Hi all, I am new to the board and had a quick question for you more experienced in the above subject. I have trained in various martial arts for about 14 years, I am 24 now. I would like to get into full contact fighting but don't know where to start. Ideally I would l like to start probably in kickboxing with headgear, kinda like amteur boxing I guess, or something like brazillian ju jitsu with out throwing strikes then move up to either kick boxing without headgear or PRIDE type fighting...obviously not on the pro level!!! So the big question is...how do I start? I train in Krav Maga now after 4 years of Mu Tau Pankration, I have never been in a tournamanet other then traditional Karate tourns back with I was a child. How do I find these full contact type tournaments on an amatuer level? I live in Massachusetts if anyone is from the area and has any local input. Thanks in advance. - Coops
Find a school or club that focuses on MMA style competition. Did your pankration school ever compete? That is pretty close to amateur MMA. Otherwise, go to www.mma.tv and watch for amateur fights. There are always promoters on there looking for fighters. Whether you decide to compete or not, keep training.
Go to a competition. Speak to the fighter's seconds. Ask for club details and the possibility of joining as an amateur fighter. Simple really. You may be asked to prove your commitment to the club.
It's a pitty that there are NO MMA gyms around where i live So i have to be content with doing Jujitsu, kickboxing & boxing... then occasionally get together with a friend and spar mma style ( with standing to ground work) with medium contact at any time which i find helps.
Contact Bo kimly He is the Promotor for The Extreme Fighting Challenge In Columbus Ohio. He can be found Through. The United States Ju Jitsu Federation as Well His E-mail adress is Ju-Jutsu@bright.net I just fought there on Sat the 24th 2004 I came home with The Extreme Fighting Challenge Light Weight Titel. Make a note That Mixed Martial Arts is Tuff Right now i have Brused Ribs a Brused Thigh & My Right ear is Swollen. I had a Good Fight buit i did not just walk in there & get it on I trained hard for 2 1/2 Months I practise Submisson Wrestling,Kickboxing & Wrestling I lifted Weights Did Road Work & went Prepaired MMA is a Tuff Sport both mentaly & phisicly My record is 2-0-0 My 1st won was in a Ring I won By Submisson with a Leg Lock My 2nd I won by Submisson Using Strikes While i had My opponet Flatend Face down He was a good Fighter & i hold him in high respect He gave as good as he got
Bo Kimly was trained by, and trained with my Sensei- Soke Don Madden. Kimly's school would be an excellent place to learn- self defense or competition.
OMG guys look at what state he is in and think carefully about your advice. Dude if you want to get into MMA contact Kip Kollar via the NAGA tournaments all over the New England area. He has direct line up to UFC connections and promotes Mass Destruction the local independent MMA fight promotion.
I know a fighter named Nuri Shakur that fights in your area, if you can hook up with him you'd have some good partners.
I live near Boston and have competed on the local fighting circuit for years, as have many of my students at http://www.sssfighting.com there are several groups you could fight for,Joe Maffeis Harcore fighting http://www.jmjkd.com Bruce Marshals Combat Zone http://www.uskba.com on Bannvilles shows, Mario Ramos,.. Kipp Kollar runs Mass Destruction and NAGA events http://www.nagafighter.com The correct way to proceed is to go to a school where there are trainers and competetors in these events.The schools actively feilding athletes at most local mma shows are the dragons lair http://www.teamramos.com the boneyard http://www.boneyardbjj.com my school http://wwww.sssfighting.com and a few others.I believe you can train grappling, kickboxing or MMA at any of these.I urge you to go to1 of these schoolsto test yourself and have your trainer contact the men running thse shows for you.If you do it yourself you are asking for trouble.First off youwontknow the local fighters to know if you are matched fairly.You will also need corner men, fighter license and you will need someone to get you paid.They will have you register as an amatuer, but despite what they may tell you.You can still ge paid. Most of all you need SPECIFIC training in the sport you intend to enter into.I dont see you getting that in krav maga.And I dont see jim arvanitis' guys competeting locally very much. As for NAGA events..they happen in connecticutt.You can find the small local grappling circuit running around boston if you visit one of the above schools.I highly recomend competeting as much as you can in events such as those held in plymouth, waltham or somerville before leaping into fighting MMA in a ring in front of 1000 screaming fans.It can be intimidating. If you just wanna leap into kickboxing Bruce Marshall runs MMA/Amatuer kickboxing shows around boston.You can contact him through http://www.uskba.com But be cautious....thanks omega, if he shows up and wins the UFC title I'll send you a few bucks.
I also live in Massachusetts, and need a full-contact sparring partner to train with. I would love to meet somewhere to try out if your interested. I've been training for a little over 15 years in kung fu, jujitsu, aikido, judo, krav maga, muay thai, tae kwon do, ninpo, capoeira, kenjitsu, and a few others.
Wish i could find a good sparring partnet... I've a friend who's always working but sometimes we manage to get together and do some sparring which is good.
