Former Olympic Hopeful to Join Team ECSA Training Staff

Danny Daniels Fitness Studio (DDFS) is pleased to announce the addition of wrestling instructor, Austen Palmer to the staff. Palmer will teach a two-hour Freestyle Wrestling class on Thursdays at 7 p.m. The class focus will be on the fundamentals of wrestling to include hand fighting for position, initiating and finishing take downs, and winning scrambles.

“I feel like Austen is the missing link in the chain at DDFS,” says owner Danny Daniels. He continues, “I have years and years of kickboxing and jujitsu experience that I can pass on to our students, but wrestling skills are also an important part of MMA training. My tiny high school didn’t have a wrestling program so it wasn’t until much later that I learned how to wrestle. While I can teach my students the basics, Austen knows all the little nuances and details of the sport that can make a huge difference in how a student develops their skills as an MMA fighter. I am very excited to have him join our coaching staff. Together, Austen and I will be able to provide our students with the all-round training they need to succeed.” The addition of Palmer to the staff is part of DDFS’ commitment to offer Durham residents the best workout from the best instructors.

Coach Palmer will also serve as the wrestling coach for Team ECSA and the Bull City Brawlers. Joining head coach Danny Daniels, Palmer will focus on strengthen the team’s grappling skills, as many Bull City Brawlers get ready to enter the professional arena. Bull City Brawlers’ next appearance will be at Elite Championship Cage Fighting’s challenge in Charlotte, NC at the Metrolina Tradeshow Expo on November 21. Fighters Chris Crawford, D’Juan Owens and Justin Blanchard are schedule to enter the cage and take on members of other local area teams. Palmer attended Iowa State University where he was co-captain of the wrestling team and ranked as high as 7th nationally. He was a two-time place winner at the prestigious Midlands Invitational and qualified for the NCAA championships multiple times. In 2004, Palmer was a World University Games qualifier for freestyle wrestling and the University National Champion in the 85kg category. Four years later, he was accepted into the 2007 U.S. Olympic Resident Athletic program in Colorado Springs, CO as a 2008 hopeful.

Since 2004, Danny Daniels has provided fitness and martial arts training to Durham residents. Daniels was the 1992 NC Kickboxing Champion and bronze medalist at the 2003 U.S. Olympic Karate Trials. He went on to compete as a professional MMA fighter for eight years (7-1-2) and trained exclusively with MMA legend Frank Shamrock. Daniels brings over 25 years of knowledge and experience as a martial arts and fitness instructor. Danny Daniels Fitness Studio (formerly East Coast Submissions Academy) recently expanded to a new location at 229 N. Gregson Street in Durham. The studio now offers yoga, kickboxing and mixed martial arts classes in addition to personal training from founder and trainer Danny Daniels. For more information about Danny Daniels Fitness Studio or Team ECSA, please contact Danny Daniels at 919-699-6711.