Entering Power MMA, I initially notice the giant blue sparring mat in the central room. The central room holds the many different classes offered at Power MMA, such as kickboxing, Jui Jitsu, Krav Maga, youth classes, or personal training sessions. Simultaneously I notice an aroma so pungent, that I strive to hold onto my last breath of fresh air. The stench of sweat and foul body odor fills my nostrils. Walking along the blue mat, I exit the central room and enter my favorite room: the boxing room. This room harbors the heart and soul of Power MMA: an alluring blue boxing ring; a shelf teeming with smelly, tattered boxing gloves; an array of abused punching bags; a massive mirror reflecting the blood, sweat, and tears shed by the countless…show more content… On Friday night, the boxing room features two fighters punch, bob, and weave. Craig, a massive, two hundred pound, professional fighter spars a smaller, amateur fighter named Brett. Coach Toby Wattigney intensely directs, commands, and praises his fighters. Craig throws a deadly jab, but Brett’s agile footwork allows Brett to sneak in a left hook towards Craig’s ribs. While logically defending themselves, the fighters skillfully attack their opponent. In the background, other fighters enthusiastically cheer and encourage Craig and Brett. Adrenaline controls the room and the ring. After four minutes of intense boxing, the bell rings, and the fight ends. Craig and Brett tap gloves and compliment each other’s technique. Training to fight at Power MMA is an interesting experience. William Leopold, a member at Power MMA, trains with Coach Toby. Will explains how Power MMA is like a huge welcoming family: “Everyone wants to help, even if they don’t know you. When someone struggles with a certain skill, another fighter or coach immediately helps. If a fighter slacks off or stops before the break, another member will tell them to not give up. Helping one another is not a chore, duty, or an obligation. All of the fighters just care. Anyone who wants improvement has a place in the ring and at Power.” The…show more content… Coach Zach Cothren, a professional fighter and fifth degree black belt in Tai Kwon Do, owns Power MMA and instructs youth classes. Coach Zach’s pride in Power MMA is because of its extensively involved and skilled trainers. He welcomes all aspiring members not because of the money, but because Power MMA positively influences everyone involved. Zach’s staff is a powerful team because unlike many other gyms, the coaches genuinely love what they do (Cothren). Coach Kyle Martin is the head coach at Power MMA. Experienced in Brazilian Jui Jitsu, Coach Kyle is a one of the top ranked professional boxers and MMA fighters in the country. Martin’s various kickboxing classes compose of rigorous workouts and basic level kickboxing (Martin). Coach Toby Wattigney trains the boxing team, along with Coach Johnnie Byrnes and Coach Leo Wilson. Coach Toby’s coaching methodology targets power, footwork, skill, and speed (Wattigney). Training with Coach Toby is not for the weak hearted. Coach Toby drills his fighters to the brink of their physical capacity; however, his inspirational attitude serves as an incentive to persevere. Another experienced Coach is William Knorr, a kickboxing world champion. Coach Will assists with fighter training and kickboxing for all ages and abilities (Knorr). Going dozens of rounds in the ring, Coach Will,
