Myriad MMA Academy

Myriad MMA Academy provides martial arts education and combat sports training at 2100 East 13th Street in Ames, Iowa. Originally founded as Myriad Submission Fighting, the gym was rebuilt and reorganized after a 2024 flood into a training facility that combines submission grappling, collegiate wrestling, and striking. The academy is led by co-owner and head grappling coach Jake Bower, a professional lightweight mixed martial artist and active national grappling competitor at events including No-Gi Worlds and the Sub Spectrum Championships. Co-owner and head wrestling coach Kyven "Showtime" Gadson is a three-time All-American and the 2015 NCAA Division One National Champion at 197 pounds for Iowa State University, as well as a national team freestyle wrestler. Striking is headed by Dr. Haris Variz, who holds a doctorate in plant biology from Iowa State University and founded the combat gear company WristRides LLC. Curriculum options encompass no-gi submission grappling, cage wrestling, boxing fundamentals, and mixed martial arts sparring designed for recreational practitioners and active fighters.