St. Louis MMA Club - Member Testimonial #1

" My experiences with the gym have been outstanding. I came from zero fight experience...that is no boxing, no real fights, no bjj, not even a little basic high school wrestling....to having an all around game that i can feel comfortable with given the time, energy, and work ive put in. 6-9 hours a week isn't to much time to put in to absolutely see results in a month in my stand-up, clinch, and ground game. Considering I was a highschool student last year and juggling MMA, school, and a job I was impressed with the skills I had developed. I have trained with some elite guys since going to college who train for 20-30 hours a week with professionals like rich franklin and they are also impressed with my overall knowledge and skills considering the short time ive trained.

As for atmosphere, that is definitely the gym's number one quality when it comes to beginners. If you are interested but a little scared of what someone might think of you because you are "unathletic", never been in a fight, or simply intimidated by entering a new place full of guys who have been training a while, then throw all those ideas out the window and come see the feeling you get when you enter and leave the gym for the first time. It is definitely a unique experience and you will be training like one of the regulars in no time...but your skill level, like any other new skill or task, will only increase with as much effort you are willing to put in.

As for equipment, we train with boxing gloves, a cup, mouth gaurd, thai pads, and a punching bag. For a person interested in MMA those are the necessities for beginners. Luckily, we have gloves and pads provided for new people so that they can train a few times and not spend a bunch of money on gear if it turns out they really don't enjoy the sport or being hit in the face...but i've come to love it. What other equipment is really needed for a gym that's just starting to make itself known?... and not to mention the gym has barely been operating for a year and we are currently SPONSORED by American Standup and Cytosport...not bad for a gym that "plays" MMA right?

Keep in mind. Stl training circle represents what it claims and does not act like it is something it is not. No, there is not a BJJ black belt...which is why it does not cost $250 a month. The guy who runs the gym also does not claim to know things when he really does not. Its all about learning things at your own pace and learning how to create a flow and devlop your own style of fighting that you have to find and develop for yourself...I have learned that there is some things that cannot be taught about fighting but instead must be learned through the playfullness of one's own mind. When you achieve this, you will feel it. You will be able to get a ton of positive thoughts, skills, and ideas out of every part of the work out from beginning to end. Why go into a gym and not learn anything until you can prove yourself to the instructor? Why go into a gym and leave with your face beat in because some hard ass had a rough day at work or at home? At this gym these things don't exist. You forget about the frustrations of the day and sink them into being a productive fighter. It's therepeutic.

We train together, learn together, teach together, and get better together. Every one wants every one to get better...and every body wants the other members to be better than them and reach their max potential. Fighting can't be taught in a single month, year, or even in the case of my best friend 8 years. Beginners can't expect to be cage fighters without putting the time and energy in. "

Online review of our club from member Nolan Lovan