Working out: Dalton Adams, left, trains with Robert Gehres of Evolution Self Defense in Chambersburg on March 29. High school wrestling fundamentals have
Working out: Dalton Adams, left, trains with Robert Gehres of Evolution Self Defense in Chambersburg on March 29. High school wrestling fundamentals have helped Gehres in his MMA career. (Public Opinion/Ryan Blackwell)
Not too long ago, Rob Gehres was stationed at Fallahat, Iraq.

On the joint security station from September 2008 to September 2009, the 24-year-old now living in Chambersburg has been in the military for seven years and worked his way up to E5 Sergeant.

While many may look at time spent overseas during a time of war as a curse, Gehres found it a blessing in disguise.

Now a mixed martial arts fighter and instructor, Gehres started his career in the sport on the barrack floor.

"I found out the army does MMA style training, and I really got into combatives," Gehres said. "Through my career in the military, I just ended up in different barracks and different units. You kind of throw down with different guys, and I really just got into the sport from there."

Gehres grew up in Allentown and entered into the competitive wrestling program at Northampton High School. He finished his wrestling career as a Chambersburg Trojan, and still holds on to the fundamentals he learned back then.

"Growing up as a wrestler, you learn this whole idea of, even though it's a team sport, there's a lot of individual effort," said Gehres, who fights at 135 pounds. "Being in the military is really the same thing, and this was a way to stay competing even though I wasn't wrestling in college."

Back in July 2012, Gehres walked into Evolution Self Defense - a mixed martial arts gym in Chambersburg - just looking for a place to train. A few hours later, he was an MMA instructor and now holds a bi-weekly class at the gym.


"This class isn't easy," said Dalton Adams, one of Gehres' trainees. "He really throws you to the wolves when you come in here the first time. He always expects a lot of you, and it's more what you do outside of the gym than what you do inside it."

Although Gehres is an instructor, that doesn't stop him from fighting. Gehres made his amateur debut in November in Locked in the Cage 13 at The Orchards in Chambersburg. After winning his first fight by defeating Ryan Putt by unanimous decision, Gehres will get his second chance in the cage Saturday night in Philadelphia.

He'll travel to the Locked in the Cage Arena on Jasper Street to take on Brian Minton (0-1). Minton fights out of Daddis Fight Camps, which is known as one of the premier MMA schools in Philly.

Despite this and it being only Gehres' second fight, he's not worried.

"If I'm busy asserting my plan, there's no time for him to even come up with a plan," Gehres said.

He doesn't tend to game plan for specific opponents; he relies heavily on his wrestling background to keep him going and that's exactly what he teaches his students.

At the gym, Gehres can be found teaching the importance of being proactive rather than reactive, keeping constant pressure, not stopping for a moment of breath and never backing down.

"The thing I tell my guys all the time is you have to break someone's will," Gehres said. "Anyone can get a flash knockout and score a punch. It's a completely different thing to totally, 100 percent feel another human being break, and when you do that, to me that's the best kind of win."

In addition to his wrestling background, Gehres also uses the strength of his military career to help him get through fights. He said in preparation for training, the mental toughness is probably most important.

"I came into a hard job in the military: I was a cab scout before I became a recruiter," Gehres said. "It's a job where you're constantly moving, running ruck marches 20 miles at a time. You're on a mission for 72 hours, just running on caffeine and nicotine. And as grueling as that is, this is just a different type of grueling."

When gearing up for a match like this, Gehres and Adams will both go through what Gehres calls "cardio death." In addition to running at least five miles a day, Gehres lifts weights about 2 1/2 hours a day and does road work two to three times per week. He also homes in on his wrestling and submission techniques.

"The big thing is just staying on top of my wrestling," Gehres said. "I'm a big believer that you can be a great striker, but if you can't get off your back, you can hit me all you want from your back and it'll never hurt me."

In addition to being an MMA instructor, Gehres is also a National Guard recruiter. Adams is one of his current recruits, and although Gehres clearly has a natural leadership ability, he gives all the credit to his trainees.

"I get really lucky with my guys that I get here," he said. "Honestly, if you want to be here, you'll be here, and I'm just really fortunate and blessed both with the people at the school and the students I get in my gym."


Lizi Arbogast can be reached at 262-4788 or