The teenage years are when training stops being an activity and starts being an identity. Our Youth MMA classes take that seriously: teens learn real technique with real standards, in a room where effort is expected and coached, not just supervised.
Sparring is part of the path, introduced gradually and only when a student has the skill and maturity to take part safely. Protective equipment is worn, partners are matched by age, size and experience, and coaches supervise closely.
Over thirty years of teaching, Coach Wil's students have included twelve national and world champions. Most students are not chasing titles, and that is the point: the same coaching that builds champions builds confident, disciplined teenagers.
Weekday Youth MMA and Saturday Options
MMA plus strength, speed, agility and coordination work that improves overall athletic performance for any sport they play. The strength portion goes further than in the kids class: proper form and exercise technique, healthy limits on how hard and how often to train, and how to build a training plan around a teen's own goals, time constraints and needs.
The core MMA class: striking, wrestling and ground grappling, taught as one skill set with proper technique and control.
Youth-Teen-Adult MMA welcomes ages 13 and up, including beginners. Teen & Adult MMA (Advanced) requires at least two to three years of prior martial arts training and a conversation with the coach.
Compare the two classes and how to join. For other ages, see the full MMA class guide.
Weekday classes serve ages 11-17, with placement also weighing experience and maturity. On Saturdays, 11 and 12 year olds train in Kids MMA at 10:30am. Ages 6-12 train in Kids MMA. Full grid on the schedule.
Skills that carry past the mat
Boxing, kickboxing, wrestling and jiu-jitsu build genuine capability, and capability is where teenage confidence actually comes from. Boxing is the hands, the footwork and the defense; the kick is the great equalizer against someone bigger and stronger; wrestling and jiu-jitsu are position and leverage over strength, and the way out when you are pinned; MMA is putting it together, standing up and on the ground. Like school, a healthy mix of subjects makes the stronger student.
Strength, agility and conditioning work that shows up in every other sport, from the football field to the swim lane.
Structured training with real standards, run by coaches who hold teenagers to them and back them while they get there. And the character the traditional arts are for: respect, discipline, leadership, and the power of consistent effort.
Also for young athletes: one-on-one kids and teen personal training.
What the First Class Looks Like
It starts at the front desk: a welcome for your teen and for you, a quick tour, and an introduction to the coach and a few classmates before class begins.
The class itself has a shape. A dynamic warm-up of twelve to fifteen minutes, which the coaches also use to get to know a new student. About fifteen minutes of instruction from that week's curriculum: boxing, kickboxing, grappling, MMA or self-defense. Then ten to twelve minutes of live application: partner drills, controlled grappling, light contact or bag work. A new teen is watched through the warm-up and instruction first, then paired with a more advanced student who has the control to guide a beginner, or directly with a coach. Control is the etiquette here, and the drill's rules are restated before it starts.
Class closes with a few quiet minutes of breathing and settling. A first-timer who put in a good effort usually leaves with their first belt, and the coach talks with the family afterward. If your teen wants to continue, the front desk will walk you through memberships.
Teen MMA questions
What happens at my teen's first class?
It starts at the front desk with a welcome and a quick tour. The coach introduces your teen to students in the class so they already know a few people before training begins. They warm up with the group, learn that week's material, and finish with carefully supervised live work matched to their level. A first-timer who does a good job usually earns their first belt at the end of class.
Is there sparring in the first class?
Light-contact sparring can be part of the live segment, including during a first class when the coach determines it is appropriate. Coaches watch the teen through the warm-up and instruction first, then match them with a more advanced student who has the control to guide a beginner, or work with them directly. Coaches continually supervise and correct the drill to maintain control, safety, and each student's comfort level.
Does my teen need martial arts experience or a certain fitness level?
No. Your teen does not need previous martial arts experience or a certain fitness level before starting. Coaches meet them at their current level, teach the skills in order, and build their conditioning through training.
What should my teen bring to the first class?
For a first Youth MMA class, your teen only needs comfortable clothes they can move in and a water bottle. Loaner gloves are available, and the Forge uniform is only required after enrollment.
What ages does Youth MMA serve?
Youth MMA serves ages 11-17 on weekdays, Monday through Friday at 4:45pm. On Saturdays, the 11:15am class is Youth-Teen-Adult MMA for ages 13 and up, all levels, and 11 and 12 year olds train in Kids MMA at 10:30am. Because the Kids MMA and Youth MMA age bands overlap at ages 11 and 12, coaches may also consider the student's experience and maturity when recommending the best placement.
Where can teens train alongside adults?
Youth-Teen-Adult MMA welcomes ages 13 and up, including beginners. Teen & Adult MMA (Advanced) requires at least two to three years of prior martial arts training and a conversation with the coach. Compare the two classes and their joining requirements on the teen and adult MMA page.
Can my teen take four classes before we decide on a membership?
Yes. The Forge Teen & Youth Starter is four coached Youth MMA or Youth MMA & Athletic Training classes for ages 11-17 at Forge Athletics in Naples, weekdays at 4:45pm, $99 for Classes only or $129 with Forge boxing gloves. The four are used within 28 days of the first. The free first class stays separate, and at 11 and 12 the coach helps with placement.
Real skills. A challenge they can grow into.
Give your teen something worth working at. Forge brings boxing, kickboxing, wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu together, with strength and agility work in our Athletic Training classes. Coaches teach the fundamentals, set clear expectations and help each student build on what they learn.
Four classes give them a chance to experience the training and find out whether it is a good fit. Their Forge boxing gloves are included and theirs to keep. We help place your teen in the right group.
- Four coached group classes
- Forge boxing gloves, fitted at your first class and yours to keep
- Use your classes within four weeks of your first class
One-time purchase for one student. No automatic membership enrollment. Take your first class within 60 days of purchase. Full refund within 3 business days of purchase. Paying by credit card adds a 2.9% processing fee. For new students only. One per person. Not available to current or former members.
Prefer to try one class first? Start with a free session.
First class is free
They train, you watch, then you both decide. No pressure and nothing to buy in advance.
For ages 11-17, the Forge Teen & Youth Starter is four coached Youth MMA or Youth MMA & Athletic Training classes, with or without gloves. See the starter.