CENTRAL COMBAT SPORTS
Since 2002, Central Combat Sports has delivered the best martial arts training in the Windsor-Essex region. We specialize in Mixed Martial Arts, Kickboxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. We offer classes for youth and adults, as well as private lessons and workshops.
CALL OR TEXT
#INFORMATION
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some guidelines to help you make the most of your membership. We’ve also compiled a list of the questions we’re asked most frequently about training, our facility, and our memberships.
Parent Guidelines
General Guidelines
Hygiene Guidelines
Sparring Guidelines
Facility Use Guidelines
Skin Infection Guidelines
Safe BJJ Sparring Guidelines
TRAINING RELATED QUESTIONS
It is perfectly natural to feel intimidated when trying something new, especially martial arts. But once you arrive, we’re very confident you’ll find that everyone is friendly and welcoming, and that your fears will quicky subside. You’ll be greeted at the front door, given a quick tour, and introduced to any coaches present. Expect to meet regular people just like you, stretching and socializing before class. Once class begins, one of our coaches will guide you through your training session. Classes typically start with a functional warm-up, followed by some technical instruction, and then practicing with a partner. Always remember that our mission is to help you, not hurt you. We’ve been in business for 20+ years and have the most students in the region because we focus on delivering the best service possible to our newest members.
Only for the Gi classes.
Shorts or athletic pants and a T-shirt are ideal. Avoid wearing tank-tops, especially when practicing Jiu-Jitsu—it’s impolite to rub your armpits all over people. Also make sure to remove any jewelry or piercings and cut your fingernails and toenails short. Also avoid wearing anything with zippers, as they can scratch your training partners. And please make sure you and your training clothes are clean and free from unpleasant odours. Martial arts training is up-close and personal, so please take your personal hygiene seriously before arriving to our facility. Nothing can ruin a training experience faster than an awful smelling training partner.
Martial arts training is typically performed with bare feet. If you need to wear shoes, however, a clean pair of wrestling shoes or boxing shoes are acceptable.
It’s a good idea to have both pieces of equipment. It’s a small investment to ensure the safety of your teeth and testicles.
Yes! Any glove over 12oz is fine for training. Material is your choice, but typically leather gloves last longer than vinyl gloves. Typically with boxing gloves, you get what you pay for in terms of quality, durability, and protection. Usually if you spend a little more, your gloves will last much longer.
No, MMA gloves do not provide enough padding to protect your hands and training partners for regular kickboxing training. Invest in a good pair of boxing gloves that are at least 12oz.
Yes, but we carry limited stock. We can’t compete with Amazon when it comes to selection and prices, even with wholesale pricing from our suppliers.
Sorry, no. For hygiene reasons it is important for you to take your gear home after training. We recommend you clean and dry your training gear after each session.
Yes. We have male and female coaches available, and can accommodate unusual schedules. You also have the option to split the cost of a private lesson by bringing a training partner. Private lessons are also a great way to accelerate your learning, especially if you are a beginner.
Training and fighting are very different practices. The goal of training is to build your child into something stronger and more mature. We take every safety precaution, enforce strict safety rules, and always have multiple coaches on hand to oversee each training session.
Absolutely. The research is clear, bullies most often choose the path of least resistance, and target individuals that lack the confidence and ability to stand up for themselves. We’ll give your child the tools to stand up to bullies.
No, martial arts training generally has the opposite effect, and will make your child more patient and mature. Martial arts training teaches children to control their emotions, and to overcome challenges through focus and self-discipline. Your child will learn that problems are resolved through self-control, and that success is earned through hard work and determination. A fundamental characteristic of self-defence training is that violence is only to be used as a last resort.
It depends on the severity of the issues your child presents. If your child’s behaviour is a liability to the other children during class time, then we suggest private lessons to start. After a number of private sessions, we are typically able to build enough momentum to integrate your child into the regular classes.
Of course not! We have members that are in their 60s! If you train smart, and have the right coaching, you can begin martial arts at any age.
No! Most of our members are ordinary people that train in martial arts simply because it’s fun and immensely practical. Martial arts training will get you into the best physical and psychological shape of your life!
No! In our gym nobody is ever forced to do anything they don’t want to do. In fact, we’re quite selective about who we let represent our gym in competition.
Yes. Many members have competed in the combat sports disciplines we teach, both at the amateur and professional level. We are the Canadian home to team MMA Masters, which has produced some of the best fighters in the world. Over the years, our coaches and team have worked with many champions in the disciplines of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Wrestling, Boxing, Kickboxing, and Mixed Martial Arts. We have worked with athletes that have competed in the UFC, Bellator, LFA, MFC, WSOF, K1, Pride, Dream, Titan FC, One FC, the Olympics, and have even cross-trained professional athletes from the NHL, NFL and the NBA.
We teach the techniques of Muay Thai, but not the cultural elements, which is why we refer to our classes as Kickboxing instead of Muay Thai. Our program best represents Dutch style Kickboxing, which we feel is more practical when building striking skills for MMA.
No. There are instructors and students, which denotes a difference in rank, but beyond that there are no rank or belt levels. Be cautious of any academy that offers stripes, belts or arm band ranks in Muay Thai.
Yes, many of the classes include the option to participate in controlled sparring. Sparring is not fighting, the goal of sparring is to practice your skills without sustaining injuries. If you do not feel comfortable sparring, however, you can hit the bags or drill your techniques instead. In our gym, nobody is ever forced to do anything they do not want to do.
Our adult Kickboxing classes do incorporate practicing head strikes, however, students are taught to pull their punches during drills and sparring to avoid head contact, and to minimize the likelihood of injury. Limiting the possibility of concussions is one of our top priorities.
Competing in amateur kickboxing or grappling tournaments against opponents in similar weight and experience categories can happen almost immediately, if available. Competing is a great way to develop skills and experience. Competing in MMA, however, may take a few years. We do not encourage anyone that has not earned at least a Blue Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to compete in MMA.
Competing in MMA requires a significant amount of time, training, money and personal sacrifices. Having a difficult past or being a good athlete does not qualify you to become a professional fighter. If you do not have stability and support in your personal life, then you are an unlikely candidate to become a professional fighter.
No. Booking your own fights is very much frowned upon. Feel free to express to your coaches an interest in competing, but listen to their feedback and trust their advice. Your perception of your overall skill level may very much differ from reality. And remember when you compete, it’s not just you that you represent, you also represent your team. If you’re not ready, it will show, and you will negatively impact the reputation of your gym and your coaches, and diminish the hard work and achievements of the athletes that came before you. It will be the good people that work hard to help you, that will pay the price for your impatience and incompetence.
Gi classes require a uniform, while Nogi classes do not. Both classes are open for individuals of any experience level.
Fundamentals classes focus on the foundational principles and techniques of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. These classes are ideal for beginners, but are also very practical for students of any experience level.
Advanced classes are reserved for green belts and up only. Please do not show up for the advanced class if you do not have the required level of experience, you will not be allowed to participate.
Youth belts are white, gray, yellow, orange, and green. Adult belts are white, green, blue, purple, brown, and black. Some gyms do not include an adult green belt, which is a tradition that comes from Jiu-Jitsu masters with Judo backgrounds. We like the adult green belt because we incorporate much more Judo and Wrestling than most Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu programs. We also do not offer 4 stripes in between each belt, which is more common in Gi focused academies.
Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie Sr. > Reyson Gracie > Osvaldo Alves > Daniel Valverde > Peter Zahran.
Sensei Daniel Valverde is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world champion, and one of the most sought after coaches in the world. Sensei Daniel’s powerful and practical style of Jiu-Jitsu is the foundation of our grappling curriculum. In 2011, Coach Peter officially joined forces with Sensei Daniel to launch the Daniel Valverde Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Association and to bring the MMA Masters brand to Canada.
Depending on the individual’s talent and commitment to regular training, it can take roughly 8 to 10 years. Think of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as a way of life, more than a sport.
Yes, we emphasize takedowns much more than most BJJ schools. We incorporate a great deal of Wrestling and Judo in our classes.
Think of the UFC as a 30 year long laboratory experiment, with every style of martial art being thoroughly tested for its efficacy. In general, 3 martial arts disciplines have consistently proven to produce the most effective fighters— Kickboxing, Wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. What each of these martial arts have in common is a “live” training methodology, where concepts and techniques are tested against resisting opponents daily. Real self-defence skills are not built upon untested assumptions, dance-like choreography, or rely on “secret techniques” that are “too dangerous” to practice. Martial arts that incorporate a “live” training methodology are not only the most effective in MMA competition, but are overwhelmingly the most practical for street and self-defence applications.
FACILITY RELATED QUESTIONS
We’re very confident you will not find a cleaner facility anywhere. Our facility is professionally maintained and cleaned before and after every training session. Unlike some other gyms in the region, when you look at our schedule, you will notice that we have a 15 minute cleaning and ventilation interval in between each of our back-to-back classes. Be cautious of any gym that does not clean their mats in between classes.
Yes. We have two independent climate control systems, which include air conditioning, advanced air filtration, ventilation and humidity control.
Yes, we have two private showers. Our washrooms are fully equipped with everything you’d find in a nice hotel.
Yes. We have a refrigerated drinking fountain that supplies cold water for your convenience! We also have an ice maker. We recommend you bring a reusable water container if needed, and avoid bringing any disposable plastic water bottles.
We have 2000sqf of mat space, cage panels, heavy bags, Thai pads, focus mitts, ground and pound bags, grappling dummies, crash mats, and strength and conditioning equipment. We also have some premium equipment to make things even better for our members—a curved treadmill, a Reverse Hyper, an Iron Neck, Bulgarian bags, reaction bags, macebells, weighted clubs, weighted vests, percussion massagers, multiple smart TVs, and smart speakers. We’re always on the lookout for equipment that can help our members develop, recover, and have more fun in the process.
We have 2 inch wrestling mats under a seamless vinyl cover to ensure the cleanest possible training surface. Our mats are great for both striking and grappling, and have a slight textured surface to ensure solid foot traction without causing mat burn.
Yes. We have a strength and conditioning area that contains everything you would need to stay in shape, build muscle, increase your flexibility and endurance, or even rehabilitate an injury. We have many premium pieces of gear that you typically wouldn’t see in a martial arts school.
Yes, we have plenty of free, on-site parking spaces.
Sorry, no. Please lock your bike outside.
Never record anyone without their permission. Tasteful posts shouldn’t be a problem, but please understand that we prefer to post and make public statements on our own behalf. We value our privacy and have many adult members that work in public sector fields that require discretion, such as law enforcement. Also, we may not want to be associated with your particular point of view or personal habits when it comes to social media. If you’re the type of person that likes to provoke others online or make controversial statements, please refrain from tagging us in your posts. Also, it’s important for you to understand, especially if you’re a younger person and haven’t been training long, your knowledge and skill level may not be the best representation of the skills we teach or the services we provide. We very much appreciate your enthusiasm, but we strongly encourage you to just focus on the training and not the self-aggrandizement.
We currently do not allow spectators.
MEMBERSHIP RELATED QUESTIONS
When you register for a membership, you have a 10-day period in which you can cancel without penalty, before agreeing to a 6 month minimum commitment. Your first payment, however, is non-refundable.
Instead of a one year contract, which is the industry standard, our memberships only require a 6 month minimum commitment.
Yes, we do! We sell a 1 day training pass, a 30 day training pass, and a 90 day training pass. The passes allow you to attend all of our regularly scheduled classes, but do not include a key to the facility.
Please take a moment and read our reviews. You’ll come to learn that we didn’t earn our reputation as the best martial arts school in the region by giving away our services for free. If you’re deterred by the notion of paying for the best service, then you may find a different gym more suitable. Just keep in mind that a quality martial arts program costs money. We have many employees and we make regular investments into maintaining our facility. We also believe our rates and business approach are fair and honest. There are other schools in the region that let people train for free so they can appear successful, but the reality is they’re not profitable, they lack professionalism, and they do not adequately compensate the people that work for them. When you choose us, you’re supporting a business that strives to deliver the best service, that pays its employees well, and always puts the interests of its customers first.
You have 10 days to cancel without penalty when you register your adult membership. Once you clear the initial 10-day cooling off period, you will be given a key where you can access the facility between 5:00am and 10:00pm every day. You must be at least 16 years of age to be eligible for an access key.
Sorry, no. Many of our members only train a few days per week. We have taken many variables into account to determine our current rates. Transparency and fairness are important to us, therefore everyone is subject to the same rate. We have done our best to make things as affordable as possible, no matter your situation.
Sorry, no. We have many students that drive in from Essex County, as well as Chatham-Kent, Sarnia-Lambton, even London on a daily basis.
Sorry, no. We have made our prices as affordable as possible for everyone, not for only a select group of people. Always remember, the money you pay not only makes it possible for us to compensate our employees, but it is also a direct investment in your own health and wellbeing. You cannot put a price on your health or safety. Also, if you work in law enforcement in Ontario, you likely make more money than the majority of our members, and you stand to benefit the most from our training. It is only fair that you pay the same rate as a college student or a single mother with a significantly more modest income than you.
We do offer a 13% discount for multiple family members of the same household, when sharing one billing account.
Yes. Canadian Tire’s Jumpstart program offers child activity grants for low income families, which can help pay the costs of martial arts training for your child. Visit https://jumpstart.canadiantire.ca for more details.
For memberships, we accept all major credit cards and pre-authorized debit payments. Our online registration system is secure, and your payments are processed through an industry leading, third-party payment processor. Your financial information is not stored anywhere on our web servers. For merchandise, private sessions or short-term passes, we also accept credit cards, e-transfers and in-store debit payments.
If you register with a credit card, your first payment will be processed on the same day, and each payment thereafter will cycle every 2 weeks. If you register with your direct deposit information, your payments will begin on the first available Friday, and then cycle every 2 weeks. On a day where Friday is a banking holiday, your payment may come out on the day before or the following Monday.
If paying for 6 months up front somehow makes things easier for you, then sure, we can accommodate you. But please keep in mind that your membership cannot be paused or transferred, and that all payments are non-refundable.
Never. Your privacy is our priority.
We have many hundreds of members and have taught many thousands of students over the years. We can say with confidence, we have the most members of any martial arts school in the region.
Our classes are offered all year round and we do not pause memberships during the summer months. If you have already met the 6 month minimum commitment, you can cancel your membership and re-register in the fall. However, there is no guarantee that your existing rate will be same when you return, and you will have to agree to another 6 month minimum commitment.
No, sorry. The gym will still be available and very few classes will be impacted by the holiday.
Sorry, No. Many athletes and individuals fast intermittently, and the gym is still available before sunrise and after sundown. We also encourage our Muslim members that attend classes during Ramadan to pace themselves, and to plan their nutritional needs accordingly.
If you or your child has sustained an injury or illness that prevents you/him/her from training for a period longer than 30 days, then yes you can pause your membership for up to 60 days. Documentation may be required.
If there is any question that you might not be able to afford your membership before meeting the agreed upon term, regardless of your employment status, then we encourage you not to purchase a membership from us. Being able to pay for the agreed upon duration is a basic requirement of membership and not something we like to negotiate.
We’re giving you all the information up front. Our membership terms and conditions are published on our website, and we’ll even give you a 10-day satisfaction guarantee, where you can cancel your membership without penalty just to make sure. After your 10-day cooling off period, however, please understand that your membership terms and duration are non-negotiable.
Our membership terms and conditions are publicly available on our website, and they will be explained to you by our staff. Not only is agreeing to reading and understanding our membership terms and conditions a requirement of your registration, verified by your selection and signature, but they will also be emailed to you when you register. We pride ourselves on our fair and honest business approach, we ask that you extend us the same courtesy.
Just send us cancelation request via email to [email protected]. Cancelations take up to 5 business days to process.