General Chat & Info Board

your weapon stays cold

how long do you think it'll take to "learn" how to throw a punch? you think training in a controlled environment like a boxing gym is the same as being out on the street? when the adrenaline hits, there aren't any rules or anyone to step in and stop it. what then, when some kids won't back down on the subway?... 😁

I used to train kickboxing about five or six years back—looking to get back into the swing of things now. Does anyone have recommendations for a good club in Miami? Looking for info on pricing and general vibes.

Frank Hall10 said:Honestly, I'm just so fed up with how people let certain types of aggression or venting directed at women slide—and in my case, I feel like I can only stay quiet because if I actually spoke up, the best I’d get is a slap in the face.
The last time it happened, it was some obnoxious teenager being a jerk, but what am I supposed to do? I can't exactly grab him by the ear and march him back home to his parents...

I’m 28 years old, and honestly, I think you guys are looking at this through rose-colored glasses. You aren't seeing the reality of things clearly. No matter how much you sweat in the gym or how many hours you grind through drills, there’s always going to be a massive crowd of guys out there who don't train at all—but they’re still going to be way, way stronger than you'll ever be. Training martial arts isn't actually meant for what you think it's for.

Nathan Walker16 said:I’m 28 years old, and honestly, I think you guys are looking at this through rose-colored glasses. You aren't seeing the reality of things clearly. No matter how much you sweat in the gym or how many hours you grind through drills, there’s always going to be a massive crowd of guys out there who don't train at all—but they’re still going to be way, way stronger than you'll ever be. Training martial arts isn't actually meant for what you think it's for.

That's true.

Basically, it is possible for an average woman to become strong enough to take down a decent number of guys on the street. But that doesn't happen by hitting a gym three times a week for some martial arts classes. It requires dedicating a huge chunk of your free time to training—which, I guess, is expensive, exhausting, and most people just won't bother.

Maybe try resolving those situations with a conversation instead.

You know what? Just pick up a martial art or some kind of sport... anything you actually enjoy... It’ll be worth it... Better than doing nothing at all... Just stick with it... But really commit to it for the long haul...

It’ll be just like that guy who headed over to India because he heard yogis could actually levitate... He was obsessed with the idea... So our instructor asks him if he wants to learn how to float, and the guy says yes, but only after he masters the basics first...

Years later, they say he finally figured out how to levitate... But by then, he didn't even care anymore...

😉

Frank Hall10 said:Honestly, I'm just so fed up with how people let certain types of aggression or venting directed at women slide—and in my case, I feel like I can only stay quiet because if I actually spoke up, the best I’d get is a slap in the face.
The last time it happened, it was some obnoxious teenager being a jerk, but what am I supposed to do? I can't exactly grab him by the ear and march him back home to his parents...

I totally get where you're coming from... but honestly, you might just have to swallow that tear and move on... 😉
Training in martial arts isn't really meant to be used in your private life, out on the street, or anything like that...
Plus, I think it's actually pretty tough to apply what you learn in a gym to a situation like that—most likely, you'd just end up hurting yourself more than the other person...

Betty Patel52 said:I used to train kickboxing about five or six years back—looking to get back into the swing of things now. Does anyone have recommendations for a good club in Miami? Looking for info on pricing and general vibes.

You've got Ameno over by South Beach and then there's Mornar down near the stadium—honestly, those two seem like the best bets out there...🙂
I think the monthly fee is around $67, just give them a quick Google search and see what you think...

Hey, I'm 17 and thinking about picking up a martial art. Since I'm torn between hitting the gym or starting combat sports, I wanted to see what you guys recommend. I’m looking for something where I can learn basic self-defense while also dropping some weight and getting toned... maybe something that incorporates gym work too? I don't have any prior experience with wrestling or striking. Just looking for some initial suggestions first, then we can get into the details if needed. Also, ideally somewhere near the Upper West Side...

I was wondering if there’s anywhere in the city where you can just, you know, get some recreational boxing training in without having to drop a ton of cash, maybe even for free?

Lisa Bailey41 said:Hey, I'm 17 and thinking about picking up a martial art. Since I'm torn between hitting the gym or starting combat sports, I wanted to see what you guys recommend. I’m looking for something where I can learn basic self-defense while also dropping some weight and getting toned... maybe something that incorporates gym work too? I don't have any prior experience with wrestling or striking. Just looking for some initial suggestions first, then we can get into the details if needed. Also, ideally somewhere near the Upper West Side...

Not sure about the Upper West Side... maybe there's a "cool" karate club around there, but if you head over toward Midtown, you've got plenty of options.

Lisa Bailey41 said:Hey, I'm 17 and thinking about picking up a martial art. Since I'm torn between hitting the gym or starting combat sports, I wanted to see what you guys recommend. I’m looking for something where I can learn basic self-defense while also dropping some weight and getting toned... maybe something that incorporates gym work too? I don't have any prior experience with wrestling or striking. Just looking for some initial suggestions first, then we can get into the details if needed. Also, ideally somewhere near the Upper West Side...

Most people don't really have any "prior experience" when they start training, so I guess you shouldn't worry too much about that. 😉
Personally, I’d probably suggest going with a martial art, though I don't really know what your specific goals are or what's available to you. If that doesn't sound like your thing, the gym is a great spot for strength, conditioning, and building confidence (sometimes maybe even a bit too much confidence, and I'm not hating, I just know from my own experience).
If you're trying to save some cash, I guess you could look up some street workout or calisthenics stuff and focus on bodyweight exercises—you know, running, push-ups, pull-ups, squats... They might be a little tougher for a total beginner compared to a gym, but it pays off eventually, I think. 😉

If you really want to focus on self-defense, Krav Maga is pretty cool, and Judo or Jiu-Jitsu would be more than useful. Of course, that's assuming there's a club nearby or you don't mind commuting. Basically, whatever combat sport you pick will likely help you defend yourself against a potential attacker to some extent. There isn't really one ultimate skill that will ALWAYS protect you; even just running away won't work if you aren't fast enough or agile enough to get clear. 🤣

Frank Hall10 said:Hey everyone!
So, I’m a woman... um... of a certain age 🙂, and I have absolutely zero experience, but I've decided I really want to learn how to actually take someone down. Does anyone have any suggestions for a specific martial art or maybe a local gym that offers beginner classes for adults—and, more importantly—won't drive me crazy with all that intense breathing exercise stuff? 🙂
Thanks 🙂

Oh, I totally forgot to mention—I'm looking for something here in the States, specifically near Chicago.

If your goal is just learning how to bash someone's head in, I guess you shouldn't be learning anything at all. If it's more about reacting because someone provoked you and you felt the need to use physical force, then maybe there's an issue with self-control—especially if you find yourself hitting someone way younger than you (like some kid).

If you actually want to learn how to defend yourself, for women who are, well, "adults," I think self-defense courses or Krav Maga might be the best fit. Krav Maga was basically designed specifically for self-defense, anyway. I don't know where to find any Wing Chun in Chicago, so I won't even suggest it, though that would probably be cool.

Just keep in mind that these self-defense systems are mostly about avoiding a fight or responding to one, rather than starting things. Also, the breathing stuff isn't useless, I guess. Proper breathing makes it a lot easier to take a hit, and it helps you land much harder ones too.

I’m looking for some training sessions in downtown Chicago, ideally priced under $150 per month. $67 I don't care much about fancy gyms or high-end equipment; I just want a solid atmosphere—productive, but without all the excessive hype. I have experience in Muay Thai, though I’m not in peak condition right now, and I’m open to trying something new like Wing Chun or Krav Maga. If anyone has recommendations, I’d appreciate it.

Nathan Kelly5 said:I’m looking for some training sessions in downtown Chicago, ideally priced under $150 per month. $67 I don't care much about fancy gyms or high-end equipment; I just want a solid atmosphere—productive, but without all the excessive hype. I have experience in Muay Thai, though I’m not in peak condition right now, and I’m open to trying something new like Wing Chun or Krav Maga. If anyone has recommendations, I’d appreciate it.

In my experience, you aren't going to find training sessions this cheap anywhere else, at least not near downtown. Most of them usually show up around... $83 Monthly. I guess.
So, I'm just a student, really. But hey, you can totally join the Subos club if you want. They have all sorts of stuff going on, so maybe you could just dive in and pick whatever catches your eye. I guess it's worth a shot. I was looking at this site earlier, I think it’s some kind of directory or a collection of different sections for an organization over in Europe. It looks like it might be related to some local services or maybe just a landing page for different departments. I guess it’s hard to tell without digging deeper into what they actually do. Maybe it's just a way to organize their internal stuff. I don't know, it seems pretty straightforward if you know what you're looking for, I suppose.
There are some training sessions going on at the gym over on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. I guess the price shouldn't be too bad, either. Maybe.

Nathan Kelly5 said:I’m looking for some training sessions in downtown Chicago, ideally priced under $150 per month. $67 I don't care much about fancy gyms or high-end equipment; I just want a solid atmosphere—productive, but without all the excessive hype. I have experience in Muay Thai, though I’m not in peak condition right now, and I’m open to trying something new like Wing Chun or Krav Maga. If anyone has recommendations, I’d appreciate it.

Over by that old church in downtown Chicago... Thai boxing at Holy Spirit... $67

I completely forgot about them, honestly. I didn't even realize they weren't that pricey. Do you happen to know when their enrollment periods are?

I’m really looking for an MMA gym that isn't too far from my neighborhood—basically, I don't want to be stuck driving more than 45 minutes to get there. I'm living over in the Folnegović area.
I’ve mostly been training at this Jiu-Jitsu club called Omega, and it felt pretty intense. I wouldn't mind something like that again, or maybe even something a bit tougher, I guess.

You’ve got Pitbull over in Utrecht. They have MMA, Muay Thai, and other stuff there, maybe around 250-300 people. For $67, it's just Holy Spirit. I bet there's Wing Chun at a school in Rapska somewhere

What kind of sign-ups are these? Is there no way to just show up and get started? When are the training sessions held?

What's the deal with Pitbull as a club? Does anyone have any info or maybe some personal experience with them?
When it comes to the money side of things, I guess I’d much rather drop that cash on training sessions than waste it on junk food. Maybe it's just me, but I think it's a better call.

Nathan Kelly5 said:What kind of sign-ups are these? Is there no way to just show up and get started? When are the training sessions held?

Not many clubs really take in new members whenever they feel like it. If they were letting people join all year round, I guess the group would probably progress pretty slowly.