Interview: building a fight team outside the big metros

Finding training partners

“The hardest part isn't technique, it's rounds. We share sparring days with two other gyms in the state and travel once a month.”

Keeping athletes

“Most of our fighters study or work full time. We plan camps around exams and harvest season — if you ignore real life, you lose people.”

Advice for new coaches

• Keep records of every fight from day one.
• Put safety first in sparring — you can't build a team with injured people.
• Celebrate amateurs as much as pros.