EchoValor MMA: Chehalis Gym Stresses Strong Bodies, Minds

When he first started coaching at EchoValor MMA in Chehalis, Phoenix Echo began to think the universe was against him after his car broke down four times.

But Echo persisted. He drives more than 90 miles from Beaverton, Oregon to Chehalis four days each week because he believes strongly not just in passing down the skills of Mixed Martial Arts, but also the artistry of the sport.

“I like being here. I like making the drive because the philosophy and the drive need to be part of this,” Echo said. “If all we’re doing is punching and kicking, it’s not an art anymore.”

EchoValor MMA is located in a space on Geary Street in Chehalis that has been a fighting gym of some kind on and off for the past eight years. Echo took over the space in January, adding it to his already-opened EchoValor Striking & MMA in his hometown of Beaverton. Echo first visited the Chehalis gym about four years ago as a competitor. He is the 145-pound Xumout Kickboxing champ and the former 155-pound Xumout Kickboxing champ. Through competitions in Chehalis, he became acquainted with the building owners. 

Echo said he was motivated to open the Chehalis gym when he learned that in the absence of an MMA gym in Chehalis, local athletes had to drive as far as Olympia or Longview to study their art. Many of those athletes have come back to the Chehalis gym under the EchoValor name and are relieved to have a local place to practice their art. Tasha Cleveland, 15, of Napavine, who started practicing MMA at the space when she was about 12, aspires to fight professionally.

“I get angry really easily so I really like to come and just punch the bag a little and I also like the environment here because it’s kind of a like a family,” she said.

Originally from the Los Angeles area, Echo grew up a musician as well as a fighter in the Muay Thai, or Thai boxing, discipline. He went to college intending to become an English teacher. Echo moved to the Portland area to become part of the music scene there and discovered the Pacific Northwest was a place that embraced both his love of martial arts and his love of music. MMA as a sport embraces many types of martial arts, but the fighting sport has struggled with some mainstream audiences who hear MMA and think bloody, no-holds-barred fights, rather than a true fighting discipline.

“When (Ultimate Fighting Championship) first came out it was the most extreme — ‘two men enter one man leaves.’ That got it a buzz. But it was bad because it couldn’t get sanctioned as an actual sport,” Echo said. “They made some changes, weight classes and taking certain moves out, to make it more of a sport.”

Those who have those old stereotypes in mind about MMA may be surprised to find that, other than the octagonal fighting ring occupying the middle of the room, the gym and its classes look similar to many other workout spaces. Nicol Lovato of Chehalis was a competitive MMA fighter and took a short hiatus from the sport when her now 3-year-old son was born. She said she hopes eventually to be strong enough to return to the ring, but for now she’s happy with how practicing the sport makes her feel.

“It’s a lot of cardio,” Lovato said. “You get stronger. You get faster. You get better and the coaches are there to help you through the end stage of it. I think people plateau without a coach there encouraging you to move forward.”

Athletes at EchoValor get one-on-one coaching from athletes in their actual fighting style. Echo stresses basic functional mobility, philosophy of the sport and a positive growth mindset in all athletes at EchoValor. The combative arts classes do include sparring but Echo stresses that students do not have to be interested in fighting in the ring to benefit from the program. He said between 80-90 percent of his students do not wish to fight, but instead are interested in strengthening their bodies. He said many female students are also interested in it for self-defense.

“What we do is the most intense physical game and puzzle,” Echo said. “You can do it with a friend. You can do it alone. And you’re always growing and figuring more out.”

It is that positivity and growth that drew Rufus Phelps, 28, of Elma to EchoValor. He started training at the gym almost one year ago after he had just finished a 10-year prison term. He had previously participated in bare-knuckle street fighting and a friend suggested he might find a purpose in life in MMA. Phelps trained at EchoValor for less than a month, training nearly around the clock, and took the Xumout Heavyweight title in his first fight in December. 

On April 13, he will be competing for the Light Heavyweight championship. Phelps credited Echo’s concern for his athletes both on and off the mat for his success.

“This sport has not just saved my life, it’s changed my life,” Phelps said.

Over and over, EchoValor athletes stressed the gym’s family atmosphere, and it’s not just lip-service. Besides adult classes, EchoValor hosts special teen nights that include music and a chance to try out MMA. They recently held a ladies night, with plans to offer it again. They also have a special kids’ boxing class. 

Family members are also encouraged at all times. Darryl Cleveland, owner of Blue Door Studio photography, which is located in the same building, helps Echo with management of the building as well as promotions. 

He recalled his daughter, Tasha Cleveland, previously trained at a gym where family members had to stay in a specific area. At EchoValor, families are encouraged to be near the classes. He joked that sometimes they put his 1-year-old son in the “playpen” when it is not in use so he can be near the action. Sometimes athletes’ children even join in the classes, or play nearby. 

“For me as a dad, I look at it like any other Martial Art. It takes dedication and commitment,” Darryl Cleveland said. “MMA has a rough energy to it but these guys all respect each other. Just look at these (big guys) fighting next to my 15-year-old daughter and I know they’re going to treat her with respect.”

It is the growth mindset that motivates Victor Gomez, of Chehalis, to make MMA part of his family’s life. He started practicing MMA several years ago and took some time off to focus on his business and growing family. He recently returned and said he was happy to find an MMA gym in Chehalis where he could practice his art.

“I enjoy the sport,” Gomez said. “It never seems to end. There is no ‘I already know everything there is to know.’ There’s always more fighters who know more than you an you can learn from.”

Gomez also has three kids under the age of 6 who participate in the kids program.

“Once kids get into sports, it opens up doors to their future,” Gomez said. “I want them to soak it all up now so they’ll have a lot of options for the future.”