Wrestling, MMA, and Fight Ready strength & conditioning under one roof — inside the most advanced grappling facility in San Diego County.
12316 Oak Knoll Rd, Suite A, Poway, CA 92064 · Minutes from Rancho Bernardo, Scripps Ranch & Escondido
The foundation of every fight is won on the feet. We built American Strength and Combat around that truth — a takedown-first gym where wrestlers and fighters sharpen each other every day.
Competition-size training areas kept clean and match-ready.
The first gym anywhere to install one — train wall wrestling the way it's fought.
Modern competition grappling scenarios you can't replicate on flat mats.
A full striking line for MMA, kickboxing, and conditioning.
Top-of-the-line equipment in a dedicated performance training room.
Division 1-level fundamentals — takedowns, standing control, and wall wrestling on our UFC BJJ bowl wall and CJI angled wall, coached by a national-champion pedigree.
Complete mixed martial arts — striking, wrestling, and grappling blended, with cage-wall work the way it's actually fought.
One class, every weeknight, 5:00–6:30. Ninety minutes that move through strength training in the performance room, wrestling fundamentals — stance, motion, takedowns, getting up — and MMA on the mat and the cage wall. No experience needed: beginners and competitors train in the same room, each at their own level.
Youth wrestling (Mon/Wed/Fri) and Next Gen MMA (Tue/Thu), 4:00–5:00 PM — building discipline, confidence, and real skill from the ground up.
| Time | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4:00–5:00 PM | Youth Wrestling | Next Gen MMA | Youth Wrestling | Next Gen MMA | Youth Wrestling |
| 5:00–6:30 PM | Adult Class — Strength · MMA · Wrestling | Adult Class — Strength · MMA · Wrestling | Adult Class — Strength · MMA · Wrestling | Adult Class — Strength · MMA · Wrestling | Adult Class — Strength · MMA · Wrestling |
Doors opened Saturday, October 3. Classes run Monday–Friday, 4:00–6:30 PM — youth wrestling and Next Gen MMA 4:00–5:00, then the adult class (strength training, MMA and wrestling in one session) 5:00–6:30. Come take one class on us, sign the waiver at the door, and decide on the mat.
Also available: Wrestler Strong online courses and 1-on-1 video coaching for athletes who can't train with us in person. Learn more →
Head coach Ian Daube faces Pat Downey at UFC BJJ 13 on Thursday, October 29 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, live on UFC Fight Pass. Fight camp is running on our mats right now, and the gym's Fight Camp Partner program is open to local businesses who want their name in the camp and on the Oct 29 watch party — email info@americanstrengthandcombat.com. Fight week at the gym (Oct 26–30): Coach Ashley Thiner runs all classes Monday through Thursday — youth 4:00–5:00, Adult Class 5:00–6:30 as usual. No classes Friday, October 30. Back to the regular schedule Monday, November 2.
Suples founder Ivan Ivanov — Greco-Roman Olympian, creator of the Bulgarian Bag — runs a seminar at American Strength & Combat on Sunday, December 20. Time, price and sign-up details will be posted here and on Instagram.
Starting Thursday, October 22: Youth Wrestling / Next Gen MMA 4:00–5:00 PM and the Adult Class 5:00–6:30 PM, Monday through Friday. The 5:30 and 6:30 adult classes are now one 90-minute session that combines strength training, MMA and wrestling. Kids are off the mat at 5, adults are out the door by 6:30.
We opened Saturday night and the first full week of classes started Monday. Classes run Monday through Friday (see the current schedule above). Your first class is free — sign the waiver at the door and get on the mat. Book your free class →
The doors opened October 3 with a free open mat, a full room, and the first names on the Founders Wall. Thank you to everyone who rolled, watched, and signed up.
The questions Poway parents actually ask — is eight too young, what does the first practice look like, what does it cost, what to bring — answered by a D1 wrestler who grew up here. Read it →
1,400 sq ft of Dollamur mat, the UFC-style curved bowl wall, the CJI angled wall, a spring floor, the heavy-bag wall, the MMA cage and a full performance strength room — all in and open for training.
The gym is yours on weekdays, 7 AM to 3:30 PM. Private coaching, team practices, small-group fitness, photo and video shoots, kids' sports parties.
Or call (858) 683-3144. Training and coaching from $125/hr, productions from $200/hr, events from $175/hr; coach passes and multi-hour discounts available.
Few coaches anywhere carry a grappling résumé like Ian Daube's: Division I wrestler. California State Champion. Freestyle and Greco-Roman All-American. Judo National Champion and USA Judo Team member. Two-time IBJJF No-Gi World Champion. A 10th Planet brown belt and MMA veteran with more than 26 years in combat sports.
That range is what sets his students apart. Wrestling, judo, jiu-jitsu, and MMA each solve the fight differently — Ian has competed at an elite level in all of them, and he distills that depth into coaching that transforms your takedowns, pressure, balance, and top control into a complete no-gi game.
Every class at American Strength and Combat is built on that world-championship standard. First day or fight camp — you'll be coached like a champion and made dangerous on your feet. Next up for Ian: UFC BJJ 13, October 29, UFC Apex, Las Vegas, on UFC Fight Pass.
See you on the mats. — IanCome feel the difference a takedown-first gym makes. Fill out the form and we'll get you on the mats.
Book My Free Class