Best gym in town for strength training, wrestling, jiujitsu, boxing. Great family atmosphere, all are welcome.

Was invited to come to an open mat from a friend, showed up, coach looked at me like I was a total inconvenience, told him I came from a wrestling background, he proceeded to tell me to sit through a 2 hour class just to never talk about pricing or any sort of training. Wouldn't recommend to any newcomers. read more

Combat athletics is the gym you want to go to if you want to get good at a combat sport. In middle school I was always afraid to go against a kid from combat. This is because I knew I was about to get my butt kicked. Then in high school I was still not a very good wrestler. Freshman year I had a losing record and didn't qualify for states. That summer I started to go to combat and I had amazing practice partners and everyone there wanted to help me out. Wrestling has always been tough for me because I have a learning disorder and no one can teach me. When I practice I want to know why I do a move, what the counter to that move is, and what do I do when they do that. For most coaches that is extremely Frustrating when you have someone asking 15 questions everyday and they would give up on me. Coach Shelton and coach Stanley would always answer all my questions and explain everything out to me. They saw me asking questions as me being invested into the sport so they invested into me. I went from not qualifying at states as a freshman to placing 4th as a sophomore. Then junior year I became a high school all American after placing fourth at NHSCA Nationals. Entering my senior year I placed at super 32 and was the preseason national champ. If it wasn't for combat Athletics and the coaches there I would not be half the wrestler I am today. The coaches there do more than coach but they are role models. They don't just teach your kids wrestling, they teach them about integrity and how to act on and off the mat. There aren't any coaches in the state of North Carolina that are better role models than them. read more

I was searching for a phone number (because my kid is bugging the bejesus out of me to go back to Combat and I wanted to verify the schedule) and ran across the previous review. I have no idea what the previous reviewer is talking about. My kids are involved in a variety of sports, and through the years, we've experienced a variety of coaches--some good, some not so much. I can tell you without hesitation Josh and his coaches are the most selfless individuals you will meet. They go above and beyond for any athlete who wants to learn and improve. People all over our state will tell you--Combat kids are well-prepared and always, always competitive. There's a reason for this--exemplary coaching. In addition to the top-notch instruction, Josh is always helpful. Kid doesn't have shoes? He has a pile. Kid needs to borrow a singlet because he's growing like a weed and parents won't invest? Josh shows up on Saturday morning and hands him one. Ask me how I know. Beyond that, Combat's training rates are considerably below those of other local gyms, and the quality of instruction is at least as good, and better in a number of areas. I know this first-hand--two kids, two gyms. I simply couldn't let that one, garbage review sit there being the only thing strangers read about this business. read more

Josh Stanley maybe a good guy, but has poor business ethics in customer retention. His protocol is "Pay me as we go. Schedules do not always match or if something comes up we can roll the fee over, and I will work with you." After 3 months of regular training 2 days a week, in August he goes on vacation and then I travel out of state returning 14 days later on 9/1. Texting him of my return, he never texts back. September 10th, he texts that we can get into the gym soon. September 25th , I reached out to him in VM and a text, corresponding to a different subject, but he never called or texted back. On October 8, 2012, exactly 38 days since our last work out, I saw him in person in passing at another gym. We speak on good terms. November 10th, I leave a message validating his busy schedule and if he wanted to he could return the unused money for services not rendered. November 11th he calls me outraged that I suggested return of money for services not rendered. That I was being rude and not nice. However, I suggested keeping the money and finishing the training. He did not want to do either. Instead barks at me about an unspoken rule that all trainers go by, that if services are not used in 3 months, money and services are forfeited. "EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT" he chants, "I cant keep up with people that come rolling around 6 months later and want me to train them on money paid a year ago". I replied it was not even quite 3 months yet. Nine days later he apologizes to my VM for handling things the way he did that he should not have gotten that upset. Therefore, wants me return his call and inform him where to send the money or meet him to return the money at whatever lengths needed to get this issue out of his life. That he does not need this kind of stress in his life. I returned his call, leaving VM, suggested rendering the money at the local gym we were training at and to leave it with manager on duty, because the phone conflict was so out of control and escalated that I did not want to engage in face to face conflict, I felt this was the most professional way to handle exchange of the money and we just go our separate ways. This VM caused him to come UNGLUED. He returns my call to tell me that I was I was harassing him, I will never see my money, and to take him to court over the $60 for 3 sessions. I have learned in life to get a contract for all business agreements no matter how small. read more