OUR INSTRUCTORS
MITCH WHITE
PROFESSIONAL MMA FIGHTER
CERTIFIED PERSONAL TRAINER
CORRECTIVE EXERCISE SPECIALIST
-
Mitch grew up learning kung fu from his father. He began training and competing in MMA during high school to get help him get through a tough time in his life. He fell in love with it and never looked back. Through the years he racked up over 30 amateur fights in boxing, kickboxing, and MMA. And currently holds a professional MMA record of 3-1.
Mitch has always had a passion for teaching others, he became a Certified Personal Trainer in 2017 and began working at gyms around the area to gain experience, with the goal of one day opening up his very own MMA and Fitness Studio.
Now that he is done fighting, he has shifted his main focus to training others for Competition, Self Defense, Overall Health, and fitness. He believes training should be fun and doesn't always have to be a chore. He trains with a wide variety of people from Parkinsons’ patients to professional athletes, meatheads to soccer moms, Little kids to your average Joe, and everywhere in between.
Part of the fun for Mitch is finding out what works best for each person. And the satisfaction of seeing it have a positive benefit on their lives is the whole reason he started doing this in the first place.
KELLY SVOBODA
CERTIFIED PERSONAL TRAINER
KICKBOXING GURU
SERIOUS HORSE GIRL
-
Kelly’s devotion to horses led to her career in fitness. She began using exercise as a way to improve balance, self-awareness, and posture for higher riding scores.
As her passion for MMA flourished, Kelly eventually traded her reins for grappling gear. She continues to advance her practice by taking MMA classes at La Bodega and hopes to compete soon.
Kelly has a natural ability to inspire others and help them reach their personal goals. Her Fitness Kickboxing classes are one of a kind.
JUSTIN TRANGSRUD
PERSONAL TRAINER
90's HIP-HOP ENTHUSIAST
COMIC BOOK GEEK
-
Justin has been athletically gifted since childhood. After years of playing sports, he was looking for a new challenge and started MMA training in 2008. For the past 15 years, he has been competing in MMA, Kickboxing, Boxing, and Jiu Jitsu. Justin also worked as a personal trainer since 2012. He continuously studies plyometrics, athletic movements, and functional strength training to help his clients excel in their fitness journey.
RON SHEN
MMA COACH
CHINESE FOOD CONNOISSEUR
-
Ron has been training in martial arts since childhood. Since moving back to Minnesota, Ron joined the La Bodega team to continue his fitness journey.
ANDREA KENNEDY
YOGA GURU
-
Andrea Kennedy is a YogaFit Certified Level 4 instructor and certified to teach seniors and children. She has been practicing yoga for 18 years and teaching for 13 years. Andrea teaches Hatha yoga with a Vinyasa style, which integrates physical movement and breath. Her exposure to yoga and its mind/body benefits has given her an understanding of how yoga creates mental and physical strength.
Andrea offers a practical yoga class sharing breathing techniques, meditation ideas, mindfulness training, and yoga postures. Yoga allows each student an opportunity to find calm, energy, mental clarity, motivation, and focus as needed.
SAMI FRANCIS
ICU NURSE
MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATE
MUAY THAI STUDENT SINCE 2016
-
Sami is an enthusiastic martial arts coach and mental health advocate who believes that health and fitness should be accessible to everyone.
After personally experiencing the life-changing power of martial arts and its ability to improve both physical and mental well-being, Sami is committed to helping her students find inner strength, courage, and discipline through martial arts.
She understands the power that physical movement has on emotional and mental health and is passionate about providing a safe and welcoming environment for her students to not only gain physical strength but also a new level of self-confidence. Sami's approach to martial arts coaching is rooted in empathy and a desire to bring joy and inner peace to those she works with.
When not in the gym, Sami is saving lives as an ICU nurse
BRANDON BUTLER
WRESTLING COACH