Jan 302019
 

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

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

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 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 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

khabibden

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.

dannis2

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 252018
 

Approaching older age may bring many senior health problems and challenges that can have a negative impact on an individual’s daily activities. Being aware of these issues and how you can take the necessary steps to prevent them will result in a long well-balanced, healthy lifestyle. Being both physically active and eating a healthy diet is key to staying in shape and managing risks that present themselves in senior years. Developing osteoporosis and diabetes are two of the most common risks in older age caused by inactivity that can lead to severe pain and a lower quality of life. Regular exercise can prevent these health issues by encouraging movement and improving stiff joints. Strength and flexibility training are vital to maintaining the proper functionality of joints to reduce or prevent pain. Picking a new sport at an older age may seem intimating, especially if health issues are already present. It’s important to understand that most health issues can be prevented or managed with exercise. Older individuals usually express concerns that they’re too old to partake in a new sport or fitness gym. However, this is not true. Joining a fitness gym or new sport is not limited to a specific age group. In fact, it promotes a healthy life by exercise, expands social circles and acts as a stress reliever. Training boxing or MMA increases flexibility, endurance, strength and most importantly the quality of one’s health. At Precision Boxing & MMA in Poughkeepsie, New York we offer training in various disciplines for all age groups in a fun, friendly controlled environment. Our students come from all walks of life and range from many different age groups. Our older students have found success in many different aspects of their lives, from improving their health by losing weight to developing a new skill that enables them to effectively defend themselves. Check out what our older Hudson Valley student Frank Soto says about why he trains in older age and why he chose to train at Precision Boxing & MMA.

If you’re an older individual living in the Hudson Valley and looking to improve or maintain good health by learning a new skill or picking up a sport such as boxing or MMA, visit precisionmixedmartialarts.com or call 845-392-8495 so we can help you get started today!

Aug 202018
 

Lack of physical and mental exercise can result in weight gain, fatigue, and poor motivation. An inactive lifestyle will diminish your ability to succeed in even the smallest of tasks and is detrimental to your overall health. Physical inactivity is the leading factor in weight gain and can contribute to depression and anxiety. The less daily exercise performed by individuals puts them at high risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, two of the leading causes of preventable deaths in America. Adapting an active lifestyle by picking up a sport is one of the easiest methods to kick bad habits, promote weight loss, cure depression and encourage a healthy lifestyle. Training martial arts and boxing is a great way to combat a sedentary lifestyle, as it provides all of the necessary tools to reinforce a happy way of life while whipping you into shape! At Precision Boxing and MMA, we offer a variety of disciplines so that we can accommodate everyone comfortably and help them achieve their fitness and health goals whiling having fun. From looking to lose weight to wanting to train to compete in competitions, we offer it all. Training martial arts acts as a stress reliever and promotes weight lost in practitioners. Martial arts delivers an exciting experience in a ‘no-ego’ environment while shredding the pounds. Check out what Hudson Valley student Rick Leonardi has to share about training MMA to promote weight loss and why he loves training at Precision Boxing & MMA!

Live in Poughkeepsie, New York and looking to lose weight while having fun and learning a new sport? Visit precisionmixedmartialarts.com or call 845-392-8495 so we can help you get started today!

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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