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 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.

~ Teela Taki, Shipping and Receiving staff at REI

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