Ground Zero Fighting Systems, located above the Rio Grande restaurant on Fourth Avenue, is barely noticeable to those who are not seeking it. The sounds of students in this Brazilian Jujitsu school, however, can often be heard from the restaurant below.
Ground Zero Fighting Systems head instructor Ashley Lockwood said the school trains students in boxing, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, wrestling takedowns, and cage fighting, but they focus on ground-fighting Jujitsu.
"Jujitsu is a system of fighting for fights that hit the ground," Lockwood said. "It is the fighter who is trained on the ground who will win a fight on the ground."
The group also trains students in cage fighting, also known as NHB or "No Holds Bar" fighting. Cage fighting is a match between two people, but with limited rules held inside a cage.
"I think cage fighting is actually a lot safer than boxing," Dustin Hazelett, a sophomore undecided major, said. "I fought in a ring once and my opponent and I rolled off the side. In the U.S. it is extremely safe and sterile, it may look brutal, but it's not actually that bad."
Ground Zero Fighting Systems has been open for six years and trains a variety of individuals including four to five Marshall University students. According to the official Ultimate Fighting Championship Web site, there are five weight classes in which students may compete, lightweight (145 to 155 lbs), welterweight (156 to 170 lbs), middleweight (171 to 185 lbs), light heavyweight (186 to 205 lbs) and heavyweight, (206 to 265 lbs).
"Ages range from 13 to 38," Brian Longstreet, Ground Zero student, said. "My son came straight from football practice tonight. He's 13-years-old."
Students in this school began training for various reasons.
"I have lost 30 pounds since I started here," Longstreet said. "I trained as a boxer and then came here and kind of pulled it all together."
"I saw the first couple of UFCs on tape and I just wanted to do it," Hazelett said. "I researched online and found out this was the best place. Basically this is how I selected college. I could easily be training in Kentucky and paying in-state tuition, but I decided to keep training here."
"Honestly I just stumbled across it one day," Andrew Varney, a sophomore Chemistry major, said. "The head guys here are like dads to me."
Students credit the family-like atmosphere for influencing their lives outside the gym as well as their fighting skills.
"The instructors, Tim and Ashley, are probably the reason I made it through high school," Hazelette said. "They made me study and take the ACTs. Everybody here encourages you to do the best at all you can do."
Depending on the type of competition, there are different dress requirements. A garment called a Gi is worn in most Jujitsu tournaments, while fight shorts or board shorts are typical for NHB fights, according to Dunlap.
There are five belts students wear in both practice and competition that rank them according to their mastery of Jujitsu. A novice fighter wears a white belt. As their skills advance, fighters move to a blue belt, followed by a purple belt, brown belt, and finally a black belt.
Jorge Gurgel, Team manager and Instructor of Ground Zero and current Absolute Combat Challenge Light Weight Champion, travels to most competitions and determines when students will move up in belt ranking.
Gurgel, who is affiliated with multiple martial arts schools is currently one of a cast of fighters appearing on Spike TV's "The Ultimate Fighter: Season Two," Monday nights at 11 p.m.
Ground Zero currently has 25 to 30 students, with about eight to 14 students training each night, according to instructor Tim Dunlap.
The school accepts females, but currently is comprised of only males. Dunlap reported he would be interested in starting a self-defense class if the school could gain interest among students and community members.
Classes are $55 for an unlimited month, or $10 for individual sessions. All Marshall University students receive a discount depending on their purchase amount.
For more information, call the Ground Zero Fighting Systems office at 304-552-7088 or visit their Web site at www.gzfs.8m.com.
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