No Contracts. No Belts.
We are the only non-commercial MMA school in Whatcom County for children, teens and adults.
If you are turned off by the pressure of a commercial school...
If you have ever wanted to:
Locally owned and operated since 2003, UMA offers sessions for Private Lessons and Corporate Training.
For 40 years, Rob Eis has been dedicated to the practice of martial arts. Inspired by live action Japanese superheroes he watched as a child on TV growing up in Hawaii, Rob’s martial arts career began with the study of traditional Shito-ryu and Goju-ryu Karate at the age of 10. By age 15 he was competing internationally and that year he was the youngest member on the U.S. Junior National Karate Team. Since then, he has studied a multitude of styles that he now teaches to others, including Doce Pares Escrima, Shamrock Submission Fighting, Judo, Western Boxing, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, JKD concepts, and Muay Thai kickboxing. Learn more
1.) Thank goodness for Martial Arts. It filled a void in my life – knowing what I know after a couple months. I should have started 20 years ago, but I have at least that much left, and Martial Arts will be a part of it. 2.) Fitness – I am 8 lbs. lighter, self-defense skills are much better. My attitude has changed for the better. Thank you for so much.
I really enjoy training at Unbridled Martial Arts. The atmosphere is relaxed but also fast paced. We are always doing something new in class, which keeps things fresh and exciting. After class there are always new techniques or variations to reflect upon. In six months of training, I have seen my ground fighting skills improve significantly. I have also noticed a marked improvement in my core strength and flexibility. I feel confident that I am a more rounded martial artist from training at UMA. I would recommend this school to any beginner who is looking to test the waters of self defense and martial arts, and also to more experienced students looking to expand their horizons or cross train. The non-traditional atmosphere is not intimidating to beginners, and is often refreshing to martial artists from traditional schools. The low monthly tuition and lack of contract is a huge incentive to join for a month and see if you like it. The things I like best about UMA are that the class is informal, we train hard, everyone is improving, we have fun training together, and I have made some new friends.
I found Unbridled Martial Arts (UMA) back in 2008. I had looked at some schools online but right away noticed the high price tag. Not only did the schools want high monthly tuition, they also wanted me to sign an annual contract and buy special uniforms. I was discouraged since I knew I wouldn’t be able to afford all that and also I didn’t know how long I’d be staying in Bellingham. Just as I was losing hope of learning MMA, I came across UMA’s website.
I was surprised to see that there was no annual contract to sign nor were there any other hidden fees. I could join the school on month-to-month basis and train three nights a week. If I wanted to stop training, I was able to do so without getting penalized, unlike other schools and gyms that bind you with their annual contract. With UMA’s affordable and reasonable enrollment structure, I must admit I was skeptical of the quality of classes offered but I decided to take a chance.
There were people of all skill levels and all shapes and sizes attending the class. Rob was very organized with his lesson plan. He explained and demonstrated things carefully at a pace that was very easy to follow even for the beginners. When students paired up to work on drills, Rob went around the room giving pointers and assistance where needed.
I am happy that I discovered Unbridled Martial Arts seven years ago. Rob is still expanding the workouts in new and fun ways. UMA is such a comfortable atmosphere where I never feel intimidated by others or out of place. At UMA, students help each other to succeed and progress together instead of beating each other to get ahead of your classmates.
We all take turns cleaning the mats after class instead of expecting our teacher or a janitor to clean them. When I notice my classmates’ progress and my own improvement in class, I’m reminded that when you invest in yourself, your friends, and in the school, everybody gets better. I feel more confident in myself knowing that I have some self-defense knowledge and skills. I know this is a journey that will never end but I sure am glad that I got my start at UMA.