May 272013
 

Olympic_BoxingNot all boxing programs are created equal.  Some are only for the hardened veterans, those who have competed before and just need a little tweaking here and there by expert coaches in order to further their potential.  These gyms tend to overlook the beginners and those who are looking to box casually.  Precision MMA in Dutchess County has a boxing program which never overlooks the casuals or the novice students.  We have teachers who are patient and will work to help anyone who is willing to put in the time.

Our head boxing coach Derrick Ohlhoff, who is a 3 times Golden Gloves’ boxing champion, has been teaching at Dutchess Counties’ Precision MMA for almost five years now.  Because he has seen it at all and trained with pro boxers like Zuri Lawerence and Brian Barbosa, but also remembers well his days as a beginner and has seen what it takes to get new boxers to a high level, he is quite adept at teaching the new prospects who walk through our doors.  Derrick is extremely patient and has a good sense of humor which attracts younger boxers who might at first be a bit intimidated and expecting that boxing will be a grueling affair with strict coaches.  Derrick is all about the fundamentals, and these are what beginners need more than anything else.  He lets the novice students know when they are experiencing progress every step of the way, since new boxers may often not realize that their technique is improving with rapid speed, and being told so increases their confidence and makes them want to attend more classes.

Dutchess County’s boxing program at Precision MMA also has a great coach in Jon Russo.  Russo is also excellent at teaching beginners because not only does he also have ring experience but he has a great sense of humor and is truly one of the “young at heart”.  Russo has also trained in Martial Arts such as Jeet Kune Do and Taekwondo and has a keen eye for practical self-defense, so this combined with his sense of playfulness has allowed him to create many fun and creative training exercises for the beginners.  The younger students in particular rave about Jon’s training methodologies and are always wondering what new training technique he might introduce next.  He has all the fundamentals of boxing down, yet is not one to think rigidly and can adjust his teaching methods to his students’ personalities.

Dutchess County MMA

Dutchess County Boxing

Finally, Jon Joy is perhaps our most beginner-friendly coach.  This is probably because despite the fact that Joy has improved tremendously in record time and now has several amateur boxing wins under his belt, it was not long ago that he was also a beginner learning the sweet science in Dutchess County at Precision MMA.  Remembering what was imparted to him early on, Joy focuses intently on those fundamentals so essential to early progress in the sport of boxing, such as footwork and head movement.

Because Precision MMA in Dutchess County has three patient, good-natured instructors with varying teaching styles we are an excellent gym for beginning boxers.  Don’t be shy, come box with us for 30 free days and you’ll be hooked in no time.

Precision MMA is currently offering a 30-Day FREE trial for new members.  If you’re interested in learning self-defense, getting into shape, and training with the best in the area, then stop in at 1097 Route 55, Lagrangeville, NY or call us at 845-392-8495.  Don’t forget to ask about our free trial and intro lesson!

Jamey Bazes is a lifelong martial artist holding a brown belt in both Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Kenpo Karate.  He also holds a master’s degree from SUNY New Paltz.  He is a student of Precision Mixed Martial Arts in LaGrange, NY (near Poughkeepsie) and a decorated competitor including a Delaware Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu State Championship and a NAGA World Title.  To train with Jamey in Poughkeepsie NY check out Precision MMA http://www.poughkeepsieboxing.com

May 062013
 

body hardeningOf the different martial arts offered at Precision MMA in Poughkeepsie, New York, most have very specific boundaries in terms of the techniques they incorporate and the disciplines they encompass. For example, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which is on the Precision syllabus, has very specific rules in tournaments and though it can incorporate other styles like wrestling or Judo, when you watch a BJJ match you usually have a good idea of the kinds of techniques you may expect to see. Likewise, boxing, also offered at Precision MMA, is very particular in it’s focus. No one has ever watched a boxing bout and wondered whether or not they were watching a Karate match, for example. However, the sport and martial art of Kickboxing has a much wider grey area in what spectators can expect to witness in terms of skill set, and what competitors can expect to learn when they sign up for classes. Though Muay Thai is, of course, a style of Kickboxing, and one which is offered at Precision MMA, it can have many differences from what one may witness at a local Kickboxing bout. Likewise, boxing is a part of Kickboxing, but has many differences from the latter as well. In this blog I will hope to clarify some of the arts encompassed under the umbrella of the term “Kickboxing”, some of the common rules of the sport, and how it is trained at Precision MMA in Poughkeepsie.

Kickboxing, as a sport and martial art, has many different styles. One of the more common styles, which is taught at Precision MMA by local Poughkeepsie AKBF Champion Karl Nemeth and others, is Muay Thai. The style of Muay Thai allow kicks to the leg, body and head without shin pads, as well as knees to all these targets, elbows to the head and body, and punches, as well as clinching and trips. No matter what the rules of a local kickboxing fight, practitioners of Muay Thai will be likely to find success. However, going into the event it is very important that they know the rules because many techniques that are legal in Muay Thai may or may not be legal in a local Kickboxing fight. For example, leg kicks are often illegal in kickboxing, or if allowed the competitors will often have to wear shin pads. Knees are often not allowed in Kickboxing competition, or if allowed, they may not be legal to the head. Trips may or may not be allowed in competition, and the amount of time fighters are allowed to spend in the clinch can vary. Finally, elbow strikes are very often illegal in Kickboxing events, while they are considered possibly the most lethal weapon in a Muay Thai bout.

Another common style of Kickboxing is the Dutch Style of Muay Thai, which is most notably represented in K-1 events. This style tends to combine the leg kicks, knees, clinching and elbows of Muay Thai, with the hand techniques, footwork and head movement of boxing, and the straight forward punching style and unique angular kicks of Kyokushin Karate. Precision MMA in Poughkeepsie, New York offers classes which cover techniques from both traditional Muay Thai as well as the Dutch Style and the common style of western boxing. Our instructors have been trained in all three styles and also freely exchange information with students who hold high ranks in arts such as Kenpo Karate, Shorin-Ryu Karate, Jeet Kune Do, and Takedwondo, in order to make sure that the kickboxing we offer, as opposed to other schools, is multi-faceted and never rigid. It is particularly important that we do this because some of our instructors and students who have had “kickboxing” fights in nearby Poughkeepsie have had to adapt to unusual rule sets, sometimes even mid-fight. For example, our instructor Karl Nemeth had one fight a few years back where he was told that kicks to the head were legal, and so he began landing them at will. However, it was then deemed that he was starting to do a bit too much damage with them, and the referee suddenly decided to make them illegal mid-fight. Though this kind of thing shouldn’t happen, because Kickboxing as a whole can have so many different rules and amateur fights are often more chaotic than professional ones, things like this do occur with more frequency than some might like to admit. There are both styles which allow and those which prohibit head kicks, and both are known as “kickboxing”, so a school like Precision in Poughkeepsie which is more versatile is likely to find more success in kickboxing matches with varied rules than some other schools. Because of our multi-faceted approach to the sport, coach Karl was able to have success in this fight even despite his head kicks being suddenly prohibited mid-fight, but for some other fighters from more rigid schools this sudden rule change might have led to defeat. Likewise, another one of our students had a recent Poughkeepsie Kickboxing fight where full body throws were legal and he did not become aware of this fact until his opponent utilized them in the fight. This is highly unusual. Some, in fact, many kickboxing fights do not allow trips or takedowns of any kind. Traditional Muay Thai Kickboxing does allow certain foot sweeps as well as takedowns which involve lifting an opponent directly off their feet and delivering them to the mat. However, even Muay Thai does not allow full body throws and slams done from unusual angles or which involve lacing the opponent’s legs. Nevertheless, because Precision MMA in Poughkeepsie also offers classes in Wrestling, Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which most of our kickboxers cross train in, the student in question was quickly able to get his bearings about him and use his knowledge of these arts to defend against the takedowns and win the fight. Once again, it was shown in this example that “kickboxing” as a sport can include any number of different rules, and that the more versatile one’s school is and the more multi-faceted their kickboxing program, the greater chance its students will find success in competition.

One very popular style of kickboxing, which is often the basis for the rule sets of local events, is the American style. This sport came into popularity in the 1970s with fighters such as Chuck Norris, Joe Lewis and Bill “Superfoot” Wallace. The rules generally prohibit leg kicks, knees, elbows, or any sort of trips or takedowns and also disallow lengthy periods of clinching. Basically, the American style is more similar to boxing mixed with Kyokushin Karate than it is to traditional Muay Thai from Thailand. Though Precision in Poughkeepsie does offer traditional Muay Thai techniques which coach Karl Nemeth has learned from none other than world Muay Thai champion Kaensak Sor Ploenjit, we are fully capable of competing under the American rules. This is because we also incorporate so much boxing into our style, which our students learn from experienced boxing coaches, such as Derrick Ohlhoff, who is himself a three times Golden Gloves’ champion. When far fewer kicks are allowed, and knees and elbows are prohibited, then sharp boxing skills are that much more important in attaining victory. Most of our sport kickboxers cross train in boxing so that they can have success in bouts which have American rules, but this is unfortunately not possible for those martial artists at other more rigid schools which do not offer Boxing classes. Our school also has students who hold brown and black belts in styles of Karate like Kenpo and Shorin-Ryu, so if a student knows he is going to be competing under American rules he can cross train with them in order to gain a wider knowledge of upper body kicks in preparation.

Another area of Kickboxing which is very subject to change is the length and number of rounds. In some local kickboxing events the rounds have been known to be as short as one minute or one minute and fifteen seconds. Other times the rounds may be a minute and a half, two minutes, three minutes, or even five minutes. Though most local kickboxing fights these days tend to be three rounds, there are cases where they are only two rounds, and there are also cases where a fight can consist of a total of five or even ten or more rounds. This wide variation in length and number of rounds can make preparation for an upcoming Poughkeepsie Kickboxing fight stressful and chaotic. However, because our instructors and students have competed in fights with so many differing round lengths and numbers of rounds, our students can properly prepare for any scenario. If the rounds are only one minute in length then our instructors will know how to train them, both psychologically and physically, for the short bursts of energy they will need to expend. However, if the rounds are longer, or there are more of them, then our coaches will also know how to prepare our competitors so they will have the necessary cardio and mental endurance to make it through wars of attrition.

As can be seen, “kickboxing”, as both a sport and martial art, has many rule sets and many changing variables. To be prepared for these a martial artist needs a wide array of skills and first hand instruction from trainers who have fought under different scenarios themselves. Whether fighting under Muay Thai rules, Dutch or American Kickboxing rules, or some other variant, students of Precision MMA in Poughkeepsie, New York will be prepared to take home the gold. This is because we train under so many different conditions that if need be, we will simply beat you at your own game.

Dutchess County Boxing

Poughkeepsie Kickboxing

Precision MMA is currently offering a 30-Day FREE trial for new members.  If you’re interested in learning self-defense, getting into shape, and training with the best in the area, then stop in at 1097 Route 55, Lagrangeville, NY or call us at 845-392-8495.  Don’t forget to ask about our free trial and intro lesson!

Jamey Bazes is a lifelong martial artist holding a brown belt in both Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Kenpo Karate.  He also holds a master’s degree from SUNY New Paltz.  He is a student of Precision Mixed Martial Arts in LaGrange, NY (near Poughkeepsie) and a decorated competitor including a Delaware Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu State Championship and a NAGA World Title.  To train with Jamey in Poughkeepsie NY check out Precision MMA http://www.poughkeepsiemuaythai.com

Apr 232013
 

Dutchess County Boxing

Dutchess County Boxing

Dutchess County Boxing

Team Precision Boxing has been steadily making a name for itself across the New York area.  This Dutchess County based boxing gym just produced its first upstate Golden Gloves champion when heavyweight boxer Pat Daka earned the crown after several tournament victories up in Buffalo, NY.

On the local Dutchess County scene fighter John Joy is a familiar face at many of John Carlo’s AKBF fight shows.  Always a crowd favorite, John’s straight ahead style made him the organizations 160 pound champion after several hard fought victories.  Making him one of the most recognized faces in Dutchess County Boxing.

The man behind the curtain for Team Precision Boxing is Derrick Ohlhoff.  Derrick first met Precision owner Brian McLaughlin as their paths crossed at several boxing gyms.  The two became sparring partners as Derrick, a 3-time Golden Gloves Champion himself, was training for the nationals.  Derrick appreciated McLaughlin’s work ethic and agreed to help train his fighters at his Dutchess County gym in LaGrange, NY.  Derrick brings a true wealth of knowledge and experience to Precision, a veteran fighter with more than 30 bouts under his belt Derrick knows the ins and outs of the fight game.  Derrick has also worked with high level Dutchess County professional boxers such as Brian Barbosa and Zuri Lawrence.

Poughkeepsie Boxing

Poughkeepsie Boxing

Originally, Precision was focused solely on MMA competition.  However, as the program grew a dedicated boxing team arose.  Now Team Precision boxing is a known force to be reckoned with on the Dutchess County Boxing circuit.

The Team Precision Boxing style emphasizes strong defense – head movement, slipping, bobbing and weaving, blocking and counter punching make up the core of the curriculum.  Precision boxers don’t always get their hands raised, but they rarely absorb damage.  Hitting without getting hit is the mantra for Precision Boxers.

Precision boxing welcomes boxers from all walks of life.  You don’t have to be the next Mike Tyson to walk through the doors of Precision.  While we’re very proud of our competitors’ achievements, most of our boxers just come in to get in shape and learn self defense in a fun and safe atmosphere.  At Precision we pride ourselves on being the most approachable boxing gym in Dutchess County.  There are no “tough guys” here and we encourage all our students and keep the egos in check.  Whether you want to become the next world champion or just want to sweat off a few pounds, Precision Boxing can get you to your goals.

Right now Precision Boxing is offering an incredible 30 Day FREE Trial for boxers across Dutchess County. To find out more and to schedule your introductory lesson call 845-392-8495 or visit http://www.poughkeepsieboxing.com

Join the best boxing team in Dutchess County!

 

Apr 222013
 
Poughkeepsie Boxing

Hudson Valley Boxing

In the martial arts’ world, it is generally accepted that different styles can work in a number of different environments and under various different rule sets.  Kickboxers have always known that their style is effective in pure kickboxing events like K-1 for example, as well as for street self-defense, but only within the past couple decades have they realized that it is also effective for MMA competition.  Many styles like Kung Fu or Karate may have some effectiveness on the street, but have not found success in the MMA arena. Wrestlers, on the other hand, generally thought up until the early UFCs, that their style was ineffective for actual combat and only worked on the wrestling mat, only to later discover that it is one of the most effective styles for mixed combat. Much like sport wrestling, boxing has not always been viewed as an actual multi-dimensional martial art by its fans.  Some of this is due to its western origins and the misconception amongst non-martial artists that “martial arts” are generally Asian in origin.  The rest probably stems from the fact that most typical boxing fans are not fans of other combat sports.  At Precision MMA in Poughkeepsie, New York, we are fully aware of the multiple usages that boxing has, and our team of trainers is fully equipped to teach students how it applies to multiple different settings.

With the recent growth of Mixed Martial Arts and the Ultimate Fighting Championship, an unfortunate divide has formed between boxing fans and MMA fans.  Many boxing fans ridicule MMA and call it either “unsportsmanlike” or make fun of the grappling aspect because it looks foreign to them.  Others criticize the boxing skills of MMA fighters and point out how easily they would be out struck by the current boxing champions.  However, what many of them fail to realize is not only that boxing is an essential part of MMA, but that the other arts used in MMA, such as Muay Thai Kickboxing, Wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, make one’s boxing more effective in actual combat if used to proper effect.  For example, at Precision MMA in Poughkeepsie, New York, those interested in using their boxing skills for mixed martial arts competition art taught by our wrestling coaches how to keep the fight standing and avoid the takedown so that they can land their combinations.  This would not be possible in an MMA fight, or a street fight for that matter, if they are taken to the ground.  Our Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructors can teach the boxing-oriented mixed martial artist how to utilize their ground skills to get back to their feet again and use their boxing, and our Muay Thai instructors can teach them how to defend against kicks and knees so that they can find openings for their hands.  As such, those elements that look foreign to the typical boxing fan actually make their sport more effective for mixed martial arts, street self-defense, and all around combat.

A boxer who is unfamiliar with other martial arts will find upon walking into Poughkeepsie’s Precision boxing gym that their sport will most easily translate to Muay Thai Kickboxing.  Though Muay Thai does include many elements foreign to boxing, like kicks, knees, elbows, clinching and trips, it also includes all of the punches that are legal in the sweet science.  As such, a boxer crossing over to Muay Thai will immediately have a big advantage when it comes to their punching skills, footwork and head movement.  With the help of our Muay Thai instructors, they can learn to both execute and defend against kicks, knees, elbows and other attacks, and in so doing they will learn to how to create more opportunities to use their fists for better effect.  Because our boxing coaches frequently spar with and trade techniques with our Muay Thai coaches, students in both classes will learn how the two arts can cross over to help each other and any boxing enthusiast who takes our Muay Thai classes should be able to be very effective in the kickboxing ring if that is their goal.

This same cross over between boxing and kickboxing makes boxing techniques more effective not only in the kickboxing arena, but also in Mixed Martial Arts and street self-defense.  In an MMA fight, a boxer who has cross trained in Muay Thai at Precision MMA in Poughkeepsie, New York will be able to check the leg kicks which are so often the downfall of boxers looking to transition to cage fighting.  Because of the difference in stance between boxing and Muay Thai, the boxing stance leaves one very open to leg kicks which can present serious problems.  Many a kickboxer has actually out boxed a superior boxer in an MMA fight by slowing them down with leg kicks, then going high with punches once the boxer has begun to drop his hands.  By combining the two arts, the boxer who cross trains in Muay Thai for MMA will see those kicks coming and block them ahead of time, and maybe even fire back a few of his own before setting up his boxing combinations.  Likewise, he will be able to defend against knees and elbows common to Muay Thai and see the openings to use his jab, cross, hook and uppercut.

For street self-defense, boxing blended with Muay Thai creates the perfect striking style.  When surprised during a violent encounter, a martial artist cannot be one-dimensional and expect that he will need only punches to survive.  The Precision trained boxer will know how to chain his punches together with kicks, knees, elbows and clinch tactics in such a way that will entirely throw off any would be attacker.

On the other hand, the cross over between boxing and wrestling may not be so obvious to someone walking into Precision in Poughkeepsie for the first time.  When it comes to Mixed Martial Arts, wrestling has proven to be quite possibly the best base to have because it enables one to control where the fight takes place.  The better wrestler will be able to get the takedown, and so if he wants the fight to take place on the ground, he can have his way.  Likewise, if the better wrestler wants to keep the fight standing and use his boxing skills to win, his opponent will not be able to take him down to prevent this from happening.  So while wrestling might seem aesthetically unpleasing to many boxing fans, it is quite possibly the number one style they would need to make their boxing work for them in either MMA or for street self-defense.  Precision MMA in Poughkeepsie, New York has excellent wrestling coaches in Ian Lindars and Rich McHale who can show a former boxer how to keep the fight standing where he can put his boxing skills to use in either an MMA fight or a violent attack.  This tactic of defending the takedown and using punches on the feet has often been referred to as “sprawl and brawl” in MMA, and it is every bit as effective on the street if a mugger attempts to tackle one as it is in the ring against a conventional double leg takedown.  Indeed, boxers should be thanking wrestlers, because without the latter style the former rarely works outside of a pure boxing match.

Boxers who come by Poughkeepsie’s Precision will also learn how to use the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to make their boxing more effective in both MMA and street self-defense settings.  Many boxers have commented that they find Jiu-Jitsu “boring”, but what they fail to realize is that if a skilled Jiu-Jitsu practitioner takes them down in an MMA fight, and they have stubbornly refused to cross train in the art, then their boxing will be useless.  All the boxing combinations in the world will not help the boxer when he is on his back mounted by a Jiu-Jitsu black belt, nor will they save him when he is being choked or arm locked.  However, by cross training in BJJ a boxer can learn to escape from inferior Jiu-Jitsu positions, defend against submission holds and work his way back to his feet in an MMA fight so that he can use his hands to gain the victory.  Likewise, though a mugger on the street is unlikely to be a skilled Jiu-Jitsu expert, it is still very possible for someone only skilled in boxing to be taken to the ground in a real-world violent encounter and even if the mugger has never trained in BJJ, he can still hurt the boxer if he is lying prone on his back.  In this scenario, the boxer who has learned Jiu-Jitsu at Precision in Poughkeepsie can use his ground skills to either end the fight there, or regain his footing and use his boxing to end the encounter.

Finally, if a former boxer enters the doors of Poughkeepsie’s Precision with an open mind and decides to take all our classes in BJJ, Wrestling, Judo, MMA and Muay Thai, the world will be his oyster should he decide to partake in an MMA contest, or if a violent predator is unfortunate enough to choose him as an unlikely victim.  The Muay Thai he will learn from coach Karl Nemeth will enable him to defend against leg kicks, knees and elbows, while utilizing his own.  The wrestling he will learn from coaches Ian Lindars and Rich McHale, as well as the Judo taught by Jerry Fokas, will enable him to stuff takedown attempts, keep the fight standing, and knock the opponent out.  Finally, the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu he will learn from coach Brian McLaughlin will enable him to either submit his opponent on the ground, or work back to his feet and unleash a winning combination, and our MMA classes will teach him how to seamlessly combine boxing with these other styles for best effect.  We also are lucky enough to have a boxing coach who has cross-trained in several styles such as Jeet Kune Do and Tae Kwon Do in Jon Russo.  Training with Jon will prepare the former boxer for either MMA or a street self-defense scenario and will get him thinking outside of the box.  And finally, if the student is interested in working more on his boxing skills he can take classes with three-time Golden Gloves’ champion Derrick Ohlhoff.    The end result for the boxer who cross-trains at Poughkeepsie’s Precision MMA is that he will truly see for the first time how effective boxing can be in multiple different environments.  When combined harmoniously with the other styles we offer, the sweet science becomes more than a one-dimensional combat sport, it becomes a lethal mixed martial art.

MMA in Poughkeepsie

Poughkeepsie Martial Arts

Want to start boxing at Precision Mixed Martial Arts?  Give us a call at 845-392-8495 or stop in at 1097 Route 55, Lagrangeville, NY 12540.  Precision MMA is currently offering a 30-day FREE trial to new members!

Jamey Bazes is a lifelong martial artist holding a brown belt in both Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Kenpo Karate.  He also holds a master’s degree from SUNY New Paltz.  He is a student of Precision Mixed Martial Arts in LaGrange, NY (near Poughkeepsie) and a decorated competitor including a Delaware Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu State Championship and a NAGA World Title.  To train with Jamey in Poughkeepsie NY check out Precision MMA http://www.poughkeepsieboxing.com

Apr 222013
 
Poughkeepsie Boxing

Poughkeepsie Boxing

The sport of boxing has been helping people from all different walks of life better themselves for centuries. However, quality Poughkeepsie boxing has been hard to come by.  Precision MMA in LaGrange, NY (just outside Poughkeepsie) is changing that.  There are many different motivations that drive people to put on a pair of gloves and step into a boxing gym.  A quality boxing gym will work with all boxers, not simply fighters or potential superstars.

Precision MMA offers a safe, clean and supportive environment for boxers across Dutchess County to learn the sweet science.  The first thing that sets Precision MMA apart from many traditional boxing gyms are the group classes.  Many boxing gyms offer only one on one training working with only a single boxer and a single trainer. However, being able to learn in a group builds in a support system of boxers working together to achieve similar goals.  Boxers build camaraderie and friendships making trips to the boxing gym about more than just punches.

Precision’s Poughkeepsie boxing program also offers many different types of classes all of which cater to different boxers.  New boxers are brought into fundamental classes.  At these training sessions boxers work on the essentials of footwork, punching technique, head movement, stance and combinations.  Partner drills, pad work and coordination exercises make up the core of the program.  New Poughkeepsie boxers are not made to spar and no one leaves these classes with black eyes or a bloody nose.

Circuit training classes challenge Poughkeepsie boxers with different sports specific exercises focusing mainly on cardio and strength building.  Boxers become familiar with the heavy bags, jump ropes, double end and maze bags which are part of Precision MMA’s amazing 5,000 square foot facility.  Shadow boxing and calisthenics are also staples of these classes.  Boxers of all experience levels from novice to professional build their fight fitness in these incredible classes.  Others use these classes to lose weight and relieve stress.  Precision boxing is full of success stories from boxers across Poughkeepsie who have lost weight and kept it off.

For those interested in learning boxing for self defense sparring classes exist that simulate street fight scenarios.  Here boxers learn how to stop attackers using combinations and defensive tactics.  Everyday people come to these classes to learn the skills that will keep them safe walking home late at night.

Finally, for boxers who dream of stepping into the ring Precision has competition classes with the goal of creating champions.  Boxers work one on one with coaches doing intense pad sessions and hard sparring with boxers from all levels – amateur to professional.  The Precision boxing team has produced some of Dutchess County’s most accomplished boxers, home of multiple golden gloves champions. Precision emphasizes skill over power and makes sure that its boxers are smart and slick rather than glorified brawlers.

If you’re a Poughkeepsie resident who loves the sport of boxing or if you’re just looking to get in shape and have fun doing it check out Precision MMA in LaGrange, NY.  Right now Precision is offering an incredible 30 Day Free trial where interested students can check out their facility to find out more call 845-392-8495 or visit http://www.poughkeepsieboxing.com

Apr 152013
 
Precision MMA

Precision MMA

In the growing world of combat sports and mixed martial arts, not all boxing gyms are created equal.  To a large extent, there are two main audiences for a modern day boxing gym, and schools often tend to fall too far to one of the opposite extremes.  On the one hand, you have the growing trend of boxercise and cardio boxing gyms, which focus on getting people in shape through traditional boxing workouts.  These mainly cater to men, women and children who are not overly serious about competitive boxing or self -defense, but who simply want a friendly environment in which to train.  While they do tend to be more inviting than your more serious inner city gyms, what they lack is the hard sparring and practical focus, which create tough minded and able-bodied competitive boxers.   On the other hand, there are the more traditional boxing gyms which, though at their best are capable of producing skilled competitive boxers, often drive the more casual trainees away with their overly strict “urban discipline” and “tough love” mentality.  Precision Mixed Martial Arts, located in Lagrange, New York, near the town of Poughkeepsie in the Hudson Valley area, offers the perfect harmony of both aspects, providing both a friendly environment as well as a disciplined and practical approach to sport fighting and street self-defense.

Boxing is a more than two centuries’ old art, and so in some senses the sport itself, including it’s trainers, trainees and gyms, has become quite set in it’s ways.  Anyone who has watched the movie Rocky with Sylvester Stallone has seen the image of the traditional inner city boxing gym.  While in many cases film does not reflect reality, in this case the environment portrayed is often not far from the truth.  Boxing is a tough sport, and so many gyms are located in equally rough neighborhoods and frequented by fighters and trainees who are not interested in providing an inviting environment.  In fact, many of these gyms often “haze” the newcomers, throwing them in the ring with more experienced boxers to see if they have the toughness to take the hits and come back for a second training session.  While in some cases this might bring in a couple disciplined new boxers, more often than not it tends to drive away the casuals, or even those who are not so casual in their training but simply don’t want to deal with a “thug” mentality while training.  If the prospective student does stick around, he may still be pushed to the side and ignored by the head trainers in favor of the boxers who have been there longer and may be considered to be a “second rate” trainee, and he will have a harder time improving because of less focus given to him by the coaches.  The fact that many of these gyms are located in poor or violent neighborhoods further isolates many prospective students who feel threatened even going into the area itself to try out a boxing class.  Precision Mixed Martial Arts in the Hudson Valley offers serious training for those interested in competing or acquiring skills for street self-defense, yet it is located in an upscale area and has a welcoming environment, and so it does not isolate those serious aspiring boxers who are turned off by the traditional “boxing-gym atmosphere”.  When a new student takes his or her first class at our gym, they will not immediately be made to feel as if they must “prove their toughness” against experienced boxers.  Nor will they be made to feel as if the trainers have less time to devote to them than the more senior students.  One-on- one coaching is always provided to students of all levels and our coaches are always friendly and supportive.  Students will also not be pressured to fight competitively, something which is often done at traditional gyms, though if this is their focus we certainly provide the training necessary to accommodate that goal.  Our head boxing instructor, Derrick Ohlhoff, is himself a three-times Golden Gloves’ boxing champion with an impressive amateur record who is patient with all students and has a very good-natured attitude.  Our other coaches, Jon Russo and Jon Joy, both have many years of experience in the local Hudson Valley boxing circuits and have tested their skills many times in the ring, and are equally affable and approachable.  Precision Mixed Martial Arts welcomes those students who might be made to feel “second-rate” at a traditional gym.  In fact, the loss of the “conventional” gyms becomes our gain as we often end up producing great competitors out of those who started off as casual students simply attracted by the open-minded and sportive environment of our school.

The other type of boxing gym which has become very popular these days is the “boxercise” gym, or “cardio boxing” gym where boxing-oriented workouts are provided with the intention of getting students into shape by utilizing boxing style workouts.  While these programs do often get trainees into great shape physically, they do not teach students how to fight competitively or to defend themselves.  This is the case both because sparring is not heavily stressed, or even offered at all, and because proper boxing technique is often not emphasized because it is not nearly so important.  When preparing for an encounter in the ring, or a self-defense scenario, proper technique is paramount because without it one cannot achieve the maximum amount of power in their punches.  However, having flawless technique is not necessary when one is only hitting a heavy bag or some mitts with no intention of getting in the ring or needing those skills for self-defense, because they will still be burning calories regardless.  The sorts of cardio boxing gyms that are often offered at one’s local gym or exercise facility take advantage of the fact that their students do not realize they are being offered an inferior product.  They realize that most students looking to get in shape will not realize the difference between a properly executed punch and a sloppy one, and so they often employ instructors who lack any real credentials to teach boxing.  While Precision Mixed Martial Arts in the Hudson Valley does offer boxing circuit training classes, as well as beginner and advanced boxing classes which can get students in excellent shape, we do not sacrifice proper technical instruction.  While students are burning fat and gaining muscle and cardio vascular endurance they will also be learning how to get full power behind their punches and how to utilize proper footwork and head movement.

Furthermore, the fashionable boxercise gyms which have been popping up left and right do not usually provide sparring classes, and without sparring a student can never learn to box competitively or defend themselves against an attack.  Precision Mixed Martial Arts in the Hudson Valley has several sparring classes a week, open to the more advanced students, so that they can learn to put their skills to the test if need be.  Our sixteen by sixteen foot ring is perfect for training our students for upcoming fights in the Hudson Valley region, and we have a very successful competition record amongst our students.  In fact, despite the fact that we do not have the “traditional boxing gym atmosphere”, one of our students is none other than Professional HW boxer Zuri Lawrence, who was at one point ranked as high as #12 world wide, and was a former sparring partner for Evander Holyfield.  Clearly, the attitude displayed by many urban gyms has not been necessary for Precision to attract big names, and we continue to rack up the local victories as our name spreads throughout the Hudson Valley.

Moreover, because Precision MMA is a true Mixed Martial Arts gym and not only a boxing gym, we have been able to break out of the mold that many traditional gyms have become slave to.  Not only have students used our boxing program to acquire skills for boxing competition, they have also used these skills to successfully win Amateur Kickboxing and Muay Thai fights, as well both Amateur and Pro Mixed Martial Arts fights.  Our boxing program is also more self-defense oriented than your average gym and one of our instructors Jon Russo is also quite skilled at Jeet Kune Do and is adept at explaining how boxing can also be used for self-defense as well as competition.  All these aspects of boxing are overlooked by the traditional inner city gyms which rigidly stick to their formula and drive away anyone interested in learning to box for any reason other than to compete in a pure boxing match.

To conclude, anyone interested in learning to box for any reason, be it self- defense, sport competition in boxing, kickboxing or MMA, or even simply for fitness, can benefit from the boxing programs offered by Precision Mixed Martial Arts in the Hudson Valley.  Because we are located in a nice area and provide approachable instructors we are highly sought after by those who want to learn to box without having to deal with the intimidation factor which so many gyms unfortunately foster.  At the same time we avoid following the common path of the “aerobic boxing gyms” which only churn out physically fit students who have no idea how to use their skills in a practical situation.  Come check out Precision MMA’s boxing program for 30 free days and see if it is right for you.

MMA in Poughkeepsie

Poughkeepsie Martial Arts

Precision MMA is the choice of UFC fighters, golden gloves champions and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu medalists – a true mixed martial arts gym that combines diversity with specialization.  Check them out for 30 days FREE call 845-392-8495 or visit http://www.poughkeepsiemixedmartialarts.com

Jamey Bazes is a lifelong martial artist holding a brown belt in both Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Kenpo Karate.  He also holds a master’s degree from SUNY New Paltz.  He is a student of Precision Mixed Martial Arts in LaGrange, NY (near Poughkeepsie) and a decorated competitor including a Delaware Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu State Championship and a NAGA World Title.  To train with Jamey in Poughkeepsie NY check out Precision MMA http://www.poughkeepsiemixedmartialarts.com

 

Feb 182013
 
hudson valley boxing

hudson valley boxing

What was a Hudson Valley boxer doing in Buffalo over the weekend?  Well, Pat Daka was competing in the second round of the Upstate New York Golden Gloves.  What you may not know is that Pat Daka is still just a teenager.  Prom, graduation, and other high school rites of passage are still fresh in his mind.  But this young pugilist enters the ring, just the same, ready to face down fully grown men who want to take his head off.

Hudson Valley boxing’s Pat has shown that he does not scare easily.  In the first round of the Golden Gloves, he faced an enormous 300-pound superheavyweight.  Many counted out Precision boxing’s entrant, but Pat had other plans.  Showing ring generalship generally only  seen in hardened veterans, Pat worked with quick flurries and strong power shots in route to a dominant victory.  Those who doubted him before knew he was business.  He did not drive all the way from the Hudson Valley to box and leave empty handed.

After he earned his victory, Pat immediately got back into training with Hudson Valley boxing coach Derrick Ohlhoff.  Even though he won in dominant fashion, Pat was still focused on improving as a boxer and working on his weaknesses.  In addition, he even took the initiative to step outside of his comfort zone and spar the top dogs at other Hudson Valley boxing gyms.  Pat even stepped into the ring with Zuri Lawrence, a veteran of over 40 professional fights.  While there were small hiccups and moments of doubt, Pat stayed on course and focused on his goal: to become a Golden Gloves champion.

When February 16th finally arrived, Team Precision Boxer Pat Daka was ready to show what he was made of.  While other fights were filled with self-doubt and anxiety, Pat was overflowing with confidence and eager anticipation.  Coach Derrick gave his last minute instructions and they made their way to the ring to take on another mountain of a man.  It wasn’t the man’s size that bothered Pat, though.  He was facing a south paw.

South paws are rare and pose a unique challenge for orthodox or right handed Hudson Valley boxers.  When facing a south paw, everything is backwards.  Boxers have to circle to their left and lead with their right despite countless rounds of doing the exact opposite.  They often step on each other’s feet in an awkward attempt to gauge distance, where the opponent feels simultaneously too close and too far at the same time.  While southpaws face similar challenges, they have one thing on their side – experience.  They know what it feels like because most boxers are right-handed – 9 out of 10, to be exact. Meaning southpaws hone their strategy for righties while orthodox fighters might even have a lefty in their gym to work with.

Pat knew that there was no turning back after the bell sounded for the start of the context, so the Hudson Valley boxer sat back and bided his time, trying to win the battle.  Then Pat saw that his lead foot was outside his opponent’s, and he knew he was in line for a straight right hand.  Pat fired right down the pipe and snapped the man’s head back like a Pez dispenser.  His opponent retreated for a moment to collect himself, but Pat never gave him a chance to.  He adjusted to his southpaw jitters and maintained constant pressure.

Showing the mindset of a champion, Pat informed his coach that since he took very little damage, he would be ready to fight again on Saturday at another local boxing show near Poughkeepsie.  With three victories under his belt, the future looks bright for Pat Daka and the rest of Team Precision Boxing.  Keep your eye out for this young heavyweight with the thunderous right hand.

Precision MMA is now offering a 30 Day Free Trial for Poughkeepsie boxers of all levels to find out more call 845-392-8495 or visit http://www.poughkeepsieboxing.com

Precision Mixed Martial Arts
1097 Route 55, Lagrangeville, NY 12540
845-392-8495

Feb 152013
 

Precision MMA is offering 30 Day FREE Trial of Boxing Classes for all Poughkeepsie residents.  Call 845-392-8495 or visit http://www.poughkeepsieboxing.com to get started

 

Poughkeepsie Boxing

Poughkeepsie Boxing

Most Poughkeepsie boxers are aware that the sweet science is not a new pass time. With it’s 18th century arrival in Europe and  it’s various incarnations under Broughton Rules, London Prize Ring Rules, and finally the current Marquess of Queensberry Rules, boxing has been practiced for sport, fitness and self defense.What is fairly new, however, is it’s rapid growth in the Hudson Valley area of Poughkeepsie New York and it’s incorporation into the syllabus of Precision MMA in Poughkeepsie. Precision’s boxing program boasts instructors and training partners with extensive resumes in the sport.

Our head boxing instructor, Derrick Ohlhoff, is a 3 times Golden Gloves boxing champion with an extensive winning record in amateur boxing competition who also has many years experience in coaching.  He is arguably the most knowledgeable Poughkeepsie boxing trainer in the entire Hudson Valley.  As such, his attention to detail is excellent, and anyone who takes his classes, from beginners to advanced students, will have much to learn from him. Likewise, our instructor Jon Russo has had several wins inside the boxing ring and has over twenty years of experience in the sport. Having trained in a wide variety of Martial Arts in addition to his boxing training, Jon’s approach to boxing is slightly different and is excellent not only for the ring, but also for street self defense. Jon is also a creative Poughkeepsie boxing instructor who is good at providing an atmosphere that is fun for students of all ages and he is excellent at coming up with entertaining new training exercises. John Joy is another Precision MMA boxing coach who has an impressive amateur record and has held the local AKBF Boxing title at 160lbs. Joy is also adept at teaching Poughkeepsie boxing students of all experience levels, but has a particular knack for explaining the fundamentals to beginners. There is no point in one’s boxing training where emphasis upon proper footwork, head movement and body mechanics is more important than during the beginning stages, and John instills this in everyone from day one.

We are also extremely privileged to have training with us the premier professional Heavyweight boxer in the Hudson Valley in Zuri Lawrence. Zuri was at one point ranked as high as #12 in the world at Heavyweight and was so known for his skills that he was personally sought after and used as a training partner by none other than former World Heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield. Soft spoken and affable, Zuri is excellent at explaining boxing’s finer points to beginners, intermediate, and advanced students.

“Precision MMA is a great place with great teachers. If you want to box come to Precision, it’s a nice spot in a good area with good coaches” – Zuri Lawrence

Poughkeepsie Boxing

Zuri Lawrence Professional Poughkeepsie Boxer

With such a wealth of experience in our instructors, our training environment reflects. We have a unique atmosphere at Precision which attracts all sorts of people since we are not a traditional boxing gym, we are a Mixed Martial Arts studio which offers a wealth of boxing classes and we reap the benefits of this setting. Those who come to our other classes without much interest in boxing may acquire a taste for it at a later point, especially when they see our brand new eighteen by eighteen foot ring. It might seem odd to those in the Poughkeepsie boxing world, but there are quite a few Mixed Martial Arts studios which offer boxing classes as an aside, but do not have an actual boxing ring in their facility. This works to their detriment if students are interested in stepping in the ring. However, at Precision those interested in competitive boxing can train in the proper environment. Students at Precision in MMA in Poughkeepsie New York often have different motivations for training. Some are simply there to enjoy themselves, which is easy to do since our instructors are easy going and open-minded. Generally, if one were to walk into the average Poughkeepsie boxing gym for no reason other than to find a new pass time a serious boxing coach might not give them as much attention as those preparing for in the ring combat. However, at Precision our instructors will take just as much time to teach boxing’s nuances to those there to have a good time as to the serious competitors. Some students are there for fitness, and with our program’s extensive focus on cardio and strength training this need is sure to be met. And finally, if one is interested in stepping into the ring then Precision’s program will prepare them better than any other in the Poughkeepsie or Hudson Valley region. We have had countless students use the boxing they learned at Precision to win amateur and Golden Gloves matches and we have also had students adapt those skills to win kickboxing, muay thai, amateur and professional Mixed Martial Arts fights.

Poughkeepsie Boxing
Above all else, safety is stressed in Precision’s boxing program and this is why it is so effective for students of all experience levels. Precision has the best safety record of any Poughkeepsie boxing gym in the Hudson Valley. Sparring is only allowed once a student has been attending classes and focusing on the basics for a significant period of time and before they take part our instructors make sure that they are capable of controlling their punching power so they do not present a risk to others. Once a student is permitted to spar, they must wear the proper safety gear at all times, including hand wraps, gloves, headgear, cup and mouthpiece. During sparring sessions the instructor’s watchful eye is on the students at all times to make sure that the proper rules are being obeyed and the proper precautions taken. The instructors place great emphasis on matching together partners of equal skill level. Beginners will not be placed with advanced students in heavy sparring scenarios. Nor will two beginners be paired off if it appears to the staff that their sessions may escalate into brawling. Great thought and care is put into matching up appropriate sparring partners to ensure the best possible results and to reduce any risks for injury.


To conclude, Precision MMA’s Poughkeepsie boxing program leaves no student behind. The privilege of learning to box in a true Mixed Martial Arts school rather than a one dimensional boxing club gives our school a different angle from most, and we have seen the success for ourselves in the enjoyment of our students, as well as in the titles and trophies they have won through their hard work. Whether you are just starting out or have been boxing for years, whether your goal is fitness, self-defense or competition, Precision’s boxing program will adapt to meet your needs as an individual.

Now you can try Boxing in Poughkeepsie, NY FREE for 30 Days call 845-392-8495 or visit http://www.poughkeepsieboxing.com to get started

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