Torch MMA and Fitness

04/23/2026

The mats are a sacred place. People are fighting unseen battles. They bring those battles with them where ever they go.
Whenever you enter or leave a mat, ring or cage you should bow.

Why? Respect!

When you are entering you should bow out of respect and humility. Giving a physical acknowledgement of your readiness to be a student and checking your ego.

This is also when we make a DECISION to not think about our unseen battles and focus on getting better and being better at what drives us. The enemy wants you weak and wants you to quit. Thankfully we have the control over that.

So the next time you walk on to a mat stop for a second, open up your hands palms up and bow and humble yourself. Tell the mats that you are ready to learn.

When you exit the mats ring or cage.
Turn around and face them and say thank you with a dedt of gratitude for the lessons and the therapy.

Lots of therapy. ❤️🔥🙏🏼

04/18/2026

PSA! 😭💔😡

In light of a horrific event that happened without news coverage in our own community, this post is a PSA to all who all call Cherokee County home.

This happened to one of our Torch family moms, so we feel a moral obligation to share it (with her permission) to help inform our neighbors.

On Monday April 6th a local resident of Canton was violently attacked, sexually assaulted, and held captive for hours in an apartment complex off of Ridge Road. Tera, a house cleaner and single mother of four was at the apartment to give a quote for cleaning. Her job requires walking through a potential customer's home to assess the scope of the job.

After following Tera closely through the rooms of the apartment, the 23 year-old man suddenly attacked her with a screwdriver- stabbing her in the head, neck, chest and eye. Thankfully she was wearing glasses or she would have lost her eye. It is also a miracle that he didn’t just end her life. (I won’t go into the horrific details.) She was hospitalized and is being closely monitored due to a brain bleed.

Currently the attacker is behind bars without bail. We want him to stay there until justice is served.His mugshot and charges are available and public.
Tera is recovering slowly, but healing from this physically and mentally will take time and the fact that this occurred in our backyard without any media coverage is scary. How often are violent crimes happening in Cherokee County without us knowing?

Residents have a right to be aware of things like this- especially with all of the “growth” happening in and around Sixes Road and Holly Springs. Housing is being constructed everywhere and anywhere quicker than we can think about the logical uptick in crime. Service providers such as house cleaners, dog-sitters, real estate agents who go into other people’s homes by themselves need to be informed of events like this.

At Torch MMA, we stand against predatory violence and we’re horrified and enraged at what happened to one of our Torch families. A man capable of this evil is the weakest of all men. It is our job to protect others and we have done our best to help Tera and her family during this unimaginable time. The needs for her family have compounded as she is unable to work.

Tera wanted us to share her story and is open to talking with media outlets. If you know of anyone who can offer help in any way- please reach out.

At the very least, we hope this makes you angry and vigilant in our community.

This is the man in custody and accused of the crimes. This is also the location.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FgiKTgNma/

Cherokee Ledger-News

I was asked to provide her gofund me from the community.

https://gofund.me/c223b4529

04/12/2026

We had a smaller crew compete yesterday because of spring break but we still showed out. I could not be prouder of the progress of everyone's Jiu-jitsu. Everybody represented Torch extremely well. Thank you for your excellent conduct and congratulations to all of you on a great tournament.

Back to work we go. 🔥

03/21/2026

RIP, a true legend in martial arts. Chuck Norris was very instrumental in bringing Brazilian Jiu-jitsu to America. You never heard anything bad about him. A very humble legend. 🔥 Respect ❤️

03/20/2026

Don't wait for trouble. Peek out! 👀✌🏼

03/19/2026

This Saturday the 21st. Tell your friends and come out for some gi rolls.

03/18/2026

These kids are getting it. Great class today!

family

03/17/2026

Thoughts?

I'm just about done underestimating Strickland.

Jorge Masvidal: "I'm putting the house on Strickland." 😳

03/15/2026

Awesome job
You went out there and handled business 🔥

That's how you do it!

03/14/2026

Let's go way to finish that 🔥

03/14/2026

Super excited to announce we have another Torch fighting March 28th
My guy Sevryn Staley ready to improve his undefeated record of 3-0.

Let's Go! 🔥

03/09/2026

I think one the worst thing you can do to your kids out of good intentions is overprotect them in the real world and underprotect them in the virtual world.

Over protecting them from hard things, disappointments or dangerous experiences in the real world will make them feel weak, fearful and lacking in resilience and their self belief.

Under protecting them in the virtual world may seem less risky but it's the opposite. Today there are far more bullying tactics and evil messages attacking our children online then in face to face interactions. Plus what happens online can go unnoticed for long periods of time. It stays hidden in the darkness. Pain and depression grows in darkness.

As a coach of combat sports I see parents over protect their kids all the time. I see kids that want to test themselves and I watch parents cringe and discourage it.

Then they let their kids have full access to the internet.

Kids are just searching for adventure, something exciting and risky. Then they are restricted or discouraged from the real life adventure that they should be pursuing because they "might" get hurt or they get their fragile feelings hurt.

Kids love freedom and unfortunately they are often able roam the entire internet carefree whether the parents know it or not. All the while predators are lurking everywhere online and the algorithms are being built. Intentional conditioning and brainwashing begins and a habitual feedback loop of fantasy and misinformation is born in their super impressionable brains.

We have to encourage kids to explore real adventure and take risks. Ones that might leave them with bump, bruises, maybe a broke bone or some stitches and a ego check.



We must protect and discourage them from virtual adventure that will leave them mentally scarred with possible body dysmorphia, discontentment, misinformation or worse.

All of the physical injuries heal fast but not the psychological ones.

Sometimes those can last a lifetime.

Let's do our best to lead, guide and coach this next generation to a life of real adventure. A Torch is the oldest tool in history to light up dark places.

Pastor Alan at New Life Canton literally talked about this exact topic last year in one of our series. I love my church and our pastor BTW. Pastor Alan is the real deal.