Train The
Real Thing.
Providing Cookeville and the Upper Cumberland with the most effective MMA training available — since 2007. Home of 10th Planet Cookeville, Tennessee's first official 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu affiliate. Complete programs in MMA, Kickboxing, and no-gi Jiu-Jitsu, for kids and adults.
Quick Start
Who are we helping today?
Pick the one that fits — we'll take you straight to the program built for it.
What We Teach
Five programs.
One world-class gym.
Every program taught by coaches who've done the work — not influencers with a YouTube channel.
Adult MMA
Complete mixed martial arts — striking, grappling, and conditioning.
10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu
Tennessee's first official 10th Planet affiliate. Eddie Bravo's no-gi system, taught by a 1st-degree black belt.
Women's Jiu-Jitsu
10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu taught in a dedicated women's class, three nights a week.
Boxing
Fundamental Boxing — the sweet science, taught right.
Kickboxing
Muay Thai-based striking with kicks, knees, and elbows.
Kids Martial Arts
Confidence, discipline, and real skills — built the right way.
Not sure where to start?
Let us help you pick.
The 3-class trial lets you try any program. Parents signing up a kid? Read our parents' guide →
Start Trial · $30Why Train Here
Not another cardio gym.
A real martial arts school.
Tennessee's first 10th Planet affiliate
10th Planet Cookeville lives inside UCMMA — the first official 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu school in the state. Real lineage, real curriculum, real results on the mat.
A real MMA cage
Not a taped-off square on a gym floor — a full regulation cage for sparring, cage work, and competition prep. The same environment fighters compete in.
Titles, trophies, and teammates
UCMMA has produced amateur MMA and kickboxing champions, plus numerous grappling tournament winners. You train with people who are serious about the craft.
Why Upper Cumberland MMA
The gym the pros train at.
Anyone can hang a sign and call it a martial arts school. Here's why we're different.
Coaches who've competed
Our instructors have trained, competed, and coached at real levels — not just watched YouTube. You learn from people who know what works.
Beginner-safe by design
New students drill for weeks before any live sparring. Injuries are rare and minor. Train to be good at this for 30 years, not 30 days.
No egos. No cliques.
The fastest way to get laughed out of our gym is to be a jerk to a new student. We train hard, treat each other well, and win together.
Month-to-month memberships
No long-term contracts. Cancel any time. We earn your membership every month — we don't trap you in one.
Your Coaches
Instructors with
real competition experience.
Black belts, title-holders, and competitors teaching kids, teens, and adults. You get real instruction, not a YouTube highlight reel.
Matt Violette
Black belt in Shotokan and Tae Kwon Do. Former Regional Sport Karate Circuit competitor — known as one of the top fighters in a 5-state region.
Jonathan Robbins
Runs the gym day-to-day, leads our fundamentals jiu-jitsu classes, and coaches the kids programs. Patient, detail-obsessed, and the person most likely to make a brand-new student feel like they belong.
Donovan Chavez
Leads our fitness-focused kickboxing classes. High-energy, technically clean, and great at meeting every student at their level — whether you're here for fitness or fight prep.
Women's
Jiu-Jitsu.
A dedicated class for women who want to train 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu in a supportive, all-women environment. Same real technique. Same real sparring. With training partners who share your frame and your goals.
Running Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 5:00 PM. No experience required.
5:00 PM
Weekly Schedule
35+ classes.
Five days a week.
Two mats running at once: one for Boxing/Kickboxing/MMA, one dedicated to 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu. Kids, teens, women, and adults — every level.
Real Students. Real Words.
Voices from the mat.
5.0 Google · 96% recommend on Facebook · 4,000+ followers
“I can't say enough about the level of grappling here. I've trained all over the country and this is a top level gym that is super friendly and welcoming.”
“My experience at Upper Cumberland MMA was life changing! By far the best program, for humility purposes, I'll say within a 300 mile radius!”
“I have been training at UCMMA for about 3 years; it's been a wonderful journey. The coaches, the members & the atmosphere are very friendly & supportive.”
“I love UCMMA! I feel pushed to the limit each and every time I go in there. The class atmosphere makes working out fun.”
“Great atmosphere! The staff are friendly, professional, and make everyone feel welcome. High level instruction in striking, grappling, kettlebells, and general fitness. Great for beginners.”
“Best gym around. You forget you're even exercising while doing the cardio class — it's so much fun.”
“An amazing martial arts academy. All the instructors are very knowledgeable and friendly. Great place for both beginners and advanced martial artists.”
“Love all classes and excellent trainers. Join us for a fun workout and meet some new friends. Punching and kicking is the best stress reliever.”
“Hey tonight was my first jiu jitsu class and I had the time of my life. Thank you Upper Cumberland MMA. I will be back.”
Questions?
You're not
the first to ask.
Here's what new students — and their parents — want to know before stepping on the mat.
Find Us
In the heart
of downtown Cookeville.
Easy parking. Clean facility. Serving Cookeville, Algood, Baxter, Sparta, Crossville, and the entire Upper Cumberland.
Your First Step
Stop thinking about it.
Start training.
The hardest part is walking through the door the first time. The 3-class trial exists to make that easy — $30, any program, zero pressure after. Book your spot today.
Claim Your Trial SpotOnly a handful of trial spots per week