maxercise to contracts - alternatives?

[phillyman]

new schools

Hey where are all you all at any way for those still with me There are Krav maga classes forming in Philly. if you go to www.kravmaga.com do a location search and youll find one in bala cynwyd, 1 in the northeast, and in three week for 1/29/02 somewhere is center city or south philly

[zippo]

hey guys...sorry i checked out for a while but i've been researching some of the local schools and here's what i've discovered:

Maxercise Sports and Fitness
707 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia PA 19106
215.928.1374

https://www.maxercise.com

Steve Maxwell- black belt under Relson Gracie
$115 per month- 2x per week 1hr class (six month contract)
$165 per month- 3x per week 1hr class (six month contract)
$200 per month- unlimited classes (six month contract)

ive been at maxercise for a few years and it probably has on average the most skilled and talented students in the philly area. great instruction and good facilities...my complaints are that its slightly political at maxercise, the new contract business is nonsense and its just too expensive for only two classes per week. IMO, it makes more sense to go to maxercise if your a purple belt and up.

Philadelphia Jiu Jitsu Association
2222 Cherry Street
Philadelphia PA 19103
215-729-4948

https://www.geocities.com/philadelphiajiujitsu/Logo%20Web%20Page%201.html

Damon Umholtz- black belt- no affiliation
$100 initial fee
$50 per month- unlimited classes

i had an opportunity to observe a class...the instruction was pretty good and the students in general were nice, friendly guys. the facilities are primitive to say the least and it seemed like the 'open mat' time lacked a certain seriousness or intensity. i think this school would be a good bargain, particularly if your on a limited budget or starting out.

Extreme Martial Arts and Fitness Academy
1200 Callowhill Street, Suite 104
Philadelphia PA 19123
215-829-0674
609-706-2825

https://www.extrememartialarts.tv/

Brad Daddi- no affiliation
$109 per month- unlimited classes (six month contract)

i checked out the tournament held at the school a couple of weeks ago, which by the way was very organized and professional for a small local event. facilities are sufficient...excellent tatame mats- but small in overall area. they also have contracts...just as expensive as maxercise- but it includes unlimited classes and i think the deal may also include thai boxing classes as well. between the two, if i were interested only in learning jujitsu- i would probably lean towards maxercise.

Hatfield Martial Arts Academy, Inc
2420 Bethlehem Pike
Hatfield PA 19440
1.877.827-8688
215.822-6177

https://www.hmaacinc.com

Brian Miller- brown belt under Renzo Gracie
$60 per month- unlimited classes

well, if you can handle the distance i think this is the best choice. excellent unlimited instruction and great facilities at a very good price. the instructors regularly go up to see renzo in new york. the overall level of student skill isn't quite as high as maxercise's, but better than any other place i visited.

here are some other local schools i haven't visited, but post something if you been to one of them:

Center City Dojo
Rickson Gracie Ju-Jitsu/Muay Thai Center
43 N 3rd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
215-923-8700

https://www.themartialartshouse.com

Joe Diamond- ? belt under Rickson Gracie
rates ?

Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy- Training Association
Between 6000-7000 Frankford Ave. in N.E. Philly
Philadelphia, PA
(215) 338-1620
no web site
Joe Guido- ? belt under Rorion Gracie
rates ?

Joe Priole
?

Modern Combat Academy
810 West Main Street
Lansdale, PA 19446
215-855-1189
215-651-4681

https://www.moderncombat.com

Rosendo Diaz- brown belt under Royler Gracie
rates ?

Body Arts Gym
926 North 2nd St
Philadelphia, PA 19123
215.928.1610

https://www.bodyartsgym.com

instructor ?
rates ?

All these comments are just opinions formed after brief observations...so if i posted something that seems inaccurate feel free to post a correction. hope this helps.

[Joseph Cunliffe]

Thank you, phillyman. . .

Thank you, phillyman, for including a link to my MMA in PA web site in your very active thread here.

I train BJJ at Modern Combat Academy in Lansdale (I drive 1 to 1.5 hours for instruction). I'd love for a quality academy to open in my immediate area. Rosendo Diaz is a brown belt under Royler Gracie.

Most of the schools/academies are on my site because we have somehow communicated with each other... whether at grappling tournaments, or though e-mail. While I understand there are many martial arts schools in PA, I have listed the BJJ, MMA, grappling types schools I have experienced.

I don't offer reviews, per say, because everyone has their own opinions. I have posted personal experiences on my web site after a class or workshop/seminar at an academy.

I attended the Extreme Challenge BJJ Tournament and wrote an article for ADCC News .

Royler Gracie held 11 workshops in 4 states over his 2 week trip to the northeast. I took in 3 workshops (at MCA, at Extreme & at Livingston in NJ). I met some new folks in the area, but most of all, learned some basic, but effective technique from a legend!

My web site is periodically updated with pertinent news on the BJJ, MMA & grappling going ons in PA. I also have a mailing list that I distrbute news to over 700 e-mail addresses to date.

Train smart...

[phillyman]

Joe

No the thanks goes to you without you and also the one who started this subject of course your site we in philly wouldnt have had such a long talk about the schools one thing lead to another and here we are

[Joseph Cunliffe]

I hear ya!

[Smokey_D]

I used to train at Bristol Karate Club under Tom McGonigal, but he forces you to sign a 1 year contract. It's only $75 per month, not bad, but the instruction has gone down significantly in the last 12-18 months.

I never renewed my contract and I know many other students didn't renew either. He lost a lot of blue belts and white belts with potential.

Tom is a very nice guy and very talented, but he does not run the place like a professional school. It seems more like a hobby to him and he does not put much effort into the classes. It's a shame really because the school could be so much better than what it is, especially with a blackbelt instructor.

Just my two cents.

[Joseph Cunliffe]

I don't have an answer.

I'm aware of an academy where the instruction has changed too. While the rates have increased... the instruction has decreased. I understand the students have discussed the situation among themselves and with the instructor (academy owner). I don't have an answer.

[phillyman]

joe

Hey joe which school or schools do you reccomend for Bjj and fighting

[Joseph Cunliffe]

I'm like Switzerland. . .

I would suggest checking all of them out to see which 1 or 2 work best for you, then narrow it down in time. That's what I did. I drive up to 1.5 hours for BJJ instruction at Modern Combat Academy in Lansdale.

In Philly though: my best experience has been with Extreme Martial Arts & Fitness Center and Fight Factory (MMA). Ironically, I discovered they work with each other. Real. No egos. Friendly. Proven in the ring/cage and on the mat.

Brad Daddis is the Extreme dude. Real cool. Check out www.extrememartialarts.tv. Sorry, too lazy right now to create a hyperlink.

Stephen Haigh is Fight Factory. Honest. His link is on my page.

Again, I cannot stress how IMPORTANT it is to check them all out on YOUR time schedule.


Note: my 2 suggestions in no way discount the instruction at any other Philly school/academy.

[zippo]

Joe-

Can you give us a general price range for training at the Modern Combat Academy? Thanks.

[Joseph Cunliffe]

I honestly don't know the cost.

I honestly don't know the cost. I think the first class is free. I believe MCA has a per class/visit rate of $10. to $20., and I would imagine there is a monthly rate based on the number of classes per week/month. I think there is a rate chart on our bulletin board. Sorry I cannot be of more help... but you can e-mail Rosendo Diaz at heelhook21@aol.com for more information.

[phillyman]

School

Hey any of you all join the schools yet and if so how do you like it

[kuroshio]

Judo teacher

Zippo wrote a long time ago (about a year ago):

"In a related story, i was talking to someone whos been studying judo for a few years in our area. the school's instructor is financially secure with his day job and teaches judo on the side for the art's sake and not necessarily as a business. he charges about $50 every 3 months+small mat fees. i shouldn't really say anything more about this school until i check out the instructor's skills, credentials, etc., but the point is that its refreshing to know that schools do exist in which teaching is the primary goal, not just making a buck."

Where is this school? Can we get in contact with the instructor?