Women and kids getting in on mixed martial arts sport

LAFAYETTE — Mixed martial arts is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. Its recent popularity has exploded in the past five years due to cable network coverage and companies like Nike financially backing the fighters and promoters. At North Jersey Mixed Martial Arts Academy (NJMMAA) in Lafayette, owner and chief instructor Garrett Goldsberry is eager to share his 25 years of experience.

NJMMAA a 2,000 square foot state of the art training space has authentic Brazilian jiu-jitsu, submission grappling, kickboxing and mixed martial arts classes for men, women and children. Goldsberry considers it “a training center for the mind, body and spirit, for fitness, anti-bullying, self –defense and for competition.”

Prior to opening a year ago in Lafayette, NJMMAA was located on Spring Street in Newton. After growing his business, Goldsberry moved to a bigger and more centrally located space off Route 15. His devotion to martial arts from when he was six years old has taken Goldsberry from training to teaching to owner and chief instructor.

“I have been training in martial arts for 25 years since I was six years old. Along the way, I learned kickboxing and for the past nine years have been doing Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ). I am very loyal to a lifetime of instructors,” said Goldsberry. “Martial arts is about human nature and animal instinct. It is the purest form of letting yourself go. The mat doesn’t lie-it brings out a real person.”

But Goldsberry is also keen on dispelling the myth that mixed martial arts (MMA) is only for men who want to be macho and fight: “We are putting high level guys out of this place, but we are family and community oriented. Practicing martial arts keeps kids skinny, healthy and confident. This is what we like for people to know that we have classes for men, women and children of all ages.”

Goldsberry also wears another hat managing amateur and professional MMA fighters. One of them is professional MMA fighter Claudio Ledesma of Denville who signed with Bellator, the second largest promoter of the sport. Prior to going professional, Ledesma was chosen as the number six unsigned bantamweight prospect in the world by an MMA industry publication. A few weeks ago in Atlantic City, he upped his overall record beating Kenny Foster. The match was streamed live on Spike.com.

“Claudio put on a tremendous performance and won a 30-27 Unanimous Decision. He looked awesome and improved his professional record to 7 wins and 3 losses,” said Goldsberry.

Competition is no stranger to Ledesma who played Division 2 basketball at NJIT, but at 29 years old, he is considered old for the sport. He trains with Goldsberry who is also his coach at NJMMAA two times a week in between all his other daily workout regimes and his occupation as a project superintendent for a construction company.

“Boredom hit me after college. I had the competitive thing in me. I just tried jiu-jitsu and loved it. In the cage, it’s a combination of a bunch of different disciplines: wrestling, boxing, jiu-jitsu, karate and kick boxing,” said Ledesma. “I like to fight every three to four months. I like training hard and getting better-there is a technique and science to it.”

Goldsberry loves mixed martial arts because you can learn something new everyday He encourages anyone to check it out: “Mixed martial arts is always evolving. A new technique or a new move can come from higher up or a student. Anyone can enjoy it. The main thing we practice is family and respect.”

North Jersey Mixed Martial Arts Academy, 11 Route 15 South, Lafayette.

Telephone 973-300-0508. Web www.njmmaa.com