Dean Bellantoni, the owner of UFC Gym Mamaroneck, decided to expand the gym’s space and offerings for kids this year because he needed more room to offer the kinds of programming he knew his own kids liked most. The gym’s new space will allow kids access to expanded boxing, jiu jitsu, and MMA programs, birthday parties, a rock climbing wall, and new day-off camps and day care services. Kids will continue to be able to take the Ninja Warrior-style classes previously offered.
We decided, if we have the room, why not do camps and a day care service?” Bellantoni said. “For child care, it’s a three hour service where kids can do crafts and play games. Camps involve four different classes. Kids will show up and begin with an agility class, which is agility and cross training; then they do a kickboxing class with the heavy bags, learning some technique and footwork. After that, they’ll have lunch, and then around 12:30 starts the next class, which is a Ninja Warrior-style class. The next class is a body mechanics class which teaches body movement, basic exercises, some bodyweight exercises, stretching…then they have 15-20 minutes of their own time.”
UFC Mamaroneck also offers regular kickboxing classes for kids, private kickboxing sparring lessons, and private group sessions for sports teams who want to use UFC techniques to improve their game. Right now, Ninja Warrior-style classes are only available for camps, birthday parties, and private training, but Bellantoni hopes to one day become a full Ninja Warrior gym.
UFC opened up its new gym space in May and has been offering birthday parties and camp since September. For more information on the programming available at the gym, head to the UFC Mamaroneck website.
