Unleash your inner warrior

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This article was published 03/05/2019 (2567 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A new combat sports facility allows you to fight the good fight towards improving your fitness and self-defence skills.

Canadian Fighting Center launched in 2002, specializing in kickboxing and Thai boxing. Then in the fall of 2018, the bustling business opened the doors to its brand-new location at 675 Archibald St., three years after breaking ground for the much-anticipated centre.

The mixed martial arts school now provides training in boxing, kickboxing, Thai boxing, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and wrestling to kids and adults alike.

Owner and head coach Giuseppe DeNatale explained that they’re currently open in the evenings, and they offer a lunchtime program as well. Looking ahead, they plan to expand their hours in the fall to accommodate a full daytime program.

“At Canadian Fighting Center, we have promoted professional mixed martial arts events. We train kids as young as five years old, and we have adults all the way up to their mid-60s,” DeNatale said.
“We’re a combat sports gym for self-defence, for self-confidence, for fitness and for lifestyle. We take beginners from all walks of life, and we also have a number of amateur and professional competitive fighters.”

People are drawn to try combat sports for a variety of reasons, and many are hooked once they give it a try.

“Most people that are coming to us right now are either looking to get in shape or to make lifestyle changes. Fitness is bigger than it’s ever been, and people are more conscious these days about healthy lifestyles. It’s so important to teach children about exercise, especially at a young age,” DeNatale said.

“At the same time, self-defence plays a major role in the world we live in. A lot of people come to us because they want to learn how to protect themselves. We live in a rough city and a rough world, so people really want to learn practical self-defence. The best form of self-defence is Thai boxing, kickboxing and Brazilian jiu-jitsu — and they’re all part of the mixed martial arts training that we offer.”

Canadian Fighting Center features 3,300 square-feet of matted training area complete with padded walls, and it also includes a professional mixed martial arts competition ring with more than 30 heavy bags.

In addition, the facility houses Canadian Fighting Championship, which is a professional combat sports promotion company.

Last year, approximately 1,700 people signed a petition to the provincial government in support of sanctioning amateur mixed martial arts and amateur kickboxing throughout the province. Since then, multiple meetings between the Manitoba Combative Sports Commission and government officials have focused on the topic.

“We’re always working really hard to have amateur mixed martial arts regulated in Manitoba,” DeNatale said. “You need amateur sports in order to build a pro.”

For more information about Canadian Fighting Center, visit www.cfcgym.net, call 204-772-2599 or email students@canadianfighting.com. Updates are also posted social media, including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.