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Alliance - Midtown, Guerilla - Downtown, Gamblers - West Side

Sam Roberts said:Alliance - Midtown, Guerilla - Downtown, Gamblers - West Side

Thanks 👍

So, I’m 30 years old, standing about 5'10" and weighing roughly 187 lbs. I’m looking to pick up some kind of martial art or combat sport, mostly just to burn off some calories and get my energy levels back up... I’ve been checking out BJJ and MMA, but honestly, they look a bit overwhelming. Trying to memorize all those complex submissions and technical maneuvers at my age might be a bit much to handle... I’m also not really feeling the Muay Thai or kickboxing vibe because I’m definitely not the most flexible guy, and I highly doubt I’ll ever be able to pull off a full split 😁

I was leaning toward some recreational boxing instead; it feels like the most practical way to go. I was wondering if anyone could recommend a solid boxing gym in the area. I’m living over in the Maksimir neighborhood, but since I have a car, I’m happy to drive anywhere in the city...

Ideally, I'd love to find a place that keeps sessions going through the summer too, as I’m pretty eager to get started as soon as possible.
If you need any more details from me, just let me know.

Hey everyone, quick question.

Any recommendations for a boxing or kickboxing gym on the East Side? Maybe around Brooklyn or Queens. I’ve let myself go a bit, so I figured it’s time to get moving again.

The main thing for me is that they don't waste time during class. I'm talking about those sessions where you spend 40 minutes warming up and another 30 just shadowboxing. I don't care if the sparring is light or heavy; honestly, I don't mind taking a few hits to the face if it means getting actual work in.

I have a couple of years under my belt with Wing Chun and some Krav Maga, but I’ll show up as a total beginner without any ego. Also, just a heads up: I'm a 27-year-old veteran at 220 pounds.😁

George Miller2 said:So, I’m 30 years old, standing about 5'10" and weighing roughly 187 lbs. I’m looking to pick up some kind of martial art or combat sport, mostly just to burn off some calories and get my energy levels back up... I’ve been checking out BJJ and MMA, but honestly, they look a bit overwhelming. Trying to memorize all those complex submissions and technical maneuvers at my age might be a bit much to handle... I’m also not really feeling the Muay Thai or kickboxing vibe because I’m definitely not the most flexible guy, and I highly doubt I’ll ever be able to pull off a full split 😁

I was leaning toward some recreational boxing instead; it feels like the most practical way to go. I was wondering if anyone could recommend a solid boxing gym in the area. I’m living over in the Maksimir neighborhood, but since I have a car, I’m happy to drive anywhere in the city...

Ideally, I'd love to find a place that keeps sessions going through the summer too, as I’m pretty eager to get started as soon as possible.
If you need any more details from me, just let me know.

It’s never too late for BJJ. There are people of all ages, and it's what I'd suggest.

For boxing, there's a spot over by the old industrial district, I think it's Omega. For Muay Thai, check out that gym near the tennis courts—Trenk Gym and another one nearby.
There's also this

Karen Garcia5 said:Hey everyone, quick question.

Any recommendations for a boxing or kickboxing gym on the East Side? Maybe around Brooklyn or Queens. I’ve let myself go a bit, so I figured it’s time to get moving again.

The main thing for me is that they don't waste time during class. I'm talking about those sessions where you spend 40 minutes warming up and another 30 just shadowboxing. I don't care if the sparring is light or heavy; honestly, I don't mind taking a few hits to the face if it means getting actual work in.

I have a couple of years under my belt with Wing Chun and some Krav Maga, but I’ll show up as a total beginner without any ego. Also, just a heads up: I'm a 27-year-old veteran at 220 pounds.😁

Yeah, you're 27. Old man... 😁
Don't tell them you trained Wing Chun or Krav Maga... those clubs won't take you seriously if you do... 😁

Read the post above...

Sam Roberts said:It’s never too late for BJJ. There are people of all ages, and it's what I'd suggest.

For boxing, there's a spot over by the old industrial district, I think it's Omega. For Muay Thai, check out that gym near the tennis courts—Trenk Gym and another one nearby.
There's also this

Thanks for getting back to me! I think I'll head over to Omega soon just to check out what their boxing sessions look like. And since you mentioned that it isn't too late to jump into BJJ even at 30, do you have any specific recommendations? I noticed a few people mentioning Guerilla Athletics Gym in this thread...

Whether it's boxing or Jiu-Jitsu, I'm really looking for a club with plenty of recreational practitioners. I want a place where I can actually work through drills with someone without being paired up with an advanced pro who gets annoyed or, worse, ends up accidentally cranking my arm or leg during a roll 😁. I did some Judo back when I was younger in high school, and it was exactly like that. We’d get paired with a blue belt who wasn't exactly thrilled about playing human punching bag for someone practicing throws, so the whole session just felt pretty useless...

But then again, maybe that's just a Judo thing. I know it's such a hyper-competitive sport that there probably isn't much room for people just doing it for fun. Most of the focus seems to be on kids or beginners starting from scratch...

Trust me, you’re better off working with someone advanced. They actually know their stuff, they won't hurt you, and you might actually learn something... Guerrilla is more of a Spartan-style gym—basic setup so you don't get overwhelmed, but the guys are solid. There are other clubs too, just depends on how much you feel like driving—maybe check out some spots in the suburbs or near downtown... all of them are decent.

I think judo is definitely more competition-focused. In BJJ, people will help you if you want to compete, but for most folks, it's pretty much just recreational...

Hey everyone, I have a quick question about American Top Team. Does anyone here have some first-hand experience with them? I’m wondering what the training sessions are actually like—is there real substance to what you learn there, or is the gym mostly just great marketing? Thanks in advance!

Hey everyone - I’m a complete newbie here, so any advice is appreciated.
Not looking for trouble or anything, just want to be able to hold my own if things get messy.
My confidence is pretty shaky and I'm chasing that "inner peace" thing too, so maybe something spiritual? Like Aikido?
I'm 28 (5'11", 145 lbs). Shape is okay, mostly just from riding my bike 15 miles every day.
I live out in the suburbs near Atlanta, and I work long shifts, usually 12-17 hours a day near downtown. On Saturdays I wrap up by 2, and I'm off Sundays. Usually, my one day off is Monday.
Since my schedule is all over the place, I need something where I can be flexible with training.
Thanks!

aikido - iwama ryu is the only way. but if you're only hitting the mat once a week, it's gonna take forever to actually use it...
Inner peace... you can find it with any workout. Especially if it just completely drains you...

Kimberly Turner83 said:Hey everyone, I have a quick question about American Top Team. Does anyone here have some first-hand experience with them? I’m wondering what the training sessions are actually like—is there real substance to what you learn there, or is the gym mostly just great marketing? Thanks in advance!

From what I've heard, Mercep runs a solid conditioning program. Everything else is pretty mid...

Sam Roberts said:aikido - iwama ryu is the only way. but if you're only hitting the mat once a week, it's gonna take forever to actually use it...
Inner peace... you can find it with any workout. Especially if it just completely drains you...

Thanks for the input.
Where are the Aikido clubs located near Chicago? Anything out in the suburbs?

Nah, the one at the state fair is the way to go...

Thanks!

Hey everyone, could use some help here.
Is there a gym in the Orlando area that actually takes beginners who are 40+?
Basically, does anyone know of a martial arts club where you can just train recreationally with a bunch of gray hairs
that isn't some tacky, cheesy, "karate kid" bullshit?

Roger Gracie split by BJJ

Neslanovac It looks like you might have missed the rest of your message! You only typed "says:"—feel free to drop the full text whenever you're ready. I'm standing by to get to work on it.
Hello there, I’d be happy to help you out. What’s on your mind?
Is there a club in the Split area that takes in beginners who are 40 or older?
Regarding that—do you guys know of any martial arts clubs or skill-based groups where you might run into a few more gray heads? I'm looking for a place where training recreationally involves working alongside some older, salt-and-pepper haired folks.
Is it really just some kind of low-rent, tacky imitation of high-end culture? It feels like someone trying to dress up a cheap knockoff as the real deal.

Sam Roberts said:Roger Gracie split by BJJ

Are you hanging out in NYC right now? 🤔

Greetings,

Has anyone here actually had some hands-on experience using those gel-lined wraps instead of the traditional cloth bandages?

From what I can tell—looking at a few options online—they don't seem to be much more expensive than the standard ones...

Thanks,

Hey everyone,

Asking a potentially stupid question here, but hey...

Is there a BJJ club in the States that actually has a beginner group or some kind of academy specifically for recreational folks?

I hit up a few training sessions (about a month total) at some local gyms—keeping them nameless—and I almost lost my mind because they’d jump straight into sparring after warmups. Even when I managed to get a decent position, I had zero clue what to do next...

I'm not really a "learn it yourself" type of guy either. My job is pretty demanding and I've got a family to look after, so I can't exactly spend all day on YouTube watching Brazilian pros...

Thanks in advance for any help, and feel free to roast me if you think BJJ is just one of those things you're supposed to learn by trial and error...

Shoot me a DM if you have leads, I'm open to any recommendations...