Unbridled Martial Arts | MMA for Fitness & Self-Defense in Bellingham WA

Rob Eis: School Organizer & Instructor

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

Student Testimonials

I’ve found martial arts training to be a fantastic way to relieve the stresses of modern life and a great way to keep in shape while pursuing the obvious goal of learning a self defense discipline. Whether you can only go once in awhile, or several times per week, I can’t say enough good about the training. I always leave feeling refreshed and energetic and that helps me to tackle a hectic schedule. Also, I’ve been plagued with back troubles for most of my adult life and the workouts and stretching do wonders for keeping my back in order. I’ve known Rob for about 7 years and met him when I first began my martial arts journey. Rob was a lead instructor at a local martial arts school, where I trained previously, before beginning his own school. I’ve trained with him in several different martial arts disciplines and I know Rob to be very dedicated, knowledgeable, and experienced in the various training methods. In addition to being a skilled trainer and teacher, he has a wealth of knowledge and a great proficiency in the martial arts. In addition to his qualifications I know him to be very patient and caring with his new trainee’s, as well as an all around great guy!! Whether you’re an experienced practitioner, or have no experience and a desire to try out martial arts, you couldn’t ask for a better teacher and I encourage you to go for it!

~ Paul Murphy, Patrol Deputy for the Sheriff’s Office

Thank you Unbridled Martial Arts. Attending Rob’s class has enabled me to reopen a door in my life that has been closed for far too long. I have always been a fierce competitor but over the years I lost my focus and forgot how much I loved challenging myself mentally and physically. I absolutely love this training. It’s been a long time since I felt this good. What a difference. Rob is not only a great instructor, he is an asset to our community. Very few people take the time to share what they believe is of value with others the way Rob does. I look forward to class every week and am thrilled to have the opportunity to train in this non-commercial setting.

~ Steve Scheffer, Director of Organizing, International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 302

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.