Nov 272015
 

A few years ago I first heard about MMA star Justin Wren’s efforts to help the Pygmy people who inhabit The Congo.  Justin left the glitz and glamour of professional fighting seeking a greater purpose and he found it in Congo.  He found people living in bondage and suffering beyond anything he had previously imagined. Of all the problems facing the Pygmies, the greatest was their lack of clean drinking water.  The consequences of this reality lead them to a life of harsh servitude and an uncertain existence. Justin committed himself to helping by engaging in efforts to build wells.  His tale is both heartbreaking as well as inspiring and has been chronicled in his book “Fight For The Forgotten”.

Justin quickly realized that he could not hope to remedy the ailments of the Pygmies by himself. After exhaustive research he partnered with an organization dedicated to bringing sustainable solutions to those without access to clean drinking water, a groups called Water 4.  Water 4 employs local workers in areas in need to develop training, technology and infrastructure necessary to solve this global epidemic.

Precision MMA has always engaged in annual charities, typically we have worked with organizations inside the Hudson Valley.  However, this year we are joining the fight for the forgotten and helping to raise money to support Water 4’s efforts.

Click HERE to be brought to Precision’s fundraiser

To learn more about Justin Wren and Water 4 watch the videos below

Nov 052015
 

young brianFor the instructors at Precision MMA martial arts is more than a hobby, it is a way of life.  Head coach Brian McLaughlin started his training back in 1999 as a sophomore in high school.  He began with Brazilian jiu-jitsu as a way to learn self-defense.  He quickly became obsessed with jiu-jitsu training twice daily.  He started his jiu-jitsu journey under black belt Fernando “Cabeca” Sarmento and Marco Delima.  Fernando and Marco later relocated and Brian went on to train with Rob Kahn and Steve Kardian of Thornwood Jiu-jitsu.   As he began gaining jiu-jitsu knowledge his desire to become a complete grappler grew and he began training wrestling under Olympian Dan Sanchez and Hudson Valley standouts Eric Amato and Ian Lindars and Judo under Dutch national team member Jerry Fokas.  This unique combination of wrestling, judo and Brazilian Jiu-jitsu gives Brian a perspective on the art of grappling that few can rival. Around 2005 Brian met Kyokushin karate black belt, golden gloves veteran and muay thai fighter Shennen Maceo.  Brian began training privately with sensei Maceo and sparring with the Tiger Schulmann professional fight team.  As he progressed he decided to pursue professional mixed martial arts competition.  Brian quickly climbed the ranks, winning his first 5 fights by submission all in the first round. tufBrian continued his martial arts growth boxing at Demorest boxing where he became a student of one of the top amateur fighters in the region and now famed trainer Derrek Ohlhoff.  Derrek refined Brian’s technique and had him sparring at many of the region’s toughest boxing gyms.  At this time Brian was invited to compete in the UFC’s tournament “The Ultimate Fighter”.  Brian was pitted against tough veteran and fellow jiu-jitsu expert Brandon Gardner.  Brian dominated the fight and moved on in the competition.  However, a post-fight medical exam revealed that he had suffered a broken nose in the fight and was deemed medically ineligible to continue. With his mixed martial arts career on hold Brian focused on furthering his accomplishments in the sport of grappling and Brazilian Jiu-jitsu.  Brian earned submission victories against some of the toughest competitors in the world including Ryan Hall and Wilson Reis – both current starts in the UFC. ama Brian furthered his mixed martial arts training by joining the AMA Fight Club.  Here he trained Jiu-jitsu under famed Renzo Gracie Black Belt Jamey Cruz and muay thai under the legendary Kaensak Sor Ploenjit, widely considered one of the best fighters of all time from muay thai’s golden era.  At AMA Brian would have access to some of the best training partners in the world including former UFC champion Frankie Edgar, former WEC champion Jamie Varner and current Bellator world champion Marcoc Galvao. In 2009 Brian would return to MMA competition to fight former BJJ world champion Rene Nazare.  The fight was a back and forth battle in which Brian suffered his first professional defeat via split decision.  The fight was later voted Northeast Fight of the Year.  Unfortunately, following this fight Brian would have many fights fall through at the last moment and the grind of training camps resulted in numerous injuries.  Brian would fight twice more before deciding to walk away from the sport and focus his efforts on coaching. In 2004 Brian began teaching while still active as a competitor.  Although always a passionate instructor, Brian’s efforts were divided as he was still fightingprecision.  Once he retired and put 100% of his efforts into teaching his gym grew exponentially.  Today Precision Mixed Martial Arts boasts several hundred students and is home to multiple black belt instructors, as well as golden gloves, muay thai and mixed martial arts champions.  There are success stories of everyday men, women and children who have changed their lives through martial arts by learning to defend themselves, gaining discipline and focus, or regaining their health and fitness.

 

In the realm of professional competition Brian is currently one of the most sought after coaches in the northeast.  He has coached and cornered fighters such as Jim and Dan Miller to UFC victories as well as international champions such as King of Pancrase Andy Main.  His coaching has brought him across the country and around the world – from Atlantic City and Las Vegas to Tokyo, Japan and Uberlandia, Brazil.

andy kop   In addition to teaching, Brian continues his martial arts study under jiu-jitsu expert and MMA legend Javier Vazquez as well as his long-time coach Derrick Ohlhoff. To gain the knowledge he currently has Brian had to train at half a dozen different gyms across three different states.  The travel would become so hectic he would at times sleep in his car and live out of a suitcase.  At one point he was spending over $400 per month for training.  He promised himself that one day he would make sure that someone with the same passion as him would not have to go through the same hurdles to become a complete martial artist.  He built Precision MMA with that vision in mind.       Today Precision is the Hudson Valley’s largest martial arts facility boasting a tremendous 5,000 sq foot facility.  Brazilian jiu-jitsu, judo, muay thai, boxing and mixed martial arts can all be learned under one roof from expert coaches.  Multiple classes are held 7 days a week and the gym is even open during every holiday. If you want to change your life through martial arts call Precision today at 845-392-8495 or visit http://www.poughkeepsiemixedmartialarts.com

Hudson Valley Mixed Martial Arts

Hudson Valley Mixed Martial Arts

 

Nov 052015
 

When most people come to a Mixed Martial Arts gym they come with the assumption that they have to learn a smorgasbord of styles and that they will become a jack of all trades, master of none. Though Precision MMA has the resources and the facility to accommodate to teach their students multiple arts, it does not make us strangers to breeding specialized fighters.

One of the most effective ways to test your Martial Arts ability is to go out and compete against someone who focuses their training in one specific field.  It is a true assessment of your proficiency in the art when faced against someone who takes a fragment of your skill set and tangents off of it.  Though many of our members train in multiple disciplines they also come out victories when faced against such specialists.

The Precision MMA boxing team has showcased their knowledge and skill in the boxing community while carrying the “MMA stigma” multiple times. Whether it is winning the Golden Gloves or finding victory in local shows, our boxing team is always up for a challenge and is continuously seeking out new competition. We recently had back to back victories against West point Cadets and USA boxing open class fighters due to spectacular performances from Paul Maley (who is also a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu) and Brandon Clemente (who is part of the National Guard)brandon-boxing

 

 

 

 

October has also been a great month for our Brazilian Jiu-jitsu competition team as well. We had several victories against experienced competitors in the New Jersey Submission Only Good Fight Tournament. Being a submission only tournament it attracts the best of the best finishers from multiple gyms. This however did not deter our grapplers from finding success.  After numerous hard fought battles Donny Castillo took home the Bronze in the NoGi Blue Belt Division while Christopher Stanley took the Gold in the NoGi Purple Belt Division. Both Donald and Christopher not only have made great strides in their Jiu-jitsu but also have become seasoned strikers during their time at Precision MMA.12189908_10205286908276966_1810348947194069366_n

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you live in the Hudson Valley Area and want to train with the best Coaches in Boxing, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai and MMA. Contact us at 845-392-8495 or check out our website at http://www.Poughkeepsiemixedmartialarts.com

 

Nov 022015
 

Precision MMA really separates itself from other mixed martial arts gyms through its dedicated boxing program.  Many gyms might have a karate or muay thai fighter show some combinations every once in a while, but they do not have someone who truly understands the sweet science.  We are different.  Precision has Derek Ohlhoff, arguably the most seasoned boxing trainer in the entire Hudson Valley at our facility on a regular basis correcting student’s technique and adding his tricks of the trade along the way.

Here coach Derek is working with one of Precision’s up and coming fighters Brandon Clemente.  The old adage is “make them miss, make them pay” and that is precisely what Brandon is working on.  Combining defense and offense in a seamless system is the hallmark of coach Derek’s system.

Have you ever dreamed of becoming a boxer, but don’t know where to start?  Precision’s Poughkeepsie boxing program is very beginner friendly! Check out our 30 day FREE trial by calling 845-392-8495 or visit http://www.poughkeepsieboxing.com