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.

← All articlesWrestling

Why Wrestling Is the Base for MMA, and How Kids and Adults Train It

3 min read · Updated Sep 30, 2026

Wrestling matters for MMA because it decides where the fight happens. The wrestler is the one who chooses whether a match stays standing or goes to the ground, and that single choice shapes everything that follows. For a kid, wrestling gives something that outlasts any match. It builds composure when things get hard, the habit of staying balanced under pressure, and the quiet confidence that comes from solving a problem with your own body. That is why wrestling is so often the base a young athlete starts from, with every other skill built on top of it.

What wrestling actually is

Wrestling is the art of controlling another person's body without striking. The three pieces are takedowns, control, and grit. A takedown is getting your opponent from standing down to the mat. Control is what you do once you are there, using position and leverage to stay on top and keep them from getting up. Grit is the part nobody sees, the willingness to keep working when your lungs burn and you would rather quit. Kids learn all three the same way, slowly and with a coach right next to them.

Why it is the base for MMA

Mixed martial arts, or MMA, blends striking, wrestling, and submissions into one sport. Out of those three, wrestling is the one that sets the terms. A striker wants the fight standing. A jiu jitsu player wants it on the ground. The wrestler is the one who gets to choose, because takedowns and takedown defense control position, and position controls the fight. That is why coaches so often call wrestling the base. Everything else gets built on the ability to say where the action happens.

This holds even for a child who never plans to compete. A kid who can control distance and stay balanced has a head start in every other class, whether that is boxing or Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

What it does for a kid off the mat

The wrestling itself matters less than what wrestling builds. A child who learns to stay calm while someone is trying to move them learns to stay calm in a lot of other places too. Tests. Tryouts. Hard conversations. The confidence is not handed to them. They earn it one practice at a time, and earned confidence is the kind that sticks.

Wrestling is also honest. Effort shows up fast, and so does the payoff. Kids who start nervous often end up encouraging the next new teammate. Team 515's coaches keep the room welcoming and matched by level. Beginners train with beginners, and everyone moves at a pace they can handle. Team 515's coaches have cornered UFC fighters, but the day-to-day work with kids is patient and fundamentals first.

How kids and adults get wrestling at Team 515

Team 515 does not teach wrestling as its own class. Wrestling lives inside mixed martial arts, where striking, wrestling, and submissions are taught together. Adults and teens get it in Adult MMA, Monday and Wednesday at 7:00 PM, and in MMA Sparring on Friday at 7:00 PM. Kids build the same grappling base in Kids MMA/BJJ: Beginner Kids MMA/BJJ (ages 5 to 8) meets Tuesday and Thursday at 5:00 PM, and Advanced Kids MMA/BJJ (ages 9 to 12) meets at 6:00 PM on those days. Times shift with the season and fight camps, so call Wade at (903) 930-4599 to confirm before your first visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

What age can my child start at Team 515?
Kids can start at age 5. Beginner Kids MMA/BJJ (ages 5 to 8) meets Tuesday and Thursday at 5:00 PM, and Advanced Kids MMA/BJJ (ages 9 to 12) meets Tuesday and Thursday at 6:00 PM. Times shift with the season and fight camps, so call Wade at (903) 930-4599 to confirm before you come in.

What does my child need to bring to a first class?
Comfortable workout clothes and a water bottle. No special gear is required to get started. Plan to arrive about fifteen minutes early so your child has time to meet the coach and settle in.

How much does it cost after the free class?
Memberships are month-to-month with no contracts, so you can stop any time. Call Wade at (903) 930-4599 or see the membership options for kids pricing. For adults, MMA All-Access is $125 a month on auto-draft ($160 otherwise).

Try a class

Your first class at Team 515, or your child's, is always free, with no sign-up pressure and no contract to sign. Team 515 is at 320 E. Tyler St. in Longview. When you are ready, come train free or see the schedule and pick a night that works for your family.

Come Try Free See the Schedule