Aug 162019
 
Poughkeepsie’s Brian McLaughlin working with Jim Miller

This past weekend at UFC on ESPN 5, New Jersey’s own Jim Miller faced off against UFC legend and Hall of Famer Clay Guida. Hoping to extend his record of most fights in the UFC, Miller stared across the cage to meet eyes with his fellow UFC veteran. In Miller’s corner stood Precision Boxing and MMA’s head coach Brian McLaughlin. Clay had his brother Jason Guida, who was on The Ultimate Fighter season 8 alongside Hudson Valley resident McLaughlin. This bout was a fan favorite on the card, a fight that seemingly should have taken place years ago; but neither man seems to have lost a stride with age. The fight begins with both men getting a sense of each other’s movement with Miller in a southpaw stance, mirroring Guida in an orthodox stance. Miller threw a head kick and both men engaged in a flurry, each landing meaningful punches. Miller replies to a hard shot from Guida with a left hook. As Guida ducks under the hook, Miller is able to get a secure grip around Guida’s neck and fall to his guard, locking in a tight guillotine choke.

Miller finishes his fight via 1st round guillotine choke.


After both men hit the mat, Jim kept an iron-clad squeeze on Guida’s neck. After a couple of seconds, referee Herb Dean noticed Guida’s hand go limp and stopped the fight. Jim shakes himself out from under Guida’s unconscious body and jumps up on the cage to celebrate in his home state. Miller has been on a tear, winning three of his last four bouts. If you live in the Hudson Valley and want to train with the same coach as UFC veteran Jim Miller, check out Precision Boxing and MMA in Poughkeepsie!
Give us a call at (845)392-8495 or visit our website at http://www.precisionmixedmartialarts.com to get started today!

Feb 212019
 
Victory for Lindsey at Bellator 215

It was an exciting night for the audience and the supporting crew of Precision at Bellator 215. They were immediately treated to an extraordinary performance in the preliminary portion put on by Precision’s student Lindsey ‘Damsel’ Vanzandt, that resulted in a beautiful finish; a second round knock out. Lindsey continues to prove that she is a dominating, unstoppable force at 105 pounds that will continue to climb the ranks until she becomes a champion. The second round knock out improved her professional record to 5-1.

After the big win, Lindsey poses with coaches and the supporting crew of Precision

At the beginning of round one, a fair share of punches and kicks were exchanged between Lindsey and her opponent, but Lindsey’s unmatched perfectly timed take down and carefully placed punches were competitive enough to keep her opponent challenged and hurt. In the second round, Lindsey dominated the striking exchanges, stalking her opponent into the fence. From there, Lindsey rocked and dropped her opponent with a beautiful left hook that ended the round with a KO.

The beginning of the end

Going into the fight, Lindsey lost her original opponent, but was fortunate enough to be matched up with another opponent to fight. Lucky for us, because it was truly an entertaining performance. Lindsey walked away from the cage that night with little to no injuries, a victory and a great attitude.

Lindsey is already back in the gym training, improving and looking forward to competing again in the near future. Lindsey isn’t just a great fighter, she also has a big heart and a great attitude, touching everyone she meets in a positive way. We’re proud to represent such a strong willed, competitive individual in the MMA community, and we’re looking forward to see her excel in her journey to become a champion.

Always big smiles from Lindsey

Live in the Hudson Valley and looking to train MMA? Visit us at PrecisionMixedMartialArts.com or call 845-392-8495 so we can get you started today!

Jan 302019
 

When most people think of martial arts, they think of self-defense or some sort of unarmed fighting.  Whether you’re training karate, Tae Kwon Do, Muay Thai or Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, you’re most likely going to be learning a form of hand to hand combat. However, what most people don’t realize is that being a martial artist is about much more than punches, kicks and takedowns. One of the most important benefits that martial arts can provide is instilling a sense of martial character. This means living your life as a confident and compassionate individual who cares just as much about their neighbor’s well-being as they do about their own. It means having the physical skills to defend yourself and the mental wherewithal to be able to deescalate a potentially dangerous or violent situation.

 At Poughkeepsie’s premier martial arts academy Precision Boxing and MMA, we make it a priority that our members uphold our ideals of martial character on the mats and in their everyday life. We believe that the first step to developing a strong martial character is giving back to your community. This past week, we volunteered with Dutchess Outreach’s Lunch Box Program where we were given the opportunity to serve hot lunches to families in need throughout the Poughkeepsie area. We had an awesome response from our members, quickly filling up our volunteer list. It was a great time for our staff and members, we loved getting to know some of the people who share our beautiful neighborhood with us. If you’re interested in training martial arts, self-defense and becoming part of a community that gives back, come check out Precision Boxing and MMA; the Hudson Valley’s largest Mixed Martial Arts academy. Give us a call today at (845)392-8495.

Jan 212019
 

In the world of mixed martial arts, there is one question that remains a constant; which discipline is the most important? Where should I invest the majority of my time to become the best martial artist possible? During the conception of the UFC, mixed martial arts was a foreign concept to most people. It wasn’t widely broadcasted on Fox or ESPN, and very few people viewed it as a legitimate sport. It wasn’t about who was the best fighter, or who was the most accomplished athlete, who trained the hardest. More often than not, it came down to style versus style matchups. Will the boxer beat the wrestler? Will the judoka beat the kickboxer?

                While boxing and wrestling were household names in the USA, a more foreign art began to establish itself as an unstoppable force in the UFC. A man by the name of Royce Gracie was taking the mixed martial arts world by storm. To the laymen, it almost looked like magic. This was when Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu began to be recognized as one of the most effective martial arts in the world. Not only was Royce continually winning his matches, he was submitting opponents who were significantly larger than him with seemingly minimal effort. His streak of dominance came to an end when he faced the then-current welterweight champion Matt Hughes. Hughes, a skilled wrestler with knowledge of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and a vicious ground and pound technique knocked out Royce in the first round. Hughes’ reign as champion highlighted the importance of wrestling in mixed martial arts competition.

                Since Hughes, there have been many wrestlers who made their way to the top. Todays’ lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is feared for his relentless top pressure; dragging his opponents to the ground, trapping their limbs and beating them mercilessly. Olympians such as Daniel Cormier, Yoel Romero, and Henry Cejudo have made it to the most elite level in their respective weight classes through their wrestling prowess. However, grappling isn’t necessarily the solution to the puzzle of mixed martial arts.

                Every fight starts on the feet, and some of the best martial artists of all time have been strikers. After making a name for himself in the Pride Fighting Championship, the famed Anderson Silva went on a sixteen fight win streak in the UFC. Anderson had a style that nobody had seen before, moving his head like a cobra, finishing his opponents with style and ease. Many strikers have followed in his footsteps, including the boxing-based “Notorious” Conor McGregor. The Irish superstar combined his unusual ability to control the striking distance with phenomenal take down defense. This was displayed beautifully in his fight against the accomplished wrestler Chad Mendes. Conor stuffed a couple of takedowns, but found himself in danger once Mendes finally took him down. Conor weathered a barrage of elbows and used his distance control to knock Mendes out once they stood up. Standout strikers such as Stephen Thompson, Israel Adesanya and Max Holloway have also displayed the skills to finish skilled grapplers with their precision and accuracy.

Although the fighters that I’ve mentioned specialize in a particular discipline, they still need to be well versed in all facets of combat to find success. That’s why at Precision Boxing and MMA we’ve strived to create an environment where the aspiring martial artist can learn multiple disciplines under one roof. Here you can find a top notch boxing program, train Muay Thai under the guidance of an undefeated champion, and learn to grapple with the experience of four Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belts on staff. Our Brazilian Jiu Jitsu program is wrestling based, and we always start on the feet and drill takedowns. If you want to make your MMA dreams a reality, come check out Precision Boxing and MMA; the Hudson Valleys Premier mixed martial arts academy. Give us a call at (845)392-8495. Feel free to visit us online at http://www.precisionmixedmartialarts.com

Nov 302018
 

Precision Fighter Garret Volpe made it to the front cover of the Poughkeepsie Journal this Friday. If you met Garret Volpe today, you would have no idea that two years ago he was forced to face his own mortality. As  a committed athlete who trains tirelessly and is constantly seeking new information on nutrition and fitness, it was a complete shock for him to find out that he was facing heart failure. After Volpe was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, and beneath his muscular frame his heart was functioning at approximately 40% of normal rate. Those who know Garrett would attest that he is not only in good shape, but a living embodiment of peak physical fitness. His family, friends, coaches and teammates were in dismay and disbelief, but none more than Garrett himself. He has dedicated years of his life to training martial arts, in hopes of pursuing his long-time dream of fighting in a mixed martial arts bout. This dream is what kept him in positive spirits, despite being told that he may need a heart transplant if he was going to survive. Check out his article in the Poughkeepsie Journal to learn more about Garrets struggle to make it from heart failure to getting his hand raised. If you live in Poughkeepsie or the Hudson Valley and would like to train MMA, give Precision Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts a call at (845)392-8495 or visit us at precisionmixedmartialarts.com

Poughkeepsie MMA fighter Garret Volpe wins

Poughkeepsie MMA fighter Garret Volpe wins

Nov 282018
 

It’s been an exciting couple of weeks here at Precision Boxing and MMA! Last week, Precision fighter Lindsey VanZandt was featured in the Poughkeepsie Journal. The Journal articulated Lindsey’s pain in dealing with her family’s struggle to understand her career path and outlined everything that she’s sacrificed to make it to where she is today. Now 4-1 as a professional, fighting for top organizations such as King of the Cage and Invicta FC, she’s eagerly looking forward to her next fight.

In addition to Lindsey making it into the Poughkeepsie Journal, a couple of our fighters stepped up to compete for the first time. On Saturday, Precision boxer Marcus Grey had his boxing debut; fighting at 205 pounds for the American Kickboxing Federation. Marcus took the first round, cutting angles like a seasoned vet, slipping punches and continually moving forward. marcus

The second round had the audience erupting with cheers over the beautiful beautiful exchanges, both men pushing forward aggressively and trying to impose their game plan. In the third round Marcus was picking precise shots to catch his opponent rushing in, but his adversary was incredibly tough and kept moving forward. Marcus’s opponent kept pushing forth, throwing punches the whole time. Marcus kept himself safe and picked shots from the outside, but unfortunately the judges gave his opponent the decision. It was an incredibly close bout, Marcus came out unscathed and excited to get back in the gym.

There was a plethora of exciting matches, all varying between boxing, kickboxing and MMA. The first MMA bout on the card was Precision fighter Brandon Mohammed’s MMA debut. Both men made the 170 pound weight limit and stepped into the cage. It was a short and sweet night for Brandon. After getting the better of a couple standup exchanges, Brandon took his opponent down and immediately moved to mount. Brandon switched to side control and his opponent turned his back, only to be met by a vicious storm of knees. As his opponent turned back to face Brandon, he slid back into mount to deliver some ground and pound before stopping his opponent by keylock for a first round submission victory.46525921_216225442607456_4594403688503574528_n

The excitement continued on Sunday when we headed over to Sparta, New Jersey for a friendly smoker with Miller Brothers MMA. Our guys took exhibition matches against their students in kickboxing and Combat Jiu Jitsu. All the matchups ended up being back and forth battles. Everyone kept calm in the face of adversity and left it all in the cage. Most guys could barely stand afterwards! It was a phenomenal display of tenacity, technique and aggression by both teams.

If you want to make your MMA dreams a reality, come checkout Precision Boxing and MMA; the Hudson Valley’s premier Mixed Martial Arts Academy. Give us a call at (845)392-8495 to set up your free lesson today! Visit us online at http://www.precisionmixedmartialarts.com

Nov 142018
 

Congratulations! You’ve made the decision to begin your Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu journey. You’re probably pretty excited, maybe even a little nervous. That’s normal,  as long as you’ve chosen an academy with passionate qualified coaches, you have nothing to worry about. The benefits of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu are bountiful. Training is a beautiful and productive way to learn more about yourself and overcome any difficulties that you may be experiencing throughout your life. However, there are a handful of very common beginner mistakes that could stunt your progress. Here’s a list of common things to avoid:

Learn to properly tie your belt.

 When you arrive at your academy, the first thing most people do before stepping onto the mats is to change into their Gi. This is where one of the most common mistakes occurs. First and foremost, make sure your pants are facing the right way. My first day, I put my pants on backwards and my first interaction with my coach was him discreetly alerting me that my pants were on backwards. I felt like a fool, but the longer I trained, I realized it’s a classic beginner error. When putting on your pants, make sure that the drawstring loops and logo are in front. Draw the strings so that the pants are snug around your waist, pull them through the loops and tie a knot in the front. Now that your pants are on and you’ve put on the Gi jacket, it’s time to tie the belt. There are tons of online tutorials on how to tie a belt, and they’re all pretty simple. This may seem insignificant, but a poorly tied belt sends a message to your coaches and classmates that you’re not taking this seriously. Dress like you want to be there.

Stay consistent

 Attendance is important for progress. Make sure to come to class often and that your training is consistent. It’s okay to miss a class to spend time with your family and friends, and it’s understandable that work will get in the way sometimes. With everything going on in your life, it’s vital to keep track of how often you’ve been attending. If you’re only coming to class once a week, you’re doing yourself a disservice. Sure, one day a week is better than nothing, however you’re putting your body through new motions and challenging your brain to understand brand new concepts. If you only practice these new techniques once a week, there’s a good chance that you’ll forget some key details by the time the following week rolls around. Most submissions require some sort of setup and consist of multiple steps. If you’re missing one step, you could be missing 30% of the move! Imagine throwing a punch with 30% of your arm missing. It wouldn’t be nearly as effective, and probably would fall short of your target. In addition to making sure you’re understanding and remembering techniques, attending class regularly will get your body into the shape that you need to perform at your full potential.

Leave your ego at the door.

This is something that you’ve probably heard before, and arguably the most important thing for beginners to remember. Jiu-Jitsu is humbling and coming in with a “tough guy” attitude can be worst thing for your progress. Come in viewing yourself as a student and keep in mind that you’re new to this. It’s healthiest to view Jiu-Jitsu as a scholarly pursuit, something that you’re working on learning. Be patient with yourself. Don’t muscle through techniques. Although Jiu-Jitsu is a physically demanding activity, people often mistake strength for technique. Yes, being strong can be beneficial in Jiu-Jitsu as well as other forms of combat, however it’s common for stronger guys to overlook details of techniques because they can muscle their way to victory. This is all well and good until they roll with somebody of similar or more powerful physique. Always keep in mind to make sure you’re doing the technique properly. If you’re using a herculean effort, you’re probably doing something wrong.

Drill often.

I know, once open mat time comes around, everybody just wants to roll. Rolling is great, you can learn a lot, you get to apply the techniques that you’ve been drilling, and it’s inevitably the most fun part of training. However, it’s important to balance your open mat time with drilling sessions as well as rolling. Try to find a higher belt who’s willing to drill with you, they can provide insight that you may have overlooked. Even if it’s just you and another novice, just drill the techniques that you had gone over in class until you’re feeling confident. Then go for a few rolls and try to hit the moves you were drilling.

Have fun.

Above all, make sure that you’re having fun! Jiu-Jitsu is a beautiful discipline and has brought more joy to my life than any other activity that I’ve been a part of. Enjoy learning, go in with a positive and humble attitude, drill lots and stay consistent. Happy rolling!

If you want to make your Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu dreams a reality, come check out Precision Boxing and MMA; the Hudson Valleys Premier mixed martial arts academy! Give us a call at (845)392-8495 to schedule your free lesson today!

Nov 132018
 

To say Professional Mixed Martial Artist Lindsey VanZandt of Poughkeepsie, NY is a hard working and dedicated fighter would be a huge understatement. Weighing only 105 pounds, Lindsey is an unstoppable competitor with a big heart and equally huge dream to succeed in the world of MMA. With her impressive striking power, great character and coordinated movements, she has the potential to become one of the best fighters in her weight class. Lindsey recently earned a victory from a King of the Cage match that she agreed to take last minute with little time to prepare for the fight. Proving that Lindsey doesn’t ‘get ready for fights’, she stays ready due to her commitment to being a professional fighter. Despite such a short notice, Lindsey won the victory by a second-round knockout that improved her professional fighting record to 4-1. It’s evident that Lindsey has no plan on stopping until she becomes a champion of the sport and we’re willing to wait.

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Lindsey Training with Precision Boxing Coach Crazy Jon

While Lindsey most certainly some pretty impressive attributes as an unmatched fighter, what stands out most about Lindsey is her good heart and commitment to the sport. She always has a smile on her face and focuses on the positive aspects of things. It wasn’t always an easy ride to victories and success, Lindsey had to overcome some difficulties in her path that would have set her back if she had not been as dedicated and strong willed. Want to learn more about Lindsey’s story? The Poughkeepsie Journal covered an article about her. Click HERE to read it.

Live in the Hudson Valley and looking to train MMA? Visit us at http://www.precisionmixedmartialarts.com or call 845-392-8495 so we can get you started today!

Nov 062018
 

There’s an array of reasons as to why people choose to incorporate martial arts into their lives. Many people start training as an avenue towards weight loss, others may be seeking to improve upon their physical strength and their ability to defend themselves. However, the benefits of training martial arts go far beyond physical improvement. Anybody who’s gone for a light run can attest that exercise can improve your mental state. However, for people who suffer from severe depression, anxiety or other mental struggles, it makes a drastic difference in quality of life.

Precision students having fun and boxing

Precision students having fun and boxing in Poughkeepsie

Just like any other physical activity, training martial arts releases endorphins that help combat stress levels. However, unlike most other forms of exercise, learning a discipline like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, or boxing is just as much of an exercise for your brain as it is for your body. Learning a technique is very similar to studying in school; going through steps over and over again until you can mold something into muscle memory. Applying techniques in a real time situation such as sparring or competition forces your brain to constantly re-calibrate, assess the situation and apply necessary changes. It’s a constantly evolving puzzle that can only be solved by training your body and mind to work in unison.

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Boxing will relieve stress. Coach Crazy Jon boxes in the Hudson Valley with precision students.

Through navigating the challenges presented in martial arts and constantly sharpening your mental and physical skill set, training can instill a strong sense of confidence. Confidence can manifest itself in numerous ways throughout your training. The first, and perhaps most obvious way that training builds confidence is through building a good physique. Consistently training martial arts will not only visibly change your body, but will also result in augmented strength and flexibility. The combination of having pride in your physique and waking up feeling strong and healthy every day feels fantastic. This can also lead to higher energy levels during the day, resulting in more productivity. Additionally, pushing your body and brain during training will lead to deeper and more consistent sleep at night.

Although improving your movement and health through martial arts is a great way to boost confidence, the mental benefits seem to outweigh the physical for most people. Learning a new skill set can be challenging, but engaging and effectively applying that skill set is incredibly rewarding. Becoming competent at something that you’ve put time and hard work into helps to establish a strong sense of self pride and establishes goal-oriented behavior for every aspect of your life. Making training a regular part of your routine requires dedication; not only by showing up to the gym, but through diet, mentality and creating healthier habits. It requires being able to get through small setbacks such as injuries, scheduling and exhaustion. Training equips you with the tools to be able to handle mental battles as well. You’ll learn to keep your ego in check, not to get too deterred after a tough sparring session, and how to get yourself up and into the gym even when you don’t feel like training. All of these mental tools are applicable to the other aspects of your life as well and can help you perform to the best of your ability at work, in social situations and personal relationships.

Most of us think of a martial arts academy as a place to learn hand-to-hand combat, but it’s so much more than that. It’s a community of like-minded people, gathered for the same reason; to improve their lives through martial arts. The community aspect is one of the most understated benefits of training. It’s a strange concept; a group of people voluntarily coming together to practice punching and strangling one another, but the bonds developed on the mats are some of the strongest friendships that I’ve experienced in my life.

If you’re a resident of the Hudson Valley and want to make your MMA dreams a reality in a safe and fun environment, come check out Precision Boxing and MMA; the Hudson Valley’s premier mixed martial arts academy. Give us a call at (845)392-8495 or visit us online at http://www.precisionmixedmartialarts.com to schedule your free lesson today!

Training Martial Arts will expand your social groups

Nov 012018
 

We’ve all made excuses to get out of doing things that we don’t particularly feel like doing or going somewhere we really didn’t want to go. While some of these excuses may seem harmless, often times we use these excuses to stay in our comfort zone or take the easy way out which can ultimately prove to be harmful to ourselves. Making excuses only sets us back from unlocking our full potential and takes us further away from reaching our goals. An excuse is just a preventable setback from achievement that we have full control over. Excuses keep you from growing and reaching opportunities. From time to time we use the excuse of being ‘too tired’ or ‘being too busy’ to train. While there isn’t a cure for physical or mental exhaustion except a good night’s sleep, all too often, this is just one of the many excuses used to justify skipping class to snack on pizza and nachos. For training MMA to be effective, we must develop a workout schedule and stick to it to expand knowledge and better our martial arts. Nothing was ever accomplished or achieved by not taking any action or making excuses. In our schedule we should incorporate specific days to rest that are consistent to allow our bodies to rejuvenate and adequate rest.

Sometimes excuses are made to disguise the feelings of shortcomings. It’s important to develop a positive mentally when training martial arts. We should try to learn to view our shortcomings as improvements instead of  failures. It can be difficult to not dwell on past mistakes, but in order to better ourselves and master that technique we’ve been drilling for ages, we must view the mistakes as something to learn from and move on. It’s not an overnight process, but with discipline this mindset can be achieved. As a result of this, you’ll eventually learn to recognize your mistakes, accept them, and learn how to fix them instead of making excuses for them.

Before you make an excuse to use as a reason not to train or for your poor performance, you should ask yourself whether or not the excuse is valid.

Live in the Hudson Valley and interested in training MMA? Call 845-392-8495 or visit www.precisonmixedmartialarts.com today so we can help you get started!

MMA in Poughkeepsie, NY

MMA in Poughkeepsie, NY