[fightinthedog]

SORT OF A LONG STORY, SORRY ABOUT THAT...

Hi guys, I've been at my MMA club for about 6 months now going 3-4 times per week. The thing is I've now reached the point that I need to step it up a level from the sessions that we do.

Our sessions under our head coach are always the same or similar and there are no new ideas or techniques coming in. Coach is a kickboxer who is only a learner in BJJ himself so I'm not comfortable learning from him (he couldn't sub me out when demonstrating an armbar last week because he hasn't got the technique right). We have a grappling coach in once per week and he's good but that's not enough when I train 3-4 times.

All of his stand up work is kickboxing, no Muay Thai, no straight boxing, nothing like that and I really don't like kickboxing! I'm left de-motivated when I know we're going to be doing stand up work.

Also his sessions either aren't challenging at all or if he's in a mood he pushes you and pushes you until you physically can't do any more. One guy passed out from working so hard when coach was pissed off about something.

I'm planning to join the Army once I graduate from Uni so I have been thinking of getting in to a bit of amateur boxing because I'm told they like boxers. I do really enjoy boxing personally, I did a bit of training in a boot camp sort of thing last summer. There's a good boxing gym not far from where I live but I'd have to miss sessions in MMA to go. There are BJJ sessions nearby too which I could make it to...

...so my question really is thus: Do I stay at my gym, box whenever I can and get on with it?

OR

Do I leave my gym, do BJJ twice per week and Box twice per week...sort of go for pure styles rather than mixing it up a bit in one club?

Anybody that read all this crap deserves a medal but I haven't got any spare so my thanks will have to do. Any advice will be appreciated!

 

[G_Land]

Well speaking from experience I would say go with how you feel.....for one learning from a guy who is still learning him self will either get you nowhere or get you hurt....In the end its up to you bro

 

[fightinthedog]

Well speaking from experience I would say go with how you feel.....for one learning from a guy who is still learning him self will either get you nowhere or get you hurt....In the end its up to you bro

I feel like I want to leave but I feel soooo bad! The coach is a really nice guy and so are most of the boys I train with but I'm just not progressing anymore. Feels like he's taken me as far as he can with MMA

 

[G_Land]

Well who says you cant still be friends with them. At this point you have to look at it from a buisness point. Is it worth your hard earned money to stay with these guys when they are not taking you anywhere. The coach may be cool but look at the down side of it ...your not getting what you originally came there for

 

[fightinthedog]

Well who says you cant still be friends with them. At this point you have to look at it from a buisness point. Is it worth your hard earned money to stay with these guys when they are not taking you anywhere. The coach may be cool but look at the down side of it ...your not getting what you originally came there for

Yeah I get your point. What I'm thinking of doing is train a couple of times per week there in the summer and in September say my Uni timetable is such that it won't let me attend any sessions. But then if I see them at tournaments for BJJ they will be like wtf! My coach hates the Gracie BJJ guy i my city but if it's the only session I can make...

 

[G_Land]

Yeah if you feel that is the best path but I seriously dont think they will hold it against you for changing gyms...And if they do were they really your friends?

 

[fightinthedog]

Yeah if you feel that is the best path but I seriously dont think they will hold it against you for changing gyms...And if they do were they really your friends?

I'm sure coach will have a bit of a bitch about it if I go to train with the Gracie club but it is fairly late on a Wednesday night (the night my club has a grappling coach) so I could just say I'm in Uni until after his session starts.

I think what I may do is box on Mondays and Fridays and do BJJ on wednesdays then if I can fit in another session at my club in the week I will. I go to a couple of afternoon sessions at the moment which are ideal for students but again we are a fairly new club so we get loads of new starters, thing is we end up going over the basics every session. Some of the guys have been there over a year and are sick of learning how to do breakfalls and how to shrimp or shoot etc.

 

[fightinthedog]

BUMP

Anyone else have any thoughts?

 

[Halfraq9]

Time to go IMO. You have set goals for yourself and the current place is not helping you meet them. Its their problem if they don't understand why you need to leave.

Fighters switch up their trainers all the time in order to continue modifying their game. You want to spend more time on your ground game which they can't help you with. There is no reason you can't change gyms and drop by every now and again to maintain relations.

Stick with your goals. Good luck.

 

[fightinthedog]

Time to go IMO. You have set goals for yourself and the current place is not helping you meet them. Its their problem if they don't understand why you need to leave.

Fighters switch up their trainers all the time in order to continue modifying their game. You want to spend more time on your ground game which they can't help you with. There is no reason you can't change gyms and drop by every now and again to maintain relations.

Stick with your goals. Good luck.

Thanks for the reply. It is important that I get some experience in amateur boxing as I've explained, for my career. So that aspect I don't think will be an issue.

The problem will be training with the Gracie club in my city, my coach hates the guy...but then again he has beef with a lot of coaches and promoters around here lol

I think I will alternate boxing twice and BJJ once, with BJJ twice and boxing once the following week to get a reasonable amount of training in each. But yeah I like the idea of dropping in for the odd session to keep up old ties, there are some great guys at the club so I wouldn't want to lose touch.

Thanks again for replying bro.

 

[Light_Speed]

id say change your gym.. go to the 2 new ones.. personally id say try n find some traditional muay thai also just to learn a bit. joining the army huh?? question ...why ?

 

[fightinthedog]

id say change your gym.. go to the 2 new ones.. personally id say try n find some traditional muay thai also just to learn a bit. joining the army huh?? question ...why ?

Thanks for replying man, yeah I think I am going to change gyms. I'm off with a slight injury I've had for a while at the moment but I suppose it gives me time to make up my mind.

Yeah I'm currently studying for a degree and then I'll be joining the Army for a few years. I've always wanted to join the Army or the Police force but the Police force here don't recruit much so you have to be an outstanding applicant to stand a chance. If I go to the Army as an officer and serve for a minimum term of 3 years (might do more) the Police would love me for my experience and the load of management and leadership qualifications you get in training.

 

[xeberus]

Yea dude, its time to move on.

I love kickboxing myself, but if you aren't being challenged its time to move. I love my gym because we have and constantly get guys who compete on local circuits. In kickboxing you never reach a conclusion, it and itself is a constant evolution and when it ceases to it becomes stagnant.

 

[fightinthedog]

Yea dude, its time to move on.

I love kickboxing myself, but if you aren't being challenged its time to move. I love my gym because we have and constantly get guys who compete on local circuits. In kickboxing you never reach a conclusion, it and itself is a constant evolution and when it ceases to it becomes stagnant.

Well each to their own I guess, I know some people who love it too. I just don't enjoy it much.

My gym is pretty much all beginners, only one has had any amateur fights, 4 did a grapple & strike tournament and that's it.

 

[Light_Speed]

Thanks for replying man, yeah I think I am going to change gyms. I'm off with a slight injury I've had for a while at the moment but I suppose it gives me time to make up my mind.

Yeah I'm currently studying for a degree and then I'll be joining the Army for a few years. I've always wanted to join the Army or the Police force but the Police force here don't recruit much so you have to be an outstanding applicant to stand a chance. If I go to the Army as an officer and serve for a minimum term of 3 years (might do more) the Police would love me for my experience and the load of management and leadership qualifications you get in training.

oh ok.. didnt see your not in america... because army over here is not something you want to do.. police officer on the other hand is very easy to become lol infact there giving that job to any moron here. not sure how things are in the uk. hope everything goes well for you

 

[vilify]

if he has taken you as far as he can and you know it, then its time to move on. sticking around would be a waste of money and time.

 

[MMA-Matt]

doesn't your gym have beginners/intermediate/advanced classes?

That's usually the sign of a good gym IMO.