Ultimate Fighter ‘Lightning’ Wilks opens MMA gym

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.”