paying big bucks....

[wheeze]

Recently a friend of mine went out to Iowa to become a certified instructor under one of the U.F.C. MMA guys (I believe it was Shamrock. I am not sure.) He paid 2000.00 dollars for the right to get beat up for a week by a U.F.C. instructor. I told him I would have beat him up for half the price and saved him gas money as well. His school is now a certified school and his tuition went up after he got back. Twice a week now he has training U.F.C. style. (guys are starting to get injuried )

How far should one take mma?

If this is in the wrong place please move it...

Wheeze

[username8517]

How far should one take mma?

This is just my opinion so take it or leave it, but this could go for any martial arts, not just MMA.

It sounds to me, like your friend is letting his new title perhaps go to his head a little. I'm basising this off of some general assumptions so I could be completely off. But one of the main assumptions is that he taught or at least assited in teaching MMA before becoming a certified instructor. I'm sure he did not go to this seminar/training session without any kind of MMA training under his belt and the desire to teach (which would lead me to believe he has at least dabbled in instructing in the past). And if he did, I'm certain these injuries were not happening as frequently as before (from what you say in your post). Perhaps now that he is a certified instructor he feels more responsibility and/or duty to push others harder in order to make them better.

However, like I said, ego can be applied to all martial artists across the board, from traditional to mixed. I know I could name a few traditional martial artists I have trained both with and under who have gone from humble open minded practioners, who upon some form of promotion of rank or title, change to an egotistical close-minded instructor who know all there is to know about martial arts. Pride is very powerful emotion humans must deal with.

Since I have never met you or your friend please know that I am in no way trying to insinuate that he is an egotisitical instructor, but merely trying to highlight that it does happen.

However, the answer to your question is probably best put as do you find it acceptable? If the training is too rough and there is a legitimate concern for your health and well being, or simply if you don't like the manner and/or attitude of a training hall, then perhaps you should address the issue with your friend directly sometime out of the training hall. Let him know about your concerns, suggestions, and create open dialog for communication. And if that does not resolve the issue or the way you feel, maybe the best advice would to distance yourself from those more intense trainings.

[bushido_man96]

Bearich has some good points. Although I think that MMA training would be fun, but within reason. It is hard to learn when you are hurt and can't train.

Howerver, although I think MMA is a good thing, I don't think it is for everyone. If it is not for you, and you prefer a different type of workout, then you should part ways, and go find a school that is more suitable to your wants and needs.

[wheeze]

Hi,

This guy is a fine fellow and walks in humbleness. I, myself, do not train with him anymore but my kids do. My concern is for the injuries I have been seeing lately. They really pound on each other. (not my kids but the adult class.) Just yesterday I saw a friend of mine limping into practice with a severely sprained ankle and a brace on his knee. I teach shorin ryu mma but I consider safety paramount. Maybe that is what is bugging me about this. (The safety issue) Then again maybe I am making to much of it.

wheeze

[ps1]

Sometimes injuries happen. However, anytime a spike in injury is noted it's because there is some sort of negligence. It may be on the part of the sparring partners or on the part of the instructor. Either way, it should be addressed. It's not good business or good practice to have students getting injured regularly. Make sure your friend is putting the proper emphasis on proper technique to include the safe execution and application of those techniques. Additionally, there shouldn't be more than one or at most two days of full contact sparring per student per week. The body just can't take that much abuse without breaking down.

[kangaroo]

MMA has definately gone too far in some cases. I think people forget that MMA means mixed martial arts, nothing more. The level of contact (and therefore, usually, injuries) is dependant on the training methods used, not the style taught.

As for the cost of the trip, I would pay that if I believed the instruction was worth it. In fact, i have a course coming up that will cost me $2,500.

[kangaroo]

Actually, just to add to that, if I could train with someone like Eneoda, Kanazawa, Royce Gracie, Jeff Speakman or Chuck Norris on a daily basis (and I could convince my wife), I would sell anything I have to move there.

It just depends what value you place on the teachings....