You don't have to want a fight to train MMA. Maybe you want to get in shape, learn to defend yourself, or just do something harder than a treadmill.
I'm Travis Lutter. I won The Ultimate Fighter 4, fought for the UFC Middleweight title, and I've been running my gym in Fort Worth since 1998. I hold a coral belt from Carlos Machado, and six days a week I'm at the gym teaching.
Here's what MMA at Team Lutter actually looks like.
What MMA training actually is.
MMA is three ranges put together.
Stand-up: Muay Thai and boxing. Punch, kick, knee, elbow.
Takedowns and clinch: wrestling. Shots, takedown defense, cage work.
Ground: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Sweeps, top control, submissions, and getting back up.
Fighters today need all three. Leave one out and somebody will find the hole.
My own path covered all of them: wrestling through college, then Muay Thai and JKD, then Jiu-Jitsu once a UFC 1 tape from my Muay Thai coach showed me what grappling could do. Putting those together got me to the UFC.
Beginner MMA classes for real beginners
No experience or fitness base required.
Beginners start in the Tuesday Muay Thai class or the Thursday MMA/Muay Thai class, both 5:30 to 6:30 PM. The two are very similar. We also have a fight team for the guys who want to compete. Not everyone competes, and that's okay. Everyone trains hard.
In a beginner class we drill the basics. Stance, movement, a few strikes, a takedown, getting up off your back. Early on, repetition is the whole game.
You can start training right away in the Tuesday and Thursday classes. Hold off on the Wednesday sparring class until you're ready. Get the basics down first.
When you get there, sparring here has rules and safety comes first. Tap early. I've had enough injuries myself to take that seriously.
Why I tell most people to start with Jiu-Jitsu
Plenty of people expect me to say start with striking. For would-be fighters, I usually point them to Jiu-Jitsu first.
It's the slowest skill to develop, and once a fight hits the ground, whoever controls position has a big edge.
So a lot of my students start in our [Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes](https://travislutter.com/programs/brazilian-jiu-jitsu/), gi or no-gi, add [Muay Thai](https://travislutter.com/programs/muay-thai-kickboxing/), and then start coming to MMA. I wrote about this years ago in [Should you train Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, or should you train MMA?](https://travislutter.com/blog/should-you-train-jiu-jitsu-muay-thai-or-should-you-train-mma/) and I still believe it.
The fight team.
If you do want to fight, we have a pathway for that. Fighters I've coached have been on The Ultimate Fighter, taken regional titles, and competed in the UFC.
More on how I coach them in [Coaching the Pro MMA Fighters at Team Lutter](https://travislutter.com/blog/coaching-the-pro-mma-fighters-at-team-lutter/), and the real steps in [How to become a mma fighter!](https://travislutter.com/blog/how-to-become-a-mma-fighter/).
Every fight teaches you something, whatever the result.
What to look for in an MMA gym in Fort Worth.
Plenty of gyms around DFW use the letters MMA. A few questions worth asking before you sign up:
1. A real grappling program. Ask who the head instructor got their black belt from.
2. A head coach who is actually there. Some well-known names are on gyms where they rarely teach.
3. A beginner class. New people need a place to learn before they mix in with experienced fighters.
4. Rules for sparring. Hard training is good. Stupid training gets people hurt.
Where we are.
We're at 6913 Camp Bowie Blvd, Suite 133, on the west side of Fort Worth. A lot of my guys come in from Ridglea, Benbrook, White Settlement, Arlington, and Weatherford. Beginners: **Tuesday (Muay Thai) or Thursday (MMA/Muay Thai), 5:30 to 6:30 PM**. Wednesday 5:30 PM is MMA sparring, for later. Check the [class schedule](https://travislutter.com/schedule/) for the full week and the [MMA program page](https://travislutter.com/programs/mixed-martial-arts/) for more.
FAQ
Do I need experience to join an MMA gym
No. Beginners start in the Tuesday Muay Thai or Thursday MMA/Muay Thai class.
Do I have to fight?
No. Not everyone competes. The fight team is there if you want it.
Am I too old or out of shape for MMA?
No. Fitness comes from training, not before it. Ease in and keep showing up. A few steady sessions a week will do more than a burst of hard ones.
What should I wear to my first MMA class.
Shorts and a t-shirt. You'll need your own gear, like gloves and a mouthguard. We don't have loaners.
Can I spar as a beginner?
Start with the Tuesday or Thursday class. Wait on the Wednesday sparring class until you're ready.
Conclusion:
MMA is hard on purpose. What you build in here shows up at work and at home.
Ready to try it? Start with our $20 trial. You get a consultation and a trial class, so we can talk about your goals and get you on the mat. [Reserve your first class here](https://travislutter.com/offer/reserve-your-first-class/).
Or call or text 817-781-4243
Travis Lutter Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA
6913 Camp Bowie Blvd, Suite 133
Fort Worth, TX 76116
Travis Lutter
Head Coach, Team Lutter Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & MMA