Mission Athletics is a 25,000 square foot training facility in Cedar Rapids that offers wrestling, Jiu Jitsu, fitness, recovery, and youth development programs under one roof.

For those interested in high level competition, Mission is home to one of the area's premier wrestling programs and provides outstanding opportunities for athletes who want to compete at an elite level.

On the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu side, one of the things that stood out most during this process was how closely Mission's culture aligned with ours.

The environment is welcoming, family friendly, and focused on helping people grow regardless of whether their goals are competition, fitness, self defense, or simply being part of a great community.

Whether you're a serious competitor or someone who enjoys training a few times a week, Mission Athletics offers opportunities for both.

After getting to know the Mission Athletics team and seeing what they are building, I became convinced that joining forces would create the best long term opportunity for our members, coaches, and community.

We will be holding an open house on Saturday 6/27/2026 at 10:am and classes at Mission Athletics will begin Monday 6/29/2026.

While the public announcement may feel sudden, this decision was not made overnight. There have been many discussions, meetings, and planning conversations behind the scenes over the last few weeks to ensure this would be a positive outcome for our members, families, and coaches.

We chose to wait until we had a clear plan in place before making an announcement. We wanted to be able to answer questions about memberships, coaches, schedules, and the transition process rather than creating uncertainty while details were still being finalized.

Once it became clear that joining Mission Athletics was the right path and we had a transition plan in place, we felt it was best to move forward quickly so members could begin taking advantage of the expanded opportunities, facilities, and programs available at Mission.

Our goal is to make the transition as smooth and positive as possible while minimizing uncertainty for everyone involved.

You already know most of them!

The same coaches you know and train with today will continue coaching the same classes. You'll also be gaining access to an additional Black Belt instructor Joe Rudd.

Our goal is to keep the relationships and coaching you already enjoy while adding even more opportunities to learn and grow.

Phoenix Down will be transitioning into Mission Athletics. Rather than continuing as two separate communities, we will become part of the Mission Athletics team.

Absolutely! The goal is for our community to transition together which is why the only change we are making is the facility

Mission Athletics is located just 9 minutes from our current facility at 5265 Rockwell, Ste 100 in Cedar Rapids and offers a convenient central Cedar Rapids location.

For most members, the drive will remain very manageable, with many families experiencing little change in commute time and even actually having a shorter drive than they do today.

If you are currently on a monthly membership at Phoenix Down, Mission Athletics will honor your current membership rate for six months following the transition.

For youth members, Mission Athletics will immediately honor its standard youth membership rate, which is lower than Phoenix Down's current youth rate.

No. Mission Athletics will honor your prepaid membership through your original Phoenix Down expiration date.

If you have time remaining on a prepaid membership, that time will transfer with you and you will continue training at no additional cost until your prepaid term expires.

Our goal is to ensure that members receive the full value of the time they have already paid for while making the transition as smooth as possible.

No problem. While we encourage everyone to attend the Open House to tour the facility, meet the coaching staff, and get answers to any questions, it is not required.

If you are unable to attend, you can still transition to Mission Athletics and begin training with us the following week. We will continue to communicate important information through email, social media, and direct outreach to ensure everyone stays informed.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me directly and we will be happy to help.

I will be actively involved throughout the transition and will continue helping members, families, and coaches get settled into Mission Athletics over the coming months.

After the transition period, I plan to remain part of the community as a teammate and student on the mats, and you'll still see me around the gym. I'll also continue to help out from time to time when needed.

Professionally, I will be pursuing other career opportunities and focusing on the next chapter for my family. While my role will be changing, I am not disappearing, and I am committed to helping make this transition a successful one for everyone involved.