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.

is MMA safe for beginners?

Yes, beginner training can be safe when classes are coach-led, controlled, and focused on fundamentals first. At Team 515, day-one beginners do not do live sparring.

which Team 515 class should beginners try first?

Adult beginners can start with Adult MMA on Monday and Wednesday at 7:00 PM for the full MMA picture. They can also choose Muay Thai, boxing, or no-gi jiu jitsu based on the skill they want to learn first.

how much does Team 515 cost?

Memberships are month-to-month with no contracts. Prices listed include Women's Jiu Jitsu at $50 per month, Boxing from $90, Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu from $105, and MMA All-Access at $125 on auto-draft.

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MMA Near Me: Finding the Right Gym in the East Texas / ArkLaTex Area

4 min read · Updated Jul 23, 2026

For mma near me east texas, start with Team 515 (Team 515 Mixed Martial Arts), an MMA gym at 320 E. Tyler St., Longview, TX. It trains mixed martial arts, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, and boxing in a coach-led room built for beginners as well as experienced athletes.

What should I look for in an MMA gym?

Look for clear coaching, controlled training, and a simple explanation of how the whole sport fits together. MMA means mixed martial arts. It blends striking, wrestling, and ground fighting so you can handle the fight wherever it goes.

A beginner should hear the big picture first. On the feet, you learn distance, footwork, punches, kicks, knees, and elbows. In the clinch, which means close-range fighting while standing, you learn grips, balance, and how takedowns begin. On the ground, you learn position, control, and how submissions work.

That map matters because it lowers the stress. You are no longer staring at a pile of random moves. You are learning where you are, what matters there, and what comes next.

The coaching staff at Team 515 has professional and amateur fight experience and has cornered high-level fighters. For a beginner, that matters most when experience gets translated into calm, plain instruction.

What does MMA training actually include?

MMA training includes striking, takedowns, ground control, and the transitions between them. The transitions are where the sport starts to make sense.

A punch can help set up a takedown. A takedown can lead to side control, mount, or back control. Those are positions on the ground where one person has more control than the other. From there, a fighter may look for a submission, which is a joint lock or choke that makes the other person tap to stop the action.

MMA ground fighting is different from sport Brazilian Jiu Jitsu because strikes can happen on the mat. That is why position comes first. Before a fighter thinks about a finish, they need balance, control, and awareness.

You do not need to learn everything at once. Many adults start with one base art. Boxing teaches hands and footwork. Muay Thai teaches kicks, knees, elbows, and close-range striking. Jiu jitsu teaches control on the mat. MMA class helps connect those skills into one picture.

Is it safe for beginners?

Yes, beginner training can be safe when the class is coach-led, controlled, and built around fundamentals first. At Team 515, day-one beginners do not do live sparring.

A normal beginner experience is more structured than most people imagine. You warm up, watch a coach show one or two ideas, drill slowly with a partner, and practice under supervision. Sparring means training against a resisting partner. It comes later, after you know how to move, how to communicate intensity, and how to stop when someone taps.

This is also why you do not need to be in shape before you start. Training is how you build that. Strength helps, but technique, timing, breathing, and staying calm usually matter more than trying to be intense.

Which Team 515 classes should I look at first?

Adult beginners should choose the class that matches the skill they want to understand first. If you want the full MMA picture, Adult MMA meets Monday and Wednesday at 7:00 PM.

If striking feels like the right entry point, Muay Thai runs Monday through Thursday at 6:00 PM, and Adult Boxing meets Monday and Wednesday at 7:00 PM. If grappling feels more useful, Adult No-Gi Jiu Jitsu meets Tuesday and Thursday at 7:00 PM.

No-gi means grappling without the traditional jiu jitsu jacket and pants. Gi means training with that uniform. The schedule lists Jiu-Jitsu (Gi & No-Gi) on Friday at 7:00 PM, and Women's Jiu Jitsu (No-Gi) on Monday at 6:00 PM.

Class times can shift seasonally, so check the schedule before your first visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

These are the practical details most first-time visitors still need before they choose a class.

How much does it cost?
Memberships are month-to-month with no contracts. Women's Jiu Jitsu is $50 per month. Boxing starts at $90 per month on auto-draft. Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu start at $105 per month on auto-draft. MMA All-Access is $125 per month on auto-draft.

Can kids and teens train?
Yes. Kids ages 5 to 8 have Beginner Kids MMA and Jiu Jitsu on Tuesday and Thursday at 5:00 PM. Ages 9 to 12 have Advanced Kids MMA and Jiu Jitsu on Tuesday and Thursday at 6:00 PM. Youth Boxing meets Monday and Wednesday at 5:00 PM.

What are the gym hours?
The gym is open Monday through Thursday from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM, Friday from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, and closed Saturday and Sunday.

Your first class is free, so call or text (903) 930-4599 through Join, or drop in to a class on the schedule.

Come Try Free See the Schedule