Frequently asked questions
Who teaches the classes?
As of now, 90% of our classes are taught by either Mac or Angela Danzig.
Is Danzig MMA woman-friendly?
Yes, absolutely.
Can I learn self-defense at your gym.
In a word, Yes! But please read more below:
Do I need to spar or do "live training" at your gym?
No. Sparring is completely optional and is reserved for specific sessions and also the end of classes scheduled for 90 minutes. Students wanting to participate in controlled sparring are encourged to do so, but all live training is monitored by the coaches so that we can assure that a healthy atmosphere is maintained.
Are you open on Sundays?
As of now, no. We are closed on Sundays. Everyone needs at least one day a week to rest! :)
Do I have to be a fighter to join?
Absolutely not.
Do you teach "Gi" Jiu-Jitsu at your school?
THE SHORT ANSWER:
I'm interested in competing. Do you have a competition team?
Yes, we are in the process of building a competition team. Please ask Mac or Angela how to get involved.
What should I wear to class?
For striking classes (as well as all conditioning classes) any type of functional workout clothing that stays on your body during movement will do just fine. If you are comfortable wearing something for running, yoga or weightlifting, chances are it's going to be fine for striking and conditioning classes.
Will I have to lift heavy weights during the conditioning class?
No.
I see different levels listed on the schedule for Jiu-Jitsu class. What does this mean and which ones can I take?
The "Fundamentals" Jiu-Jitsu class is for every single student, but geared for the beginner. During these classes, we focus on the basic, fundamental movements and techniques that Jiu-Jitsu is based on. These classes are necessary and extremely important for beginners to take. That being said, the best and most experienced Jiu-Jitsu practicioners in the world practice the basics/fundamentals every single day, which is why they are the best.
Do you rank Jiu-Jitsu students with belt rankings?
Yes. However, unlike some traditional martial arts schools, less emphasis is placed on belt cermonies or student hierarchy, and no student is charged extra to be given a belt promotion.
Since you don't use Gis or uniforms, why do you rank with belts?
A real belt only serves one purpose: to keep your pants up.
Can people under 16 sign up and train in the adult classes?
Most of the classes require members to partner with each other to practice techniques and drills. If someone is extremely undersized in comparison to the average adult, it can be difficult for both people.
What are private training sessions like?
A private (or semi-private) training session is when 1 to 3 students get together and are able to recieve direct, unrestricted instruction from their coach. Sessions typically range between 60-90 minutes, and the curriculum is whatever techniques or aspects the student(s) would like to go over or ask about.
Can I train just one single discipline rather than the overall striking or grappling programs you offer?
If you are only interested in one specific kind of class that we offer (boxing, Muay Thai, wrestling, BJJ, conditioning, etc) please let us know and we can discuss the possibility of a discounted rate for single-art training.
Do I need prior experience before taking a class?
We require prospective students with no prior experience in the art they are applying for, to take one private introductory lesson before they jump into their first class with the other students. These intro private lessons are only $40 and include most of the fundamentals to get the student up to speed with the basics of positional understanding and mechanics, which are necessary to participate in classes. Afterwards, we can help you choose a class that matches your skill and comfort level.
Is training at your gym safe?
There is always some risk involved when training in combat sports, however, when training in a controlled atmosphere and learning from experienced and qualified instructors like us, the risk of getting seriously injured is highly unlikely.
Who won the Jay-Z / Nas battle?
In our opionion, Nas definitely won. However, keep in mind that we are much bigger fans of Nas' music in general, so we may be biased.
Why is the sky blue?
Sunlight reaches Earth's atmosphere and is scattered in all directions by all the gases and particles in the air. Blue light is scattered in all directions by the tiny molecules of air in Earth's atmosphere. Blue is scattered more than other colors because it travels as shorter, smaller waves. This is why at Danzig MMA, we see a blue sky during most sunny days.
Why is water wet?
Wetness is simply a discription of how we feel when we (or an object we observe) comes in contact with water.
How do you handle billing?
As of now, we have opted to not deal with a third-party billing entity. Rather, we can accept various forms of payment, including cash, credit card or debit card. (We do not accept personal checks)
What's the deal with parking?
Parking for Danzig MMA is available and unrestricted throughout the entire complex of buildings in the Deschutes Business Center. If parking seems scarce near the front entrance to the gym, please check thoroughout the complex as there is ample parking available, including our back entrace and around the other buildings.
How clean is your gym?
Very clean! We take hygene and cleanliness very seriously and after many years of training at hundreds of different facilities around the world, and dealing with many different levels of gym hygene, we are proud to say that our mats are consistently the cleanest we've know of. The mats themselves are cleaned twice a day with both a dust mop and a liquid-based germ-killing solution, then allowed to air-dry. Nobody wants any type of skin condition and neither do we. Although it is always possible that an infected person can bring in a condition that they contracted at another place, we always do our best to identify anything like this, making sure that the chances of any type of fungal or bacterial infections making their way onto our mats are slim to none.
What is the difference between "Level 1" and "Level 2" striking classes, and which ones can I take.
Our striking program is divided into two main levels of class instruction.
I have a drinking buddy who did a couple low-level amateur MMA fights 8 years ago. Can we show up to your gym, act like fools and beat eachother up as our "free trial class"?
No.