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THE YOUNGER GENERATION OF MIXED MARTIAL ARTS<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n GWHS Seniors to Showcase MMA Fighting Skills<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00c2\u00a0This Saturday, October 22nd<\/sup>, two George Wythe High School seniors will enter the cage to test their fighting skills during Titans of the Cage III.<\/p>\n \u00c2\u00a0Doug Williams and McKensey Heath are not only classmates, but they also share a close friendship that dates all the way back to their early elementary school years.<\/p>\n \u00c2\u00a0These young men are \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Cage Fighters\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and the younger competitors of Mixed Martial Arts.\u00c2\u00a0 They can be found training four days a week at Southwest Martial Arts Academy, where they are members of Team SWMA.\u00c2\u00a0 While Williams and Heath share a passion for Mixed Martial Arts, they also share a tremendous work ethic and a passion for excellence.<\/p>\n Doug Williams serves as President of the GWHS senior class and ironically, Heath is the Vice-President.\u00c2\u00a0 Williams was recently crowned Homecoming King this past weekend during half-time of the GWHS and Chilhowie homecoming game.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n McKensey Heath currently has a 4.2 grade average and Williams a 4.0 grade average after the first six- weeks grading period.\u00c2\u00a0 Upon graduation, both young men will become United States Marines.\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n In addition to excelling academically, the two young men share a great passion for the martial arts and both train together at Southwest Martial Arts Academy, in Wytheville.\u00c2\u00a0 Heath holds the rank of black belt in Tang Soo Do karate under Master Kimberly Ring and is currently an advanced level brown belt in Combat Jiu-Jitsu under 3rd<\/sup> degree black belt, Sensei Greg Ring.\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n Williams also started studying karate as a youngster and earned his first two belts, but later became more involved in wrestling, which he has practiced for nearly 10 years.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0He returned to Southwest Martial Arts upon entering high school where he has studied Jiu-Jitsu under Sensei Greg Ring. Williams will be testing for the rank of blue belt shortly after the upcoming cage fighting event.<\/p>\n Both Heath and Williams will put their martial arts skills to the test this Saturday night at Titans of the Cage III.\u00c2\u00a0 Heath, who is undefeated with a 2-0 record, will face Joseph Shearin of Henderson, NC.\u00c2\u00a0 Shearin is considered to be the most experienced young fighter in the Eastern United States. \u00c2\u00a0Joseph Shearin, at age 18, has already had 14 fights inside the cage.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Williams who is 1-1 will face Aaron Davis, 1-1, of Wytheville.\u00c2\u00a0 Williams and Davis have been wrestling teammates for the past 4 years.<\/p>\n The two young men would like to invite the whole community to come out and learn more about the sport of Mixed Martial Arts, which according to Kimberly Ring, is often misunderstood.\u00c2\u00a0 Ms. Ring states, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153There is often a misconception of MMA as being something violent.\u00c2\u00a0 MMA is definitely an extreme sport.\u00c2\u00a0 Few athletes would be able to endure the intensive training necessary to compete at this level.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00c2\u00a0 Ring continues, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153These young men both set a strong and positive example for MMA.\u00c2\u00a0 I have little doubt the work ethic required of them in the gym has also been a huge factor in their academic successes.\u00c2\u00a0 Those witnessing their skills during TOC III will see confident and highly determined fighters.\u00c2\u00a0 Yet, every Thursday evening you will find them praising and encouraging a pre-school Jiu-Jitsu student at Southwest Martial Arts Academy, or helping a struggling student with their homework after school.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n The community is invited to support our local Mixed Martial Artist competing in Titans of the Cage III on Saturday, October 22nd<\/sup> at George Wythe High School, Wytheville, VA.\u00c2\u00a0 For more information please visit www.titansofthecage.com<\/a> or call 276-405-1566.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" THE YOUNGER GENERATION OF MIXED MARTIAL ARTS GWHS Seniors to Showcase MMA Fighting Skills \u00c2\u00a0This Saturday, October 22nd, two George Wythe High School seniors will enter the cage to test their fighting skills during Titans of the Cage III. \u00c2\u00a0Doug Williams and McKensey Heath are not only classmates, but they also share a close friendship … <\/p>\n