Check out the latest changed we’ve made to our Lightning MMA Class schedule. We’ve added a Muay Thai class on Tuesday at 7pm. This class has been very popular the last two weeks and we’re glad we added it. We’ve also Changed thursday nights at 8pm from MMA to Advanced No-Gi. Finally, we’ve added a class at 11am on Sunday morning called “Let’s Roll”. This class is sponsored by Fightning for Fitness and is for everyone ages 8-17! Check out the new schedule here!

This Saturday, June 19th Lightning MMA will be hosting a free BBQ for its members, friends and anyone interested in checking out the gym. As you all know James won his fight against Peter Sobotta last weekend at UFC 115 and we want to have an official celebration with all of our friends. In addition to this we also want to show our members our appreciation and celebrate being open for a full year! We’ll be having contests and raffles for Lightning MMA apparel and training gear including some of our new Sprawl Fusion team shorts, the new UFC Undisputed 2010 game, UFC gear, and more! We’ll also be having games for kids.

Don’t forget to bring your friends down who haven’t been to Lightning MMA! The biggest prize of the night is going to be a raffle to win a free 6 month membership to Lightning MMA! Only non-members will be eligible for this one, sorry guys!

The festivities begin at 3pm on Saturday afternoon, RSVP on our Facebook event if you can make it so we can get an idea of how much food we’ll be cooking!

p.s. If you haven’t already add James on @ www.twitter.com/lightningwilks

What: Lightning MMA would like to announce the exciting opportunity to join us for an exclusive Rhythm Muay Thai seminar. You can study the same techniques that Ajarn Nelson Siyavong teaches top professional MMA fighters. Also, train alongside UFC veteran and season 9 winner of the Ultimate Fighter, James Wilks. Ajarn Nelson will emphasis his devastating clinch work including Knees, kicks, elbows, and counter attacks. No prior experience is necessary. Reserve your spot quickly as space is limited.

When: April 3rd from 1-4 p.m

Where: Lightning MMA, 23211 Del Lago Dr, Unit B, Laguna Hills CA 92653

How Much: $45.00 per person
$35.00 per person for Lightning MMA student

Click here to see the event on facebook!

Reserve your spot now!

“Vorgeas was too strong and too skilled on the ground for Bautista.” - NERDSociety.com

We all know this was a tough fight for James as he was the biggest underdog on the fight card that night. We will all be there to build James back up and get him ready for his next UFC fight!

Call our Lightning MMA phone number for directions and more information on tonight’s fun activities!

Here’s the article written by the OC Register:

LAGUNA HILLS – After winning season 9 of “The Ultimate Fighter,”James “Lightning” Wilks is now working toward helping mixed martial arts enthusiasts get the training they need to take it to the mat.

Lightning MMA opened nearly two months ago in Laguna Hills. It’s a full-service gym with classes in kickboxing, mixed martial arts, jiu-jitsu, cardio, yoga and kids MMA.

“It’s been a longtime aspiration of mine to have my own gym,” said Wilks, who lives in Laguna Hills. “Everyone’s got their own way of training people and I just wanted to make sure I was offering the best instruction I could offer and I felt by opening up my own gym that was the way I could do that.”

The 3,200-square-foot facility features mat space, gym equipment, full locker room with shower, changing area and lockers, and even a cage.

With several MMA gyms around the area, Wilks said he takes pride in the diverse training his gym offers. At Lightning MMA, members can get both gi and no-gi jiu-jitsu training – meaning they can train in traditional uniform and a belt or just in shorts and a t-shirt.

“No-gi is very popular now because it’s more tied in with the mixed martial arts with the UFC,” Wilks said, referring to the Ultimate Fighting Championship, a mixed martial arts organization.

MMA classes are also offered for all skill levels for beginners with no contact to advanced classes with heavy sparring. Others can do it just for the fitness workout. Take down classes are also offered by high level wrestlers.

Wilks said that the majority of people who come into the gym train for the workout or to learn the sport but there are those who want to compete.

“Another thing we’re trying to do here is develop fighters. People come in with the aspiration of being an MMA fighter so we’re very keen to help that progression.”

“We want to have a good fight team as well and develop good fighters,” he added.

Wilks teaches no-gi jiu-jitsu, advanced MMA, and MMA cardio classes.

Just one month ago, Wilks gained fame as the Season 9 winner of Spike’s “The Ultimate Fighter” finale, defeating DeMarques Johnson with a first-round rear-naked choke. He said the exposure he’s gotten from “The Ultimate Fighter” will be great for the gym, especially when Joe Rogan, the presenter of UFC, asked him about it.

“I realized that being on ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ would be a big marketing thing especially if I did well. I planned on doing well and I ended up winning it,” Wilks said. “I knew that would be good advertising so I thought now was the time to open up my own gym.”

For now, Wilks is keeping busy with finishing touches on the gym and is looking out for his next fight. A grand opening is scheduled for Aug. 30.

“I’m just waiting to see what my next fight is,” Wilks said. “We’re just trying to run the gym and offer great programs for everybody.”

Making the Ultimate Fighter - James Wilks from Lightning MMA on Vimeo.