Unbridled Martial Arts | MMA for Fitness & Self-Defense in Bellingham WA

Rob Eis: School Organizer & Instructor

For 40 years, Rob Eis has been dedicated to the practice of martial arts. Inspired by live action Japanese superheroes he watched as a child on TV growing up in Hawaii, Rob’s martial arts career began with the study of traditional Shito-ryu and Goju-ryu Karate at the age of 10. By age 15 he was competing internationally and that year he was the youngest member on the U.S. Junior National Karate Team. Since then, he has studied a multitude of styles that he now teaches to others, including Doce Pares Escrima, Shamrock Submission Fighting, Judo, Western Boxing, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, JKD concepts, and Muay Thai kickboxing. Learn more

Student Testimonials

Tired of the monotony of the treadmill at the gym, I decided to attend a kickboxing class, Unbridled Martial Arts, taught by Rob Eis. Not knowing what to expect, I prepared for an uncomfortable experience, with a lot of yelling, sweating, and confusing maneuvers. What I found was a small, friendly group of people of all different fitness levels, learning side by side. I wasn’t the only new person. Rob took the time to teach us the basic techniques with concise directions, allowing us to go at our own pace until we felt comfortable enough to try more advanced routines. As the month went on, I began to look forward to the one-hour classes, knowing Rob would have a new exciting sequence for us to learn, accompanied with excellent warm-up stretches and light cardio exercises. Few classes offer the personalized and individual attention that Rob’s class does. I would recommend the class to anyone interested in breaking out of a workout rut. In addition to achieving a healthier lifestyle, participants will learn to appreciate the unique strengths of their bodies, and improve upon their weaknesses, in a non-judgmental atmosphere. And chances are, some great friends will be made in the process.

~ Allison Schneider, Newsroom Assistant/ Staff Writer

Getting in shape has been a battle for me most of my life. I have gone through spurts of regular jogging, lifting, and trying to eat healthier, but it always seemed to taper off at some point, due to an illness or some other stress in my life, and I found myself back at square one, back in my old eating habits and sedentary lifestyle. After a few weeks of class at UMA, I noticed that not only did I feel healthier and in better shape, I was actually looking forward to going to class and working out. Learning about self-defense has made getting in shape a secondary outcome, and my newfound optimism about working out doesn’t come from looking healthier, but from the fact that I know I’m developing toughness, mental discipline, and valuable skills.

~ Noel Abbott, Web Developer

Before I went to Rob’s classes I was doing Shito-Ryu (karate) for about 8 years. It was a very formal class and not much fun. I joined Rob’s class because I knew him and wanted to try something different. Rob’s classes help you out in a lot of real life situations. They are fun and Rob’s school has a more relaxed environment. The things that I like best is the mat work that teaches you submissions and how to take someone to the ground. All of the instructions that Rob gives in class are very clear and easy to do. The classes don’t go too fast so you are able to keep up with everyone else and not get confused. The classes aren’t formal like a lot of other places that make you wear a uniform, bow or have a certain rank in the class. After each class you feel like you have just had a good workout so you’re not too tired to do other things (compared to) when other places leave you extremely worn out. Overall Rob’s classes are fun, useful, and not confusing.