Martial Arts in Albany

Dave Camarrillo grew up on mats, training and competing with his brother at their father’s judo club. After a knee injury limited his standup fighting ability, Dan discovered the ground game of Gracie jiu-jitsu and welded it with his father’s tutelage to create the Guerilla jiu-jitsu system. Guerilla jiu-jitsu fuses the fluid movements of Brazilian forms with Olympic judo and wrestling into a nonstriking, grappling art for all ages and skill levels. Students learn to leverage their bodies against opponents of varying size as they gain skills that can be used in a competitive, self-defense, or recreational setting. In addition to jiu-jitsu classes, the multidisciplinary center offers sessions in muay thai kickboxing, as well as women’s self-defense sessions and anti-bullying classes that emphasize nonstriking and conflict-resolution skills.

Larry Lam devoted his life to martial arts, a pursuit that yielded multiple black belts, 20 gold medals from the North America Sport Karate Association, and roles in movies such as The Last Samurai and 300. He founded Studio Kicks Training Center to share his high-energy interpretation of martial arts. He and his staff pass on the 5,000-year-old sport to students ages 5 and older, instilling them with weapon techniques from around the world, along with self-defense and safety awareness skills, flexibility, and fitness benefits.

Inside True Fight Club, many students learn to double their number of striking limbs: muay thai kickboxing, colloquially known as "the art of eight limbs," trains fighters to move beyond arms and legs to utilize their hands, elbows, shins, and knees to battle opponents. The gym prioritizes safety above all else during its 60-minute classes, and so equips sparring pairs with protective pads. Accomplished instructors are also on hand to teach classes in Brazilian jiu jitsu and folk-style wrestling, which both focus on grappling and bringing a foe down to the mat, though their methods vary in origin and execution.

Alternatively, boxing classes cover footwork and maneuvers for offensive and defensive strategies. In addition to practical work, each session includes a workout component with bodyweight exercises that is designed to increase overall strength and prepare contenders for sudden-death sit-up contests in the ring. Regardless of their specialty, the instructors cater their lessons to suit all experience levels and ages. Their after-school programs guide children as young as 5 through self-defense routines, as well as building confidence, fitness, and a sense of discipline. Likewise, adult programs tone physiques and impart poise, whether pupils are seasoned competitors or first-timers.