Impact Martial Arts Academy
I visited Impact Martial Arts School in Virginia Beach, VA for a BJJ camp. It was a two day BJJ seminar for five hours each day and conducted by five black belts who were led by Prof. David Carlos. I got there a little late because I was driving from 4 hours away…and well… I’m usually running late. I hate being late to stuff like this because you feel awkward as you interrupt the whole flow of class and you must find a partner or become the third wheel until another person awkwardly arrives later than you. However, when I got to Impact, I was warmly welcomed in and taken on a tour of the facility by a women I later learned was an owner, Eloy…which means “warrior” in Hawaii. When I got dressed, Eloy was waiting for me so she could show me the school rules and bring me over to whom later I learned was her husband and co-owner, Ervin. Ervin walked me on the mat, introduced me to all the black belts, one of whom is my Prof. Songura Cole. Irving then took me to someone that was in need of a partner and I jumped right in with no weird feelings, awkward looks and stares as if I had toilet paper hanging out the back of my gi. I appreciate knowing the customs of a school such as when and how it’s acceptable to walk on the mat and join class. I’m a little old school when it’s comes to respecting the academy and instructors so knowing these things beforehand is far better than learning after you have insulted the class of regulars. Plus, I’m a teacher and it only takes one kid walking into class only slightly out of the acceptable normalcy before the whole class is disrupted and my focus on the day’s objective leaves the curriculum and turns into wrangling the attention of the students back on path.
Although I was only there for the seminar, I felt the owners, their son and students were extremely respectful and eager to help as I got to know them a little better when the seminar ended and we rolled and talked for an hour. When Ervin and I sparred I really liked his patience and instruction as we fought. I felt like I had known Irving for a while because he interacted with me with such familiarity and I felt like I was a part of his school while there.
The school was clean, well-kept and up to date. They have Muay Thai classes so there was a lot of sparring equipment, about a dozen heavy bags hanging up and one of those hellish inclining and declining monkey bars to practice your secret desires to tryout for American Ninja Warrior or create a silverback-like grip.
The matted area was large and could accommodate dozens of sparring students without ever worrying about rolling into one another. The pads were nicely fitted together, so no broken or caught toes and they were thick enough to handle overhead throws. (That rhyme was not intentional but nice nonetheless) There are two extremely clean unisex changing rooms/bathrooms. Storage for your gear was provided by dozens of open cubbyholes. There’s no locks or doors on the cubbyholes but the opening of the cubbies are visible from all over the mat so you’re good with keeping an eye on your stuff …but as always, leave the gold and gems at home or in your car…there’s no stolen chain moves in Jiu Jitsu so don’t bring them to class.
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The owners are brown belt, Coach Erving and his purple belt wife, Eloy. Their son Geno was extremely respectful and helpful to everyone in attendance and was pretty good on the mats.
It was a rainy and hot outside while I was there but it was comfortable inside. They have an AC and although I sweated while sparring I was comfortable during my time there… except in the area where my professor was rolling. He was drenched with sweat…oh wait, he’s always drenched so never mind. Sorry Prof Kini,
If you’re rolling through Va Beach and looking to fill your BJJ fix then Impact is definitely a place you want to stop by and roll. They seem to have an open arms policy and you will feel like part of their crew. Also ask when they will be doing another BJJ boot camp so you dont miss out on some sound BJJ techniques. You’ll enjoy the BJJ and come to better understand the beauty of the subculture of BJJ that makes visiting other schools like finding homes away from homes.
The school has been open since 2009 and have an array of classes all week to meet any schedule. Ervin and Eloy are under BJJ Prof David Carlos and also are instructors in Muay Thai and Filipino Martial Arts.
Impact Martial Arts Academy
3877 Holland Road Suite 511
Virginia Beach, VA 23452
info@impact-athletes.com
(757) 655-1662
