Sacramento State has a variety of both competitive and recreational clubs offered to students on campus. The martial arts club is one of club available to beginners or advanced students in martial arts.

Celso Dalisay Jr., former member and club president, said the martial arts club is a great place for beginners to learn different fighting styles. He said if you’re just looking for a workout, the martial arts club is just for you.

“The martial arts club was a community where we could share information by all the martial arts that we know, as well as introducing it to beginners, for those who have taken interest in martial arts but never actually had the chance to have exposure,” Dalisay Jr said. “[The club] is more for fun, it is recreational, it’s a good place to have exercise and make friends with people.”

The martial arts club is not only open to students at Sac State, but it’s open to the public too.

The members of the martial arts club consist of 80 percent Sac State students and 20 percent outside of Sac State.

Derek Nguyen, safety officer and assistant to the instructor, said the club is geared toward self-defense purposes. They focus on traditional styles such as muay thai and martial arts like boxing, kickboxing, as well as other areas.

“My reason [for joining the club] was to help me focus more; focus more on school, focus more in every day life,” Nguyen said. “Going to the club allowed me to meet with other people who were specializing in martial arts.”

If a person was interested in becoming a member of the club all they have to do is show up to their practices and have an interest or passion for martial arts.

Nguyen said their rules and regulations have changed over the years as they no longer require a fee for membership purposes.

“The club originally charged a $10 fee but last year the club decided to cancel all fees and started offering free lessons in martial arts,” Nguyen said. “So, now there is no fee or anything like that for the club, the only thing that the club asks is that you help participate in fundraiser events.”

Jonathan Feng, current president of the martial arts club said starting next semester the club will be bringing in a new style called capoeira which is a type of Brazilian martial arts.

The club not only focuses on the physical aspects of martial arts; but they also focus on conditioning, technique, culture, philosophy, and history.

Feng was always heavily into martial arts and for that reason he is glad that he’s a part of the club on campus.

“Since high school, I’ve always been a martial arts fanatic and I’ve loved the variety of styles and cultures,” Feng said. “Each has their own philosophy and history and different ways of working around the human body, and that’s one of the things that really got me into martial arts.”

The martial arts club practices every Friday from 6-8 p.m. on the second floor of The Well.