Making Some Noise

The group at Balance Combat in Old Forge has been making a lot of noise in competitions lately by wining medals and also teaching students how to compete in a growing new sport of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). MMA is a sport in which you need a group of many skills and Balance Combat has those skills covered.

Now Balance Combat has added two more top-level instructors to its already strong stable of mentors who are living in the Triboro area. Joe Anastasi, owner and instructor at Balance Combat, couldn't be happier about the new additions to an impressive group of teachers.

Balance Combat added a former Olympian to their impressive lists of teachers. Al Cleary brings 30 years of grappling experience to the Old Forge gym. He was a part of the 1980 U.S. Olympic wrestling team. It was unfortunate for Cleary as the United States boycotted the games that year.

However, he brings a world of knowledge to the table and he also has a brown belt in judo under local master Fred Murry, who instructs at Balance Combat. He teaches advance take down techniques among other skills.

Balance Combat students will now have Sal Diaz to learn karate from. He is a black belt in karate, tang soo do and tae kuan do. He is no stranger to Old Forge after running his own martial arts studio in town. Diaz is a former member of the U.S. Army Boxing team and a former Green Beret. He brings a variety of skills to the table. The new instructors will help students who are now preparing for the Ultimate Grappling Challenge in Hamburg, Pa.

The new group of instructors joined an already impressive group of skilled teachers. Ed Lozada is a specialist in jiu-jitsu and has been a key part of the success of the students have enjoyed. Balance Combat also has an experienced MMA fighter Guy Solano as an instructor.

Solano has competed on many local cards, which have been become more and more popular each time another event happens.

Alex Anastasi in one of the top students at Balance Combat and has several first place victories along with several second place finishes. He is a nationally ranked eight-year-old and has competed against kids older than he is. He has competed in both the gi and no gi and recently won a gold medal in Atlantic City on May 29 at the Atlantic City Convention Center, which helped make him a nationally ranked fighter in his division.

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