Search for martial arts in Gatineau or on the Ottawa side and you get pages of gyms that all look the same. Here is what separates this one: an academy that has taught since 1975, at its Gatineau address since 1997, where two UFC fighters developed on the same floor as people who started at 40 without ever having thrown a punch.
Who it's for
Most of our members are not competitors. Around 80% train for health, confidence and personal growth. The rest chase competition, and both groups share the same floor, each at their own pace. You probably recognize yourself in one of these:
- You want to get in shape, but a regular gym bores you within three weeks
- You want to learn self-defence built on techniques that actually work
- You want one fixed appointment a week that clears your head
- You want your child in a sport that builds discipline and confidence
- You already train in a martial art and want a serious floor
An academy, not another gym
The difference shows from the entrance. A gym sells memberships; an academy passes down a lineage. This one was founded in 1975 by Jacques Patenaude, the first instructor in Canada to teach Bruce Lee's style. Fifty years later the mission has not moved: help people aged 8 to 70 get stronger, physically and mentally, through mixed martial arts.
What is taught here does not exist elsewhere in the region: a blend of traditional kung fu, kickboxing and an approach to MMA sharpened by fifty years of practice and teaching. Classes are known for their professionalism and their family atmosphere, and those words are not decoration: they are literally the first thing new members mention.
The 40-belt wall
In the entrance there is a wall carrying more than 40 championship belts. Every one of them was won by someone who started with a first class, exactly the one you can book today.
That wall is our whole argument. We produced 2 UFC fighters, Marc-André Barriault and Julien Leblanc. Dave Leduc, 5 time Lethwei world champion, trains on this floor, alongside PFL finalist Alain Majorique and Isaac Blais. More than 30 amateur champions came through here. No other academy in the Gatineau-Ottawa region can show that.
And yet the average person in our classes is not a fighter. It is a parent, a worker, a student. The champions prove the teaching works; the atmosphere means you belong from the first evening.
The instructors
The Gatineau academy is led by Sifu Patrick Marcil, alongside his team of instructors, including Christine Patenaude, who coaches the women-only Warrior Fitness program. At your first class, he is probably the one welcoming you.
His way of running the room fits in one sentence: everyone is welcome, from complete beginner to professional fighter. Same floor, same standard, your pace. Contact is progressive, supervised, and always optional outside the competition team.
2 UFC fighters, a 5 time Lethwei world champion, more than 30 amateur champions, and a wall of over 40 belts in the entrance.
We build champions in the ring, the cage, and in life.
Book your intro · $19.99Your first class
Fear of the first time is the number one reason people keep putting it off. So here is exactly how it goes, no surprises.
- 01
You book your intro
$19.99, taxes included, payable on site. Fill in the form and we call you back within 24 business hours to set a time that works.
- 02
You arrive about ten minutes early
Time to change and meet the instructor. Come in shorts or loose pants with a t-shirt and a water bottle. We provide all the equipment, and we train barefoot.
- 03
You do a real group class
Not a demo in a corner. A full class, start to finish, with an instructor who knows it is your first and adapts every drill to your level.
- 04
You ask your questions
After class you get a tour of the dojo and straight answers about membership options. No pressure sales, no pushy follow-up calls.
- 05
You decide at home
You leave, you think about it, you choose. Nothing is signed at the intro, and nobody chases you.
Book your intro
$19.99 · Taxes included · Payable on site
The week at a glance
Monday
- 5:30 – 6:15 pmSanshou / Kickboxing · Technique
- 6:15 – 6:45 pmSanshou / Kickboxing · Drills
- 6:30 – 7:15 pmWarrior Fitness (women)
- 6:45 – 7:30 pmMMA Grappling
- 7:30 – 8:15 pmFight Team · pro and amateur
Tuesday
- 8:15 – 8:30 pmStations / Conditioning
- 8:30 – 9:15 pmSanshou / Kickboxing
Wednesday
- 5:30 – 6:15 pmSanshou / Kickboxing · Technique
- 6:15 – 6:45 pmSanshou / Kickboxing · Drills
- 6:30 – 7:15 pmWarrior Fitness (women)
- 6:45 – 7:30 pmMMA Grappling
Thursday
- 8:15 – 8:30 pmStations / Conditioning
- 8:30 – 9:15 pmSanshou / Kickboxing
Saturday
- 9:30 – 10:15 amSanshou / Kickboxing
- 10:15 – 10:45 amGrappling
- 11:00 am – 12:00 pmFight Team · pro and amateur
What holds people back
"I'm not in shape"
The most common sentence we hear on the phone, and it is backwards: the class is what gets you in shape. Every drill has an easier version, and you set the pace.
"I'm too old, too young"
Members range from 8 to 70. Groups are split by age and level, and the instructor adjusts intensity for each person.
"I don't want to get hit"
You will not get hit in your first class, or after, until you decide otherwise. Contact is progressive and always optional outside the competition team.
"It must be expensive"
The intro is $19.99. After that, depending on your plan and frequency, it works out to roughly $20 a class. Less than a dinner out, for something that stays with you for life.
The price
The intro is $19.99 taxes included, payable on site. Memberships then come as 3, 6 or 12-month plans with monthly payments. Depending on the plan and how often you train, it works out to roughly $20 a class on average.
Exact numbers are given in person, after your intro class. Not because anything is hidden: because we would rather you see what you are getting before we talk money. The same logic means you will never get a pressure sale here.
Common questions
Which martial arts class should I start with?
Book the $19.99 intro and tell us your goal. We watch you move and place you honestly. Most beginners start with kickboxing, because standing work delivers fast results in conditioning and confidence. If the ground game calls you, MMA & Grappling is right there.
What does it cost per month?
Plans run 3, 6 or 12 months with monthly payments, working out to roughly $20 a class depending on how often you train. Exact numbers are given in person, without pressure, after you have seen what you are getting.
Do I need to be in shape before starting?
No. That objection is backwards: the class is what gets you in shape. Every drill has an easier version, an instructor stays with you, and you move at your own pace. Nobody is sizing you up.
From what age can you start?
From age 8, in the Kids 8-12 program: the same sessions the adults do, adapted to their age and level. From 13, teens train with the adults. Our oldest member is 70.
Do I need equipment to start?
Not for the intro: we provide everything. Come in shorts or loose pants, a t-shirt, and bring water. We train barefoot. If you continue, we advise you on gear at the right moment, without selling you the whole shop on day one.
Does the intro commit me to anything?
No. The $19.99 intro is one full class, no contract, no obligation. You leave, think it over, and decide. We call once to set your class time, not to chase you afterwards.
Is it really worth driving over from Ottawa?
That is the honest question, and the wall answers it: over 40 championship belts, 2 UFC fighters produced, and a 5 time Lethwei world champion training here. The drive is minutes over the bridge, there is parking on site, and English speakers are welcome.
Where to find us
The academy is at 306 Notre-Dame Street in Gatineau, with parking on site. It is an easy drive from anywhere in Gatineau and from Ottawa, minutes from the bridges.
Class blocks run weekday evenings Monday through Thursday and Saturday morning, which makes training after work realistic. You can join any block at your level: there is no session start date to wait for.