The Redbird MMA Club at Illinois State University serves as a gathering place for students to learn and train in various forms of martial arts.
The club meets on Mondays and Fridays from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Bourne Student Center or on the Quad when it's warm outside, giving shows to wandering students.
This club focuses on several styles including boxing, kickboxing, and jiu-jitsu.
Red Bird MMA Chairman Ray Ahmed spoke about what it's like to run the club after taking over from the previous leader.
“I inherited this club from the previous president. That was about three years ago. The club disappeared due to the coronavirus and it took several years to get it back to what it is now,” said Ahmed. Told. “As far as I know, the previous club had only a few members from the previous board, so after I took over, I did a good job promoting and promoting the club, resulting in over 80 active members. I was born. I am today.”
Ahmed spoke about how his MMA journey began.
“Unfortunately, a lot of bullying I received in middle school sparked my interest in MMA. I was looking for a way to protect myself and I came across kickboxing,” said Ahmed. “Eventually I started participating in competitive boxing and kickboxing.”
Red Bird MMA Vice President Eric Herzberg also spoke about his role with the club and his background in combat sports.
“I usually do administration and a little bit of lesson planning,” Hertzberg said. “I've been doing karate since I was little. I trained in kickboxing at my home gym for a while, and then a guy who knew jiu-jitsu came along. We did it just for fun. I rolled and realized how many games I had missed.”
Besides the cardio and stress relief benefits, Herzberg said his favorite part of Redbird MMA is the people.
“My favorite part is our community. I meet so many wonderful people and that doesn't even include the health benefits and mental health benefits,” Hertzberg said. Told. “This is a really great place and I'm really happy to be here. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced player, we're open to everyone.”
Depending on which coach is leading the practice, classes begin with a specific warm-up routine. This includes running, intense gymnastics training, active stretching, and more.
On days led by boxing coach and former Green Beret Matthew Ganson, students can expect to get their muscles fired up after taking part in strenuous military gymnastics.
“I was in the military for a while, and I had a lot of free time, so I got into boxing. That was about four or five years ago, so I've been doing it in various places since then, from North Carolina to Virginia and now here. I continue to box consistently at a gym,” Ganson said. “When I was looking for a school, I was looking for one that had a boxing club, because in the military I competed as an amateur.”
“This is training,” Ganson continued. “Plus, it's a huge stress reliever. Anyone who trains in the gym gains a little bit of confidence. We have a lot of coaches who train in all aspects of MMA. He will help you.”
Red Bird MMA Promotion Committee member Braden Beasley talked about his role within the club and what led him to join.
“I was very young when I started. I wanted to learn how to fight, and it was a skill set that I didn't really have. I'm a self-taught boxer, but I was really excited to participate because I had never had any training like that before,” Beasley said. “Our group was very close-knit, so it was a great way to make friends in the beginning and it was fun.”
Beasley spoke about events that Red Bird MMA may host in addition to regular practice.
“We are thinking about some ideas for field days, where we could set something up outside on a day near the weekend or during the weekend, where people could work in an outdoor club to enjoy the weather. It’s a day to do that,” Beasley said. “It's a great club for people who want to learn more about martial arts and self-defense.”
Manny Marron, a freshman psychology major and member of Redbird MMA, talked about why he decided to join the club and what he likes about being a part of it.
“I've been fighting ever since I was a little kid, since I was about 9 years old,” Maron said. “It's good for exercise if you want to get healthy quickly to burn calories faster, or if you want to learn how to protect yourself and gain confidence. I feel like fighting comes with it too. If you want to check it out. Please come and visit us. We work diligently.”
Eli Cook, a freshman member of Redbird MMA, also shared his thoughts about the club and what goes on outside of practice to strengthen the bond between members.
“I like to fight and I like to scrap. For me it's a good opportunity to train. I'm a bit lazy so it's a time to burn off excess and stay in shape, but also to learn. It’s also a good time,” Cook said.
“If you like martial arts, it's a great place to grow something or grow in an area you've never been in before. We definitely know who's going to support us.” continued Mr. Cook. “Afterwards, we often do things outside of the club, like going out to eat or going to someone’s dorm to see something, just to bond.”
Tommy Hayes, a junior landscape management major, talked about what he enjoys most about the club, focusing on the camaraderie among the members.
“I used to box in high school, so I got the basics. When I saw we had an MMA club, I decided to give it a try because, in a way, it was like-minded Because it’s a group of people, a group of people who share similar interests,” Hayes said. “I love the strength and cohesiveness of our community. We are always trying something new and pushing each other to be better. I push myself every week and strive to be better. I love doing that.”
Learn more about Redbird MMA online.
