Empowering NYC through the power of martial arts

Using martial arts to change lives and impact community

We aim to make combat sports accessible to all, regardless of income or ability level. As such, our youth program is 100% free for ages 13-21.

We believe combat sports are tools that can be used to not only protect ourselves and teach discipline, but also empower a generation to do more than they ever thought possible. Harlem Free Fight’s goal is to use these tools to make Harlem the best version of itself, creating a better environment for all its residences.

Community safety, community driven.

Preventing neighborhood violence is also a core value for our organization. As such, we also provide free self defense clinics throughout the city. By removing barriers of entry to personal protection, we are loudly proclaiming that self defense should be accessible to everyone regardless of income.

In addition to our general self defense clinics, we also run workshops that are geared towards specific communities, including nightlife employees, LGBTQ+, healthcare workers, and more.

We are Harlem

Head coach and founder Rich Rodriguez has been in boxing and MMA gyms for 20 years. Although a Bronx native, he spent many days in Harlem, where his grandfather’s Morningside Park home was. A full-time Harlem resident for several years, he began building Harlem Free Fight Academy after noticing problems with the current fight gym model. He and the team he’s surrounded himself with are dedicated to using boxing and jiu jitsu as a catalyst for change in Harlem.