General Chat & Info Board

A quick fighter has just as much of an edge as a heavy hitter!
Everyone’s got their own strengths, right?

I don't know what to tell you, honestly, I looked at that file for a minute and just felt that familiar sense of exhaustion creeping back in, like I was staring at another pointless bureaucratic mess that nobody actually has the energy to fix. It’s all just noise, isn't it? Just more clutter in an already cluttered world. kaže:
Coach told us we need to grab some wraps ASAP and then move up to gloves later, so I’m just wondering if they're the same ones used for standard boxing or if there's something specific you need for Muay Thai?😕

I’d probably say the same thing myself, but honestly, you're better off just checking in with the coach. 😉

Bandages, as far as I can tell, vary in length, width, and elasticity, though there isn't really a specific rule for which one to use for what. I suppose you just have to let your trainer show you how to wrap them properly, and that's about it...

Yeah, I guess by the time they hit adulthood, you should be able to wrap them up without any trouble.

😬

David Smith74 said:A quick fighter has just as much of an edge as a heavy hitter!
Everyone’s got their own strengths, right?

Plus, it’s all relative. Everything eventually works itself out. I guess there's always some good in every bad situation, right?

wanderingridge said:Taekwondo or karate? Honestly, both are fantastic options for women. Though, if I’m being totally honest—and maybe a little biased here—TKD might be the better bet. I’ve definitely noticed more fit, toned girls gravitating toward Taekwondo than over in the karate circles. Just an observation! :-D

Given those preferences, I'd say TKD is probably the move.👍

Henry Stewart2, you're being incredibly defensive and for years now in this sport, and regarding weight class, just go online and look up Khalil Rountree Jr. He’s had more success fighting heavyweights than he has against guys in his own division. As for age, it isn't that vital; what matters is your weight and how much work you actually put in. Which gym are you training at, if we can even ask? Regarding the shin-to-shin striking, that part is true, but there are other ways to do it, so I mostly agree with you there. But you can't compare this to boxing because the approach to strikes and footwork is completely different. Movement in Muay Thai depends entirely on your specific attributes—whether you're fluid, fast, or solid—basically whatever fits your individual style best. And how long have you been training? Do you even have a single fight under your belt if you claim to know this much about the sport? I apologize if I was too blunt, and I know this is my first post here, but I couldn't just sit by and not say something... 😉 😎

You guys are at it again with the same old routine... fine, go ahead and read it one more time, but maybe try actually understanding it this time. 😎

And yeah, I fought back.

So, did you just vanish? And which gym are you actually training at? Based on what you're saying, it doesn't sound like you have much experience under your belt. In my opinion, if a roundhouse kick lands, it works miracles—especially a high kick, that’s obvious—but personally, I think the knee is the most devastating strike. I've seen people do absolute damage with knees... You were claiming everything can be blocked, but there are all sorts of grips and defensive styles, whether we're talking hand techniques or footwork. Just curious, how long have you been training and what's your weight class? It honestly surprises me how much flexibility guys in the lower weight categories can have in their hips when they throw a kick...

[file] says:

So I'm 14, and I just started training Muay Thai a week ago at the Amika Sports Center in downtown Chicago.

Get yourself some non-elastic hand wraps, about 5 meters long. Actually, non-elastic is better for circulation, though they don't hold as tight—you’ll have to wrap them really well. For gloves, go with 10 oz. You can find some over at the Everlast shop near the old video rental place. Don't bother buying high-end gloves yet; there's no point in dropping serious cash when you've only been at it for a week. Better to wait and see if you actually stick with it. Just double-check everything with your coach first so I don't end up giving you bad advice.👍

coastaldrifter3 said:So, did you just vanish? And which gym are you actually training at? Based on what you're saying, it doesn't sound like you have much experience under your belt. In my opinion, if a roundhouse kick lands, it works miracles—especially a high kick, that’s obvious—but personally, I think the knee is the most devastating strike. I've seen people do absolute damage with knees... You were claiming everything can be blocked, but there are all sorts of grips and defensive styles, whether we're talking hand techniques or footwork. Just curious, how long have you been training and what's your weight class? It honestly surprises me how much flexibility guys in the lower weight categories can have in their hips when they throw a kick...

Actually, the knee is easily the most powerful strike there is.

It packs the most force...

plus, you've got that sharp edge where it's just pure bone hitting the target, with no muscle to cushion the blow.

So, here’s my situation. I’m 19 and really looking to get into BJJ. I'm based in the Chicago area, so I was wondering where all the clubs are at and if they actually take older beginners? Also, I’d love some advice—like, is BJJ or just submission grappling something that's actually safe to jump into? I'm not even talking about injuries, mostly just wondering about my build. I’m pretty tall, like 6'8", and weigh about 205 lbs, so I guess I'm wondering if being that tall is gonna be a total headache for wrestling-style sports.
I'm genuinely curious about this, but then again, if I’m way too tall, I doubt any real pro would recommend anything else that might fit me better.

Thanks in advance!

Sandra Johnson58 said:So, here’s my situation. I’m 19 and really looking to get into BJJ. I'm based in the Chicago area, so I was wondering where all the clubs are at and if they actually take older beginners? Also, I’d love some advice—like, is BJJ or just submission grappling something that's actually safe to jump into? I'm not even talking about injuries, mostly just wondering about my build. I’m pretty tall, like 6'8", and weigh about 205 lbs, so I guess I'm wondering if being that tall is gonna be a total headache for wrestling-style sports.
I'm genuinely curious about this, but then again, if I’m way too tall, I doubt any real pro would recommend anything else that might fit me better.

Thanks in advance!

BJJ

www.subos.org
http://www.winner-usa.com/

MMA

UF Brooklyn
UF Queens
Robin Palmer3 and briskjackal5 might have more specifics on those two...

Hey everyone!
I’m 30 years old and I’ve never actually stepped foot in a combat sports gym before. I’m standing at about 6'4" and weighing 210 lbs, and my plan is to jump into Taekwondo to really dial in those kicks, while also hitting up some boxing sessions with this big-name coach down in Split—maybe even grabbing some one-on-one training every now and then. You think it's a smart move to train both hands and feet simultaneously like that, maybe grinding through both for a year or two before finally making the jump into kickboxing?
Also, I was wondering how the whole belt progression works in Taekwondo? Like, if you're actually talented, can you knock out a few ranks in a single year, or are you stuck waiting on maybe two per year max? How does that timeline actually play out?

Rebecca Barnes2 said:Hey everyone!
I’m 30 years old and I’ve never actually stepped foot in a combat sports gym before. I’m standing at about 6'4" and weighing 210 lbs, and my plan is to jump into Taekwondo to really dial in those kicks, while also hitting up some boxing sessions with this big-name coach down in Split—maybe even grabbing some one-on-one training every now and then. You think it's a smart move to train both hands and feet simultaneously like that, maybe grinding through both for a year or two before finally making the jump into kickboxing?
Also, I was wondering how the whole belt progression works in Taekwondo? Like, if you're actually talented, can you knock out a few ranks in a single year, or are you stuck waiting on maybe two per year max? How does that timeline actually play out?

If your end goal is switching to kickboxing in a year or two, why not just dive straight into kickboxing right now?
IMHO, you're going to pick up a bunch of habits in Taekwondo that'll just end up getting in your way once you try to kickbox.

Which one of you mentioned training at Baruna Training?

I'm wondering how things are there lately—how many fighters are active, if they're still operating out of that old chemical school building, what the membership fees look like, stuff like that...

My hemorrhoids have flared up again after these arguments. Maybe I’ll head over there just to prove I’m not total scrap metal yet and that I can still take another hundred low kicks.😬

Hey everyone—looking for some advice here. Is there any way for a total beginner to get started with a non-striking martial art? Thinking along the lines of Judo, wrestling, or something in that vein...
Thanks in advance for the help.

Scuba

shadowdrifter7 said:Hey everyone—looking for some advice here. Is there any way for a total beginner to get started with a non-striking martial art? Thinking along the lines of Judo, wrestling, or something in that vein...
Thanks in advance for the help.

Scuba

I believe someone else has already touched on this topic here. From what I understand, they have actually started up some classes specifically for beginners and recreational enthusiasts over at the local YMCA facility in downtown Chicago.

Henry Stewart2 said:Which one of you mentioned training at Baruna Training?

I'm wondering how things are there lately—how many fighters are active, if they're still operating out of that old chemical school building, what the membership fees look like, stuff like that...

My hemorrhoids have flared up again after these arguments. Maybe I’ll head over there just to prove I’m not total scrap metal yet and that I can still take another hundred low kicks.😬

We actually have three different locations now—the chemical school, the one over by the tennis courts in the Ravnica district, and the Amika Sports Center at 10 Stefanova Street. You should feel free to drop by any time.👍 .

coastaldrifter3 said:We actually have three different locations now—the chemical school, the one over by the tennis courts in the Ravnica district, and the Amika Sports Center at 10 Stefanova Street. You should feel free to drop by any time.👍 .

I have a few questions regarding that gym near the tennis courts... 🙂

1. Where exactly is it located?
2. What are the membership fees and the training schedule?
3. How does enrollment work? Is there a specific intake period, or can I just show up whenever I want and join a group?

If you feel like sharing, tell me a bit about the crew, the facility, the coaches, etc.

Since I’m coming from the Dubrava neighborhood, this is pretty close to home. If my schedule clears up in October, I’m looking to get back into some recreational training😁.
If not in October, then sometime later in the fall...