Owner of Level Up MMA & Fitness, Ernest Arguello, said it was important for him to open up this gym in the neighborhood he grew up in.
SAN ANTONIO — A local martial arts gym recently found itself at the center of a crime scene after bullets from a shootout next door pierced through its walls.
No one was hurt but the shooting served as reminder of the importance of the work being done inside that gym.
Owner of Level Up MMA & Fitness, Ernest Arguello, said it was important for him to open up this gym in the neighborhood he grew up in.
“I went to Harlandale, you know, rough neighborhoods,” Arguello said. “The biggest thing is giving back to the community.”
He said the goal for each person who steps foot inside his gym located off Pleasanton Road is to walk away with more than just fighting skills. It is especially important for the young men and women.
“A lot of people think, it’s violence. we’re teaching them violence,” Arguello said. “But no, we’re actually teaching them how to deal with just life in general.”
Back on February 18, a shootout broke out at Total Wireless next door. San Antonio said an armed suspect starting shooting at the clerk and the clerk fired back.
Several of the bullets made their way inside the gym where about a dozen people were attending class. Richard Thomas was there that night.
“Like coach said, a bullet landed right in front of him, thankfully no one got hurt,” Thomas said. We were starting to get into training. it was very scary, very quick reality check for us.”
Thomas said growing up he was surrounded by bad influences.
“I wasn’t a good kid at all. I was a ‘necio’ they would say,” Thomas said. “I would always be getting in trouble and stuff.”
However, joining the gym has changed his mindset on life and how he wants to act in the community.
“It keeps me humble. It keeps my mind straight. A lot of times trouble never sends a warning, so it always makes me aware of it and make sure I’m good in bad situations,” Thomas said.
His hope is that those people involved in the shooting next door realize they too, can change.
“It was a bad situation. I hope those kids, they better themselves,” Thomas said. “Like we said, we don’t want anyone to get hurt over violence.”