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The Sanchez Boxing MMA gym near Santa Rosa’s Railroad Square is hosting a fundraiser Saturday aimed at helping to strengthen its community impact through scholarships and new equipment
The gym was founded in 2008 by Rosendo Sanchez, who has over 20 years of experience in martial arts coaching. It provides training in boxing, Muay Thai and jiu-jitsu
“We want to give back to this community and give back to the gym and I feel like the more you give, the more you get back,” Sanchez said
Sanchez said his gym provides roughly 20 scholarships a year to children in the area whose families may struggle to afford a membership
He described the gym as a great space for kids to make connections, whether in martial arts or other career paths
“With having police officers in my gym, firefighters, chefs, CEOs, we got a bunch of different people in the community … eventually, some of these kids will be looking for a job and I’ll be able to contact this person or contact that person and see what we can do and help them get a job,” Sanchez said
The gym will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for Saturday’s event. Attendees will get the opportunity to meet UFC coaches and fighters
The Donahue Street facility has produced noteworthy fighters such as Imanol Rodriguez, who made his debut in the Ultimate Fighting Championship on Feb. 28 by beating Kevin Borjas in the second round with a technical knockout
Rodriguez is scheduled to be one of the UFC fighters in attendance Saturday, alongside Jacobe Smith and Tommy Gantt
“It means a lot to me, just like seeing all the hard work that I put in and it’s satisfying to see how it’s all coming together,” Sanchez said of the fighters he’s trained who now compete in the UFC
Fighters and trainers will also conduct boxing, Muay Thai and jiu-jitsu sparring exhibitions at Saturday’s event
Raffles, giveaways, food vendors and a lowrider car show are also set to be part of Saturday’s festivities. Local food trucks Tacos San Juan and El Roy’s Express will be on hand and donating to the gym as well, Sanchez said
The gym’s equipment is either purchased out of pocket or with donations, and Sanchez hopes the proceeds from Saturday will help get more mats, punching bags, gloves and other supplies to help the gym grow
“I feel like some of these kids have never been taught to open up to talk to a person and say, ‘This is what I’m feeling,’ and we try to give them advice and guidance. You might not be a world champion boxer or a Muay Thai fighter or a jiu-jitsu person, but you’re in a gym where you have a bunch of great people with no egos,” Sanchez said. “I just want it to be somewhere where it’s a safe haven for kids.”
Tickets are $25 per person and available at the door Saturday. Sanchez Boxing MMA is located at 808 Donahue St. in Santa Rosa
