Do I need to be in shape to start?

No. You get in shape by training, not before it. Every class scales to your level, and your first one is free.

I've never done martial arts. Is that a problem?

It's the norm. Most people walk in with zero experience. Coaches teach fundamentals first, and beginners are never thrown into hard sparring.

Yes. Training is coach-led and controlled. You learn technique and control before anything else, and day-one beginners don't spar.

Absolutely. Kids and teens programs run several nights a week in MMA and boxing. It builds discipline, confidence, and respect.

Can women train here?

Of course. All ages, all skill levels, men and women. Everyone is welcome on the mats. No egos, no attitudes.

Your first class is always free, and memberships are month-to-month with no contracts. Single programs start at $50/mo for Women's Jiu Jitsu, $90/mo for Boxing, and $105/mo for Muay Thai or Brazilian Jiu Jitsu on auto-draft. The $125/mo MMA All-Access plan covers it all — 2 nights MMA, 3 nights jiu jitsu, and 4 nights Muay Thai across the week. Come try a class and we'll walk you through the options.

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What to Expect at Your First MMA Class in Longview

4 min read · Updated Sep 30, 2026

Here is what happens at your first mixed martial arts class at Team 515, and no, you will not be thrown to the wolves. You show up about fifteen minutes early, in comfortable clothes you can move in, with a bottle of water. You do not need any gear for the first class. A coach meets you, gets your name, and puts you with people who are at your level. Then that coach walks the whole group through the basics: how to stand, how to move your feet, a few simple techniques done slowly and on purpose. There is no live sparring on day one. Live sparring means two people going at real speed against each other, and that is not what a first class is. Your first class is about learning, not surviving.

That fear of being fed to the experienced fighters is the single most common thing that keeps beginners standing in the parking lot, so here is why it does not happen. A good gym has no reason to hurt the new person. You cannot teach someone who is scared, and you cannot keep a member who leaves bruised and embarrassed. The whole class is built to do the opposite. You will work hard and you will sweat, but you will be guided the entire time.

What MMA actually is

Mixed martial arts means combining a few different fighting styles into one. It can look like chaos on television, but it breaks down into three simple pieces. Striking is the part with punches, kicks, knees, and elbows. Wrestling is takedowns and controlling a person once the fight is close or on the ground. Submissions are chokes and joint locks, holds that make an opponent tap out, which is the signal to stop.

On your first night you are not doing all three at once. You learn one small thing at a time, usually a basic stance and a movement or two. The point is to give your body a first taste of the shapes, not to master them. Nobody masters MMA in an hour, and no coach expects you to.

Why day one feels less scary than you think

You do not need to be in shape to start. That gets the order backwards. You get in shape by training, the same way everyone else in the room did, so showing up out of breath is normal and expected.

You also do not need any experience. Never having trained is the norm at a beginner class, not the exception. The coaches teach from zero, and the person next to you was probably just as nervous a month ago. All levels are welcome at Team 515. The people who are actually good tend to be the calmest and friendliest in the room, because they remember being new.

What a class tends to look like

Most classes follow a rhythm you will pick up fast. There is a warm-up to get your body loose and your heart going. Then the coach shows a technique and breaks it into small steps. Then you drill it, which just means repeating it with a partner at a slow, controlled pace until it starts to feel natural. You stop, watch, try again, and get corrections along the way.

You will make mistakes, and that is the point, because that is how the movement sticks. Team 515's coaches have cornered UFC fighters, which sounds intimidating but works in your favor. Coaches who have prepared fighters for that level know how to teach a total beginner without overwhelming them.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the adult MMA class meet at Team 515?
Adult MMA runs Monday and Wednesday at 7:00 PM. Times shift with the season and fight camps, so call Wade at (903) 930-4599 to confirm before you drive in.

How much does it cost, and do I have to sign a contract?
There are no contracts. Team 515 is month to month, and adult MMA is part of the All-Access membership at $125 a month on auto-draft ($160 otherwise), so you can start and stop whenever you need to.

Can women train at Team 515?
Yes. Everyone is welcome regardless of experience, and there is a women's no-gi jiu jitsu class on the weekly schedule if you would prefer a women's session.

Team 515 sits at 320 E. Tyler St. in Longview, and it welcomes people from across East Texas. Your first class is free, so you can walk in, feel the room, and decide for yourself. When you are ready, come train or see the schedule and pick a night.

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*Part of the guide: MMA in Longview, TX: The Complete Beginner Guide*

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