Kitsap Combat Sports Center

A full-size MMA cage, a boxing ring and 25 bags fill the 7,200-square-foot Bremerton gym of Kitsap Combat Sports, which trains people with goals ranging, in its words, “from getting in shape to actual professional fighting.” Alongside MMA it teaches boxing, Muay Thai, kickboxing, wrestling and no-gi submission grappling. Owner and head coach Joe Cleere, a US Navy veteran with over 30 years of instructing military, law enforcement, security and civilian trainees, started the gym in 2014. It's a certified USA Boxing gym with certified USA Boxing coaches, and its fighters compete in amateur and pro/am MMA, kickboxing, boxing and grappling events.

The MMA class meets Monday through Friday at 7 pm and Saturday at 11 am. Evening classes are taught for one hour, usually a warm-up, technical training and sometimes conditioning or light sparring. Morning times are looser, open training with a theme. In class, contact isn't required, and any sparring needs a coach's approval. On belts, the gym says hard work and dedication are their own reward; Brazilian jiu-jitsu keeps its own belt system, and “if you really want a belt, we can facilitate earning one in the ring or cage.” The mats include a 2,300-square-foot grappling area, and the building has a locker room and an infrared sauna.

Arthur Millis competes in MMA, boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai and submission grappling and coaches the MMA, grappling and kickboxing classes. Ty Crisostomo competes in BJJ, grappling and kickboxing/Muay Thai. Coach Marilyn Johnson, a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, has taught women's self-defense and brings insight into training people with special needs, and Monty Anderson also has long experience teaching kids and special needs students.

Previous training isn't needed: newcomers try a class or two for free after signing a waiver. Workout clothes are enough to start, since the gym has gear to use, and it sells gloves, hand wraps and shin guards. Members bring their own mouth guard, and street shoes stay off the mats. Kids and teens have their own classes, from age 4. Membership runs month to month without long-term contracts.