New England Submission Fighting in Amherst

A friend in the area trains at NESF and we went for a Saturday class while I was visiting. The instructor and students were welcoming, friendly, knowledgeable, and laid back. Techniques were demonstrated with a high level of detail, but not overwhelmingly so, and the competition class was challenging and safe! Aside from safety, most importantly, a growth-oriented mindset was championed: it was clear the focus was to improve our jiu-jitsu and not "prove" anything against the new guy. This is a stellar gym with stellar practitioners and I highly recommend it for no-gi players.

Such a great gym. The atmosphere is very friendly. Everyone is friendly and welcoming. No matter what level or background everyone is welcomed here. I love coming and learning and growing. The team is very supportive and an amazing place to train. From the owner to the coaches to the gym members everyone is friendly and works hard!

I first came here as a boxer, and people here are extremely welcoming and helpful even though it’s an MMA gym. The owner, Kirik, is very open-minded and has helped me preparing for fights, from holding pads to buying necessary equipment. I am no grappler, but BJJ/Wrestling coach Charles is a BEAST. People here make NESF a great gym.

I've trained at several different gyms over the years and NESF is one of the best. The instruction is legit, always plenty of training partners, and no egos. There are very few mma gyms that have been around as long as NESF and the wealth of knowledge that Dave and others have acquired over the decades is invaluable. They have worked hard to cultivate an environment that is welcoming for new comers and challenging for people who really want to push themselves.

NESF has impressive facilities and a very welcoming crowd. Dave Roy is a certified BJJ black belt and one of the best teachers I've ever come across. Everyone should visit, even if just to learn a little self defense.

I knew almost immediately NESF was the right gym for me. One of the best things about this place is the amount of personal interaction you get with the head coaches. Both Dave and Kirik deliver detailed, technical instruction based on years of experience in MMA. They are both extremely knowledgeable, patient instructors and they are in general just really fun to be around and learn from. I’ve never hesitated to ask them for clarification or for suggestions on how to improve. Another thing I sincerely love about NESF is the super welcoming and down to earth atmosphere. Everyone is willing to help each other out, no one is there to judge, and everyone is there to learn. I’d highly recommend stopping by and trying out a free class so you can get a feel for the gym yourself. That’s what I did three years ago and I never stopped coming back!

I am so grateful to have found NESF! I continue to enjoy private lessons as well as the group classes. I have had classes/lessons with the lead instructor, Dave, who is an amazing, patient, and skilled teacher. As a woman, I was initially concerned about how the dynamics may be in the gym. But my worries were unnecessary! It's a great, welcoming, all-inclusive environment that has always made me feel comfortable. In addition to the MMA classes it is also a great place to learn self-defense.

We're so lucky to have a BJJ and MMA gym like NESF out in western Massachusetts. Dave Roy is a really great instructor with an incredible amount of knowledge. I've been training here for about a year and a half now and I still look forward to going to train every day. The atmosphere is relaxed and fun but you'll still get a really good workout and learn a lot at the same time. The free 1 week trial is a great opportunity to come by! See you on the mat :)