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Sports

Mixed Martial Arts Class Has Teens Fighting for Fitness

The City of Inver Grove Heights offers a mixed martial arts class for teens for the first time this summer.

The “No parents allowed!” disclaimer in the class description for a mixed martial arts class didn’t stop Kristine Lowen from showing up at Veterans Memorial Community Center last Wednesday to watch her son.

“It was a workout, he said—that’s for sure,” Lowen said, describing her 11-year-old son Ian’s reaction to the first day of the class. “He wanted to get a little taste of [mixed martial arts]. He’s at that age where he’s interested in trying a little bit of everything. He was interested in boxing, but then this has some martial arts, too.”

This is the first summer that the Inver Grove Heights Parks and Recreation Department is offering the mixed martial arts course, called “My MMA.” The class is designed for participants ages 10-17, and it’s no surprise that it has captured interest of a number of teens in the community. The full-combat sport is one of the fastest growing activities in the world—in number of participants and in popularity, especially among young people.

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Mixed martial arts combines different fighting styles, including boxing, kickboxing, wrestling, jiu jitsu and other disciplines, and has risen in popularity thanks to leagues like Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), which showcase the sport.

Nick Tolsma, a certified personal trainer, leads the young participants through the new weekly class. Tolsma has six years of traditional martial arts and wrestling experience, and eight years of mixed martial arts involvement and competition know-how.

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“The sport has grown, and there is a definite interest out there,” said Tolsma. “[It’s] sometimes misunderstood, and I feel it is safer to educate teens about it.”

A graduate of Simley High School, Tolsma is currently finishing his bachelor’s degree in health and fitness at Globe University. This is his second year of teaching at the community center.

The class started off with circuit training using exercise stations. Then, the class moved on to cardiovascular activities mixed with strength training and endurance movements.

After a short water break and another round of circuit training, the participants began learning and practicing a few boxing movements, including jabs, crosses and hooks. The 50-minute class concluded with a cool-down routine of stretches. Next week, Tolsma said, the class will learn how to kick.

“My goal for this class is to provide a fun and safe environment for the teens to exercise and develop a variety of new skills,” Tolsma said. “I always had a close relationship with my coaches and instructors growing up, and I would like to provide the same for these teens.”

The benefits for these young people are extensive, Tolsma said.

“Mixed Martial Arts is an incredible way to get the exercise that so many youth are not getting otherwise,” he said. “It is fun for them yet teaches them discipline. It’s good for dynamic flexibility, spatial awareness … it’s really great for all-around fitness.”

“I like it a lot; it’s really fun,” said 11-year-old Hannah Thomas. “I’ve never done anything like this, and I really wanted to take this class.”

Tolsma said he’d eventually to divide the participants in the class into two age groups.

“I am very excited for the opportunity that has been given to me,” said Tolsma. “There has been a good response thus far to the class, and I am excited about the potential for growth.”

The “My MMA” teen class is offered 11 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. every Wednesday, from June 15 to Aug. 31. It’s free with a passport or a household membership, or $5 per session for non-members of the community center. For more information, call 651-554-3440 or click here.

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