A word from the Master Chief Instructor:
Everyone can benefit from the training of Mixed Martial Arts. It is a fact that professional MMA fighters have the proven best fit physiques as far as looks, endurance, strength, flexibility, and coordination. And we also offer the best tactics and techniques for personal protection on today’s streets. Every Martial Art was designed to work during its era under the conditions of that time. Times have changed and these are the days of Mixed Martial Arts.

I have developed a training system that allows everyone to benefit from MMA training including fighters, businessmen, women and children. My life has been the Martial Arts since I was a child. I was fighting and teaching MMA when everyone hated us (we were known as NHB fighters then). And now that the fad has exploded, don’t forget who the true proven and recorded expert is. Experience counts if you want to learn from someone who truly knows what they’re doing. Come in and let me show you how easily and safely MMA can benefit you and your family. If you’re a fighter, come in, try out for my TEAM ANDRE’S GROUND ZERO competition team and let me show you how to become the best MMA fighter that you can!

BEWARE MMA FRAUD!

“It’s easy for anyone to claim to be an MMA expert, fighter or instructor today because MMA is so new and indistinct. There really isn’t a definition to define exactly what MMA is. All an individual has to do is act like he knows more about MMA than the person that he’s talking to and it’s a rap. It’s great that everyone wants to be involved in MMA and it is up to those of us who started MMA to make sure that everyone has a true understanding of what it really is.” –Jermaine Andre’

Andre’s MMA Academy is dedicated to providing the truth about MMA and it’s training aspects. It is now our duty to aid you in having an honest and competent understanding of what true MMA is by providing you with facts. We will always willingly take our time to teach you how to research the truth about MMA facilities, instructors and fighters. We are here to guide you on how to properly investigate the information that you want to know, so you can honestly get what true MMA has to offer. Our loyalty lies to true MMA not money or individuals who sacrifice the integrity of MMA for their own personal gains. There is much that true MMA has to offer you and we will educate you on experiencing true MMA without the coercion of someone who is seeking only personal gain.

What is true MMA?
MMA stands for Mixed Martial Arts. Having said that, one must understand that true MMA is not just taking any choice of two or three different Martial Arts and attempting to mix them together just for the purpose of calling it MMA. (Note: Any martial art that teaches you to look after your self & loved one’s is great! Furthermore, it is a martial art tradition that you always know the true background of what you’re learning and who you are learning from. All martial arts have something positive to offer when instructed by an adequate instructor.)

MMA’s original name is NHB or No Holds Barred. NHB or MMA originated with Ultimate Fighting around 1992. This type of fighting allowed the use of punches, kicks, elbow strikes, knee strikes, head butts, eye gouges and groin strikes. It was fought in a cage and there were no time limits or rounds. A competitor lost by either tapping out, being knocked out, referee stoppage or his corner throwing in the towel. Furthermore, there were no weight classes.

NHB/MMA and it’s fighters, instructor’s & promoters received constant, heavy, negative criticism from the general public and “traditional” martial art schools. (Note: Some “traditional” martial artists and their schools did support NHB even though they didn’t compete.) The objective of Ultimate fighting was to allow claimed Martial Arts experts an opportunity to prove that their declared skills were more than just talk and board breaking. Brave martial artists from Karate’, Kung Fu, Boxing, Tae Kwon Do, Jiu Jitsu, Greco Roman Wrestling and more stepped into the cage to try and prove the effectiveness of their art. Most “traditional” arts alone failed mainly to being taken to the ground and submitted or punched beyond their realm of protection. Grappling arts ruled this type of fighting for years until Muay Thai kickboxing was introduced. This then changed the ruler’s of this game to Strikers. For years the game remained a battle of Grapplers vs Strikers until both groups of fighters realized that it would be best to be well rounded and experienced in all areas of fighting. Striking, Clenching and Grappling. This is how and where the “Mixed Martial Arts” were created and, this, is what the Mixed Martial Arts is!

MMA was developed by “fighters” who had to use their MMA fighting style in the cage or ring during a real fight! Different tactics and techniques were picked by competitors from Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Russian Sambo, Boxing, Karate’, Kung Fu, Judo, Wrestling, Jeet Kune Do and other martial arts , to create a fighting style that could be effectively applied against an aggressively attacking opponent. Ultimate fighting has been banned in most of the United States until recent. There have been rules, rounds and weight classes added converting it into a safer, spectator sport.
Since the lifting of MMA competition bans, it’s vast popularity has turned it into a hot fad and everyone is jumping on board. A lot of the credit for this accomplishment extends towards the UFC, it’s fighters & President, Dana White. This fad is great for MMA competitors, promoters & spectators but it may not be good for you as a consumer who is interested in learning true MMA.

Today many are claiming to be a great MMA fighter or an instructor with the capabilities of instructing you. Some will try to trick you out of your money while others will train you for free just for the satisfaction of calling themselves an “MMA instructor”. It’s worse than the “cardio kickboxing” fad after Billy Blanks created Tae Bo. Don’t be a victim of MMA FRAUD! A competent and true MMA or Mixed Martial Arts program, as defined by how MMA was created, must be a mix of Martial Arts techniques that were used by it’s creator or Instructor(s), in a real, & proven fighting situation. This is what true MMA is. If you are looking to learn MMA for competition, fitness and/or fun, there is more to finding a competent instructor and training facility than the letters “MMA” printed on their flyers and doors.

“We all know that once the public sees that there is profit to gain from a product or service, corruption gets involved. Individuals with money find a way to instantly create a watered down version of the product or service & dump tons of cash into advertising so that they can “snatch” customers from the not-so-rich individuals who actually developed the subject or service. This has happened with restaurants, organic food, medicine, supplements, bottled water, religion, and more. During the process of turning a product or service into a “money making machine”, the quality of the subject or service lessens. This is due to act of producing it more cheaply so more profit can be gained. The focus is to gain more profit off of you while spending less on the product or service.

The way this is done in MMA is by quickly producing MMA instructors, fighters etc… who aren’t properly experienced or trained. What do I personally think about this… America is beautiful and every one of these individuals including you has the right to seek riches for himself and his family. Earning money is their skill and they are good at it! One should never “hate” on one who has succeeded himself well unless it was done by hurting others. Yes they find ways to offer you less of the product or service for their personal gain but that’s their job and that’s what they do.

It is your job and responsibility to research a subject that you are planning to get involved in. We are all responsible for our own actions. We know that corruption exists so it is best for us to first research something that we are interested in before we jump into it. For example, we all want to eat healthy and sometimes we get on health kicks. The first thing we like to look for in the super market are food items that say; “all natural” (Everything from this planet is natural including chemicals that were made by man mixing “ingredients” from earth! If you mix a banana and an apple, is it still natural? Yes. Food companies are allowed to use the word natural at will.) “less fat” (Less fat than what? A Krispy Crème doughnut?) “ I can’t believe it’s not butter.” (Then what is it?)

We need to accept the responsibility when we get “screwed” because we jumped on the band wagon without first making sure that it had an adequate driver.”
- Jermaine

Why is it so difficult to get involved in true MMA as a student or competitor?
MMA is a very delicate subject because there is so much to it. And whenever something is very complex, it makes it easy for the money chasers and bullsh*#ers to come out and make $ before everyone begins to understand the truth. True MMA involves Punching, Blocking, Elbow strikes, Knee strikes, Clenching, Takedowns, Throws, Kicks, Wrestling, Grappling, Submissions, Ground & Pound, flexibility, strength endurance, breath control, strategy, bone & muscle conditioning, personal hygiene, injury attention, injury training and other ingredients that not named. (Note: The most important element is mind development which can be promised is not a focus at the new “Pop up” MMA facilities. Even most credible MMA facilities know nothing about meditation and mind development.)

So to be a legit and credible MMA instructor or fighter, one has to become an expert in all of these areas of MMA. It’s almost like getting a Master’s degree in a subject. One should have trained and fought for years, or be trained & certified by someone who has before thinking he can consider himself as a credible MMA instructor. Furthermore he or his certifier should have proven himself repeatedly in the cage or ring. MMA is a fighting art. (And let’s keep in mind that there are individuals who have trained in MMA for years who are not any good. So, even having years of MMA experience doesn’t automatically make one credible.)

How do I find a competent & honest MMA Instructor?
Claimed MMA experts are popping up everywhere! It is up to you to know how to pick a good MMA Instructor that fits you and/or your family. The most important element is the claimed Instructor’s credentials. Here are some questions you can ask that he or she should be eager to answer.

1. When and where did they train in MMA? (He or she should have a proud background of training with a known instructor that you can contact and question about him.)

2. How many fights have they had if any. (Remember, MMA is a fighting art.)

3. Who did they fight and what’s the credentials of who they fought? (Lots of newly claimed MMA fighters are padding their fight records with individuals who don’t exist or aren’t real fighters. See if they’ve fought any well known, real fighters)

4. Where have they fought? (Have they fought on credible shows outside of their own hometown areas?)

5. Have they fought World Class? (A World Class fighter has fought outside of the United States)

6. What titles have they held or are holding? (Belts can be bought on the internet by anyone. If they’re a real champion there should be literature from a well known national or international magazine or newspaper stating it. They should be able to willingly produce this literature)

7. Who sanctioned the fights that they were in? (Look out for individuals who only fight on their own shows or buddy shows? They can manipulate the match making so that they always fight underdeveloped fighters or set ups. )

8. What big named league or leagues have they fought for? “And last but not least…

9. Can you view a video of some of their fighting footage? (Video cameras have existed for an eternity. He or she should be able to produce video footage of his competitions.)
A competent and well credited MMA instructor will be more than happy to answer these questions and more.

Furthermore, he should encourage you to do more research about him outside of his own answers, because he knows it will aid him in convincing you of his claimed status. He should almost dare you to try and prove that he is not credible, off of your own research.

Now you may get the answers that you want to hear from the claimed MMA experts’ mouths to these questions but, does that necessarily mean it’s true? No. How do you find out if it’s true? Not by going to their website or asking their buddies in their gym.

Yahoo or Google their name and view information spoken about them by someone besides themselves. If they claim to be a great MMA practitioner, they should have the ability to produce nationally published literature stating this about them.
Most importantly, the instructor should be concerned about you and your training. There are credible MMA practitioners who could care less about anything but your money and themselves. Check his credentials, speak with him and feel him out, then make your own decision. You know what’s right for you.

If I’m getting trained by someone who has fought MMA, does that guarantee that I’m learning true MMA?
No. Always applaud and respect someone who has been properly trained and had the courage to step into the ring or cage to fight MMA. However, this doesn’t automatically make them a good MMA instructor. A lot of great MMA fighters are just that, great fighters. They may not have technique and skills that they can offer to the everyday Joe to use for himself. Some good MMA fighters’ strategy is to get in shape, get mad and go in to beat their opponent down. They may not have much that they can show you because most of their skill is talent. One can’t teach talent. A good MMA instructor can teach an athletic tough guy and a 60 year old woman the same, basic techniques.

Can I train in MMA even though I have no interest in fighting?
That depends on the facility that you are seeking. Most MMA gyms are beat down camps for excited individuals who are training for upcoming fights. These gyms may be fitting for someone who is trying to step into the cage or ring but not for an individual who doesn’t want a busted nose or black eye. If you are looking to train in MMA for other reasons than fighting it is best to watch several of the training sessions at the location and speak with the head instructor. The head instructor should be a level headed individual who has complete control of his facility, the instructors, and the students. The students should show upmost respect towards the instructors. Heavy use of profanity and “tough guy” talk in an MMA training facility is a bad sign. Those guys are probably going to try to rip your head off to show you whose boss as soon as they get you on the mats.

Now there is a flip side to this coin. Don’t be fooled by the “posh” MMA instructor who brags about how “soft” his MMA gym is. If you watch their training sessions and it is loaded with fancy techniques that work because no one is really resisting or even trying to fight back, that may not be the place you’re looking for unless you’re planning to learn MMA just for the fun of learning it. (Note: And if that’s the case, it is advised that you don’t brag to other individuals who train in MMA about how great your stuff is because they might make you prove it right there.)
MMA training can be fun for everyone when you know how to pick a location and instructor that is right for you.

Should I be concerned about the cleanliness of the MMA facility that I am seeking?
Definitely! Just like unclean high school wrestling mats and equipment, an unclean MMA facility carries tons of germs and diseases. Pay attention to the cleanliness of the students, bathrooms and equipment. An MMA training facility should be kept as clean as a hospital! The grappling involved in MMA requires a lot of human contact so, cleanliness has to be top priority at that facility. The mats should be mopped after every training session and the equipment cleaned daily. Students should have good hygiene and an MMA gym or training facility should be equipped with a shower.

Am I receiving true MMA training at a fitness gym or workout center that has MMA classes alongside Yoga, spinning, cardio boxing etc?
The MMA fad is huge and everyone is jumping on board. Just because a big facility with tons of weight equipment has MMA in their window doesn’t mean they’re offering true MMA. Most of these places developed a “mock” MMA program as quickly as they could once the MMA fad hit, just so they could get you to sign up at their facility. But once again, it depends on the instructor. Check the instructor’s credibility. Of course everyone wants to make a dollar off of MMA in their weight room, dance studio, fitness center, kung fu school, karate school and boxing gym but don’t be fooled by the letters. Most of these facilities are only jumping on what’s hot for the moment and are simply just a repeat of a regular fitness center that offered cardio kickboxing & spinning while it was hot. As soon as the MMA fad dies off and Hula Hoops or Baton Twirling come into fad, that’s what will be in their windows and held in the same room that the MMA classes were in. Training MMA at these types of facilities may be okay for fun and maybe fitness. But keep in mind that unnecessary injuries are extremely probable when learning under someone who has no real experience in instructing MMA. Furthermore, remember that you’re not getting the full result that MMA has to offer if there’s not a credible and competent instructor.

“A lot of MMA training locations hire a boxing coach, a wrestling coach, a grappling coach, a kickboxing coach etc… to lead their MMA training. What people must understand is that the most important aspect of the “Mixed Martial Arts” is the mixing part. Let’s say you want to build a great sports car with an awesome looking body. You go to Ferrari and ask them to build the motor. Then you go to Porshe and ask them to build the transmission. Furthermore, you seek out Chevy to build the rear end and Maserati to build the body. The mechanics who are putting these “parts” together for you are all great mechanics but have never met each other and are not working together. Of course Ferrari is going to build a great motor and Porsche is going to build an exceptional transmission but are they going to work together in your car? No.

This is the same with mixing MMA. These may be great coaches but they’re not masters of mixing fighting techniques together. Therefore, when you put it all into you, there is going to be extreme conflicts that are going to confuse your MMA in a “real” situation. Boxing has great punch combinations but a horrible stance and footwork for MMA. A boxing coach who doesn’t do MMA would never know this. Furthermore, wrestling leaves you susceptible to punches and kicks in the face due to the hand positioning but a wrestling coach wouldn’t know this if he doesn’t do MMA. Furthermore, kickboxing leaves you vulnerable to takedowns and submissions. All of these fighting styles have to be altered to work correctly in MMA competition. ” -Jermaine

Is MMA training dangerous for youth?
There are risks to training youth in MMA. The main risk is the menace of them using an MMA tactic against a classmate on the school playground. You must understand how serious MMA is. MMA is real and it is designed to hurt people and it does. The most important element in allowing youth to be trained in MMA is the instructor. The instructor should have a close relationship with the parents during the child’s training and have a positive and controlling effect over the students. The instructor should also be one who is cautious of training youth in MMA and be ready to eagerly explain his training procedure, how it works and what his protocol is to keep risky situations such as this from occurring.
When you have found the competent instructor to educate your youth in true MMA, it will be the best activity that you can involve your child in. In MMA youth learn competitiveness, discipline, self-control, balance, fitness, explosiveness, hand-eye-coordination, flexibility, how to defend themselves on their feet and on the ground. Furthermore, unlike other sporting activities for youth they learn respect, loyalty, humbleness, anger control and obedience. Youth are also honestly proud of what he or she is developing into.

What are the dangers of my training in MMA?
Many wonder if they can get hurt while training in MMA. You must remember that you can get hurt walking up a flight of stairs. It is only reality that the injury report in girl’s soccer and cheerleading is extremely high so how can one not expect the possibility of incurring a small injury sometime while practicing techniques that were designed for fighting. The only way that one can try to assure one’s self of never being injured is to live in a bubble. (Note: And you’ll probably end up suffocating or a piece of bacteria will creep inside with you and take you out.) Injury such as small strains and sprains are probable during any kind of physical activity so never fear those. It’s the serious injuries that you want to watch out for in MMA and that depends on the individuals and the training structure of the facility that you’re training at. There are many threats of serious injury in an MMA training facility from wet mats, contagious diseases, overzealous trainees, incompetent instructors, incorrect execution of technique, faulty equipment and more. This is why it is important that you carefully select a credible instructor and facility that specializes in true MMA if you want to be sure.

What is the difference between Andre’s MMA Academy and other claimed MMA gyms?
1. Andre’s MMA Academy is not a gym. Our full facility is dedicated totally to Mixed Martial Art training. This is the “Harvard” of MMA education and training. Our Academy is designed to educate all individuals in how to properly learn and execute our MMA techniques to their fullest capability. Our techniques of Striking, Takedowns, Throws, Grappling, Submissions, Self-defense, Restraining and Weapons are all carefully dissected to our students so they can understand the total working components and complete objective of the techniques that they are executing.

2. Andre’s MMA Academy unlike “MMA gyms” focuses on the proper development of discipline, character, loyalty and the mind. Andre’s MMA Academy was here before the “MMA fad” and will be here long after. Andre’s MMA Academy keeps martial art training real. We are not arming undisciplined, uncontrollable, bad attitude individuals with the ability to harm others and releasing them into the streets. A highly respected code of honor and discipline is enforced in our students making them proud, approachable, and constructive citizens.

3. Andre’s MMA Academy is not an affiliate school. MMA World Champion Jermaine Andre’ is at this facility! All lessons and training stems directly from this proven MMA expert. All instructors are certified and supervised directly by MMA World Champion Jermaine Andre’. Furthermore, all students of Andre’s MMA Academy receive training directly from Jermaine Andre’!

4. Andre’s MMA Academy is not a beat down camp. We have trained men and women in MMA ages 4-60 for well over 10 years. Our program was designed by MMA World Champion Jermaine Andre’ to benefit everyone. Everyday working men and women, stay at home Moms, Youth, athletes, overweight individuals and fighters. It is the only MMA program that has been tested for years in the cage for fighters and in the training facility for non-fighters.

5. Andre’s MMA Academy houses real, World Class MMA fighters. Team Andre’s Ground Zero fighters train at Andre’s MMA Academy. This assures you that the techniques that are being practiced and developed never go soft. You will always be surrounded by reality.

6. Andre’s MMA Academy certifies military, police and security agents. We certify those who serve and protect with specialty training in restraining, proper use of force, pepper spray, baton, handcuffing, grappling, aggressive qualities and more!

7. Andre’s MMA Academy gives FREE personal protection seminars to women & youth. S.A.F.E.T.Y. (Safety Awareness and Fitness Education Towards Youth) educates youth in abduction resistance, proper eating habits and fitness. This program is FREE for all youth! We also provide FREE awareness and Pepper spray seminars for women.