Trainer gets kicks at work

On a typical workday, Bear St. Clair logs more than 15 hours at his

office, a converted candle factory in the heart of Costa Mesa’s

Westside.

He owns a desk and computer, and makes use of his assistants, but

don’t expect to find St. Clair wearing a business suit -- or even

shoes.

The fifth-generation Costa Mesa resident wraps his feet in

athletic tape each morning. That’s just part of the routine when your

office is a gym, and your job is teaching martial arts.

By the end of a class session, the bottoms of St. Clair’s feet are

already the color of soot. Sweat sticks to his face as he kicks,

punches and lunges at students inside the steamy workout facility.

That’s no problem when your work uniform is a black tank top and

shiny blue shorts.

St. Clair, 26, isn’t certified in his craft, an increasingly

popular brand of combat called mixed martial arts, but that’s mostly

because there are no belts given out in his field.

“That doesn’t mean too much to me,” St. Clair said. “I’m certified

through trial-and-error, seeing what works, and breathing it every

day.”

St. Clair is heavy on practical fighting experience. He has

competed in a professional cage fight in Mexico and in grappling

tournaments throughout the world.

A year and a half ago, St. Clair opened his gym, Bear Essential

Combat, on $3,000 savings and the hope that his all-inclusive brand

of training would appeal to the masses.

On Saturday, he is holding an event that marks what he is calling

the official opening. It’s actually a celebration of making it

through a rough first year, he said.

City fees nearly forced St. Clair to close the business during the

past year, but he and his staff pulled through. More than 125

students now train at the gym in Western boxing, American wrestling,

Muay Thai kickboxing, cage fighting and jujitsu, among other types of

martial arts.

St. Clair said he wants the gym to be a place where students can

get a well-rounded workout and learn realistic fighting skills.

“At some training centers, people walk out with a bloody nose and

a black eye,” he said. “A lot of people just want everyday training.

We’re giving them everything they need to be a complete fighter.”

For more than five years, St. Clair -- a Newport Harbor High

School graduate -- has taught martial arts in Costa Mesa. He has

history in the city. His ancestors comprised the 10th family to

settle in Costa Mesa, and his grandfather was on the city council.

Some of what St. Clair teaches comes directly from his experiences

in Thailand. He lived there for three months when he was 22 and

visits the country every year.

Nick Schoenmann, a 17-year-old Costa Mesa resident who is St.

Clair’s training assistant, said the key to mixed martial arts is

versatility.

“If someone just knows how to box, I’d take them to the ground and

spar,” Schoenmann said. “This method teaches you to fight using more

tools.”

Jennifer Watson, who works at the gym, said she wanted an

interactive form of exercise. She brings her two children -- ages 5

and 10 -- to the classes.

“I was looking for a place where I could actually get involved,”

she said. “I guess you could say I’m going against the whole

soccer-mom philosophy.”

St. Clair said he stresses to students that they be gentleman

fighters, using their skills only when absolutely necessary.

He also does every drill with his students. In the middle of the

session, a whistle sounds. It’s St. Clair’s chance to repeat a

message he’s told students and co-workers over the past 18 months.

“When you hear the 30-second bell, that means faster and harder,”

St. Clair said. “Don’t quit.”

For information on classes, call (949) 294-1280 or visit

o7www.bear-fight.comf7.