By J.T. Keith
The first rule of Fight Club: You do not talk about Fight Club. The second rule of Fight Club: You do not talk about Fight Club.
There is a little-known fight club on the Eastern New Mexico University campus. No, it’s not the underground-club-turned-terrorist group from the Chuck Palahniuk-penned novel and movie.
It is Greyhound MMA. Mixed Martial Arts is a full-combat sport where competitors use both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the mat, from other combat sports.
Senior Robert Zamora remembers when the club had 60 members who participated in the sport on campus when he was a freshman. That program eventually disbanded, but Zamora continued to train in Clovis, earning a blue belt in Brazilian Jujitsu.
Zamora is looking forward to continuing the MMA tradition at ENMU and hopes someone with experience will take over the program and teach classes after he graduates.
Zamora restarted the group April 7. The MMA club, which meets at 7 p.m. Fridays and 1 p.m. Sundays in Greyhound Arena room 11, is concentrating on conditioning and sparring to help get competitors in shape and used to physical contact.
Once the program is up and running, competitors can look forward to striking in the Fall semester and grappling in the Spring semester.
Zamora is volunteering his time to help train combatants in the art of fighting.
“I hope the best for the program,” said Zamora, who will graduate in May. “I hope that someone with experience can come and teach classes and take over for me.”
Helping the organization is ENMU Police Chief Bradley Mauldin. Mauldin sponsors the club on campus, provided the mats for the group’s practices, and sometimes helps with the practices.
Greyhound MMA is free and open to the public. Participants must sign a liability waiver before practicing.
For more information contact: Bradley.Mauldin@enmu.edu or Robert.Zamora@enmu.edu.MM