Lion's Den Scottsdale Introduces Mixed Martial Arts to Little League Baseball Team

The newly opened elite mixed martial arts academy, The Lion's Den, hosted a free mixed martial arts clinic for the East Scottsdale Little League Baseball Players this past Saturday from 4:00-5:30pm,the event was sponsored by Ikei Performance. UFC Veteran Edwin "Bam Bam" Dewees demonstrated different mixed martial arts techniques with young athletes ages 7-12 years old. These young baseball players got a taste of what it's like being in the cage and grappling with their opponent. The day included individual grappling matches, fitness challenges, conditioning training and ended in an autograph session and picture taking.

All the participants enjoyed sharing the experience with their teammates and Edwin loved the spirit of these young players. "It's amazing how much these young kids can absorb and how quickly they learn. I love coaching them because they have so much passion and energy, to watch them perform the moves that they learn and put it to use right away is awesome. I think mixed martial arts is a fun way to get kids out of the house and exercise, at the same time they also learn self-defense, not to mention self-confidence," says Dewees.

The Lion's Den Scottsdale offers several youth classes during the week from 4:30-5:30 pm. To learn more about the Lion's Den and their "Lion's Cub" Programs visit www.lionsdenaz.com or call 480.941.LION.

Personal Training and sports conditioning classes are also available at the Lion's Den through Ikei Performance.

Ikei Performance Develops Hawaii’s High School Strength & Conditioning Program

Kamehameha High School Football (Kapalama Campus) has recently agreed to incorporate the training services of Ikei Performance in preparation for the 2008-09 season. Ikei Performance Founder and Owner Chad Ikei was born and raised on the island of Oahu, Hawaii and represented Team Hawaii Weightlifting in many National Championships which he brought home five gold medals back to the island. “I wouldn’t be at where I am today or have accomplished the things I have if it wasn’t for my island home. Hawaii has provided me with so much support, encouragement and opportunities. The people, the culture, just the island life itself are imbedded in my heart and I carry that where ever I go. Now that I have the opportunity to give back to the island that has given me so much, it’s a huge honor,” states Ikei as he reminisces the past.


Hawaii is known for producing many top professional athletes in sports such as football, baseball, soccer and volleyball not to mention many Olympians through the years. Ikei understand what potential Hawaii has when it comes to producing great athletes, “We have so many athletes that can move on to play at the next level here in Hawaii. But as a former Hawaii athlete myself it is easy to get side tracked of your goals. The distractions of the beach, commitment to help family, insecurities of leaving friends, differences in culture and one of the biggest obstacles, leaving the island causes many young athletes to fall short of success. My goal as a coach is to not only bring our strength & conditioning program to Kamehameha but to provide knowledge and insight of what obstacles every elite athlete faces and hope to encourage them to accept the challenge and go for it. Maybe because I’ve been in their shoes and I currently train many of Hawaii’s NFL players that one of them may listen, take initiative to lead by example and soon enough more will follow.”


According to Head Football Coach, David Stant, the athletes seem to be responding well to the program, “I’ve noticed a change in energy and have seen more kids motivated to train. In our most recent combine testing we had kids that were running 4.7-4.8 (seconds) drop their forty time down to 4.5-4.6 (sec), we even had one athlete run a sub 4.4. I’m very excited and pleased to have Chad Ikei as part of our program and look forward to what the kids will learn during the summer.”


Only time will tell what will come out of the program, but for now it seems as if success is starting to brew in the kettle. But for Ikei success is simple, “Not often does a head football coach reach out to another coach to ask for assistance, but coach Stant went above and beyond to help his team. This in itself is proof of a successful program. Sure winning games is of utmost importance, but understanding what tools to use to maximize your program is a sign of a great coach. As for me, I feel as if I’m being rewarded. It’s like hitting 2 birds with one stone, I get to give back to my island home but most of all I get to come HOME to do it.”


Pomaika’i Kamehameha

Ken Shamrock Opens Lion’s Den Scottsdale and selects Elite Fight Team

“The Legend” himself, Ken Shamrock, one of the most decorated and feared fighters in Mixed Martial Arts history was in Scottsdale, AZ to open his newest Lion’s Den Academy. Over 700 interested athletes and fans were on hand to witness the Grand Opening of the Lion’s Den Scottsdale location. The elite mixed martial arts academy has over 8,000 square feet of space for grappling, muay thai, boxing, brazilian jiu jitsu, kick boxing, strength training and sports conditioning. Included in the academy is a full fight cage as well as boxing ring. Ikei Performance has teamed up with the Lion’s Den and will be running their sports conditioning classes as well as offer the Elite Personal Training Sessions to all Lion’s Den members and surrounding community. Ken and the Lion’s Den Coaches also held an Elite Team tryout for select spots on the Lion’s Den Fight Team. This was an intense day of training for all individual participants. The grueling five hour session included evaluations in all aspects of Mixed Martial Arts as well as live MMA elimination matches. At the end of the day only 6 fighters showed the appropriate qualifying standards necessary to be named to the Lion’s Den Elite Team, joining Edwin Dewees, Joe Riggs and Rick Roufus. During the Grand Opening week, Ken Shamrock and his Lion’s Den Coaches invited local Police and Fire Department officers to experience some of “The Legends” grappling and submission techniques. The week also offered the public to observe demonstrations from UFC Veterans Joe “Diesel” Riggs and Edwin “Bam Bam” Dewees, as well as Kick Boxing World Champion Rick Roufus. With great success the Lion’s Den is now open the to community and is offering classes throughout the day in kick boxing, boxing, muay thai, grappling, brazilian jiu jitsu and sports conditioning. The Den also offers youth classes and personal training one-on-one/partner/group sessions. LION’S DEN SCOTTSDALE 2954 N. Hayden Road Scottsdale, AZ 85251 480.941.LION (Ikei Performance located inside the Lion’s Den) Check out some of the action from the Lion’s Den Grand opening week in the photo’s and video’s below: FACILITY PICTURES: POLICE & FIRE SUBMISSION DEMONSTRATION LION'S DEN COACHES DEMONSTRATION