Found a kickboxing class - need advice.

[cb21]

Okay I found a kickboxing class that I've heard good word or two from on other forums. It's in Long Beach called Lakewood Muay Thai Kickboxing. My problem as posted in a different thread here was that I can't afford too much unfortunately. So these guys finally emailed me back and said they closed down because the landlord who owned their place was jacking the rent up too high. They now train at a park for only $40 a month! This is something I can probably afford, but how legit would the training be?

Will I be missing out on the full experience of training in an actual gym? My goal is to learn proper technique and get in shape for now, and maybe compete later. Would this be worth the investment? I don't know what activities are done in a gym that is impossible for us to do at a park, so please advise.

Edit: I forgot to mention that classes in the park are only 2 to 3 times a week, 1 hour each session.

[Ghost]

You have to go there and see really. The state of the gym or even lack of it doesnt HAVE to matter.
Remember some of us travel half the world to train with some of the best thai boxers in the world in some run down shithole of a gym.

Its the trainer not the facilities, always remember this. The facilities are a nice bonus but beyond a set of pads and your basic equipment you dont need much more.
Park doesnt sound ideal however but you know, if the trainer is good then what the hell.

[Hardball]

You won't be the only one who ever trained in a park!!!

[Tom Yum]

Nothing to worry about. As I understand it, many muaythai gyms in Thailand are outdoors with garage-like gyms. Go for it and check it out.

[legshot420]

Like everyone said, facilities are a nice bonus. Take this into consideration, would you want to train in a gym with a ring, lots of nice bags and pads and the instructor is a Tai Chi master? Facilities will always be a big thing, but nothing beats great instruction. Try it and if you don't like it, then move on.

[RAB]

Will the park mean fewer students and more personal/semi private training? It sounds like it's worth 40 dollars.

[boozer]

Can you send me the contact information? I have been looking for a fairly affordable and good trainor in the Long Beach area for awhile. Thanks

[Scott Bolinger]

yeh, were you train at isn't important. Odds are when he getts more and more students, then he'll be able to move into a building sometimes.

But i've had to train out doors on occassion, train in garages, basements, parks even did training in a car dump.


odds are, if the guy is teaching in a park and hanging on to that art, he's knows something of humility and is dffenatly worth looking into.

[Middleweight]

Will the park mean fewer students and more personal/semi private training? It sounds like it's worth 40 dollars.

The hard part is where they find a place to hang the heavy bag (s). As long as you have level ground and it's dry.. U be okay. 5 rounds hitting the heavy bag is actually 20 minutes of demanding work. (1 min rest bet rounds) then you still have ten more rounds of training, an hour can be good... if you have a good coach. Instruction far more important than the frills

[Hardball]

The hard part is where they find a place to hang the heavy bag (s). As long as you have level ground and it's dry.. U be okay. 5 rounds hitting the heavy bag is actually 20 minutes of demanding work. (1 min rest bet rounds) then you still have ten more rounds of training, an hour can be good... if you have a good coach. Instruction far more important than the frills

I used to use a heavy chain, a heavy padlock and a tree branch back in the day.

[Scott Bolinger]

well, charge $55 for personal training for a single person and $75 for a family. So the $40 is pretty good and you get more one on one time. Which in a big class alot of times you don't get.

But on hanging a heavy bag, i've had guys use those old out doors cloths hangers, the old metal T's. and i've seen some build a big stand that they use for engine pulling and put a heavy bag on that.