Josh Rutgers

DEADGAME:  Never Ending Perseverance, to Refuse Surrender at all Costs.

The term DEADGAME is used to describe a warrior's never-say-die attitude. Gameness means to show intent, willing or ready to proceed, having or showing a resolute unyielding spirit.

To label a warrior as being DEADGAME is the highest honor he or she could achieve.

We strive to cultivate the fighting spirit of gameness that dwells deep within the heart. This applies to all aspects of life - inside the ring and out.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  --Philippians 4:13

Deadgame Fight School is the longest running boxing/MMA gym in Jacksonville. Some members train just for recreation or fitness, while others compete all over the country at amateur and professional levels in a number of different fight sports. 

Developed and based around proven documented results, realistic physical applications and Christian morals and beliefs, TEAM DEADGAME is committed to keeping kids off the streets, while providing positive outlets and providing opportunities for amateur athletes, and helping people make their DREAMS COME TRUE.

We offer Olympic style boxing competition with USA Boxing (the largest amateur boxing sanctioning body in America and gateway to the Olympics). Amateur & Professional fighters are in our gym daily, along with average joes, beginners, kids, etc.

 Our gym is licensed by USA Boxing and the ISCF. 

Some of our gym members train for RECREATION, some for FITNESS or STRENGTH & CONDITIONING, and others travel the country, some even the world for COMPETITION as amateur or professional fighters.

JOSH RUTGERS

Josh Rutgers has been involved in the professional fight game longer than most anyone in Jacksonville that's still doing it and was also one of the first people based out of Jacksonville to fight professionally in the sport of NO HOLDS BARRED cage fighting (the term MIXED MARTIAL ARTS didn't exist at that time). This era is sometimes referred to as "The dark ages of MMA." At that time the rules were much more brutal than what's seen today - allowing headbutts, knees to the head on the ground, kicking a downed opponent in the head etc. Since then the sport has incorporated a lot more rules and is now known as MMA. Professional and amateur combined Josh has had over 30 fights in numerous different ring sports. Josh has competed in a variety of sports to include submission grappling, amateur boxing, Professional Boxing, Toughman, MMA, NHB and Full Contact Bare Knuckle Karate. Josh has appeared on television fighting numerous times and in 2004 Josh moved up in weight class and won the Heavyweight division of the Musa Shido Bare Knuckle Full Contact Karate tournament and captured the Florida State Title.

Since 2005, Deadgame Fight School has promoted approximately 50 amateur events, even independently producing a weekly cable television show titled TRAUMA TELEVISION, which until 2014, could be seen in the Jacksonville area each Saturday morning at 11:00 a.m. on Comcast cable. 

Josh Rutgers has made the fight game his career and is very driven in such and has also been very diversified with his previous involvement in fight sports with everything from fighting, coaching, professional refereeing, management, match making, etc. As a coach Josh Rutgers has put in excess of 100 athletes into the ring including multiple national and promotional championship title bouts.

History of Josh Rutgers as a coach:
Josh has trained and developed in excess of 100 amateur athletes into competition
Athletes Josh has produced have competed at the following championship levels both state and national:
Golden Gloves State Championships
Junior Olympic National Qualifier
USMTA State Championships
Armed Forces World Championships
Professional MMA Title SFC
PAL State Championships
Platinum Gloves State Championship
Under the direction of Josh Rutgers and Coach Michael Knight Deadgame Fight School has captured and currently holds numerous belts in various different ring sports. 

Josh is also a licensed referee both amateur and professional and has officiated well over 1,000 bouts. He is also noted for refereeing the first ever amateur sanctioned MMA event not only in Florida but also in the state of Maryland.

History of Josh Rutgers as a fighter:
After a 10 year professional career which included 17 total bouts (12 MMA and 5 Boxing) spanning from 1999 - 2009 Josh retired from fighting to dedicate more time to running the gym.
Josh competed as an amateur from 1996 - 1999
Undefeated Professional Boxer: 5 wins 0 losses 5 ko's
IABF Cruiserweight Champion
1997 International Jacksonville Mayors Cup Fighting Champion
2000 Three time Submission Grappling Champion
2000 Tough man competitor appeared on national television FX
Professional No Holds Barred Cage Fighting Veteran
World Extreme Fighting veteran
World Vale Tudo Federation veteran
Extreme Fighting Challenge veteran
20+ Amateur Boxing bouts
2004 Musa Shido (full contact, bare knuckle, Japanese Style, knock-down Karate) Heavyweight Tournament Champion

Current and previous qualifications of Josh Rutgers:

ISFA licensed Shootfighting Instructor under Bart Vale
USA Boxing Southern Association Certified Level 2 Coach 
USA Boxing Florida Association Certified Level 2 Coach
USA Boxing Southern Association Certified Official
W.I.T.S. (World Instructors Training School) Certified Personal Fitness Trainer
A.M.F. (American Muscle and Fitness) Certified Person Fitness Trainer
A.M.F. (American Muscle and Fitness) Certified Nutritionist
AAMMA Certified Master Referee
USMTA Certified MMA Referee
ISKA licensed MMA judge
ISCF Professional & Amateur referee 

Abc Certified Referee 

CPR, Basic First Aid & Bloodborne pathogens certification

Licensed and has worked as an event official in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Washington & Maryland

Disciplines studied:
Shootfighting (BART VALE World Champion)
Boxing
American Submission Fighting (OBAKE World Champion)
Tang Soo Do
Hap Soo Do
Jiu Jitsu
Muay Thai
Mixed Martial Arts
American Kickboxing

MOST IMPORTANTLY – Born again Christian as of 1994