AMES — To anybody familiar with Iowa State wrestling, Kyven Gadson’s name undoubtedly rings a bell. The two-time All-American and 2015 national champion wrestled at 197 for Iowa State under head coach Kevin Jackson, earning two Academic All-Big 12 mentions in the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons.

Gadson’s father, Willie Gadson, also wrestled at Iowa State before he died in 2013. Because of his father’s wrestling background, Gadson was no stranger to some of the biggest names in the sport. 

At the time of his graduation, Gadson earned a degree in child and family services with an emphasis on youth. After briefly pursuing his wrestling career with Team USA, Gadson returned to Ames. Seeking a new opportunity, he partnered with Myriad Mixed Martial Arts Academy. 

The ultimate goal

In merging with Myriad, Gadson hopes to reach individuals of all ages and build a strong image in and around the Iowa State community. His ties to Iowa State allow him to resonate with current students and past alumni. 

“Wrestling at Iowa State was always a childhood dream of mine,” Gadson said. “Growing up with parents that were super involved in the community and working for nonprofit organizations, a lot of Myriad’s values were taught to me at a very young age.”

The gym is home to instructors and members alike, many with ties to Iowa State and international backgrounds stemming from unique and diverse cultures.

“More than anything, Myriad brings people together,” Gadson said. “We see people with different life experiences, understandings, and perspectives on the world. Combat sports and mixed martial arts bring them together and allow people to have that creative physical outlet to express themselves.”

To some members, Myriad is more than just a gym. It offers comfort, stress relief and a sense of community to anybody seeking a place of belonging.

“Things aren’t always business around here,” Craig Omozeje, a computer science major, said. “No matter who you are or where you come from, you can have fun and bond with the people around you.”

The reason behind joining Myriad

Haris Variz (left), Craig Omozeje (middle) and Joel Dudley (right) pose for a photo. // Phot provided by Kyven Gadson

To Omozeje and other members, having a place like Myriad has also helped with discipline and other day-to-day functions. The gym allows its members to flourish and confidently take on everyday challenges. 

“Getting into the rhythm of things was hard for me at first, but now I don’t have an excuse to miss practice,” Omozeje said. “It doesn’t feel like I’m working out. I just feel like I’m practicing my routines and having fun.” 

Similar to Omozeje, other members of Myriad double as mixed martial artists and students, just not at the undergraduate level. Graduate students Haris Variz and Luis Guillén joined Myriad for many other reasons. 

“As a graduate student in academia, things get stressful,” Guillén said. “I know plenty of people that have suffered physically at this level because they neglect to take care of themselves and find a healthy outlet for their stresses.”

Gullién, a doctoral candidate in electrical engineering, is not a fan of doing things the traditional way. His teaching methods go beyond the basics and are tailored to the needs of the individual.

“Nowadays, you see things done the same way, over and over,” Gullién said. “I’ve never been big on doing things one way, leaving with a piece of paper, and teaching it the same way for generations. You can learn a lot from an unconventional standpoint, especially in something as diverse as mixed martial arts.” 

Variz, a doctoral candidate in plant biology, holds similar views to Gullién. Unlike the other gym members, the pair are both doctoral candidates who spend countless hours a day studying. 

“[Gullién] and I don’t just relate because we go to the same school; it’s more because we’re both at the graduate level,” Variz said. “We both know how stressful things can get, and I think that brings us together. You’ll see us take shots at one another in the gym regularly, but that’s just part of training.”

The masterminds behind the operation

Alongside Gadson, Jake Bower, a purple belt and professional mixed martial arts fighter, owns Myriad. Unlike Gadson, Bower’s experience goes beyond the mat and into the lifestyle of mixed martial arts fighters. 

For Bower, it’s not just the sense of community, but also the dropping of social, political and economic barriers that makes Myriad unique. 

“We see people from all different ethnicities, political backgrounds and social statuses come through the doors here at Myriad,” Bower said. “It’s great to see competitors look away from things like that and focus as a group to master their craft.”

Unlike Gadson and the other instructors, Bower has seen the ins and outs of life as a combat fighter. He’s seen a large number of successes but also the struggles of the up-and-coming. 

“I’ve seen it all in the world of MMA,” Bower said. “You’ll find many gyms with guys living in vans in their parking lots that do nothing but train three times a day, seven days a week. I’ve seen that firsthand, which makes me appreciate the dedication.”

As an instructor, Bower has also taught like-minded individuals from unique backgrounds. He has seen everything from recovering addicts, troubled youth and others looking for means of protection. 

To individuals like himself, it’s less about where someone comes from and more about the goals they wish to achieve through combat. 

“Everybody has a reason behind wanting to learn combat,” Bower said. “Sometimes it stems from violence, trauma or difficult home situations, but above anything else, they come here for a reason. I never know what someone is going through, but I aim to help them in any way possible.”

According to Bower and other gym members, size doesn’t matter in a sport like mixed martial arts. Regardless of height, weight or body style, combat can be for everybody. 

“At times, you see people in public thinking that they’re bigger than you, but bigger doesn’t always mean stronger,” Bower said. “Oftentimes, you walk into a room and see a guy who’s 5-foot 3-inches, 125 pounds, scrapping with someone in the 149 or 157-pound range. I think that says a lot about the sport itself.”

Becoming a member

The gym offers a 48-hour free trial for anybody interested in joining Myriad, something that Gadson preaches to potential members with any hesitations. Gadson and Bower know that combat is not for everyone, but they encourage the local community to give it a chance. 

For anybody looking to try something new, Myriad offers various competitive opportunities ranging from grappling, striking, kickboxing, and much more. 

“Martial arts really has changed my life,” Variz said. “It’s been a positive change for many of our members, and that’s something we want to bring to the local community. A place like this can serve as a central hub for people in Ames and bring a lot of good into the community.”

Myriad is located at 417 Duff Ave. in Ames, Iowa, and membership plans can be found at https://myriadmmaacademy.gymdesk.com/ and @myriadmmaames on Instagram, YouTube and Facebook.



Source link


administrator