Frequently asked questions
Q: What can I expect from your classes?
A: Expect something different every day. MMA involves a broad range of skill sets, so it's impossible to comprehensively train for everything in a single session. However, the basic break down of a typical class looks like this:
-Warm ups: Dynamic stretching, cardio drills, calisthenics, and core work
-Technique: a series of techniques that string together like a flow chart leading to the ultimate goal of finishing a fight. Students start by rehearsing the techniques with cooperating training partners to get the movement into their muscle memory.
-Technique drills or positional sparring: the techniques are then tested in live situations with resisting training partners.
-Pad & bag drills: students take turns working one on one with the coach, emulating sparring and correcting technique with focus mitts and Thai pads while the rest of the class does heavy bag circuits.
-Submission grappling: working to improve your position in a ground fight while at the same time, trying to force him or her to "tap out" or give up without using strikes.
-Sparring: sometimes we spar with full MMA unified rules, sometimes we break it down into particular skill sets, such as boxing or clinch fighting. To avoid injuries, the general rule is this "Don't hit any harder than you want to get hit." I want my students to be safe, and to be able to continue their training without injuries. So make sure to check your ego at the door before you step in the ring. Remember, the purpose of sparring is to learn from (not hurt) your training partners.
Q: What should I wear?
A: There is no uniform for MMA training. The clothes you wear should be comfortable and flexible and offer free range of movement. Clothes with zippers, hooks, or buttons should be avoided since these can scratch and cut your training partners. Shoes should not be worn on the mat (except for approved wresting shoes while grappling) Piercings and other jewelry should be removed before participating. Recommended clothes include T-shirt or rashguard, gym shorts, MMA shorts, Muay Thai shorts, spats, or grappling tights. Men should also wear an athletic cup.
For the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class, wear a jiu-jitsu/judo gi.
Q: What equipment do I need?
A mouthguard (double or single), and an athletic cup for men. Boxing gloves and MMA gloves. The gym has extra gloves and some sparring equipment, although I would recommend purchasing your own. If you want to spar, headgear and shin guards are also highly recommended, although not mandatory.
Q: Where can I buy my own equipment?
A: I can order whatever equipment you need. I also have some inexpensive, but quality equipment for sale at the gym. The gym also has a small pro shop where you can buy gloves, shorts, and other equipment. If you are new to China, you can find everything for cheap on taobao.com. I can also order any training equipment or sporting goods you need for class for a modest fee. There are a few Twins Boxing and Fairtex retailers in Shanghai who sell high end imported gear from Thailand. If you are new to Shanghai, Decathlon is a sporting good retailer with several locations across the city where you can find fitness clothes, mouthguards, athletic cups, and boxing gloves.
Q: Can I sign up month to month?
A: Yes, group classes are only 800rmb per month. You don't need to sign an extended contract. You can also receive a discounted rate if you sign up for a 6, or 12 month membership.
Q: Can I pay day to day?
A: Yes. If you can only come to class once in a while, you can buy a day passes.
Q: Why are your classes so cheap compared to the other gyms in Shanghai?
A: For some reason, a lot of people assume that less expensive means lower quality. It actually surprises me every time someone tells me my classes are cheap, considering that when you account for exchange rates, I'm currently charging more than 4 time world champion Jeremy Horn at his Elite Performance gym where he's trained multi-time UFC world champions like Matt Hughes, Rich Franklin, and Jens Pulver. Bearing that in mind, I don't consider my classes "cheap".
My honest opinion? Many of Shanghai gyms are grossly overpriced and staffed by unqualified trainers. Some of the coaches offering MMA classes have never even participated in the sport in real life. If you have any doubt about an instructor's past experience in the sport of MMA, you can look up his/her fight record here:
http://www.sherdog.com/events
That's not to say that more fights = better instructor. I've often seen the opposite to be true. (My personal career record in MMA is 3-4-0 for example) However, I'd tend to give more credence to a guy with 89 professional career wins and 4 world titles than to a random guy asking for big bucks who's never even done a sanctioned professional fight.
My goal is to keep my classes affordable to anyone who wants to train. Honestly, I would teach for free if running, equipping, and maintaining a gym didn't cost anything and if my time at the gym didn't take away from my time with my family. My goal as a trainer is not to get rich, it's to promote the sport I love and to develop real fighting skills, lifelong fitness, and instill positive attributes in my students.
My over-priced competition has tried to taunt me from time to time with the saying "you get what you pay for". What my students get out of their experience at my gym is what they pay for with their own initiative, effort, sweat, desire, perseverance, consistency and drive to excel- not from their bank accounts. You cannot buy experience, you must earn it.
Q: Can women participate?
A: Yes, and they do. I'm not going to lie, the men usually outnumber the women in our classes. But there is no gender discrimination in my gym. All women are welcome and encouraged to join. I have had the pleasure of training several women who have gone on to have success in various combat sports, including Andrea Miller (former Utah state women's Muay Thai champion and pro MMA fighter) and Meghan O'Connor (women's bronze medalist, China Open National Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Tournament).
Q: What age range do you teach?
A: You must be at least 12 to join my group classes. You must be 18 for private tutoring. If younger than 12, other black belt instructors at the JX Fight Club offer classes.
Q: How often should I train?
A: Since there are only three group MMA master classes each week, I would recommend never missing a class if you can help it. Recently, we've added extra BJJ, kickboxing, and strength training classes to help supplement your training. The more time you spend training, the more quickly you will improve. Outside of class, I would also recommend that students exercise to improve their cardio conditioning, strength, and overall fitness. The gym is open and available for student use any time there are no scheduled classes.
Q: Can I train with you and at other gyms at the same time?
A: Yes, absolutely. I do that myself. A lot of people are surprised when I tell them I train under two boxing coaches, a Muay Thai coach, a judo coach, several jiu-jitsu coaches, and other martial arts teachers. The theory behind mixed martial arts is to become as well rounded as possible in many different skill sets. No single coach has all the answers, not even me. What I bring to the table is my expertise in the sport of MMA. Training with other coaches who have a single highly developed skill set like boxing or wrestling is an excellent way to supplement your MMA training.
Q: Can you teach other sports like boxing or kickboxing?
A: Yes. I have trained for and competed in many different combat sports over the years. I have also trained athletes for several different combat sports, including MMA, Muay Thai, Boxing, American Kickboxing, K-1 Kickboxing, Sanda, Taekwondo, international Rules Full Contact Karate, Submission grappling/no holds barred/catch wrestling, and Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. I am also an affiliate of the World Kickboxing Association and the Wrestling Judo and Jiu-Jitsu Federation of China. That being said, I can also refer you to a number of specialists who's skill surpasses my own in several of those disciplines.
Q: Is MMA training dangerous?
A: MMA competition is inherently dangerous, but your training should not be. I take every precaution to ensure the safety of my students, and to instill the value of respect for life in my students. I can't promise that you'll never experience any pain or injury, but I can promise to do whatever it takes to keep injuries to a bare minimum.
Q: Will I be able to fight for real if I take your class?
A: The short answer is yes. The long answer is this: fighting is really hard. Developing all the skills to be a good mixed martial artist takes a lot of time, and a lot of work. So be prepared to put in a lot of hours on the mat to earn the skills you want.
Q: What language is the class taught in?
A: English. Chinese interpretation is also available if necessary.
Q: Do I need to be in shape before I take your classes?
A: No. My classes will help you get into the kind of shape you need to be in for fighting. You don't need to be an athlete before coming to the gym.
Q: Do I need previous experience in martial arts?
A: No. Even though most techniques from other martial arts can cross over into MMA training, it is a unique sport. Sometimes, having a background in a martial art can be as much of a hindrance as it can be an advantage since many habits from one combat sport need to be unlearned when transitioning to a different sport. Come as a blank slate, ready to learn something new regardless of previous experience.
Q: Is MMA training good exercise?
A: Yes. It works all major muscle groups, it's cardio and strength training, it's dynamic, never static, and it's fun. Good exercise means something that produces good results that you'll actually enjoy enough to do again and again. MMA training meets that description to the letter.
Q: Does the gym have changing rooms, lockers and showers?
A: Yes, the Fight Club has both men's and women's locker rooms on the 2nd floor. Showers are located on the 3rd floor in the weight room.
Q: Are there weights at the gym?
A: Yes, the Fight Club has hundreds of kilos of weight plates, (including bumper plates for Oly lifting) Olympic weight lifting platform, a squat rack, bench, 2.2 Olympic bars, trap bar, hex bar, football bar, curl bar, 50mm Thick bar, a full set of kettlebells, pullup bar, medicine balls, tractor tire, bench, ab bench, sissy squat machine, dip station, battling ropes, etc. Additionally there is a full weight room on the 3rd floor with discounted rates available to all Fight Club members.
Q: If I want to compete, how do I do that?
A: If you want to compete, first and foremost, you have to train for it. I will never send anyone who is not prepared into a fight. There are competitions for many different combat sports, including MMA all over China and southeast Asia. If you are interested in competing, just talk to me and I'll tell you about any upcoming fight shows and tournaments. If you have never competed before, I would strongly recommend trying a grappling or BJJ tournament first, since it is a relatively safe way to experience the thrill of competition without the risks that come with striking.
If you are already an experienced professional looking to set up a fight, you must be legally employed in China in order to fight here. You must be a legal resident with a valid work visa in order to fight professionally in the People's Republic of China. No exceptions! That's the law. I cannot give you a visa, or pay your way to get here.
Q: Can you give me a job at your gym?
A: No. I just work there, I don't do the hiring.
Q: Can you do birthday parties with a ninja or Superhero theme?
A: (Believe it or not, I've been asked questions like this quite a bit) Yes, provided my schedule is open on the requested day, if you give me at least two weeks of notice, I can arrange a themed performance including martial arts demonstrations, board and brick breaking, live fight choreography, stunts, and skits all while dressed up as a ninja, Spider-Man, Batman, or another comic book character, a traditional martial arts uniform, etc... Email me for rates.
A: Expect something different every day. MMA involves a broad range of skill sets, so it's impossible to comprehensively train for everything in a single session. However, the basic break down of a typical class looks like this:
-Warm ups: Dynamic stretching, cardio drills, calisthenics, and core work
-Technique: a series of techniques that string together like a flow chart leading to the ultimate goal of finishing a fight. Students start by rehearsing the techniques with cooperating training partners to get the movement into their muscle memory.
-Technique drills or positional sparring: the techniques are then tested in live situations with resisting training partners.
-Pad & bag drills: students take turns working one on one with the coach, emulating sparring and correcting technique with focus mitts and Thai pads while the rest of the class does heavy bag circuits.
-Submission grappling: working to improve your position in a ground fight while at the same time, trying to force him or her to "tap out" or give up without using strikes.
-Sparring: sometimes we spar with full MMA unified rules, sometimes we break it down into particular skill sets, such as boxing or clinch fighting. To avoid injuries, the general rule is this "Don't hit any harder than you want to get hit." I want my students to be safe, and to be able to continue their training without injuries. So make sure to check your ego at the door before you step in the ring. Remember, the purpose of sparring is to learn from (not hurt) your training partners.
Q: What should I wear?
A: There is no uniform for MMA training. The clothes you wear should be comfortable and flexible and offer free range of movement. Clothes with zippers, hooks, or buttons should be avoided since these can scratch and cut your training partners. Shoes should not be worn on the mat (except for approved wresting shoes while grappling) Piercings and other jewelry should be removed before participating. Recommended clothes include T-shirt or rashguard, gym shorts, MMA shorts, Muay Thai shorts, spats, or grappling tights. Men should also wear an athletic cup.
For the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class, wear a jiu-jitsu/judo gi.
Q: What equipment do I need?
A mouthguard (double or single), and an athletic cup for men. Boxing gloves and MMA gloves. The gym has extra gloves and some sparring equipment, although I would recommend purchasing your own. If you want to spar, headgear and shin guards are also highly recommended, although not mandatory.
Q: Where can I buy my own equipment?
A: I can order whatever equipment you need. I also have some inexpensive, but quality equipment for sale at the gym. The gym also has a small pro shop where you can buy gloves, shorts, and other equipment. If you are new to China, you can find everything for cheap on taobao.com. I can also order any training equipment or sporting goods you need for class for a modest fee. There are a few Twins Boxing and Fairtex retailers in Shanghai who sell high end imported gear from Thailand. If you are new to Shanghai, Decathlon is a sporting good retailer with several locations across the city where you can find fitness clothes, mouthguards, athletic cups, and boxing gloves.
Q: Can I sign up month to month?
A: Yes, group classes are only 800rmb per month. You don't need to sign an extended contract. You can also receive a discounted rate if you sign up for a 6, or 12 month membership.
Q: Can I pay day to day?
A: Yes. If you can only come to class once in a while, you can buy a day passes.
Q: Why are your classes so cheap compared to the other gyms in Shanghai?
A: For some reason, a lot of people assume that less expensive means lower quality. It actually surprises me every time someone tells me my classes are cheap, considering that when you account for exchange rates, I'm currently charging more than 4 time world champion Jeremy Horn at his Elite Performance gym where he's trained multi-time UFC world champions like Matt Hughes, Rich Franklin, and Jens Pulver. Bearing that in mind, I don't consider my classes "cheap".
My honest opinion? Many of Shanghai gyms are grossly overpriced and staffed by unqualified trainers. Some of the coaches offering MMA classes have never even participated in the sport in real life. If you have any doubt about an instructor's past experience in the sport of MMA, you can look up his/her fight record here:
http://www.sherdog.com/events
That's not to say that more fights = better instructor. I've often seen the opposite to be true. (My personal career record in MMA is 3-4-0 for example) However, I'd tend to give more credence to a guy with 89 professional career wins and 4 world titles than to a random guy asking for big bucks who's never even done a sanctioned professional fight.
My goal is to keep my classes affordable to anyone who wants to train. Honestly, I would teach for free if running, equipping, and maintaining a gym didn't cost anything and if my time at the gym didn't take away from my time with my family. My goal as a trainer is not to get rich, it's to promote the sport I love and to develop real fighting skills, lifelong fitness, and instill positive attributes in my students.
My over-priced competition has tried to taunt me from time to time with the saying "you get what you pay for". What my students get out of their experience at my gym is what they pay for with their own initiative, effort, sweat, desire, perseverance, consistency and drive to excel- not from their bank accounts. You cannot buy experience, you must earn it.
Q: Can women participate?
A: Yes, and they do. I'm not going to lie, the men usually outnumber the women in our classes. But there is no gender discrimination in my gym. All women are welcome and encouraged to join. I have had the pleasure of training several women who have gone on to have success in various combat sports, including Andrea Miller (former Utah state women's Muay Thai champion and pro MMA fighter) and Meghan O'Connor (women's bronze medalist, China Open National Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Tournament).
Q: What age range do you teach?
A: You must be at least 12 to join my group classes. You must be 18 for private tutoring. If younger than 12, other black belt instructors at the JX Fight Club offer classes.
Q: How often should I train?
A: Since there are only three group MMA master classes each week, I would recommend never missing a class if you can help it. Recently, we've added extra BJJ, kickboxing, and strength training classes to help supplement your training. The more time you spend training, the more quickly you will improve. Outside of class, I would also recommend that students exercise to improve their cardio conditioning, strength, and overall fitness. The gym is open and available for student use any time there are no scheduled classes.
Q: Can I train with you and at other gyms at the same time?
A: Yes, absolutely. I do that myself. A lot of people are surprised when I tell them I train under two boxing coaches, a Muay Thai coach, a judo coach, several jiu-jitsu coaches, and other martial arts teachers. The theory behind mixed martial arts is to become as well rounded as possible in many different skill sets. No single coach has all the answers, not even me. What I bring to the table is my expertise in the sport of MMA. Training with other coaches who have a single highly developed skill set like boxing or wrestling is an excellent way to supplement your MMA training.
Q: Can you teach other sports like boxing or kickboxing?
A: Yes. I have trained for and competed in many different combat sports over the years. I have also trained athletes for several different combat sports, including MMA, Muay Thai, Boxing, American Kickboxing, K-1 Kickboxing, Sanda, Taekwondo, international Rules Full Contact Karate, Submission grappling/no holds barred/catch wrestling, and Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. I am also an affiliate of the World Kickboxing Association and the Wrestling Judo and Jiu-Jitsu Federation of China. That being said, I can also refer you to a number of specialists who's skill surpasses my own in several of those disciplines.
Q: Is MMA training dangerous?
A: MMA competition is inherently dangerous, but your training should not be. I take every precaution to ensure the safety of my students, and to instill the value of respect for life in my students. I can't promise that you'll never experience any pain or injury, but I can promise to do whatever it takes to keep injuries to a bare minimum.
Q: Will I be able to fight for real if I take your class?
A: The short answer is yes. The long answer is this: fighting is really hard. Developing all the skills to be a good mixed martial artist takes a lot of time, and a lot of work. So be prepared to put in a lot of hours on the mat to earn the skills you want.
Q: What language is the class taught in?
A: English. Chinese interpretation is also available if necessary.
Q: Do I need to be in shape before I take your classes?
A: No. My classes will help you get into the kind of shape you need to be in for fighting. You don't need to be an athlete before coming to the gym.
Q: Do I need previous experience in martial arts?
A: No. Even though most techniques from other martial arts can cross over into MMA training, it is a unique sport. Sometimes, having a background in a martial art can be as much of a hindrance as it can be an advantage since many habits from one combat sport need to be unlearned when transitioning to a different sport. Come as a blank slate, ready to learn something new regardless of previous experience.
Q: Is MMA training good exercise?
A: Yes. It works all major muscle groups, it's cardio and strength training, it's dynamic, never static, and it's fun. Good exercise means something that produces good results that you'll actually enjoy enough to do again and again. MMA training meets that description to the letter.
Q: Does the gym have changing rooms, lockers and showers?
A: Yes, the Fight Club has both men's and women's locker rooms on the 2nd floor. Showers are located on the 3rd floor in the weight room.
Q: Are there weights at the gym?
A: Yes, the Fight Club has hundreds of kilos of weight plates, (including bumper plates for Oly lifting) Olympic weight lifting platform, a squat rack, bench, 2.2 Olympic bars, trap bar, hex bar, football bar, curl bar, 50mm Thick bar, a full set of kettlebells, pullup bar, medicine balls, tractor tire, bench, ab bench, sissy squat machine, dip station, battling ropes, etc. Additionally there is a full weight room on the 3rd floor with discounted rates available to all Fight Club members.
Q: If I want to compete, how do I do that?
A: If you want to compete, first and foremost, you have to train for it. I will never send anyone who is not prepared into a fight. There are competitions for many different combat sports, including MMA all over China and southeast Asia. If you are interested in competing, just talk to me and I'll tell you about any upcoming fight shows and tournaments. If you have never competed before, I would strongly recommend trying a grappling or BJJ tournament first, since it is a relatively safe way to experience the thrill of competition without the risks that come with striking.
If you are already an experienced professional looking to set up a fight, you must be legally employed in China in order to fight here. You must be a legal resident with a valid work visa in order to fight professionally in the People's Republic of China. No exceptions! That's the law. I cannot give you a visa, or pay your way to get here.
Q: Can you give me a job at your gym?
A: No. I just work there, I don't do the hiring.
Q: Can you do birthday parties with a ninja or Superhero theme?
A: (Believe it or not, I've been asked questions like this quite a bit) Yes, provided my schedule is open on the requested day, if you give me at least two weeks of notice, I can arrange a themed performance including martial arts demonstrations, board and brick breaking, live fight choreography, stunts, and skits all while dressed up as a ninja, Spider-Man, Batman, or another comic book character, a traditional martial arts uniform, etc... Email me for rates.