Team Capitol Punishment
By MFF Contributors Stacey Miller and Mark Powell
Longoria's ATA Black Belt Academy is nearing its 25th year of establishment in Lincoln, Nebraska. Offering programs such as Krav Maga, TaeKwonDo, Karate 4 Kids, Cardio-KICKS, and as of recent, a Mixed Martial Arts program, Longoria’s is among the top tier of Martial Arts Training in the area.
Senior Master Longoria has been teaching TaeKwonDo since 1978 and is currently holds a 7th degree Black Belt. Along with a significant amount of experience in TaeKwonDo, Senior Master Longoria grew up as a wrestler and has been boxing since he was 5 years old.
Growing up with a brother and cousins who were champion wrestlers, and having a father and uncle who were Golden Glove boxers, it appears as though athleticism runs in the family. He and his wife, Pati Longoria, opened Longoria’s Black Belt Academy in 1985. In 1999, Senior Master Longoria was certified in Krav Maga, an official self defense and fighting system of the Israeli Defense Forces, and included it in the programs available at the gym.
In May 2008, Longoria’s Black Belt Academy began to offer Mixed Martial Arts. Senior Master Longoria explains that the active members in TaeKwonDo and Krav Maga were taught in a traditional sense of the sport, which included sparring. He states “the guys were ready to take it to the next level and with the recent popularity of UFC and Tri State Cage Fighting coming to Lincoln, it seemed appropriate.”
With only 1 ½ years of the MMA program being offered, interest in the MMA program with TCP has exploded. Senior Master Longoria states there are 30-40 guys/girls training with them on a regular basis. Among those include Justyn Riley (7-0), current Heavyweight title holder for TCF, Steve Lucchino (7-2-1), current middleweight title holder for TCF, Tanner Andrews (2-2), Luke Peters (2-1), Mike Beltz (2-1), Jeremy Seeland (2-3), Sean Wilson, an ex-professional boxer, and BJ Drew, a professional fighter. Clearly, TCP has turned out some excellent fighters in the Midwest.
Other fighters that have fought out of Longoria’s/TCP include: Jake Mrsny, Craig Brack, Mark Williamson, Brandon Schnuelle, Grant Nuttleman, Henry Ems, and Carlos Gonzalez, to name a few. Two additions to the TCP family and making their MMA amateur debut at TCF December 12th are Joe Hager (155) and Chad Case (245), who is well-known in the community as CEO of Max Muscle of Nebraska. Two females, Hannah Anders and Britany Batt, also currently train with TCP with plans to eventually fight.
Senior Master Longoria explains that TCP prides themselves on being prepared. He states that those who fight are prepared, well-conditioned, and proficient. Team members do strength and conditioning with Athology (athology.org) with trainers Pichi Balet and Tyler Gingery, and are aided with nutrition and supplement guidelines/advice from the Max Muscle Lincoln. With well-rounded training, conditioning, and general health knowledge, these men/women have many vital tools in their arsenal.
Although the team and coaches take the training seriously and push each other harder every day, the men and women of TCP have a family feel amongst them. Many have created strong bonds of friendship that can be seen both on and off the mats. Senior Master Longoria explains his favorite part of the MMA program is the camaraderie among the team members. He compares it to military training, “it’s a brotherhood… you go through hard stuff and have each others back… like we’re all going to battle.” He explains that the team is a large part in explaining the success with TCP and that the team members “are like soldiers, they’ll do anything to help each other.”
I recently took the time to go down and “roll” with both Justyn Riley and Steve Luchinno at Longoria’s TCP Facility located near Holdrege and Cotner Boulevard in Lincoln. As I was watching the ground work being practiced by over 20 members of the team, I thought back to over 20 years ago when I was just starting out in the sport and how far things have evolved. Taking three or four maneuvers over the hour plus long class and drilling them repeatedly with different opponents of different sizes and weights was just unheard of decades ago. I have not only seen it at TCP, but at other training facilities as well. MMA training has completely changed, for the better, making much better and well rounded fighters than in years past.
Rolling with Justyn, I found that unlike me, his 265 pounds were more muscle than lard. Eventually coming out of my guard and landing in side mount, it wasn’t long before I was tapping to an Americana. And it was a good thing I (Mark Powell) outweighed Luchinno as I fought him off for a bit before his quickness finally garnered my back as he rained down “punches and elbows” on my head. It was a blast! Hopefully I will grab some of the video of the training in short order and have it up here on the site.
More information for Longoria’s Black Belt Academy/TCP can be found at longoriasblackbeltacademy.com. If you live in Lincoln, we would highly recommend you check this training out! Master Longoria, along with TCP fighters getting ready for Tri State Cage Fighting December 12th!
