The brutal world of evangelical Christians and Mixed Martial Arts revealed in new 'Fight Church' documentary

By James Nye

Published: 14:38 EDT, 19 June 2012 | Updated: 14:38 EDT, 19 June 2012

It seems that the first rule of 'Fight Church' is to tell everybody about it.

Or at least it appears that way in a new documentary of the same name that has gone into production aiming to show the growing relationship between Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and Evangelical Christianity.

Given the green light after attracting over $30,000 in donations on Kickstarter, the in-depth film will attempt to answer questions such as, 'Can you love your neighbour as yourself and at the same time knee him in the face as hard as you can?'

Scroll Down for Video

Senior Pastor Paul Burress at his Trinity Church in Rochester, New York, is an avid proponent of Mixed Martial Arts and evangelical Christianity

Theology student and Mixed Martial Arts expert Scott Sullivan (left) prays while Paul Burress preaches to his flock

Two evangelical Christians pummel each other in a caged ring at a Mixed Martial Arts fight encouraged by church goers

Focusing on Senior Pastor Paul Burress and his Rochester, New York, Trinity Church and its offshoot MMA school, Trinity Training, 'Fight Church' plans to explore the contradictions inherent in fighting and organised Christianity.

'In life there are times when you take shots cause its a battle out there and the enemy is trying to seek and destroy us,' explained Burress to his congregation in a scene from the trailer of 'Fight Church'.

'He wants to destroy your families, he wants to destroy you personally.

'That's where the bible gives you your training.

'I love fighting.'

The congregation is offered Mixed Martial Arts, boxing and self defence lessons in tandem with their religious classes

A young man (left) bows his head in prayer before he enters into his unsuccessful fight (right)

Paul Burress encourages his flock from the stands as the audience made up of his congregation cheers another fight on

Directed by Oscar winning short film-maker, Daniel Junge, 'Fight Church' wants to travel the country to interview religious MMA figures.

'People may say, mixed martial arts is wrong, Jesus told everybody to turn the other cheek,' says 'Fight Pastor' Brandon Beals to the camera.

Mixed Martial Arts is the fastest growing sport in the United States

'I would be really quick to say, 'This is probably not the church for you!

'The greatest example is in scripture where Jesus was a fighter.

'That is the type of Jesus that I want to serve.'

Mixing violent language with religious talk, the pastors who speak in the film's trailer are unequivocal in their beliefs.

'There are definitely a lot of people who think there is a contradiction between fighting and Christianity,' explains Scott Sullivan, who studies theology and owns a MMA gym in Houston, Texas.

'This is two participants entering into a ring or a cage saying, we're gonna test each other today and the best man's gonna win.'

Mixed Martial Arts in illegal in New York State and the film's trailer suggests conflict between Burress and the state legislature in Albany.

'Personally I would prefer to have a full MMA competition here at the church, but that is not legal in the state of New York,' explains Burress.

Appalled at his lobbbying for MMA licenses at his church, a state official articulates his opposition.

'Fight Church' has already completed half its filming and has documented the popularity of Christian Mixed Martial Arts

Controversially, children are encouraged to fight each other as part of evangelical martial arts programs

'It befuddles me why somebody, especially a minister would try to take this to the next level of violence,' says the official.

In an indication that 'Fight Church' intends to pull no punches, children are seen involving themselves in the fighting.

'I' am gonna go in there and rip this kids head off,' says one particularly enthusiastic MMA child fighter.

Sadly though, one of the brave children comes off worst in a MMA fight with a smaller kid and can't help but cry.

Overcome by the pain of losing, one little boy begins to cry after his physically draining fight

For the filmakers, the mixing of violence and religion is fascinating.

'On the surface, many find the two as incongruent,' said Daniel Junge to Loveland Magazine.

'And I think it’s very topical and a popular subject matter as we live in an overtly Christian nation and MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) is the fastest rising sport.

'The overlap between those makes a really interesting subculture to observe.

'There are many in the film giving interpretations of the Bible. 

Believing in God's fighting qualities, evangelic Christians claim to draw parallels with Jesus' life and their struggles in the ring

'But one thing you can say emphatically and without question, is that, nowhere does it outlaw Mixed Martial Arts.

'Therefore religion is such that everyone has their own interpretation; sometimes a very passionate interpretation of whether or not it encompasses their lifestyle.

'The people who inhabit this lifestyle, fight and are devout Christians believe that they are no contradictions there.

For the fighters themselves, the competition is religious in itself.

'The hope is that through the fight I can create a relationship with the person I'm fighting and extend Christ to him,' says one dedicated fighter.