Dayton Mixed Martial Arts Academy

I had the opportunity to train at Dayton Mixed Martial Arts while I was in town for work. The gym is clean, and the people were welcoming and I had a great time. I highly recommend Dayton MMA for both adults and kids class (I saw the end of a kids class when I arrived early) The instructor clearly explained the drills during the class.

I messaged Professor Chris before traveling to the Dayton area for a work conference that I was a novice GB BJJ white belt from the west coast wanting to keep learning while away from home. He welcomed me promptly through email, inviting me to attend any classes I would like while I was in the area. Getting to the studio was a bit confusing as there isn't much signage for the studio (its just a large sticker on the door). I did find it, though, on the second pass of the strip mall, in between a liquor store and a maid service. I attached a photo of his front door with my own photoshop magic added to help future travelers. The studio itself was clean and organized, with plenty of cubbies for belongings, benches for spectators / guests, a changing area and restroom. He has clear guidance posted inside the studio about hygiene, cleanliness and respect for others. I introduced myself to him after his junior class was complete; he recalled our email exchange, was immediately personable, and again I felt welcomed. I signed his online waiver and attendance sheet (he helped walk me through the process) and began with his no-gi session. I stayed next for his Adult BJJ session. My observations of his interactions with the junior class while waiting for the adult sessions to start and what I experienced during his instruction throughout the adult classes, it was clear that he treats his students as a family, and they show him the respect that he deserves. He is firm and fair in his immediate corrections to any students that don't follow his class rules, which I can appreciate. That being said, he is a very effective communicator in his expectations for each drill, and his firmness was to ensure the students followed his provided instructions. His class format is to perform the previous day's techniques with a partner as the warm-up, alternating every 1-2 mins, followed by technique drills built upon the previous classes (my blue belt partner brought me up to speed on what I missed), and finishing with 15+ minutes of rolling, with a partner swap every 3-4 minutes to ensure exposure to a variety of skill levels. During rolling he invited me to roll with him a handful of times and I gladly accepted. The skill mix on my first day appeared to be a couple of purple belts, a few blues and many whites with multiple stripes. By the end of the first session, I was beyond tired, sweat pouring. However, Professor Chris had just the right mix of energy/motivation to keep me moving onto and through the second class that day. Also, the students I rolled with were respectful and appreciative of each other, which was reminiscent of our GB BJJ camaraderie back in Northern Cali. I was fortunate to have time to attend the next day's Adult BJJ class. This class had a few more attendees and some more newer white belts. All showed the same rapport and respect with Professor Chris as the day prior. All told, I'm glad I had this opportunity with Professor Chris and his students, and will definitely reach out to him next time I'm in the area.

The coaches are absolutely wonderful here. They are firm but fun and respectful. My son has always had issues with minding rules but loves structured classes. This gym has the perfect balance of that. They even get the parents involved. My husband and I thoroughly enjoy watching the classes and having conversations with the other parents. I would recommend going to DMMA over any other place. The owner Coach Chris is very open, approachable and communicative about everything. He has also made it very affordable for classes. There aren’t enough positive things to say about this gym. We will continue to attend here for as long as we can.

What an amazing gym. I was only in town for a couple weeks but they treated me like I was a regular member while I was there. The instructor is extremely knowledgeable and has done an incredible job creating a good, welcoming but also competitive environment. If you’re new to bjj this is the place to be. If you’ve been doing it a while, this is the place to be. Check it out, you won’t regret it.

I spent four weeks out in OH for training and was recommend to Coach Chris’s gym from a friend. From the second I walked into the gym I was welcomed in like family and part of the team. Regardless of what level of mixed martial arts you are at, this gym will challenge you and mold you. The kids classes I was able to watch were designed well to focus on the fundamentals of mixed martial arts to prepare them to defend themselves in real life situations. They also made it a fun environment for the kids to let loose and enjoy every class. I highly recommend the gym and the level of talent in all areas of combative sports in shown. I appreciate every class I was able to attend while out there and will utilize my training gained at this gym in my game for years to come. I really appreciate the opportunity to train with you all! 🤙🏼