You don't need to go looking for trouble to throw some punches.

Cape Cod Fighting Alliance recently opened a gym at 3095 Cranberry Highway. It specializes in teaching the Muay Thai brand of mixed martial arts  according to owner and head instructor Pat Schultz.

"They take the best of all the arts," and combine them to create the fighting style taught at the gym.

Schultz is a Wareham native and after having operated a gym in Plymouth for six years, he's happy to bring it to Wareham.

While the idea of mixed martial arts may bring to mind visions of violence, it's really more of an intense way to stay healthy.

"We're a MMA school, but the classes we cater to are fitness and exercise," explained Schultz. "We do have a fight team...but the majority of the members are in it for fitness and self-defense."

Schultz, a 1994 graduate of Wareham High School, has had some success as a fighter himself.

He competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship league, and was on season seven of the Spike TV show Ultimate Fighter.

A diverse array of students  attended a recent class, with students ranging from grown men to elementary school aged girls (obviously they won't be sparring with each other!), demonstrating that the sport is for everyone.

Assistant instructor Jojo Perez earned her black belt in Tae Kwon Do at the age of 12, and now the 19-year-old helps out Schulz, in addition to teaching the women's only classes. Petite yet powerful,  she's also the only female fighter at the gym, but is currently just training because she's protecting her face for her upcoming wedding.

"I actually met my future husband here," she said.

Perez says that while there is punching, kicking, and even elbow throwing in the sport she emphasizes the importance of keeping it in the gym to her students.

"You do this as a sport...not just to know how to kick butt. I'm very against that."

For more information, click here to visit Cape Cod Fighting Alliance on Facebook.