Founder and Head Coach. On the mats since age 3. Boonton Hall of Famer, D1 wrestler, Olympic Training Center veteran — and still competing.
Eric started martial arts at age 3 through Judo and never stopped. He added wrestling growing up in Lincoln Park, NJ, then became a Boonton High School Hall of Famer — a record he still holds as their all-time wrestling wins leader. He earned a Division I roster spot at Columbia University and trained Greco-Roman wrestling at the United States Olympic Training Center alongside national-level athletes and elite coaches.
Post-college he went deep into grappling and striking. He earned black belt rank in Judo, currently trains at brown belt in No-Gi BJJ, and has spent years studying Muay Thai and MMA. He's trained with and alongside UFC fighters during professional fight camps, helped train UFC fighters, and worked alongside UFC-level coaches. He's helped coach and corner fighters preparing for high-level MMA competition — and he's still actively competing in MMA himself.
Eric is also a Functional Patterns practitioner and biomechanics specialist. He's known for his wrestling takedowns, defense, and scrambling — but what sets him apart is his ability to adapt techniques to different body types, injuries, and goals, explain complex techniques simply, and help students stay calm under pressure.
Too many combat sports gyms teach by imitation: watch the coach, copy the move, hope you remember. FTC was built on the opposite approach. Every technique gets taught with the physics behind it — the angles, the leverage, the timing — so you understand what you're doing instead of just doing it.
As a Functional Patterns practitioner and biomechanics specialist, Eric emphasizes safety, injury prevention, and proper movement in every class. His coaching adapts techniques to each student's body type and limitations — whether you're working around an old injury, learning your first takedown at 45, or preparing for a fight.
That approach works for everyone who walks in the door. Kids learning their first takedown. High school wrestlers preparing for states. Working professionals who want real self-defense. Fighters prepping for their first amateur bout. Same mats, same standard.
Kids Muay Thai + Private Training
Kaitlin is an assistant coach for our Kids Muay Thai program at Freedom Training Center and also offers private and semi-private Muay Thai training for both children and adults.
Having trained under Coach Eric for the past four years, Kaitlin brings a strong understanding of technique, fundamentals, and the importance of individualized coaching. Known for being patient, encouraging, and detail-oriented, she's passionate about helping students of all ages build confidence, improve their skills, and reach their goals both inside and outside the gym.
Understand the lever, the angle, the timing — and you stop wasting energy. Smaller athletes should be able to out-technique bigger ones. We train for that.
Intensity without the bullshit. Fighters and beginners share mats because everyone learns from each other. No cliques, no gatekeeping, no posturing.
What you build on the mats — grit, humility, composure under pressure — shows up in everything else. That's the real point of training.
One free class. Meet Coach Eric, see the gym, roll with us. Decide from there.