLC, the parent company of Ultimate Fighting Championship , in 2006. In its final incarnation, it was made up of 3 weight classes: 135, 145 and 155 lbs. To accommodate the smaller...
Veteran, Sengoku - Kelly Kobold - Elite XC Fighter & bodogFightBodogFightbodogFight was a mixed martial arts promotion founded by online gambling magnate Calvin Ayre. It was a part of Ayre's bodog.com Entertainment Group....
Veteran - James Cook - USTMA Muay Thai Champion, Lumpinee fighter
- Nat McIntyre - International Kickboxing FederationInternational Kickboxing FederationThe International Kickboxing Federation is a kickboxing sanctioning body. The IKF World Headquarters in the USA oversees IKF World Operations with the rest of the IKF World Team.-Styles:...
& World Kickboxing AssociationWorld Kickboxing AssociationThe World Kickboxing Association is one of the oldest and the largest amateur and professional sanctioning organizations of kickboxing in the world for the sport. Its official name is "World Kickboxing and Karate Association"....
US Lightweight Muay Thai Champion - Saul MitchellSaul MitchellSaul Mitchell is a former US Muay Thai Champion and Mixed Martial Arts fighter, associated with Minnesota Martial Arts Academy.-Kickboxing:He is a former US Muay Thai Champion in the Welterweight division of the World Kickboxing Association. Before that he fought professionally in Thailand...
- World Kickboxing AssociationWorld Kickboxing AssociationThe World Kickboxing Association is one of the oldest and the largest amateur and professional sanctioning organizations of kickboxing in the world for the sport. Its official name is "World Kickboxing and Karate Association"....
US Welterweight Muay Thai Champion - Kaitlin YoungKaitlin YoungKaitlin R. Young is an American female mixed martial artist. She competed in the bantamweight division for EliteXC.Young is currently the #10-ranked 135-pound female fighter in the world according to the Unified Women's MMA Rankings....
- Hook -N- Shoot Women's Tournament Champion, T.B.A.-SA 135 lb Tournament Champion - Dylan Spicer - Dakota Fighting Championship, MAX Fight, IFC
- Cole KonradCole KonradCole Konrad is an American mixed martial arts fighter. He is currently a student at the University of Minnesota and former wrestler for the Golden Gophers. Konrad won a gold medal at the 2005 Pan-American Championships...
- Bellator Fighting ChampionshipsBellator Fighting ChampionshipsBellator Fighting Championships is a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States. "Bellator", which is Latin for "Warrior", is organized into seasons with each event hosting the rounds of championship knockout tournaments for three-five weight divisions.-History:In its first season,...
Heavyweight Tournament Champion - Michael Sa Jin Kwok - Spirit MC Veteran, ICON (formerly known as Superbrawl) Veteran, Pancrase Veteran, PXC Veteran, Cage Combat Veteran, (IEF, MFC, and EC Veteran), boxer and catch wrestler
- Cade Buzzell
- Aaron Hickey
- Nate Homme
- John Kalenze
- Anderw Kapel
- Sajin Kwok
- Caio Malta
- Nat McIntyre
- Nick Mildon
- Ryan Murray
- Derrick Noble
- Sean Paulson
- Dylan Spicer
- Albert Southavilay
- Dennis Potabenko
Former fighters
- Dave MenneDave MenneDavid Jeremy Menne is an American mixed martial artist who has fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Rumble on the Rock. He was the first ever UFC Middleweight Champion and is known for his fight against Phil Baroni in which he got knocked out and tried to fall to the ground, only to...
- Former UFC Middleweight World Champion - Brad KohlerBrad KohlerBrad Kohler is an American mixed martal artist who competes in the Heavyweight division.-Career:Kohler's most notable fight occurred at UFC 22 against Steve Judson, where he scored one of the more infamous knockouts in MMA history. 30 seconds into Round 1, Kohler feigned a takedown attempt, only...
-Former UFC fighter - Brock LesnarBrock LesnarBrock Edward Lesnar is an American mixed martial artist, actor and a former professional and amateur wrestler. He is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion and is ranked the No.5 Heavyweight in the world by Sherdog...
- Former UFC Heavyweight World Champion - UFC Fighter, two-time NJCAA All-American, 1998 NJCAA Heavyweight Champion, two-time NCAA All-American, two-time Big Ten ConferenceBig Ten ConferenceThe Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
Champion, 2000 NCAA heavyweight wrestling champion