From mats to mindset: Finding inner strength at OBX Soundside MMA

Published 12:37 pm Monday, February 3, 2025

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OBX Soundside MMA has something for everyone: from jiu jitsu to judo and kickboxing, to sparring and even women’s only classes. Courtesy Laura Henry

From kids as young as three to adults of any age, anyone at any stage of their life can benefit from jiu jitsu as san “all-encompassing” workout, both physically and mentally. Courtesy Laura Henry

To Laura and David Henry, owners of OBX Soundside MMA, jiu jitsu is more than just a martial art – it’s a crucial resource to finding your inner strength, both on and off the mat. Courtesy Laura Henry

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To Laura and David Henry, jiu jitsu is so much more than a martial art. After seeing their son cultivate a love for the sport, it slowly became a family affair. Now proud owners of OBX Soundside MMA, the Henrys have brought their passion for the art along with the empowered community of those who practice it to Nags Head. With a wealth of health benefits, both physical and mental, jiu jitsu is all about finding your inner strength, both on and off the mat.

“A lot of women will tell you that they start taking jiu jitsu for self-defense, and a lot of men will say they start to stay in shape,” Laura shared with The Coastland Times. “But it has a way of just tapping into this version of yourself you never knew existed before.” David and Laura are both instructors and pride themselves on teaching students how to trust themselves and the process, but not be afraid to push the limits of comfortability in order to grow.

Jiu jitsu has been known to help improve cardiovascular health, strength, flexibility, coordination, balance, breath control and mental health. It’s an “all-encompassing” workout with the added bonus of boosting self-morale with continued practice and dedication. “You really have to commit yourself to the process, it’s not an overnight transformation,” Laura said. “It takes time to get comfortable.”

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OBX Soundside MMA is a place where anyone in any stage of their life can go to get away from the world for a while and focus solely on bettering themselves. “Leave the world at the door,” is how Laura puts it. As part of the board for the Grapple; 4 Life foundation, the Henrys have seen first-hand the benefits jiu jitsu has had on those who are trying to function in the wake of tragedy. After losing his daughter to suicide, the founder of Grapple; 4 Life found hope in jiu jitsu. It gave him a sense of direction and purpose after enduring a dark, depressive time.

“This [jiu jitsu] is here to help you work through what you need to work through, and escape everything you have going on outside.” By learning how to evaluate and work through processes step-by-step, this practice is designed to help sharpen an individual’s mental tools, to be applied in all situations, not just on the mat.

The Henrys’ program offers classes from children as young as three-years-old, to adults with no maximum age limit. With a team of six coaches, OBX Soundside MMA has something for everyone: from jiu jitsu to judo and kickboxing, to sparring and even women’s only classes. “If you are ready to go all in on you, we are ready to go all in on you.” For those looking for a strong sense of community, this might be the right place. “When you walk through the door, you become part of our family. We want to see you succeed, on and off the mats.”

To learn more, reach out to Laura and David at 252-267-7926 or email obxsoundsidemma@gmail.com. Their school is located at 2210 S Croatan Hwy. in Nags Head.

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