Newcastle's premier mixed martial arts and performance centre
We offer classes to fit your schedule and level of practice. Sign up today!
our coaches
Owner | Ben Cook
Jiu Jitsu Coach | Jamie Ballard
Striking Coach | Simon Arentz
Ben is the owner and director of Alpha MMA. He has an extensive background in the gym and fitness industry. He began personal coaching over 15 years ago and possesses a bachelors degree in Exercise and Sport Science, Diploma of Business Management, Cert 3/4 in Fitness, Cert 4 in Massage Therapy a long with countless short courses and certifications.
Bens true passion however is in grappling and MMA. Ben was 3-0 as an amateur kickboxer but is more of a grappling specialist. He has been grappling for over 15 years and is a black belt in jiu jitsu under professor Jamie Ballard, he coaches submission wrestling.
Striking Coach | Simon Arentz
Jiu Jitsu Coach | Jamie Ballard
Striking Coach | Simon Arentz
Simon is the chief striking coach at Alpha. He has over 10 years training and coaching experience with a long and extensive competitive background. He has had a combined 22 fights in kickboxing and MMA with a record of 14-7. He is a wealth of knowledge in the striking arts and builds well rounded strikers through his "Alpha Striking Systems" program. Simon is also a purple belt in BJJ under professor Jamie Ballard and is an excellent wrestler in his own regard. This shows through in his ability to tailor the sport of kickboxing to match MMA competition where wrestling is involved. This is called shoot boxing and is an integral part of Simon's coaching curriculum.
Jiu Jitsu Coach | Jamie Ballard
Jiu Jitsu Coach | Jamie Ballard
Jiu Jitsu Coach | Jamie Ballard
Coach Jamie is a local legend in the combat scene. He is a black belt in BJJ who has been training for over 25 years and owned his own gym for over 15. He has competed and coached at the highest levels of jiu jitsu and is one of the most experienced grapplers in Australia. He has competed professionally in mixed martial arts and brings unparalleled knowledge to the coaching team.
MMA Coach | Justin Murray
Boxing Coach | Paul Cupitt
Jiu Jitsu Coach | Jamie Ballard
Justin is Newcastles most successful professional MMA fighter with years of combat experience and multiple Australian titles to his name. He was the Warriors Realm Welterweight Champion, the XTREME Fighting Championship Welterweight Champion, Cagefighting Championships Welterweight title contender. NSW BJJ federation state champion, National submission champion and is a BJJ black belt under Jamie Ballard. In his career he amassed a professional record of 7wins, 3 losses and 1 draw. He brings unrivalled MMA experience to Alpha.
Boxing Coach | Paul Cupitt
Boxing Coach | Paul Cupitt
Boxing Coach | Paul Cupitt
Paul has 15 years experience in boxing training and coaching. In 2012 he was the state and national amateur boxing champion before turning professional. He brings an intelligent approach to boxing coaching which has been honed through overseas training camps and years of experience. Paul wrote the book "Jack Carroll and the rise of Australian Boxing" which displays Paul's exemplary historical knowledge and understanding of boxing.
MMA Coach | Dave Morley
Boxing Coach | Paul Cupitt
Boxing Coach | Paul Cupitt
Dave has 15 years of fighting and coaching experience. He had 8 fights as professional and was the two time Storm Damage light heavyweight champion. He brings a strong focus on perfect fundamentals to his coaching and coaches in kickboxing, MMA and jiujitsu. He is a black belt in jiu jitsu under Jamie Ballard.
Kids Coach | Corey Smith
Wrestling Coach | Mohamed Hamad
Boxing Coach | Stuart Gowans
Corey has been training with Alpha for over 3 years and is one of the most valuable members of the team. He is a purple belt in jiujitsu and teaches the kids program. Corey knows first hand the value martial arts brings to children and is passionate about passing that knowledge and experience on .
Boxing Coach | Stuart Gowans
Wrestling Coach | Mohamed Hamad
Boxing Coach | Stuart Gowans
Stuart has been boxing since he was 12 years old. He began his training in Scotland under some of the top coaches in the country. He emigrated to Australia in 2009 and continued training and coaching boxing where he developed both state and national boxing champions (including coach Paul Cupitt). He has coached onthe biggest stages of professional boxing in the country and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the team.
Wrestling Coach | Mohamed Hamad
Wrestling Coach | Mohamed Hamad
Wrestling Coach | Mohamed Hamad
Mohamed has over 25 years of experience in freestyle wrestling. He started training at age 8 under his national champion father, and has been competing since he was 13. Mohamed represented his native Egypt on the national freestyle team. Since 2013 Mohamed has also been a qualified referee in Egypt and you will now see him as referee in the Australia Super Series. Mohamed brings an intense training style to our already great freestyle classes.