UMA Defined

What is UMA?

Unbridled Martial Arts fills a void in the martial arts community of Bellingham & Whatcom County. It provides a solid, sensible, broad based foundation in martial training that is easily accessible to the everyday student.

“Why call your school Unbridled Martial Arts? Does that have some violent connotation? I thought Martial Artists were supposed to be reserved. Why apply a word like `Unbridled’ to it?”

Well, the name is not a description for some WILD form of “unrestrained” fighting. It accurately describes UMA’s attitude and approach to training: that nothing should hold you back. There are no imposed boundaries to our study of the arts. You are free from restrictions. The only one that will hold you back from excelling in your martial studies will be yourself.

Why is UMA a non-commercial school?

While many Martial Arts schools in general have to cater to the commercial needs of sustaining a full-time school, Unbridled Martial Arts, by design has little overhead. This allows its program to wholeheartedly focus its energy on teaching and training.

We do not have to conduct promotions in order to generate revenue. We do not have to devote classtime to un-interested teens and children whose parents enroll them and they may not really want to be there. We do not require the purchase of specialized uniforms. Nor do we obligate students to compete in tournaments or require students to enroll in the added expense of attending seminars.

While many commercial schools that practice close-contact martial arts either waive or ignore the necessity of covid vaccinations, UMA is vocally vaccination-friendly, and for the health and safety of our clients, students, staff and training environment we require that all participants are up-to-date on their seasonal shots and boosters. You can train confidently knowing every training partner and every instructor working in your proximity has your health and safety in highest regard and each person has taken the actionable steps to ensure that is true.

Unbridled Martial Arts is a professionally organized school founded on the desire to expose and educate people from all walks of life to the benefits and applicability of martial arts. We accommodate the serious-minded martial artists as well as the recreational martial artist.

What style of Martial Arts does UMA teach?

UMA is not governed by any affiliation or style. Frankly, martial art systems have a great deal of boundaries, barriers, restrictions, and traditions that are sometimes unnecessary and often serve to complicate the learning process. UMA likes to keep it simple. While respecting the value of all kinds of martial systems, we are not “married” to one single way. If something works, use it. If it doesn’t, don’t waste time with it. Thereby, nothing needs to be rigid. We are not frozen in time. Innovation is not frowned upon, it is invited. If a new training aid or concept comes about that may not have historical ties to martial arts, we do not let the opportunity to learn from it pass us by. If it helps, we take it. If it hinders, we sidestep it.

Learn more about UMA:

Instructor Facility Program Common Questions Enrollment

Stay far from timid. Only make moves when your heart’s in it. And live the phrase: Sky’s The Limit.

Christopher Wallace
Testimonial

I trained at UMA on and off for several months and really enjoyed the experience. Previously I studied Shotokan karate for ten years in New Orleans and Muay Thai Kickboxing at another Bellingham school for a few months. I really appreciated Rob’s level of knowledge, training, and technical skill, and the way that he seamlessly combines traditional concepts and techniques with newer and less universal techniques. His classes are well-structured and I appreciated knowing how each class would proceed every evening – starting off with intensive conditioning and ending with the application and practice of core martial arts concepts. So in each class I was able to strengthen and condition my body, as well as practice sparring, working on combos, take-downs, etc. The instructor’s many years of experience are evident – he draws from his diversified and extensive experience regularly, exposing students to a wide range of information, resources, and making evident his impressive skill level.
The facilities are extremely clean, a rare thing in MMA gyms and martial arts schools. Everything has its place and is very organized. I was very impressed with the extensive array of equipment that is made available for the students to use.
While the classes are very structured, the environment is laid-back and casual; all are welcome to come and train and you aren’t made to feel inadequate. In fact, Rob customizes the classes to individual ability and levels of training. So while one group of more experienced students is performing a specific exercise, a newer group with less experience can still participate at a modified level.
The cost is unbeatable and only further serves to show the dedication of the instructor; he is doing this solely for his love of martial arts, not for the money. Having worked out at another local MMA gym where I was scammed out of more than $1,000, I really appreciate this about UMA.

~ Lindsay Hilton, freelance writer

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