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OUR HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY
Bellingham MMA was established in 2010 by Charlie Pearson, Landon Showalter and Jeremy Saunders. Bellingham MMA was created to foster and grow local fighters and athletic talent.
In 2016, Coach Hunter a long time student and one of their original fighters bought the gym with his partner, Lara. They continue to grow and develop the gym into what it is today. We believe anyone can and should learn martial arts and everyone is welcome as long as they treat everyone in the gym with kindness and respect. In 2024 Hunter earned his blackbelt in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu under Mike Simpson and Landon Showalter.
WHAT TYPE OF MARTIAL ARTS DO WE PRACTICE:
At Bellingham MMA we combine several types of martial arts to create our own unique fighting and training style. Our focus is primarily on MMA, which we practice in our own MMA cage. While we have an active competition team, we also believe that training martial arts regularly can improve your physical and mental wellbeing regardless of your personal goals. We are a community of fighters, professionals, hobbyists and enthusiasts who have come together to have fun, learn martial arts and get better together.
MMA
MIXED MARTIAL ARTS HAVE BECOME POPULAR OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS, WITH EVENTS LIKE THE UFC BECOMING MAINSTREAM. MMA IS A MARTIAL ART THAT IS THE COMBINATION OF GRAPPLING AND THE STRIKING ARTS, WITH THE ADDITION OF WALL WORK.
KICKBOXING
OUR KICKBOXING PROGRAM FOCUSES ON THE SPECIFIC STYLES OF MUAY THAI KICKBOXING AND DUTCH STYLE KICKBOXING. WE ALSO BLEND IN OUR OTHER BACKGROUNDS OF BOXING, TAE KWON-DO AND KUNG FU TO KEEP THINGS INTERESTING.
TAKE WHAT WORKS, LEAVE THE REST.
GRAPPLING-BJJ
JIU-JITSU IS A FIGHTING TECHNIQUE THAT INCLUDES THROWS, SWEEPS, CLINCH, TAKEDOWNS, AND SUBMISSIONS. WE COMBINE VARIOUS ARTS TO KEEP OUR NO GI GRAPPLING DIVERSE. WE DRAW FROM GI BJJ, SAMBO, CATCH AND REGULAR WRESTLING AND JUDO.
GI JIU JITSU
GI BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU IS AN ART OF CONTROLLING YOUR OPPONENT USING THEIR OWN CLOTHES. FOUNDED IN BRAZIL USING THE PRINCIPALS OF JUDO. OUR
BJJ LINEAGE IS THROUGH ZENITH BJJ FOUNDED BY ROBERT DRYSDALE AND RODRIGO CAVACA.
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PRINCIPLES OF OUR COMMUNITY
RESPECT
HONOR
EQUALITY
RESILIENCE
CONFIDENCE
HAVE FUN
INSTRUCTORS
Meet our skilled team of martial arts instructors dedicated to helping you achieve your goals. Each instructor brings a unique set of expertise and passion to our classes.
HUNTER CLAGETT
Pro MMA Fighter, Black belt BJJ,
Head Coach
HUNTER IS A PROFESSIONAL MMA AND KICKBOXING FIGHTER WITH OVER 35 FIGHTS IN MMA, KICKBOXING AND MUAY THAI. HE ALSO COMPETES IN PROFESSIONAL GRAPPLING.
PENNY M.
Fighter, Brown belt BJJ, Grappling Instructor
PENNY WAS AN AMATEUR MMA FIGHTER AND GRAPPLER, SHE'S COMPETED LOCALLY AND HAS BEEN TRAINING SINCE 2014.
LARA CARTER
Owner, Purple belt BJJ, Grappling Instructor
LARA IS THE IBJJF NO GI BLUE BELT SUPER HEAVY WEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION MASTER 2. SHE IS THE 2023 IBJJF NUMBER ONE RANKED MASTER 2 BLUE BELT SUPER HEAVY WEIGHT IN THE WORLD.
Andrew J.
Fighter, Blue belt BJJ, Kickboxing Instructor
ANDREW IS AN AMATEUR MMA FIGHTER, WHO COMPETES IN MMA AND JIUJITSU. HE'S BEEN TRAINING SINCE 2021.