For 23 years, Sioux Falls local Bruce Hoyer has been a student of martial arts. When his coach at Action MMA decided to leave the gym in 2008, Hoyer took it upon himself as one of the more advanced students in the area to start his own gym under the name Next Edge Academy.
“It’s been crazy since then,” reflected Hoyer. “We’ve had a ton of people go off to the UFC and be on television.”
At Next Edge, Hoyer and several instructors teach Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Boxing, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), and Muay Thai, which is similar to Kickboxing.
“By far we’re the biggest Sioux Falls gym that does this,” he said, “and we’re the first to continue Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, MMA, and Muay Thai after Action MMA left.”
On the mat, Hoyer says it’s really more about engineering than anything else. He describes anticipating your opponents moves and choosing your own to combat them as “tinkering.”
“It’s fun,” he said.
LEVEL UP
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Belt Order:
White, Brown, Purple, Blue, Black
While the classes can seem intimidating, Hoyer encourages anyone to watch or attend class.
“The group here is absolutely amazing. They’re always kind to the folks that are coming in to try a class,” he said.
The 605 team–editor Gabby Sudenga, designer and photographer Cailyn Patterson, office manger Kelsey Sutton, and I–were abuzz with excitement as we entered the gym. None of us had any experience, but we were ready to gain some.
After being welcomed in, we were led to the mat, where we all lined up and bowed in as a sign of respect, and to begin class.
Cheyanne Bowers, professional MMA fighter, introduced herself as our instructor. She led the four of us through the beginner-level basics of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
NEXT EDGE ALUM:
BRYCE LOGAN // BELLATOR MMA
BEN NGUYEN // UFC
DAVID MICHAUD // UFC & PFL
DEVIN CLARK // UFC
DRAKO RODRIGUEZ // UFC
NINA ANSAROFF // UFC
SHAYNA BASZLER // UFC & WWE
Using another fighter, Bowers demonstrated each move and position to us very intentionally, taking the time to explain the point of each move, what not to do, and how to be most successful in it.
The team clumsily replicated Bowers’ flawless moves under her watchful eye. After teaching us a handful of scenerios, she let the pairs go live and attempted to put the moves into practice.
After unsuccessfully trying to defend myself against Cailyn and dissolving into a fit of giggles at the end of each match, I decided a career in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was not for me.
Bowers then took us over to the boxing ring and led us through different punches: jab, cross, lead and rear hook, and lead and rear uppercut. Though we struggled to wrap our heads around the proper form, she was patient with her instruction.
After learning the moves, Bowers let us get out some frustration on each other, with one partner holding mitts and the other strapped into boxing gloves.
The team was surprised to find out how much effort goes into practicing these new skills. The next day, soreness let us know that we had used muscles we didn’t even know existed. Though we didn’t feel like we could quite catch on. Hoyer could relate as a self-proclaimed slow learner, and was able to give some advice:
“I feel like I came out with a much better understanding than someone else that caught on quicker, because I had to figure out those small details,” he said. “Being patient with yourself is the biggest thing.”
In addition to being patient, Hoyer and his staff operate Next Edge under a flipped classroom type of curriculum.
In a flipped classroom, the student advances through the curriculum at their own pace.
“I think it’s best for the learner,” said Hoyer. “A lot of this stuff is concept and technique. I don’t want to have you move on and without fully understanding it.”
FACT
NEXT EDGE ACADEMY OFFERS CLASSES IN BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU FOR ADULTS AND KIDS, BOXING, KICKBOXING, AND MIXED MARTIAL ARTS.
Another initiative for Next Edge is to make certain that the skills taught in the classroom remain consistent when put to practice in the real world.
“It’s a real trial and error style of learning that actually works in a real life situation,” said Hoyer.
The gym helps to train law enforcement officers, and giving them the confidence to know they can use a minimal and safe level of force is vital to Hoyer.
Though a relatively unassuming storefront on 8th Street, Next Edge Academy has trained some big names that Hoyer is proud to consider friends.
“When you watch an event on UFC, chances are that many of the fighters or coaches you see have been in this gym in Sioux Falls, South Dakota,” he said.
