Witness Martial Arts opens Gulfport academy under Coach Mike Sanford

Witness Martial Arts has opened a new Gulfport, Mississippi, academy offering Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, wrestling, boxing, kickboxing, MMA and kids classes. The expansion brings the Pensacola-based gym’s family-focused training model to the Mississippi Gulf Coast under veteran coach Mike Sanford.

Why it matters: - The new Gulfport academy gives Mississippi Gulf Coast families and athletes another local option for martial arts training. - The expansion extends Witness Martial Arts’ presence beyond Pensacola and broadens access to structured coaching, youth programs and self-defense instruction. - The academy aims to serve beginners, competitive fighters and students focused on fitness, confidence and discipline.

What happened: - Witness Martial Arts opened a new location at 13334 Seaway Rd., Suite 104B, in Gulfport, Mississippi. - The Gulfport academy offers Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, No-Gi Jiu Jitsu, wrestling, boxing, kickboxing, mixed martial arts and youth martial arts. - Head Coach Mike Sanford leads the new academy. - Sanford is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt, veteran MMA coach and lifelong martial artist with nearly two decades of coaching experience. - Witness Martial Arts also operates an academy in Pensacola, Florida.

The details: - The Gulfport location offers programs for children, teens and adults. - The academy also includes women’s self-defense classes. - Witness Martial Arts says the Gulfport academy is designed for both beginners and experienced practitioners. - Students can train in a family-oriented environment built around mentorship, accountability and personal growth. - The academy says its classes are structured to help students build discipline, perseverance, respect and confidence. - Sanford began his combat sports background in boxing and wrestling before moving into Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, traditional martial arts and mixed martial arts. - Sanford has coached professional fighters, cornered athletes on major stages and helped develop competitors who went on to national MMA and Bare Knuckle Fighting organizations. - The academy says it emphasizes real-world self-defense skills alongside athletic development. - The Gulfport gym is enrolling new students and offering introductory classes for children, teens and adults. - The academy serves Gulfport, Biloxi, D'Iberville, Long Beach, Pass Christian, Ocean Springs, Bay St. Louis, Lyman and surrounding Gulf Coast communities. - Witness Martial Arts’ website is More information.

Between the lines: - The expansion signals demand for mixed martial arts and youth combat sports training on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. - Sanford’s coaching background suggests the Gulfport location is being positioned as both a community gym and a competitive training center. - The broad class mix is meant to attract families, hobbyists and serious athletes under one roof.

What's next: - Witness Martial Arts will continue taking new enrollments in Gulfport. - Introductory classes are available for new students of all ages. - The Gulfport academy will likely lean on Sanford’s experience to build its local roster and competition presence.

The bottom line: - Witness Martial Arts is betting that Gulfport wants more than a gym — it wants a martial arts program that serves families, beginners and fighters at once.