Jan 312013
 
Poughkeepsie MMA

Poughkeepsie MMA

There are many gyms to choose from in the Poughkeepsie area for mixed martial arts.  All boast that they can help you reach UFC glory.  However, the reality is that none of the instructors at these Poughkeepsie mixed martial arts gyms have never fought themselves and certainly never worked with a fighter who has reached the UFC.

Precision Mixed Martial Arts is different.  Head instructor Brian McLaughlin has stepped into the UFC octagon as a fighter on season 8 of “The Ultimate Fighter” and won MMA titles in Ring of Combat and Sportfighting.

However, Coach Brian’s highest achievements are not his personal victories, but those of his students.  Brian’s instruction goes beyond the Poughkeepsie area; he is sought after by some of the best fighters in the entire Mixed Martial Arts world to help them prepare for their high profile UFC fights.

UFC veteran Dan Miller enlisted the help of Precision’s head coach for his UFC on FX fight against Brazilian Jiu-jitsu black belt Ricardo Funch.  With Coach Brian in his corner Dan secured a spectacular guillotine choke and earned himself a hefty bonus for “Submission of the Night”

 

Poughkeepsie MMA

Poughkeepsie MMA

Dan credits his success in part to the training he received from coach Brian:

 

Hi I’m Dan Miller UFC welterweight I’ve been training with Brian McLaughlin – a fantastic jiu-jitsu coach, very technical just a great coach all around and a great guy. If you’re ever up in the Poughkeepsie area you’ve got to get in there and train with him.  He’s got some great guys in the gym and he helped me win my “Submission of the Night” in my last fight, it was a fantastic night and I have a great time training with him

UFC superstar Jim Miller also works with Brian to prepare for his fights.  Most recently, Jim won “Fight of the Night” honors in his victory against top lightweight Joe Lauzon in what many are calling the fight of the year.

Poughkeepsie MMA

Hi guys I’m Jim Miller 12 time UFC vet, I’ve been working with Brian McLaughlin for the last couple years training with him, if you’re in the Poughkeepsie area and you’re looking to get into MMA or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu give Brian a call there is no one better in the area.  He has a fantastic game for both sport Jiu-jitsu and MMA – you’ll be able to become a great competitor and get in better shape so look him up

 

Don’t trust your MMA training to just anyone.  Precision MMA’s coaches are trusted by some of the top fighters in the UFC. If you live in Poughkeepsie, NY and have dreams of fighting in the greatest MMA organization in the world Precision can get you to your goal.

To start your FREE 30 Day Trial call Precision MMA today at 845-392-8495 or visit http://www.poughkeepsiemixedmartialarts.com

Precision MMA – The Best Mixed Martial Arts in Poughkeepsie, NY

 

Jan 302013
 

Jamey Bazes is a lifelong Hudson Valley martial artist and senior student at Precision MMA in LaGrange, NY.  Here he recounts how his early experiences in Karate classes and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu taught him valuable life lessons.

To give your child the gift of martial arts call Precision MMA today and start your FREE 30 Day Trial at 845-392-8495 or visit www.LaGrangeMartialArts.com

Hudson Valley Kids Karate Classes

Hudson Valley Kids Karate Classes

How Training in Karate and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Classes as a Child Impacted My Life as an Adult

 
            I still remember being eight years old and my reaction to seeing The Karate Kid for the first time.  “I want to do that”, I said to myself.  And so it began.  Four days a week of training at my local Hudson Valley Karate classes.  I actually remember the very first technique I ever learned: a defense again a stranglehold consisting of two elbows and a hammer fist.  I remember getting back from that first class and practicing the move in my backyard under the hot July sun.  I remember feeling empowered that I actually knew how to perform a martial arts move.
Hudson Valley Karate Classes

Hudson Valley Karate Classes

Little did I know that that day in the Hudson Valley Karate class would begin my life long love affair with the martial arts and that this training would bring about many positive changes in my life as I got older.  However, even as a child I would soon find out that this path would not be an easy one.  It took me much longer to earn my first belt than most of my peers.  I clearly remember wondering why students who had begun training after me were being awarded their belts first.  Even as a young child I remember thinking to myself “is my Sensei testing me?  Is there some reason he wants to make me wait longer before giving me that next belt?”  To this day I am convinced that my Sensei was trying to teach me the lessons of patience and perseverance.  Karate classes would test me more than anything I had faced at that point in my life.  When I finally did get my first belt I would find that the next few did not come much more easily.
            Earning the right to take a “belt test”, as they were referred to, was not easy and I remember that once during karate class I asked my Sensei whether or not I was ready for the “test” yet that he responded “don’t ask me when you are ready for your next belt test, I will tell you.”  I never asked again, but it was very difficult to resist the temptation to do so.  However, whenever I would be told I was ready for my next test and the date would be set for me to prepare, I would become jubilant.  Knowing that the end was in sight and that I had a goal to work towards inspired me at this young age in a way that tests or papers in school could not.  When the tests would finally happen, they would be emotionally trying.  My instructor would stand there, stoic faced with a pen and clip board in hand watching my movements and marking things off.  I could never read his expression and would wonder the entire time “how am I doing? Am I going to pass?”  And then when the test would finally end and he would walk towards me, hand out stretched to shake mine and say “congratulations, you passed the test” the feeling of achievement would be incredible.
            The most important memory I have of my early training though was when I took my 1st degree brown belt test.  Looking back, what stands out was not the karate class where I received the belt or even the moments where I was doing well.  Rather, it is the experience of getting punched in the stomach and knocked down during a sparring session with one of my more advanced peers.  I remember that after falling I locked eyes with my instructor. As I did he looked down at me with a slight smile and a “knowing look”, as if he knew that this was an early test of my manhood and that my passing would be dependent upon my getting back to my feet again.  Of course, I did, and I passed the test. It might seem like a small moment, but afterwards I felt like the toughest man in the entire Hudson Valley.
              I only stayed in Karate class for one more belt mainly because I wanted to learn the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.  Much like my early years in Karate classes, belts did not come easy.  Likewise, it had been my goal for years to take first place in a Jiu-Jitsu tournament, a task that would be years in the making. But when it did occur, and I won 2 tournaments in the span of 3 weeks, the victory felt that much sweeter because of how long it had taken me.  Three years later I would win another two tournaments in only one week’s time.  The lessons of patience and dedication I had learned as a youth in my Hudson Valley Karate classes served me well once again.
          The end result is that the martial arts training I had as a child taught me patience and perseverance.  When I would take exams in school I would usually be one of the last to finish, but I would simply smile to myself when other students would rush up to turn in their exams in only half the time, knowing that in the end I would probably do just as well as them, and I usually did.  When I worked on a farm for one summer in my adult hood and certain tasks took me longer than others, who would be quick to criticize me for being slow, I would never acknowledge their remarks, and in the end I would be praised by my boss for my attention to detail.
 I am convinced that in every martial arts instructor and every truly good teacher that I have had since my days in Karate that there has been present in each just a little bit of my first Sensei.  The lessons he taught me about persistence have stood the test of time and crossed over into these other areas of my life.  I have actually come to enjoy being made to work harder to achieve my goals, because I know that the end result will be that much more deserved.  So now when a certain endeavor takes me longer than it might take some, or I am made to wait for some reward that I am working towards, I do not lose faith or become impatient.  In fact, I would not have it any other way.
                                              To start your child in Karate classes in the Hudson Valley contact Precision MMA at 845-392-8495 or visit  www.lagrangemartialarts.com and ask about our FREE 30 Day Trial
Jan 242013
 

Martial arts training helps not only the student, but also all those that come into contact with him.  Realistic martial arts training allows a student to stay calm in even the most chaotic of situations.  Here is the story of an ordinary Poughkeepsie Man who was able to use his martial arts training to help his fellow man.

Precision MMA Student uses his Techniques to Stop an Attack

My name is Joe Bottiglieri, and I turned 40 this past August. I am a husband, father to three daughters and a Marine Corps Veteran. I started training near Poughkeepsie, NY under Brian McLaughlin at Precision MMA. I am currently ranked a one-stripe Blue Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The impact BJJ has had on my life has been nothing short of extraordinary and extremely positive.

Poughkeepsie martial arts

Poughkeepsie martial arts

While driving home from Poughkeepsie a few weeks ago, I stopped at a gas station to get something to drink. As I was walking in, I noticed two groups of people speaking to each other in what could only be described as a highly agitated manner. As I was leaving the store, the situation had escalated to a violent state. Someone had taken a swing at a female over an insult resulted in two guys from one group physically assaulting a single guy from the other. They wrestled him to the ground and crouched over him, punching and kicking him wildly. While the individual was on the ground, he was screaming at his friends for help – but nobody was doing anything.
I make it a point to avoid this type of violence unless absolutely necessary and in this case, I felt it was appropriate to get involved. I dropped my stuff and started telling the individuals to get off of him, which they did not do. I got closer and struck the attacker facing me in the side of his head with an open palm, to avoid doing any serious damage to his nose, eyes or face. He stood up a bit and looked at me. In an aggressive tone, I told him to get off of him. This seemed to register and he stopped. The other attacker had his back to me and was still punching the victim. When I tried pulling him off he didn‘t budge. I slid my left arm around his neck and over the bicep of my right arm and started cinching up a rear-naked choke, while telling him that was enough. I was worried that the other attacker might try to sucker-punch me at this point but he wasn‘t budging. I kept tightening the choke on him until he stopped punching. At that point I slid him back a little bit and released the choke. He landed on his butt and scrambled to his feet. I could easily have put him to sleep but applying the choke with control until he stopped was more than effective. I don‘t think he wanted to find out how much tighter I could have made it.
I was prepared to defend myself if need be and to be honest – I was really worried that one of them might have a knife or a gun, but that wasn‘t the case. Realizing the police might arrive the attackers quickly ran towards their car. The victim on the ground was back on his feet at this point and started after the attackers. His friends and I held him back and advised him to get their license plate number along with the make and model of their car.

While I wish things like this wouldn‘t happen, I‘ve been around long enough to know that they will and usually when you least expect it. If there‘s a positive in any of this, it‘s that nobody was seriously injured and I was able to remain relatively calm and apply fundamental BJJ in a real-life situation. As a result I prevented several people from receiving injuries far worse than a few bruises and scrapes. Applying the techniques on the attacker was no different than live grappling in class at Precision MMA because we always train realistically with fully-resisting opponents. Without my martial arts training, I might have used more force to stop the assault and as a result, caused more injury to either of the individuals involved, which could have escalated the level of violence.

Joe used his Poughkeepsie martial arts training to keep those around him safe.  If you’d like to learn martial arts in Poughkeepsie, NY check out Precision MMA FREE for 30 Days call 845-392-8495 or visit http://www.poughkeepsiemixedmartialarts.com

 

Jan 222013
 

Mixed Martial Arts has become a buzz word in the Hudson Valley.  Now that the UFC is one of the most popular sporting events Hudson Valley schools that specialize in a single martial arts discipline are now calling themselves “Mixed Martial Arts Gyms

Hudson Valley Mixed Martial Arts

Hudson Valley Mixed Martial Arts

A sign that you may be stuck in a phony MMA gym in the Hudson Valley is the frequency that the different arts are trained.  A true Hudson Valley Mixed Martial Arts School will have a combination of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, muay thai and boxing each and every day. Many fake mixed martial arts gyms will have grappling everyday and “striking” one or two days at most (or vice versa).

Precision Mixed Martial Arts prides itself on being the most diverse mixed martial arts school in the Hudson Valley Boxing, Muay Thai, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu are taught every single day of the week.  In addition, the gym is properly equipped for each individual art.  Thai pads, jump ropes and kick shields for muay thai training, a full size boxing ring, heavy bag, upper cut bag and double end bag for boxing, crash pads and zebra mats for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu – all in a 5,000 square foot facility.

Here’s a look inside a typical Monday at Precision Mixed Martial Arts – students begin with boxing and muay thai training before getting on the ground for grappling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.  At this Hudson Valley Mixed Martial Arts school no stone is left unturned.

Check out Precision Mixed Martial Arts in LaGrange, NY call 845-392-8495 or visit http://www.poughkeepsiemixedmartialarts.com to get started

 

 

 

Jan 102013
 
Precision MMA LaGrange, NY

Precision MMA LaGrange, NY

I started martial arts the day after Thanksgiving in 1999.  At the time I was barely tall enough to ride Space Mountain and couldn’t fight my way out of a wet paper bag. I had a big mouth, but I was all bark and no bite. I had my martial arts epiphany after my sister’s boyfriend ended up on the wrong end of a disagreement which left him in the hospital with broken ribs and a punctured lung.  He was 20 years old, stood about 6 ft 2 and was close to 200 pounds, in my estimation a Goliath.  Despite his considerable frame he was helpless to defend himself.  I could only imagine what would have happen to me.  I decided I would do everything in my power to make sure I wouldn’t share a similar fate. I discovered Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu after buying UFC 1 at a local block buster.  Watching a skinny Royce Gracie slay giants inside a chain linked fence had a profound effect on me, I had made up my mind – I joined a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu school and never looked back.

Fast forward to 2005, I decided I wanted to have a professional fight.  The ironic part of all this was I joined martial arts to protect me from a fight and in the end it drove me to sign up for one.  I had been training for a little over 4 years and I started to feel confident in my ability to defend myself, but I couldn’t silence doubts in the back of my head.  What if someone really wanted to hurt me?  Could I use my skills against someone who was trying to knock my head off my shoulders?  Can my knowledge stand up to a real world test?  I had to know, for certain, for real what I would do in a serious fight.  I wasn’t looking to fight in the UFC or have my name up in lights; I was on a quest for personal discovery.

I finally made my leap and was added to the card for Sportfighting 3 in April of 2006 – an event being run by Grappler’s Quest promoter Brian Cimins.  My opponent was Khristian Geraci from team Real Combat.  I remember feverously searching for information on him.  All I was able to gather was that he had won some amateur boxing matches and was facing trial for stealing laptops.

I was obsessed with the fight. I was concerned I wouldn’t be used to grappling with gloves so for about 4 days I did everything (aside from using the bathroom) with MMA gloves on.  I got more than a few curious looks at gas stations and deli counters.  I did 2 practice weight cuts to make sure I would be on point.  I would listen to my entrance music everyday on my way to training.  Looking back it’s all pretty comical, but at the time I was serious as a heart attack.

Finally fight night arrived.  I remember on my way to the arena my friend and I were looking for somewhere to eat when a disturbed homeless man ran after us screaming that we “stole his job”.  I thought to myself as we ran frantically away from him “this will be a good warm up”.

At the arena my heart was about to explode from my chest as I watched other fighters get submitted or knocked out.  When it was time to get wrapped I could barely keep my hands from trembling.  I went to the bathroom and stared myself in the mirror and wondered why the Hell I signed up for this.

At one point my coach Rob saw that I was nervous and looked at me said “Hey Kid stop that shit, you’re going to kill this chump and in fact I’ve got a lot of reality TV to watch tonight so if you wouldn’t mind let’s make this quick”.

Finally it was my turn to fight.  Walking towards the ring I kept thinking, “I’m sure I can figure a way out of this, I’m not in the ring yet”.  Once I realized there was no going back I simply convinced myself this was nothing more than a jiu-jitsu tournament with gloves on.  Somehow that thought was comforting, bringing familiarity to the chaos of the moment.  Once the bell rang it was Gracie Jiu-Jitsu 101.  Clinch, trip, guard pass, take the back, choke – it took all of 23 seconds.  Walking back to my corner my coach looked at me and said “That’s what you were worried about?”

As it turns out my training was there for me when I needed it.  What I learned in the last 6 years was worthwhile after all.  I was no longer a scared 15 year old – for that day I felt 10 feet tall.

 

Want to fulfill your dream of fighting mixed martial arts?  Try Precision MMA in LaGrange, NY 

Precision MMA offers a 30 Day Free Trial call 845-392-8495 or visit http://www.poughkeepsiemixedmartialarts.com to get started

 

Jan 092013
 

 

Poughkeepsie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

 

Looks can be deceiving, when one sees someone just shy of 6 feet weighing 140 pounds soaking wet they typically aren’t intimidated; especially when he has a pony tail and bears a striking resemblance to the lead singer of Alice in Chains.

Karl is an exception to the rule.  In the competitive martial arts world of chest thumping machismo he maintains a quiet demeanor and unassuming presence.  Opponents and spectators alike take one look at him and think; this kid is going to get killed.  What they don’t realize is that underestimation is the ace up his sleeve.

In the bustling metropolis that is Wilmington Delaware Karl’s skills would once again be on display.  He was grappling for the right to be best in the Diamond State – it may not impress women at the watering hole, but in the BJJ world it earns you some legit street cred.

After dismantling his first few foes Karl was facing a tall task against a very skilled John Malkovitch lookalike with a lethal open guard.  The two traded sweeps and takedowns with Karl’s opponent eventually progressing from side control to mount.  For a moment it looked as if we would have to settle for the silver medal, however Karl quickly recovered his guard and began rattling off submission attempts like machine gun set to full auto.  A dizzing scramble of omoplatas, sweeps and back takes ended with a locked in mata leao (the more popular nomenclature is “rear naked choke” but this is a family blog).

Under normal circumstances, when someone locks in a choke and shuts off the blood supply to the brain people admit defeat, tap out and hope their girlfriend didn’t just see that. However, when plastic trophies are on the line people do some crazy things. Karl’s opponent is up on points and he’s NOT going to tap.  From the sidelines my coaching has been reduced to yelling “SQUEEZE!” at ear piercing disciples about 30 or so times.  As instructed Karl gives an extra dose of elbow grease and chokes him opponent unconscious.  While obviously, not the smartest strategy, part of me admired his opponent’s stubbornness.  After his coach administered a mildly awkward back massage he awoke and looked up at the referee and asked, “Did I win?”

Reflecting on the events that just transpired our erudite camera man summed up the events beautifully.  In his best Steve Carell voice “Karl…puts people to sleep”

Has it always been your dream to choke people out on camera? Check out Precision MMA’s Poughkeepsie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu program FREE for 30 Days call 845-392-8495 or visit http://www.poughkeepsiemixedmartialarts.com to get started!  You won’t find a better Poughkeepsie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu program anywhere in the Hudson Valley – Guaranteed.

Jan 072013
 

Untold Stories of Hudson Valley MMA Fighters

Hudson Valley MMA

Big John – Hudson Valley MMA

I’m sorry Sir, but these seats are reserved for The Hell’s Angels…

To be fair they weren’t seats, but pick nick tables. Ordinarily I believe fighters should have preferred seating, but in this instance I was willing to look elsewhere.

I was unfamiliar with the social mores of biker rallies, I was going to have to learn as I went.  We weren’t here for the Harleys, we came for a fight.  This was a unique situation as pugilism goes. A bit different than the Hudson Valley MMA scene.  We were far from the glitz and glamor of Las Vegas or Atlantic City.  We were at the black thorn biker ralley in the far reaches of upstate New York. The Empire state hadn’t sanctioned MMA yet, so the legality of these bouts was far from certain.

The fight promoter was a minister; bouts were contested in a pro wrestling ring outside in the pouring rain. In addition to the rules of the bout, fighters were given specific procedures and instructions to follow in the event of a biker riot.

On paper some would say we were an underdog.  Our fighter was not your typical Hudson Valley MMA prospect – a 46 years old chiropractor father of two.  He divided his time at the gym with little league games and parent teacher nights.  The opponent was a 21 year old war tested Marine.  However, fights are not contested on paper and despite being only a few years shy of AARP benefits “Big John” was 245 pounds of granite and steel.  He was a salt of the Earth type who liked big game hunting and rodeo competitions.  He had lethal submissions, but in reality he could make most men tap with a firm handshake.

After wading through a small river of mud we made our way to the ring where I heard a familiar shrill of support instructing Big John to “break his femur” customary pre-fight advice from my student Cliff.  Our opponent was riding high with confidence off the cheers of support from the soldiers in the crowd, but once he locked eyes with John I could tell part of him wished he was somewhere else.

The fight started off with a big right hand, quick double leg and lightning fast Kimura – in just over 90 seconds we earned a submission.  The ref halted the bout, but much like Chael Sonnen at UFC 117 didn’t realize that a tap ended the bout. Infuriated Big John stares down his opponent and says, “No Bullsh*t, you know you tapped” – his opponent, realizing that a rematch wasn’t going to end much better for him, reluctantly nodded his head and accepted defeat. We had our victory and I logged one more story for the grand kids.

 

So where did Big John learn his incredible MMA skills?  At the best Hudson Valley MMA school – Precision MMA in LAGrange, NY 

Try Precision’s Hudson Valley MMA program FREE for 30 Days call 845-392-8495 or visit http://www.bjjfighter.com