(Photo: Tapology.com)
Albert Lea, MN — August 1, 2026 — Mixed martial arts is a sport built on violent contact, but it is supposed to be governed by a strict code of discipline, restraint, and mutual respect. When an athlete repeatedly takes those specialized ring skills outside the cage to terrorize people in private spaces, they break that code.
That is why it is highly alarming that Justin Daniel Stuart is currently employed as an instructor at the Forge Training Center on Adams Avenue, leading Tuesday night mixed martial arts and sparring classes.
A deep dive into Freeborn County court records reveals a dark pattern of behavior that proves Stuart is a danger to the public. He has absolutely no business teaching anyone combat sports, let alone representing the local MMA community in any form.
A Pattern of Weaponized Violence
We cannot view Stuart as a regular coach who simply made a single past mistake. Public court files display two separate, concurrent criminal cases from 2018 that detail a terrifying reality.
In his first case, Stuart pled guilty to felony first-degree burglary [1.1]. The initial complaint alleged that he forced his way into a home, repeatedly beat a man in the head and neck until the victim could barely communicate, and spit in the face of his ex-girlfriend.
Just one month later, a second criminal case file (24-CR-18-1130) showed that he terrorized his own family. According to the police report, Stuart smashed a bedroom door frame during a domestic dispute while yelling, “I will beat her ass.”
The most chilling detail from that second case is the witness statement given to responding police officers. A witness explicitly told law enforcement that they were frozen in fear specifically because they knew Stuart had professional MMA fighting experience.
Stuart did not leave his fighting skills at the gym. He weaponized the reputation of his athletic training to induce panic and compliance during a domestic assault.
Gyms Must Prioritize Community Safety
Martial arts schools often talk about community safety, self-defense, and protecting the vulnerable. Yet, the Forge Training Center continues to actively promote Stuart on social media, using his “11 years of fight experience” as a flashy marketing tool to draw in paying customers.
Allowing an individual with a documented history of domestic violence and felony burglary to run sparring drills puts gym members at risk. It sends a message that athletic talent matters more than character, safety, and accountability.
Stuart’s record also shows a blatant disregard for authority. He repeatedly ignored court orders, skipped out on his mandatory pre-sentence investigation appointments with his probation agent, and triggered multiple arrest warrants for failing to show up to court.
If a person refuses to respect the boundaries set by a district court judge, why should anyone trust them to respect the boundaries of students on a training mat?
Time to Clear the Mat
An early discharge from state probation does not erase a person’s actions, nor does it automatically qualify them to be a community mentor.
The Forge Training Center needs to step up, protect its community, and immediately remove Stuart from its coaching rotation.
Furthermore, regional athletic commissions should carefully consider whether individuals with a proven record of using their combat training to threaten civilians belong anywhere near a regulated competitive circuit.
Specialized combat training is a privilege, not a right.
For the safety of Albert Lea, it is time to ban Justin Stuart from the mats for good.