FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Virginia Beach, VA, August 31, 2026 East Side Muay Thai (ESMT) closes out their first decade this August by earning their 100th belt. The gym’s mission of: coaching students and fighters to learn the art of the sport, empowering individuals through Muay Thai. Empowering individuals through Muay Thai, fostering discipline, physical strength, and mental resilience in a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment has remained the cornerstone of ESMT and has rightfully earned their reputation of being the top elite Muay Thai gym on the East Coast.

Over the past decade, ESMT has helped develop fighters who have competed at the local, regional, national, and international levels—bringing home a combined 100 championship belts along the way. Every belt hanging in the gym represents something beyond stepping in the ring. Each belt has its own story following the core values of respect, discipline, resilience and community with hundreds of hours of work by athletes, coaches, and supporting family members.

“This milestone is about so much more than belts,” said Jose Aguirre, owner and head coach of ESMT “Every belt represents an athlete who showed up, put in the work, faced adversity, and believed they could accomplish something bigger than themselves."

ESMT’s two pro fighters, Jordan Wilson and Summer Bronco, compete in this weekend’s Combat Sports Challenge 46 (CSC), earning belts 99, 100, and 101 for the gym. One of the titles being a unification title between the World Muay Thai Organization (WMO) and World Kickboxing Association (WKA). Summer Bronco fought Hannah Brady, coming to Virginia Beach from England just for this fight with a full 5 rounds scoring in her favor 50-45/ 49-46.

Summer Bronco was the gym’s first pro fighter, and earned the gym’s first belt in 2014 before doors officially opened with the Thai Boxing Association (TBA) National belt. , and now is hitting their next big milestone with belt 100 and 101.

“It’s fitting that Summer would bring us #100. With her earning our first belt, I’m happy to see this full circle moment with her.” Aguirre adds “she’s put in so much work and she’s such a talented fighter, I knew she would be the one to bring us here.”

ESMT has spent a decade building champions with fighters of all ages winning fights with many national and international organizations. After a pro fight career in Thailand, Aguirre also leads in coaching for USA Muay Thai, the Olympic governing body for Muay Thai. Other coaches on the team are leaders for International Federation of Muay Thai Association (IFMA) and International Sport Kickboxing Association (ISKA). ESMT not only builds their own fighters, but they have a hand in building Muay Thai fighters worldwide.

“Our legacy isn’t about what happens within the walls of East Side. It’s our responsibility to preserve and grow the sport wherever our athletes, coaches and community takes it. We’re all ambassadors for Muay Thai–the sport, the culture, the traditions. If we can inspire others while building our athletes, then we’ve done our job,” Aguirre states about their involvement in worldwide Muay Thai organizations.

As ESMT enters its second decade, there’s no intention of slowing down. The team at ESMT continues to grow and work hard. Coming off the WKA Nationals Tournament with 19 wins consisting of 8 golds and 2 silvers, light-contact and full contact athletes will compete in October for the World level. The team is going international again, competing at the IFMA PanAms in Uraguay in October, and Rajadamnern World Series (RWS) in Thailand in November.

“This next decade, I just see our team growing,” says Aguirre. “I would like to see my amateurs performing at a professional level and deep in the rankings with One Champion and RWS and fighting globally. I see ESMT branching out into other locations that I can pass down to my senior students.”