Bam Bam Martial Arts Houston — Local services in Southside Place

I have trained at Bam Bam’s for about 2 and a half years now and this is by far one of the best places to train in Houston! There are many reasons why. Here are a few:

The Coaches – I just can’t say enough about Angelus. He is the manager/lead instructor of BBMA and does an outstanding job challenging and pushing you farther than you could have ever imagined you could go. Everyone that steps into the gym is struggling with their own fear and/or doubts and Angelus give you the skills, technique, and confidence you need to break through those walls. He focuses on basics as well as more advanced techniques and breaks them down in a way that even someone on their 1st day could understand. Angelus is also always looking for ways to give his students cool opportunities as well. For example, he has brought in top level guest instructors (ie. We had a fighter from the TUF show come by one time) to show us new techniques. He has built great relationships with other gyms around Houston giving us more training partners (etc.) so that we can become more skilled. He has a great tap on all current events and competitions around the Houston area, giving us more opportunities to challenge and better ourselves. Angelus has also done an incredible job creating a “team Bam Bam” atmosphere. You truly feel like you are learning and training with family. He is a GREAT COACH!

Rob and Connor are also incredible coaches! They are both very personable and want to push you. They both explain and articulate technique very clearly! I have learned so much from them.

Facilities: Always clean and plenty of spare equipment to use if you forget yours at home for some reason. (Except for mouthpieces, and cups… but please don’t be THAT GUY.)

Class Schedule: There are plenty to choose from if you have a busy schedule. Just check out their website!

Training: No matter what your fitness level is, you will be drenched after every class. I’ve trained for Spartan Races, Tough Mudders for years and this is by far some of the hardest, intense, and most rewarding training I have ever done. But don’t freak… if you are beginner you will not be thrown into the “lion’s den” right off the bat. The coaches want to make sure you get a good grasp on basics before you start sparring etc.. I have some of the best sparring partners at BBMA. We are always there to help each other learn and never to injure each other (Although it happens). No muscle heads here. You will also learn to check your ego at the door. I learn something new every time I train!

Anyways, I really hope this review helps you as you decide which MMA gym to try out. There are so many out there these days, but Angelus and the crew at BBMA are world class. I will go here as long as I am in Houston.

Cheers and...

Think about all of the things you buy for your children---toys that break, activities that keep them busy but soon fade into memory. Certainly, few of these things could be called investments--time and money spent for a future return. Even fewer have a real, lasting impact on your child. Bam Bam does.

Bam Bam is, on the surface, a martial arts school with a focus on teaching children jiu jitsu. The martial art is, however, just a delivery vehicle for the real lessons: self-discipline, respect, responsibility, and kindness. No matter how talented a student might be in their martial arts training, they don't advance if they fail to demonstrate progress in character development. Stripes on the students' belts are awarded for showing respect to their parents, taking responsibility for household chores and making their bed, doing their homework without being asked. Students take home work sheets and parents must certify in writing that their child is, in fact, performing the activities listed (e.g, household chores). The children then submit the sheets to their coaches and receive recognition for their work each class with belt stripes and applause from their classmates (if they don't applaud they might have to do push-ups).

It works.

At first your child will start saying "Yes Ma'm" or making their bed because it feels like a game and they like being rewarded with stripes and applause every class. After a few weeks, you will begin to notice them internalizing this behavior, and after a few months, it becomes habit. This happens faster, and parents will see better results, if they adopt the Bam Bam methodology at home. Children become more confident, more polite, and more responsible. Their teachers will notice. Their friends' parents will notice.

This isn't just an after school activity, and certainly not just a way to keep the kids busy for an hour while you go grocery shopping. It requires time outside the Bam Bam school from both parents and children. Yet, when you compare the cost of classes at Bam Bam and their impact on your child to all the other things you buy for them, the value is apparent.

Behind Bam Bam is the Sullivan family: Scott Sullivan, his wife Brandi and their eight children who participate in and run the school along with great staff and instructors. It won't be long before you know each of the Sullivans by name and feel that you, like me and my children, are part of the...

We love this academy so much, I don’t know where to start!! We are always asked who is our favorite coach and I can’t say definitively. We value all of them in different ways.

As a parent, I very much appreciate the character building lessons. As a mom of girls, I love that coaches Caiolinn, Eilish, and Grady are teaching my girls!! Their coaching is patient and really effective especially for the little kids. I was amazed that Caiolinn was able to get my 5 year old doing martial arts and laughing in just 15 minutes. They have become such great role models and my girls want to emulate their coaches. I also sit attentively listening to the character talks and am always touched by Manny’s ability to connect his own learning journey to the kids and the lesson he’s teaching. It’s inspiring! As an educator, I’m so impressed by the different yet effective teaching styles the coaches exhibit. My oldest daughter loves to be challenged, she has found that coach Manny pushes her to be better, sees her improvement, and never just tells her she’s good or strong. “Mama, if coach Manny tells me I’m good, I really believe it!” Her little sister, who is in the younger kids’ class said to her the other day: but isn’t coach Manny super strict? And she responded, not really. He’s really nice and wants us to learn and be the best. Coach Erik brings the fun and playfulness, he connects with the kids and really encourages their performance and improvement. He also sees the good they do off the mat and that really makes my little one excited to be recognized when she’s applied the character building skills learned in class. Finally, as a new student of jui jitsu, I never imagined myself on the mat… and yet, there I am - loving it! I really am grateful to this academy and the coaches for teaching my girls and me, for encouraging our journey, and for helping develop our confidence and skills on and off the mat. Together, all of the coaches bring the magic to reach students of all levels and ages. The Sullivans have created an awesome space and I’m really...