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.

When can a woman train if she cannot make the Monday women's class?

No-gi jiu jitsu runs Tuesday and Thursday at 7:00 PM and adult MMA runs Monday and Wednesday at 7:00 PM, and women are welcome in all of them. Times can shift seasonally, so call to confirm.

How do I contact Team 515 with a question before I come in?

Call Team 515 at (903) 930-4599. The gym is at 320 E. Tyler St. in Longview, Texas, serving the greater East Texas area including Kilgore, Gladewater, White Oak, Hallsville, and Marshall.

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MMA for Women in Longview: Where to Start

4 min read · Updated Jul 3, 2026

If you are a woman in Longview who wants to try MMA or jiu jitsu, you start at Team 515 at 320 E. Tyler St. You do not need experience, gear, or a base level of fitness to begin. The gym runs a dedicated Women's Jiu Jitsu class on Monday evenings, and women are welcome across every program on the schedule. The honest answer to where you start is simple. You pick a night, you show up, and a coach teaches you from the ground up.

MMA and jiu jitsu, in plain terms

MMA stands for mixed martial arts. It blends striking (punches, kicks, elbows, and knees) with grappling (wrestling and fighting on the ground). Jiu jitsu is the grappling half on its own. Its full name is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and the whole idea is using leverage and technique to control someone bigger and stronger than you, without needing to hit them. That is part of why so many women start there. It rewards patience and precision over size.

You will also hear two words at the gym: gi and no-gi. The gi is the traditional cotton uniform you grab and pull. No-gi is the same art trained in normal athletic clothes, closer to what you see in MMA. Team 515's Women's Jiu Jitsu class is no-gi, so there is nothing special to buy on day one.

A room built for starting from zero

The Women's Jiu Jitsu class meets Monday at 6:00 PM. It exists so a beginner can learn in a room of other women, with no pressure and no egos. It is not the only way in. Women are welcome in the regular no-gi jiu jitsu classes and in adult MMA too, so if Monday does not fit your week, another night still works.

Whichever class you pick, the coaching is the real draw. Team 515 has UFC-level coaching experience and a staff with genuine professional and amateur fight backgrounds. The gym holds a 4.7 star rating across 42 Google reviews. Good coaching matters most for a beginner, because a good coach keeps a new person safe and learning instead of guessing.

What your first night actually looks like

Come about 15 minutes early. Wear comfortable workout clothes and bring water. You do not need gloves, a uniform, or any other gear for a first class. A coach will walk you through the fundamentals next to other people at your level, not off in a corner by yourself.

You will not spar on your first night. Sparring means practicing live against a partner, and that comes later, once you have the basics and you feel ready. Nobody gets thrown to the wolves here.

You do not have to be "ready" first

The most common worry is being out of shape or too new for any of this. You do not get in shape and then train. You get in shape by training, a little more each week. Never having done anything like this before is the norm, not the exception. The training is coach-led and controlled, which is exactly why a total beginner can start safely.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost after the first class?
The Women's Jiu Jitsu membership is $50 a month. Full jiu jitsu is $90 a month, and the MMA all-access membership is $125 a month. Everything is month to month, so you are never signing a long contract.

What if I can only make certain nights?
Besides the Monday women's class, no-gi jiu jitsu runs Tuesday and Thursday at 7:00 PM, and adult MMA runs Monday and Wednesday at 7:00 PM. Women are welcome in all of them. Times can shift with the season, so call ahead to confirm.

How do I reach the gym with a question first?
Call Team 515 at (903) 930-4599. The gym is at 320 E. Tyler St. in Longview, and it serves the wider East Texas area including Kilgore, Gladewater, White Oak, Hallsville, and Marshall.

You do not have to decide anything today except which night to walk in. Your first class is free, so come see the room, meet a coach, and find out how it feels to learn this. come train free or see the schedule and pick your night.

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