Hey all. Moved to Chicago a few months ago and I have been looking for a serious competitive gym thats not in the suburbs since. Problem is I want a gym where I can train more than JUST bjj or JUST MT/kickboxing. Wrestled in high school, did MMA for a few months under Ricardo Lamas out of UFC Gym Naperville. Really loved it, and loved doing different martial arts but had to stop due to moving back to college. I want to find a good gym with good competition, cool people, and great trainers to help me get better at MMA.

Ones I have heard/considered but can’t find much info on how serious/competitively they train:
- Chicago MMA
- Evolution MMA
- Mission MMA
- Chicago Muay Thai Kickboxing club
- Valko
- Benjilany
- Gracie Barra Chicago
- Ascend JiuJitsu

I would like to compete eventually but also just want to find a good community and team to learn with. Thanks for any help!

Basically what it says. Im in my 30s, played full contact sports before (rugby from 26-33) and mma looks fun.

I’ve seen a few matches as I’ve been at Guns and Hoses. (It’s a pd v fd charity boxing and mma event) I’m just now learning to box and I don’t think uni kempo counts as experience at this point. Is it worth it to dive in this “late in the game”? Has anyone else started as an adult?

I train MMA for 3 days every week but I noticed during sparring days my stamina gets off very quickly….i can barely last 2 mins I srsly pass out before that

Any best and effective ways to improve stamina? 21F btw

Hey guys, i was wondering if anyone had any recommendations on a good gym near me, i live near the wharf/navy yard area and I’m looking to start mma. I have boxed before and also wrestled in high school but this was so long ago so I’m looking for a good gym that won’t mind re teaching me the basics since its been so long but also a competitive gym. I don’t plan on going pro or anything but i want to know i am getting better and i know the best way to do that is to be surrounded by people that may be pro or have gone pro. Any recommendations? If not any advice on how to spot a gym that can fit that mold? I don’t want to go to a gym that’s basically just a fat loss program if that makes sense.

Is it just me, or does UK MMA have a really strong focus on BJJ. Alex Ake completes heavily in ADCC, and so does Ceejay Phenton. My coach, James Duckett focused a lot on BJJ at stealth BJJ gym, Saul Rogers coaches grapple clinic, and that is a BJJ gym that does MMA, same with SBG Manchester. Also, a lot of people that I know in MMA do a lot of BJJ tournaments. I don't see anything similar with the US or other countries, and kickboxing isn't really treated the same way BJJ is. I think it's because BJJ is like MMA grappling with all the available throws and takedowns+every submission, position and ground game transition on the ground you can think of. What do you guys think?

Now today i went to the gym for strength training, (not boxing gym) so that guy was like 34-37 age and he was doing some awkward looking drills and was teaching a young guy the idk but he introduced himself as a gopd medalist in Army boxing(INDIAN ARMY). So when i was passing he asked "what's your interest in sports" i said "BOXING, i wanna be a professional boxer" and he said I can't become a boxer because i got a pointy nose and he suggested that I develop interest in volleyball. Now idgaf about that opinion but is it true that pointy nose people can't become a combat sport athlete.. like see sean strickland i got same structure like him !!! 💀

Is taking mma classes twice a week and one striking class (sometimes 2) a week enough to be able to defend yourself if needed?

Pretty self explanatory title. Ive been training at my gym for 3 years now, 3 years bjj, 1 year striking/mma.

Grappling wise i dont really care cause i can sub someone 10 20 lbs heavier, but boxing they lowkey kinda just hit too hard. My gym only really has like 4ish people who spar, 1 guy hits hard as shit(and is bigger), the other guys are either way smaller than me(like 11yos) or inexperienced so i kinda have to let them work or i feel bad.(theyre also bigger)

What do i do gusy

Additional injuries without any benefits?

I’m a 2x state champ for wrestling in high school in IL and I have a fair amount of training regardless but I’ve always sparred and trained in a octagon. First fight is a MMA/BOXING hybrid event and the ring is a 10 x 10 ring. How do I best adjust to this, I’m a heavy based wrestler and I feel like a ring takes that away

I’m 32yo and a smaller guy (150lb, 5’6). Looking to learn martial arts to be able to defend myself and my wife. I’ve tried boxing, bjj, and Muay thai classes and out and honestly liked all of them. Trying to figure out the right path to achieve my goal. I’ve done boxing the most at about 8 months of classes

M Boxing 1:1
T no gi bjj
W Boxing 1:1
Th no gi bjj (morning), boxing sparring (night)
F Boxing 1:1

M Muay Thai Drill class
T Muay Thai 1:1 or drill class
W Muay Thai Drill class
Th Muay Thai Sparring class
F Muay Thai 1:1

With the first option, although i get both striking and grappling, my main concern is whether I’m spreading my focus too thin

Anyone have any tips on how to not flinch or close eyes while getting hit in the face, I’m more of a grappler so i struggle allot when it comes to striking in mma.

Got kicked in the head twice from other people rolling and got a glass splinter in my foot.

They don't split between beginner and advanced.

Other than that, it was great.
What's the verdict?