Apex Mixed Martial Arts
Apex Mixed Martial Arts is a martial arts school serving Tucson, AZ.
About Apex Mixed Martial Arts
Apex Mixed Martial Arts is a Tucson martial arts school for people training to fight, build fitness, or develop skills across several disciplines. The training center describes its approach as positive, nonjudgmental, and family oriented, with coaches who get to know members as individuals. Its stated goal is to help students grow as a team, whether they are beginning their martial arts experience or already competing at a high level.
The adult program includes mixed martial arts, grappling, judo, and Muay Thai. Apex also offers personalized training for students working toward individual goals. The school says its coaches use methods, techniques, skills, and drills that have been tested through competition, and its coaching staff includes professional fighters, athletes, and champions. The adult program is presented as suitable for everyone from beginners to world champions, with guidance tailored to a student's experience and objectives.
Apex's Kids MMA program introduces young students to traditional martial arts fundamentals while giving them experience in several styles. The program includes Karate, kickboxing, judo, and wrestling, with an emphasis on building confidence. For students seeking a fitness focused class without sparring contact, HIIT and Kick combines kickboxing with conditioning and strength work. The gym also offers a dedicated judo program covering takedowns, throws, trips, ground control, chokes, joint locks, and other submissions. Its website notes that judo training is practiced while wearing the kimono uniform.
The coaching staff brings experience from MMA, judo, Brazilian jiu jitsu, Muay Thai, boxing, wrestling, kickboxing, and other disciplines. Head coach Joey "Boom Boom" Rivera is listed as a professional fighter with a 9 and 2 record, a former CFFC and WFF welterweight champion, a UFC The Ultimate Fighter 16 quarterfinalist, an IBJJF national champion, and a USA Judo national champion. He is also listed as a black belt in judo, a fifth degree black belt in Kajukenbo, a brown belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu, and a certified USA Judo and USA Boxing coach. Other coaches include Joel Champion, Humberto Duarte, Jesse Young, Jeff Anderson, Jose Beltran, Michael Parker, Mike Herndon, Jamie Ledbetter, Pat Bell, Jenifer Molina, and Louis Maldonado. Their listed backgrounds include professional and amateur competition, national and state titles, coaching, military service, law enforcement instruction, and long term martial arts study.
The gym's website emphasizes an open atmosphere in which coaches know members by name and training partners support one another. Beginners in martial arts classes can pair with buddies, and members describe the staff and classes as welcoming, family oriented, and willing to help new students learn techniques or modify activities safely. Apex also offers custom nutrition, weight loss, and performance programs, with accountability available in the gym or remotely. The training center is in Tucson's Wetmore Plaza on North Oracle Road. Prospective students can begin with a free class or intro session, a way to meet the coaches and community before choosing a program.