Professor coaching one of the first MMA fighters at Reaction, in his successful Pro title defense (Matt Metts).
Reaction MMA boxing class!
Our team comes from a strong lineage. Rob Nickerson pictures with Master Sazinho Sa and Jorge Gurgel.
Coach always trying to stay sharp and continuing to learn from champions and best around. Rich Franklin Chris Curtis Taylor Ruscin.
If you don't have a picture it didn't happen in BJJ.
Just another full night of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at Reaction MMA.
A view of some of 13,000 sq foot facility.
Rob Nickerson wins the top trophy in football
Post another victorious night in the cage for Reaction MMA.
Matt M.
Feb 18, 2025
Excellent gym, great people. I've dropped into several gyms, I always recommend it to friends. If I lived in the Lexington area there's no other place I'd rather train.
Read MoreChristian P.
May 12, 2022
Great professor, great faculty, super fun and nice people. Love this place and already have excellent friends!!
Read MoreDavid J.
Oct 13, 2020
Simply put, Reaction MMA has top notch training. Make no mistake, this is not a buy a belt program. It requires hard work and discipline but your self confidence, strength and ability to defend yourself will grow each week.
Read MoreBruno V.
Jun 26, 2018
I dropped in here while on a cross-country road trip. I came by for a Friday night open mat, and welcomed by Rob (head coach) and got some good rolls. He also let me stay behind to do some burpees and other GPP.I came by Saturday too for an 11am class, and got some good instruction in butterfly guard sweeps and also on how to think, i.e. treating it as an algorithm (if a, then b, etc.).Great school with a great facility. If you're local (or not), you should go.
Read MorePatty R.
Oct 14, 2020
Amazing atmosphere and coaches! Our son has been channeling his energy in learning effective and necessary techniques to protect himself and others, if needed. Staff is always willing to go above and beyond and are patient with beginners! Inviting and friendly place to learn necessary skills. We are happy to have found Reaction MMA!
Read MoreBrandon H.
May 9, 2016
Great place to train, great fighters and an awesome head coach. One of the best known MMA gyms in the state of Kentucky.
Read MoreTabitha L.
Mar 1, 2025
We have had the best experience! Just becoming a part of the reaction family has done wonders for my own mental health.My kids love their own juijitsu classes there. They've improved with their social skills, physical endurance, and mental strength.We live in a beautiful world..but it can get pretty nasty. I feel more confident sending my kids out into it.The coaches and Professor especially will push you to become your best..to encourage you to go 10 steps further when you want to give up. Be in a place that will build you up not to tear you down..these coaches will build you up and push you to find your inner strength when you feel like tearing yourself down.Fight to become a better version of yourself.Reaction MMA is an great place to start breaking down your walls and fighting those inner and outer fears.If you come in looking for info don't get scared away if you see a class going on. Stand near the door and take a peak. They are so focused on giving their best to their students. Theres also a scan code near the front desk and on the window/door of class that could help get you started as you wait for someone to properly excuse themselves from class.
Read MoreSteven M.
Jul 1, 2018
When I started this Gym I had never played or participated in a sport. Now I absolutely love to box. My intent was never to become an amateur or professional boxer, just to enjoy working out.I am now 54 years old and absolutely love my time at reaction. I had hip surgery, but needed more work to make my legs strong. I am happy to report that I am now back to boxing. And very happy with my skills. Reaction works with you mentally, physically. The atmosphere is one of peace not war
Read MoreJoshua W.
Oct 20, 2020
Best gym yet!!! The atmosphere is amazing, the team is super welcoming to new comers ( not all gyms in the past have been like this). The facilities are very clean, from the mats, to the weights, and the bathrooms. Professor Rob and Coach Chad do an excellent job of breaking things down to a beginners level. Although I'm new to bjj world. I feel like I've already learned so much. Making Bjj fun and exciting for any first timer. It's easy to be intimidated by any gym (especially one that has such a winning reputation). But the team and coaches here have done a great job making me comfortable while helping me push my limits and grow both on and off the mat.... I cannot stress this enough, if your thinking about joining, DO IT!
Read MoreBrian S.
May 21, 2018
Caveat: This is a parent's review, and I confess to having no real insight into the culture of martial arts training! We did a total of 5 weeks of lessons here. Looking for something that could teach my child some useful self-defense moves, I came across this site that lists a Mon/Wed evening kids class. I was hoping to find a place that didn't focus quite as much on upright stances and air punch repetitions, as that to me seems less like what a person would actually have to do in a true self-defense situation. Grappling and holds seem more useful in my very limited experience. Punch/kick practice is all we had seen with previous Tae Keon Do and Karate lessons.Getting the staff on the phone was terribly hard. Eventually I got some answers to questions by text. Their location wasn't easy to find either, as at that time their address on google maps was not accurate. Once we finally got there, the "gym smell" was to be expected I guess, but still somewhat off-putting. The manager/owner was very nice, but the offices seemed somewhat disorganized, with stuff everywhere. The actual lesson usually consisted of a whole-group warm up. Next there was a very brief bit of instruction (i.e. 5-7 minutes demonstrating a hold). Then kids appeared to be broken up into pairs by approximate weight/size. This is the part where I'd like to see more instructor involvement and guidance. Usually my son and his partner never really got any reps in for the move in question. It seemed instead that the more experienced kid just inevitably got my child in a pin or choke hold. I applaud the kids for seeming to be maintaining dialogue with my son about what they were doing, but I rarely saw an instructor observe both children carry out the move and receive needed correction. One instance, perhaps on day 2, kind of scared me. My child's partner got him in a standing choke hold. My son's face started turning purple. The child wasn't letting up, and nobody had taught my son to tap out when he's done. I had to run out onto the mat and pull the kid off him. There simply weren't enough teachers to have seen what was happening. My hope is that this place, perhaps still being new, will eventually find itself and improve the communication plan with parents. They can create a "typical lesson" handout, for example, explaining their teaching philosophy and rationale for how the lessons are structured. They can talk more to kids also about the tap-out, even every single day. They can be more structured in receiving questions or comments from parents. There is a real need for more throw and grapple sort of martial arts instruction in Lexington. I'd like to see this one make it.
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