About
For further inquiries, or for interest in contracting Jacob Klensin for freelance opportunities, please contact at jacobklensin@gmail.com
For the previous two years, I have invested myself fully into a project I created, called “The Figure of Fighting.” Initially, I came into the gyms, simply to add another documentary portraiture body of work to my portfolio. One that I could follow and stick with over a period of time. I wanted something that would allow for a chance to show certain emotions that I hope to find and capture in what I envision being my future work. I wanted to show the focus and dedication that goes into preparing to put oneself into physical combat. I wanted to show the exhaustion, the joy of victory, and the pain of defeat. What I found was more than what I had hoped for. I have found beauty in what many see as brutish, and have found not only practice for future work of mine, but all the elements that I have hoped to capture in what I do. I have had the fortune to develop a unique relationship to a sport and tradition that is often dismissed as violent, and yet is not only of unique historical importance, but possesses some of the most impressive athletic ability and displays of personal dedication. I have worked to form close relationships with these fighters, following them over long periods of time, getting to know them personally, training with them, and working closely with them as we both dedicate ourselves to our passions, as difficult as they may be to pursue. I owe the success of this project to the support of the fighters from all over that have allowed me to be a part of their experience in such an intimate way. I plan for this project to continue growing and to expand to levels that I have yet to even envision and plan for. The following is a list of locations and promotions which I have had the pleasure to involve in this project thus far.
Locations:
American Fighter MMA; Philadelphia, PA
Cool Hearts Muay Thai; Philadelphia, PA
Daddis Fight Camps; Philadelphia, PA
Legends MMA; Hollywood, CA
Academy of Mixed Martial Sciences; Los Angeles, CA
Robert Garcia Boxing Academy; Oxnard, CA
Huntington Beach Ultimate Training Center; Huntington Beach, CA
Fairtex; San Francisco, CA
Marcelo Garcia Jiu Jitsu Academy; New York, NY
Grand Master Mansur’s Academy; Port Jefferson, NY
Kings MMA; Huntington Beach, CA
Wand Fight Team; Las Vegas, NV
Xtreme Couture; Las Vegas, NV
Tapout Training Center; Las Vegas, NV
10th Planet; Hollywood, CA
Promotions:
Matrix
Asylum
Locked in the Cage
Cage Wars
Bellator
