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

Oct 192018
 

Anybody who’s been following MMA for the past couple of weeks will likely be discussing the aftermath of the long awaited bout between “The Notorious” Conor McGregor and Khabib “The Eagle” Nurmagomedov. This bitter rivalry hit a new boiling point after Khabib, a UFC world champion,  hurled himself over the cage and lunged at McGregor’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach Dillon Dannis. Dannis, a grappling phenom and Bellator MMA star answered with a quick flurry of punches towards Khabib before the two were separated by security.dillon and brian

Dillon Dannis and Precision Head Coach Brian McLaughlin

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Khabib “The Eagle” Nurmagomedov and Dillon Dannis

A fact that most people are unaware of, is that at one point Dillon, Khabib and Precision head coach Brian McLaughlin all trained together under the same roof at AMA Fight Club in Whippany, NJ. At the time, Khabib was preparing for his UFC debut and Dillon was an up and coming prospect; a teen just getting started at Pro Practices. Coach Brian was instructing at AMA as well as sparring with pros himself. Back then, Dillon was quiet and kept a low profile but would show flashes of the brashness that has become his calling card. Khabib was all business from day one. He would come in with his small army of Russians and each of his training partners would pray that they’d make it out of practice with all of the limbs they came in with.

In the days of AMA Fight Club, Dillon and Khabib were always cordial, but life took them in different directions. Khabib relocated to San Jose, California and Dillon became a prodigy under Marcelo Garcia and eventually caught the eye of Conor McGregor; the biggest star that the sport has ever seen. Although the world sees them as bitter rivals at each other’s throat, the memory remains of them being two hard working martial artists sharing the mat in the quest toward greatness.

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Head Coach of Precision Boxing and MMA Brian McLaughlin poses with Dillon for a group photo after training.

If you live in the Hudson Valley area and want to make your MMA dream a reality, learn how to defend yourself and get into the best shape of your life, give us a call at: 845-392-8495. Come check out Precision Boxing and MMA, the Hudson Valley’s premier mixed martial arts academy precisionmixedmartialarts.com

Sep 152018
 


Women are no strangers to violence. It’s not rare that we hear of women being victimized in modern society. The statistics of women experiencing sexual or physical violence are scary and a true realization that women aren’t being encouraged to be properly taught how to defend themselves in  assault situations. While abuse may happen to anyone, women are by far the more frequent victims. This is the optimal reason why instead of participating in spin class to get better at riding a bicycle women should view learning how to protect themselves as a priority. Women shouldn’t rely solely on male figures, groups or weapons to defend themselves, they should be mentally and physically prepared to defend against attackers if need be at any moment. Men are often viewed as stronger and bigger, which may often be the case in most confrontations, but knowing how to use your opponent’s mechanics against them is key to surviving and protecting yourself in any situation. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu or BJJ is a martial art that teaches smaller individuals how to use bigger opponent’s height, weight and movement to their advantage. This sport enables women to fight off attackers of any size and allows them to build confidence, an essential key to gaining advantage in violent engagements. Women don’t have to feel helpless in attacks or fall victim to physical and sexual abuse, with the proper instruction and environment, women can be given the tools to defend themselves. At Precision Boxing and MMA, we offer various disciplines that teach self-defense, satisfying multiple ambitions of our practitioners. Our BJJ classes are taught by  knowledgeable instructors of the sport in an accepting, controlled environment. BJJ teaches individuals how to be comfortable in uncomfortable situations by empowering students with knowledge and various techniques to safely defuse any situation. If you’re interested in learning a sport that’ll teach you self-defense and promote confidence Call 845.392.8495 or visit http://www.precisionmixedmartialarts.com

Aug 172018
 

It’s not uncommon to experience anxiety before joining a sport. Feeling uneasy about partaking in any new activity rattles many nerves, as one is usually unsure of what to expect. A common fear of a newcomer is that they will feel unwelcome and think they aren’t good enough. These irrational fears are unfortunately what hinder many potential practitioners of ever stepping foot on the mat to train MMA or Boxing. Our students at Precision Boxing & MMA have shared their stories of being nervous about participating in class for the first time, but after walking through our doors and stepping on the mat, everything else fell in line and they keep coming back for more practice. We offer a welcoming atmosphere here and our instructors are very attentive to all of our students. Anxiety is an innate response to new experiences that can be overcome or controlled. Many of the advanced practitioners of the sport still have pre-fight nerves before fighting their opponents. However, their anxiety is controlled or eliminated by self-confidence. They cannot predict the initial result of the fight, but they are confident in themselves to accept whatever may happen and therefore have the ability to calm their nerves. Setting aside personal reservations and irrational anxieties is the key to being open to new experiences and start training. Check out what long time Precision student Jason Harley has to say about initially overcoming his anxiety to train and how joining has improved his life tremendously!

Live in Poughkeepsie, New York and interested in training Martial Arts and Boxing  in the Hudson valley, but nervous about getting started? Visit http://precisionmixedmartialarts.com/ or call 845-392-8495 so we can get you started today!

Aug 132018
 

Martial arts acts as a weapon to tackle our fears in controlled environments and serves as an effective method to gain confidence and comfort in any event. Training martial arts allows a practitioner to experience and combat the fear, anxiety and nerves that cripple the average person. Although this skill is essential for all individuals, the group that can undoubtedly benefit the most are children.

Last week at Precision Boxing and MMA, it was Jada’s first day training in the kid’s BJJ program. It was her first time learning a discipline in Mixed Martial Arts, so naturally she was experiencing some anxiety. Jada had some concerns regarding getting comfortable in the lesson and had some of the other concerns that are typically experienced when participating in a new activity. Being made to feel comfortable in uncomfortable situations is top priority at Precision Boxing & MMA to ensure all of our student’s experiences are great and memorable.

Jada was visibly upset when she came up to front desk to grab her attendance card, there she was approached by the supporting staff of Precision who immediately began trying to calm her with words of comfort. “We promise you’ll love it”, they encouraged. Jada was still feeling uneasy about starting her first class before she changed into her Gi. Coach Brian McLaughlin gently put the rest of her concerns to ease by sharing his story of experiencing anxiety before attending his first Brazilian Ju-Jitsu class. Jada’s mood began to lighten up as Coach Brian shared his experience and explained that he would ease into her training by allowing her to help co-teach the other students that day.

Brain introduced her to the other students in the class and explained that she would be assisting him teach. During the class, Brian paid particularly close attention to her throughout the lesson to ensure that she was comfortable and properly engaged. By the end of the class, Jada had participated, despite expressing that she was too nervous to join in the class, and enjoyed herself a great deal. Jada wasn’t the same intimated girl who was too afraid to step onto the mat to start her training anymore. Instead, she was now smiling and ready to take on any challenge or new experience that was thrown her way! Jada was confident and happy with the end result of the class.  When questioned if she was excited to attend the next program, her response was “yes!”.

Jada’s story isn’t uncommon. Many students are nervous about attending their first mixed martial arts class and share some of the same concerns. The age group that mostly suffers from a series of doubts in confidence or new experiences are children. Mixed Martial Arts at Precision Boxing and MMA offers the recipe to overcome these concerns with consistent training.

Unfortunately, these anxieties act as hindrances for individuals, of all age groups, and prevents them from fulfilling their dreams of taking up MMA. If you live in the Hudson Valley and have a child that’s interested in learning Mixed Martial Arts, but has some anxiety about getting started, visit Precision Boxing and MMA in Poughkeepsie, NY or call 845-392-8495 so we can help them feel comfortable and start training today!

 

MMA in Poughkeepsie, NY

MMA in Poughkeepsie, NY

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