Staff Writer
John Lash and Jeff Hunter have been going to mixed martial arts classes for months. They've knocked each other and the other members of their Hard Core Mixed Martial Arts class down over and over. They've been pinned countless times, contorted out of pins countless times.
Are they ready to test their skills in the ring? Maybe take on a real opponent?
Not even close.
"Whenever these guys say I'm ready," Lash, 24, said. "When I feel good and in shape, and they think I'm ready. I don't want to go in and get annihilated."
Mixed martial arts, or ultimate fighting, if you prefer, is one of the fastest growing sports in the country. The sport was recently the subject of a Sports Illustrated cover story, and fights are a solid television ratings draw.
Here in central Maine, the sport is growing. Although few are ready to fight competitively, plenty are eager to learn.
"We're starting to get more and more people asking about mixed martial arts classes," said Mike Huard, who teaches the sport at Huard's Martial Arts in Winslow. "In the past, people would train in various martial arts in our school. In the old days, people wanted to do one or the other."
Mixed martial arts combines aspects of boxing, wrestling and ju-jitsu. Like boxing, a round is typically three minutes. Fighters aren't allowed to kick while the opponent is down or kick when down themselves. Eye gouging and strikes to the groin aren't allowed.
Otherwise, have at it.
"It's not barbaric. You're following rules with a commission," Huard said.
"There's six or seven different fighting leagues now, and this has really become a mainstream for people who want to fight mixed martial arts," said Wes Littlefield, who along with Rick Veilleux, operates Hard Core Mixed Martial Arts. "It's good because you've got a lot of opportunity for the younger guys getting into fighting. They've got different places you can go to."
In April, Littlefield beat previously undefeated Brian Gosselin of Rhode Island via technical knockout in a match at Everett Arena in Concord, N.H. Littlefield estimated just less than two dozen students regularly attend classes at his gym, 12 in an advanced class and 10 in a class for novices.
Huard said there are approximately 25 students in his mixed martial arts class.
"We just started the school in January and guys are staying. Guys are committed to it," Littlefield said. "We've got a few guys who would like to fight, the rest of them would like to do just grappling. I think it's just going to continue to grow."
Many students come with some experience, but there are complete newcomers as well, Veilleux said.
"You get the personality that has never tried it and wants to experience it," Veilleux said. "Then you get the other extreme. You get the guy who has a decade of experience in some type of martial art and wants to advance himself. He wants to be involved in something more raw, more hands on."
Neither Lash nor Hunter had any experience before taking mixed martial arts classes. Lash hopes to parlay the training into competitive fighting.
Hunter, 52, enjoys the workout.
"This gets you in real good shape," Hunter said. "I just figured I'm getting old. I want to learn how to fight before I die."
Veilleux, who trained Littlefield for his April bout, has a list of things he needs to see before he will feel comfortable letting one of his students into the ring.
"Someone that's well-rounded. Somebody that has exceptional standup skills, offensively and defensively. Somebody that can work themselves in and out of different situations," Veilleux said. "They have to have some type of game, a battle plan. Usually it's three-minute rounds, and they have to know what they're doing."
The second year of training is the make or break year, Veilleux said.
"They've done single training, boxing and ju-jitsu by itself. Now we're going to combine it and see if we can't get it all into something they can use in a real fight," Veilleux said. "This is when you really decide whether this is for you or not. You get a few battle scars your second season."
The sport's increased visibility on television has led to an increase in popularity, but it's not the only reason, Huard said.
"I think (television is) one of the reasons. I think martial arts has evolved. In the 21st Century, there's no one specific style that's better," Huard said. "You put it all together and mix it. You know a lot of everything."
Veilleux sees a more primal reason for explosion of mixed martial arts.
"Everybody wants to know, in the back of the mind, am I good enough?" Veilleux said. "Can I beat the other guy? Is my wrestling better than his judo? That's human nature."
Travis Lazarczyk -- 861-9242
tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com
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