How Strong Is Your Kru? An Inside Look at Choosing an MMA School

With MMA’s popularity at a high right now, there are plenty of "fans" rooting on the fights, fighters, and abilities seen within the cage. 

But aside from the sponsors, t-shirts, and “live fast” attitude, there are those who might want to step into an MMA gym for numerous reasons. Not, solely, for the glitz and glamour of what we all see on TV but for other reasons. 

Whether one may wish to train their mind and body in competition to possibly fight one day, get in shape, or use martial arts to simply grow and develop, there is always a reason for doing so. 

But for whatever the choices someone decides they want to train, they must decide what works best for them and how to decide what they want in a trainer and school.

What are you trying to get out of it all and how does the school fit for you?
 
Sifu/ Kru John Roderick is the owner/ head trainer at Southern New England Mixed Martial Arts. For over 20 years, JR has been training, teaching, and researching martial arts.

At first, beginning with Boxing and Judo, John's personal evolution eventually brought him to Sifu/Grandmaster Richard Bustillo (an original Bruce Lee student) and Arjarn Kru Phil Nurse.

Having been a devoted student of both legends for over 15 years, John continually strives to improve and research training methods and techniques.
 
Since 2004, Southern New England MMA, LLC has been continually striving to deliver quality martial arts training and coaching to a variety of people from all walks of life.

Families, professionals, law enforcement personnel and professional athletes have all benefited from the physical conditioning and martial art curriculum at SNE MMA.

I caught up with Kru (teacher in Thai) John Roderick to discuss ways to begin your training and what you should look for..

What do you think are the best ways to begin training in Mixed Martial Arts?

First off, if you think about doing it. Do it. Don't talk about it, mull it over, you have to get off your couch, out from behind the computer and really do it. Then you need to find a place you fit in, where you mesh with the instructor, the school, where everyone's respectful, trains safely and in a clean environment.

Look at the instructor, how they communicate and instruct, and what their background is. Ultimately, you want to fit in and have it feel like home. You should trust everyone you train with, it’s your safety that's involved. 

Bottom line, find a place that's credible based on credentials and where you feel comfortable at.

Should choosing a gym or trainer have to do with how many professional fights they have had? Or is there more to it?

There are a lot of awesome coaches out there who have never fought or fought at a very high level.

I don't feel every coach needs to fight or compete but anyone who is going to have an academy and put their name behind it, they need to train, they need to spar, they need to roll, they need to actually be able to execute what they are teaching their students and show how and that it is effective.

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