“I’ve been attending NESF, off and on now, for over 25 years. The nonjudgmental environment presented the perfect setting for me to start learning. Highly skilled instructors made for a safe and enjoyable experience. An overall great place, filled with great people!”
John O
“I knew almost immediately NESF was the right gym for me. One of the best things about this place is the amount of personal interaction you get with the head coaches. Both Dave and Kirik deliver detailed, technical instruction based on years of experience in MMA. They are both extremely knowledgeable, patient instructors and they are in general just really fun to be around and learn from. I’ve never hesitated to ask them for clarification or for suggestions on how to improve.
“Another thing I sincerely love about NESF is the super welcoming and down to earth atmosphere. Everyone is willing to help each other out, no one is there to judge, and everyone is there to learn.
“I’d highly recommend stopping by and trying out a free class so you can get a feel for the gym yourself. That’s what I did three years ago and I never stopped coming back!”
Amanda P
“Having only just started MMA this past semester, I would strongly recommend NESF for anybody wanting to get his or her foot in the door. The staff is knowledgeable, with a strong emphasis on getting comfortable with the fundamentals before moving on to more complex moves. Everyone there is unassuming, and I have never felt intimidated by or less important than the other members. Finally, the more experienced members are also open to helping newer members to learn. This gym not only represents a great place for more experienced members to continue toward greatness but is also a great place for beginners to learn the ropes.”
Andrew M.
“I love this place more than words could ever describe. It is the perfect environment to learn as a beginner or someone who is more experienced, and the instructors and people who attend classes are all wonderful. Everybody is is so nice, and non-judgmental so you really feel very comfortable no matter your skill level. I love the variety in styles (wrestling, MMA, standup, jiu jitsu) so there is really something for everybody.
“I have seen so much personal growth in myself since starting at NESF. It is nice going to a gym that actually really cares about your personal development. If you have a personal goal you would like to achieve the instructors will work with you to help you achieve those goals. I also highly recommend private lessons with Dave. Having one-on-ones really helped me learn more and get better, and Dave is an excellent teacher.
“Everybody should go here! You will not regret it :)”
Alicia P
“It really doesn’t get better than this. I have trained at five different schools now and can say A) NESF is the most affordable and B) You will not find a better team of instructors than Kirik and Dave. Between the two of them, they know everything you need to really get started and enter the intermediate and advanced levels of MMA and Jiu-jitsu. No trainers are more attentive and responsive and are part of a small group of instructors that actually practice WITH YOU and go at your level instead of either barking orders from the side or just dominating you so you know who is boss. As I said, it does not get better than this.”
Lev K.
“I’ve been training at NESF on and off since 2002. I have had a lot of great experiences and gotten a lot of great instruction in that time. Dave and Kirik are two of the nicest guys you will ever meet, and they know their stuff backward and forward. I’ve always found the atmosphere at the gym to be friendly and welcoming, and those studying there to be lacking a lot of the ego and posturing that seems to be rampant in MMA. In short, you will not regret a decision to train at NESF.”
Patrick C.
“I’ve been to several martial arts schools in the area and NESF is absolutely the best of them. The instruction is excellent and the environment is very friendly. It’s not just a bunch of angry dudes brawling stupidly. It’s also not about practicing choreographed forms and bowing to the Sensei. The material is very practical and beginners are always welcome. I greatly recommend the place.”
Elliot B.
“Good times at the best school in western mass, New England Submission Fighting!”
Ryan H.
“The instructors are great guys — all of them, as far as I’m concerned, and with legit credentials, too. Very patient. I did traditional martial arts for a long time, so it’s nice to be learning something practical. I learned more in one week here than I did during my many years of horse stances and memorizing forms. You will get your ass kicked! But in a nice, safe, responsible, purposeful way.”
Arvid N.
“New England Submission fighting is a place anyone of any experience level can comfortably train and learn at. The level of instruction taught by Dave and Kirik are forged from immeasurable hours of dedication each individual has given to the various fight disciplines taught at the School. Both instructors teach in an articulate manner that makes it easy for any person to digest and apply the techniques being demonstrated. Lastly, not only does NESF offer top tier instruction for disciplines that all experience-levels excel from; but the training provided will guaranteed get you into the best shape of your life, while having some of the most fun of your life.”
Jeff T
“NESF has a great atmosphere and even better instruction. Its approachable enough for people who are new to martial arts but always challenging enough to keep more experienced fighters wanting to come back. This gym is a hidden gem.”
Cormac P
“NESF is not a typical place where you may have to fear getting hurt, or be afraid your skill level or needs won’t be considered. I lived those feelings of walking into this unknown gym with that fear, and the fear of going up against skilled strangers. Having lived it, going into NESF for the first time, I assure you this is a gym where you can find whatever level of challenge you are looking for, while being welcomed, supported, and built up the entire way. You learn quickly that those strangers are your teammates, and that this is a place of learning your potential, strengths, weaknesses, discipline, and even getting ready for competition if you so choose to pursue it.
“I am forever a lucky man to have found the NESF family in that back corner of West Street. Words can’t really describe the amount of positivity and character building that Dave and the NESF family brought into my life. But I will try to describe it by saying I entered those walls a certain type of person, and left there the best version of myself. And to this day almost 10 years later I feel confident and lucky knowing that I can still say I have a family there. I urge that if you want to explore what true potential you have and to test your limits, this should be your first and last stop.”
Kyle
“I feel so lucky to have found a gym like NESF. It has a friendly, down to earth atmosphere and incredibly knowledgeable coaches. Whether you want to train for competition, self-defense, or just for fun, you will find a welcoming home here.”
Alex L
“Absolutely love training here. Great environment with awesome people to train with. Very beginner-friendly too. If you go to UMass or any of the other 5 colleges, this is the place to train!”
Ravi H
“Great training, really great people. They’re willing to freeze your membership if you’re away or injured, so it’s great even if you travel often. The instructors have a lot of experience and interest in helping you learn. I’ve been coming here for over a year and it’s been a blast.”
Isaac C
“Awesome martial arts school. Great instruction, friendly people, reasonably priced, and one of my favorite places to spend my time. Definitely worth checking out for both beginners and experienced individuals.”
Teddy D
“I tried two other places when I wanted to start jiu-jitsu. At both of those places, I felt ignored and like I wasn’t learning anything. I stopped by NESF shortly after that and haven’t left in 7+ years. I feel challenged every time I step into the gym and I feel like I couldn’t have learned as much as I have anywhere else.”
Daniel V
“This review is long overdue. I found myself at Amherst College this summer and wanted to continue training in jiu-jitsu. While I found other gyms nearby, I committed to NESF for a month. Training is entirely no-gi, Stacey was accommodating and very nice about me coming in to check out some of the other MMA classes. From the skilled jiu-jitsu practitioner to the beginner, I highly recommend this gym. You will learn and improve your game. I trained with both beasts and beginners. It was a welcoming and positive environment. Training in no-gi has become my favorite was of training now. It’s been three months training like that and my guitar-licking fingers are happy about it – Thanks NESF!!
“ProTip: there is a Valley Bike Station right outside the gym, easy to go in and out of the gym if you do not have a car and/or don’t want to wait for a bus.”
Tilo L.
“Kirik has been training fighters for almost 30 years. He’s a super nice guy, but a complete bad-ass when it comes to fighting. He has some very talented people working with him too.
“Make sure you take one of Charlie’s wrestling classes and do some rolling with Dave. These guys have tons of experience and are very good with explaining things in terms that just about anyone can understand.
“It’s a great place for anyone from beginners to advanced. I felt very welcomed by the instructors years ago when I first walked in the door. They train everyone from UMass kids to professional fighters. I also still pop in from time to time. With someone like Kirik around it doesn’t matter how advanced you can be, there is always something this guy can show you. His knowledge of boxing, kickboxing, wrestling and BJJ is really impressive.
“A++++ Gym!”
Alan K
“I moved away and miss this place so much. I started as a beginner and didn’t know what MMA or BJJ really were. The coaches understood and were able to guide me through the very basics. The classes are beginner friendly and you’re able to learn at your own pace. I never felt out of place as a woman attending MMA classes and was happy to see how many women train at NESF.”
Emily O
“Where better to learn Mixed Martial Arts than from the best people who both live and breath MMA… I highly recommend that all who live in the Amherst area check out New England Submission Fighting and train with the Pros!”
Bruce Buffer