Muay Thai Gyms in Illinois??????

[Chris67]

Looking for a gym that teaches Traditional Muay Thai in the Schaumberg Illinois area??????? Really want to learn

[radicus]

I found this website and it has a list of schools in IL.

http://www.thaiboxing.com/tba-schools.php

This is the one for Schaumburg,

Schaumburg, IL Chief Instructor:
Tim Tokarz
(773) 736-6027 E-mail:
timtokarz@hotmail.com


Let me know how it goes.

[Python]

Tim Tokarz is a very good Muay Thai practitioner and instructor. He is an instructor under Ajarn Chai sirisute within the T.B.A. If you reach him, I believe you will be very happy with the training.

Good luck with it.

[GeorgeK]

Hey, Chris67. Let me know what response you got from Tim. The link above has some old info. I beleive Tim was a trainer for Absolute MA and Fitness but it was located in Hoffman Estates (Barrington Square Mall) up untill a few months ago. They also taught BJJ and JKD. I checked out that school while they were still there - seemed like a good school. I come there a few months later - and it's gone. I heard some rich dude hired the owner to personally train him and he closed the school. I may be wrong. I was wondering where they all train now. Anyway, are you only looking to train in MT or is MMA of interest to you? I am also from the area (Arlington Heights) and am looking for a good place to train. (but I will go with either MT, boxing or MMA) Here is what I have found so far:

Pug's boxing Gym - Palatine
Shidokan Karate (it includes MT) - Arlington Heights
Hackney's Combat Academy (it includes MT) - Roselle
Straight Blast Gym (their stand-up is boxing and MT) - Elgin
Mandirigma Martial Arts (MT and Kali) - Hanover Park
Champion Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ and MT) - multiple locations, one of them used to be in Shaumburg inside Lifetime Fitness on Higgins Rd.
Z's Martial Arts - Buffalo Grove

Look these up and let me know if you need any specifics. From the above mentioned, I visited Hackney's - good place(some guys who compete at the local fighting circuit train there), Shidokan - good place but training includes kata, belt promotions, etc. which I don't like, and Straight Blast Gym - my favorite(just look them up at Straightblastgym.com)

Let me know how your search goes. I will be starting training again within a month. Most likely it will be Straight Blast Gym despite the 20 mile drive. Good luck!

[radicus]

Shidokan Karate (it includes MT) - Arlington Heights
I went to check this one out, it looked like it was more for kids than adults.

Straight Blast Gym (their stand-up is boxing and MT) - Elgin
I liked this place, too bad they are so far away.

Champion Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ and MT) - multiple locations, one of them used to be in
Way over price - becareful when signing a contract.

[GeorgeK]

Radicus,

I actually saw some guys from Shidokan as well as guys from Hackney's compete in amateur MT in Shaumburg last year. Both teams did all right. The Shidokan guys were adults all right. I later went to the school and talked to the instructor but didn't see them in practice. Well, the instructor/owner is Japanese and I think those guys tend to be way too traditional (I don't mean to offend anyone) and I don't like that (the bowing, the practice of kata, the belt tests - all this resembles a cult to me).

You're right about Champion Jiu-Jitsu. Their prices are way too high. I had my first taste of BJJ there but just coudn't afford it at the time.

I also went to check out the SBG and liked the place the most. The people including the instructor are really cool and laid back. No belts, no kata, no nonsense like that. Just straight up athletic training! The instructor will grapple and kickbox with you or anyone for that matter. Jokes around a lot too. He actually used to post on the JKD forum. His name is Paul Sharp. You can't beat the price either - $85/mo. Too bad it's in Elgin. I think I'll commit myself to driving there. It'll be worthwhile.

[chalambok]

You might try Rick Sollo's Aiki Training Hall. He lives in Schaumberg, is a long-time student of Master Chai's, and has several qualified instructors teaching in his school. He offers muay Thai and JKD-based curricula. 708-222-8100

[GeorgeK]

Hey guys,

Just found another place in Illinois to train at. I think it just recently opened. It offers BJJ, Muay Thai, and MMA

Team Oyama Midwest Training Center
318 Roma Jean pkwy
Streamwood, IL 60107
(630)-289-3560

http://www.teamoyama.tv/

Looks like Tim Tokarz is an instructor there now. I am debating between this place and Straight Blast Gym of Illinois now. (http://www.straightblastgymillinois.com/) The two locations are also close together. While I am sure the istruction at SBG is great, it looks like the Team Oyama place is better equiped. It has a boxing ring and an octagon, most likely MT punching bags, etc. The SBG guys train out of a TKD school and really there is nothing there as far as equipment goes. I've been to SBG and liked the coach and the crowd but haven't been to the other place yet. Which place would you guys suggest?

[Beginner_Man]

GeorgeK, which gym did you go for?

[GeorgeK]

I trained at Champion Jiu-Jitsu in Palatine for a few months. They have great Jiu-Jitsu but not much stand-up. Right now, I just do a strength and conditioning program on my own. I really wish there was a MT gym around.

[Beginner_Man]

I checked out Champion Jiu-Jitsu (it's the closest to my place) but I just couldn't afford it. I just started at the Team Oyama place for MT now. I suck, but they're working me in. You should maybe check it out, if you're looking for stand-up, and they have Alex Trujillo teaching BJJ there as well.

[GeorgeK]

Hey,
I went there a few months ago. I loved the place. The instructors are really cool. The problem was it was too far for me. I'm in Arlington Heights (by Golf and Goebert) and could never make it there by 6 o'clock for MT. Where do you live? Do you make it there on time? How many people are taking MT there now? When I went to check it out, they just opened up and had only a couple of people train MT. I am thinkling about going to Hackney's in Roselle. They have some stand-up for sure and a bit closer to me.

[Beginner_Man]

They're pretty cool. I agree, I have to leave an hour before 6pm just to get there on time, but I think it's pretty worth it. I went there last Tuesday and Thursday, and my first class was on Thursday; on average between those two days, probably an average of 10 or less people attended. I think that maybe around 15 people attend. It's a pretty cool atmosphere, and the price can't be beat. I just hope I can stick with it since I have no experience whatsoever. But all in all, it's cool. They have BJJ on Mon & Wed, and I'd take that too if my schedule didn't conflict.

update: I went yesterday. Tuesdays is when we do drills, and there were only about 5 people there. Pretty cool.

[GeorgeK]

Beginner Man,

So, where do you live? Maybe we can carpool if you're not too far. We can take turns driving there. This will save us both milage and money. But that's completely up to you.

I am dying to train in MT and this seems to be the only place in the area that actually teaches MT. I am a beginner too. I just took a couple of years of Krav Maga before and working out on my own now (actually doing a kickass strength and conditioning program that's awesome for MA).

Write me back. Give me your number so that I can call you and discuss this with you if you don't mind.

George.

[Beginner_Man]

Sorry George, but I barely make it there on time, since I live in Palatine. It takes me about 40min just to get there! Terrible.

I'm a beginner in everything, so you should have a lot of exp over me with your Krav-Maga exp. You should check out open-gym on Saturdays at Oyama.

How old are you, if you don't mind me asking?