By Anthony Savarese
Image via RenzoGracieLatham.com
Mixed Martial Arts, also known as MMA, is one of the most popular up-and-coming sports in America. The premier MMA league in America, UFC or Ultimate Fighting Championship, has brought so much attention to the sport that there are MMA studios and people looking to join these studios throughout the entire nation.
This site is dedicated to spreading the MMA word from New York’s Capital Region.
There are many different styles used in the sport and usually gyms specialize on different types of styles based on the trainers on the job. MMA has faced a lot of legality issues in New York since professional MMA was banned in the state in 1997, but amateur MMA is legal and present in the Capital Region. Albany is home to a few reputable MMA gyms where anyone can join to learn self-defense or train to stay in shape.
Empire Martial Arts is a gym that has been in business in the Capital Region for the past nine years. Empire Martial Arts teaches a multitude of different styles at the gym including Krav Maga for self-defense, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai Kickboxing, MMA, youth karate, and kettlebell fitness. Weight loss and body transformation is a big focus of this gym. Alan Condon is the Master Instructor at Empire Martial Arts. According to the gym’s website Condon has been working for the gym for the last nine years and has been training and helping people to transform their bodies through his leadership.
Empire Martial Arts provides free consultation for people deciding if MMA is for them and detailed information about all of the different fighting styles they can learn at the gym. Empire Martial Arts is located at 4 Walker Way Colonie, New York and their website can be accessed here.
The Renzo Gracie Academy is another MMA academy located in the Capital Region. This academy specialized in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu but also offers training in other styles such as MMA, Muay Thai, Aikido, and TRX training.
The academy’s head trainer is Bruno Tostes, an apprentice of legendary MMA fighter Renzo Gracie. Bruno Tostes has been involved in training very famous UFC fighters including Matt Hamill and George St. Pierre. The Renzo Gracie Academy also has a team of good trainers, most of which trained under Tostes before. The Renzo Gracie Academy website contains information about all of the styles the offer training in and schedules for which times the classes are in session. This schedule can also be viewed at the left of this page.
The academy is located at 698 New Loudon Rd. (Rte 9), Latham, NY and their website can be accessed here.
Other notable gyms can be found on our map, located here.
Capital Region MMA - John Dorn 