麻豆社区

Avalanche MMA is having a youth movement.

The local mixed martial arts club has a crew of dedicated and talented young fighters who are quickly falling in love with the sport.

Ryley Johnson, Tristan Walsh, Felix Russell, Nick Hayden, all 15 years old, and Jarvis Scheffen, 14, each competed recently at the Tiger Balm Internationals in Vancouver, B.C.

Johnson was able to take the gold in the 15-17 year old division and submitted each of his opponents in little more than a minute. Walsh added a bronze medal to the team's collection.

Russell finished in fourth, as did Scheffen in the 12-14 year old division.

Hayden dropped a tough first match but was actively cheering on his team throughout the rest of the weekend.

"I was very impressed with all of them,鈥� said Cliff Schultz, co-owner and trainer with Avalanche MMA.

"They all did very well, they faced some pretty hard guys so their results were all impressive.鈥�

Schultz praised the dedication of the young fighters, who are in the gym five to six days a week.

While most students were enjoying a spring break vacation, the five fighters were at the club working on developing their skills.

Earlier in March they were able to gain experience through a Muay Thai Camp with Aaron and Gabriel Varga that the club recently held.

The two brothers are world champion kick boxers and were in town to lead a kids camp, a youth camp and an adult seminar in Whitehorse and Watson Lake.

After the Tiger Balm event, Schultz and Johnson remained in B.C. and trained with Sean O'Halloran, Schultz's head coach, a member of Valley Fights MMA and a fight promoter with Las Vegas' Xtreme Couture MMA.

The pair also took in Neil Melanson's ground seminar. Melanson is the head grappling coach at Xtreme Couture Las Vegas

"We took in a lot,鈥� said Schultz. "So we'll take all that information back to Whitehorse and get practicing with our fighters.鈥�

The youth squad has been training on and off for the past year.

"They are really dedicated kids,鈥� said Schultz. "They are in the gym almost everyday.鈥�

Schultz is currently looking into securing more fights for the club and possible fights in the

U.S.

Schultz said having the fight cards fill up gives the kids more motivation to train.

"Ever since the kids found out they could get to these outside competitions they've been in the gym everyday,鈥� he said.

After Tiger Balm the team was back in the gym in Whitehorse, waiting for Schultz to return.

"I was gone over a week at the seminars and they couldn't wait to have me back to get training again.

"We all want to get back in the ring.鈥�

The youth team will be continuing on their rigorous schedule as they prepare for the next round of fights.