One of Sacramento State’s newer clubs is teaching students how to get a workout while defending themselves at the same time.

Club president Drew Verdi formed the Sacramento State Mixed Martial Arts Club in fall 2010 after having two bikes stolen and reading police bulletins posted in the American River Courtyard about sexual assaults on campus.

 “I was definitely not all right with that, it shook me,” Verdi said. 

Because of the crime on campus, he took his love for MMA and started the club.

“I wanted to start something that was coed and that anyone could do at any skill level,” Verdi said.

Verdi does not run the club by himself but relies on a staff of coaches to assist him.

“I have a couple of really good officers that I really appreciate. I think MMA has attracted a lot of good, positive, athletic people into my life,” Verdi said.

One of those people, club vice president and head coach Richard Tino, said he wanted to work on his boxing and grappling, and joining the club was an inexpensive way to train on campus.

Tino said he’s paid $100 to $150 a month at professional martial arts gyms. Sac State’s MMA club cost $30 per semester.

The club has also attracted female members. Club member Jessica Sanchez said MMA is a good way for women to defend themselves.

“I joined because a friend of mine would always entice me to fight him. He did Jiu Jitsu so I figured taking up MMA would be a good challenge for him. Also, it’s something I’ve always wanted to do … it’s something girls should learn to defend themselves with,” Sanchez said.

Club admission is open to all students at every level.

“One good thing about the club is that we’re coed so we teach self-defense techniques to all types of people. Anyone can come into the club and train, get in shape and most importantly defend themselves,” Tino said.

The club does not only focus on defense. Its main goal is to provide its members with a good workout.

“We’re trying to do this for a good workout, 99 percent of people are there for a good workout,” Verdi said.

Tino added MMA fighters are some of the most physically fit people in the world.

 “It has built up my grappling endurance. I have learned a hand full of new moves, and I am actually pulling off the new moves that I have learned in practice,” said club member Eddy Khangsengsing.

The club makes a point to concentrate on safety while they train.

“We immediately tap, it’s all about safety in the club,” Verdi said.

Verdi said he respects what the human body can do, describing arms and legs as natural weapons.

“We have sledge hammers and baseball bats walking around with us all day … a small 110-pound girl could quadruple her power. It doesn’t take a lot of physical strength to have power, it takes technique … I have absolutely no doubt that it would give someone a fighting chance in a serious situation. I always say, no one expects a kick to the head,” Verdi said.

Club member Jasmine Sanchez said she is now able to better defend herself.

“I would say I’m able to defend myself a whole lot more. I’m able to learn submissions and other defensive mechanisms that I never knew about in the past,” Sanchez said.

To help them achieve their goal of physical fitness and personal defense, the club has purchased $4,000 of new gear. When the club started, it had a single pair of gloves and a few assorted pieces of gear.

“Drew was very fortunate to get dock funding and get a whole bag full of boxing gloves and lots of types of Muay Thai pads, shin guards and headgear,” Tino said.

Tino said the most advantageous piece of gear the club has received so far is the Muay Thai pads which allows him to teach people combinations involving various kicks.

Robert Linggi can be reached at [email protected].