Advice from others for opening a Wrestling class.?

Question

I dont exactly plan to do this tomorow... but it is a vision, and want to hear from other people if its a good idea, or a bad one.

In my area... you have Judo, Ju-Jitsu (japanese and brazilian), Sombo, and Aikido.

All are 'Jacketed' form of grappling and I am starting to get tired of there style of 'wrestling'. The things I do and learn are not really allowed in some arts, and I often think about creating a class to resolve it.

I have my own views for my class.
* There will be no Gi (uniform).
* No holds are barred.
* Belts dont exsist... it is all based on your overall experiance..
* This is a class to come to for proper self defence... or learn how to fight.

I do know my stuff, and I believe I can be a good teacher... but do you think this will cause 'issues' with the other styles above.

Anyone welcome to answer if they have an opinion... and thank you for reading!!!!

Answer 1

So essentially what you are proposing is a no gi submission wrestling school? Eddie Bravo is making this type of thing work, though he is calling it no gi brazilian Jiu jitsu.

When you say no holds are barred, you mean any submission I take it? Certain things should be done by more experienced people and not taught to newbies for safety purposes. For example you wouldn't want to Spine crank someone who is completely new, nor show them how to Spine or Neck crank someone.

Knowing your stuff is one thing, but if you want to get a loan you are going to need accredidation with that. Sometimes being a ranking member of an organization, or having one give you the green light is one way.

Another is to have something behind you, like "I am a two time Colleagic All American Wrestler who won a Silver Medal in the Olympics" or something of the sort. No one wants to learn from "I know my stuff but have never backed it up except on the street!"

Win some NAGA's, get something behind you if you want to teach. Otherwise you might get someone who knows their stuff and is a competition champ come in and tool you in front of your own students.

Just knowing your stuff isn't enough, you have to have competition records or something in the realm of what you are teaching show that you know your stuff. Hence the belt system in other Martial Arts.

I don't think there are any issues other classes would have, but if one of their students came in and straight up schooled you on the mat, you could be a laughing stock. Sure you might be willing to do moves they aren't, but if you can't stop them from doing the moves they do know on you well then you aren't a viable alternative for a potential student.

I just want to be honest with you, I realize you aren't completely serious about this yet, but I have run Judo dojos, and am now helping run a MMA facility, so I have a pretty good idea of what you are thinking.

Unless you have something behind you, i.e. "I am the NAGA No Gi Division National Champ at 185lbs", or "I have competed numerous times in Abu Dhabi", or "I was a member of SEAL Team 6, taught hand to hand at BUDs, and have these belts in these Martial Arts" then you probably won't get people interested in you, nor get the funding from the bank to open something up.

No one wants to learn from some guy who knows his stuff, they want to know how he knows his stuff, how has can he prove he knows his stuff. Furthermore when you get dojo stormed, or you storm someone else's dojo, you damn sure better be able to handle a black belt in their class, at least in the area you are talking.

Sure you can probably handle a black belt in Aikido on the ground exclusively...(maybe)

But Gi or No Gi, a Black Belt Sambo, Judo, Jiu Jitsu, or BJJ guy is going to mess your world up, and that looks real bad.

What do you have behind you that shows it is proper self defense, and that you know how to fight? Do you have a winning professional fighting record? Have you been certified in some sort of self defense system? Having won a few fights on the playground or at a bar doesn't constitute knowing proper self defense.

I ask you these questions because that is what people are going to ask, they have to be the things you have the answers to. Where did you learn your skills? How have you demonstrated them? etc.

If you are looking to do an MMA style place, where you learn hybrid forms of Martial Arts you better have guys who have something of merit behind them showing. I.E. a boxing coach who is showing boxing, a No Gi submission wrestler showing that, (someone who has something of merit behind them, national or state level championships etc), a Muay Thai guy who has kickboxed professionally, or at least a winning amatuer record etc.

If you really want to be serious then those are the things you have to deal with. Otherwise it is just you and few buddies in a shed somewhere throwing down and probably getting injured in the process.

Just my two cents, I know it doesn't sound that positive but I wanted to be realistic with you about it.

Answer 2

You can totally start your own school. There are so many schools around here that it must be easy. Some of these schools are run by people that know nothing. Surely then, if you know something you can be successful. But please make sure you have a complete system that will really work in the street. if you start a school and people trust what you are teaching and it is crap then you have done them a great dis-service.

I see some potential obstacles on your journey. "No holds" barred could cause injuries. Injuries will cause a loss of your student base.
Be careful how you word things for the insurance people, they don't want to here no holds barred. They will charge you way too much for coverage.
Make sure you have coverage, it is the law in our state. I don't know about others but I do know that one lawsuit can end you forever.

As far as the other styles, last time i checked this is still a free country. Forget about them. If you have faith in your new style then stand up for it. I am a traditionalist but I believe there is room for non-traditional martial arts.
GO FOR IT!!!!

Answer 3

I wouldn't worry about upsetting other styles too much. Different styles have battled for students over one another for a long time about which style is best etc. - these arguments will never go away.
I used to study in a very traditional school where belts were important - however I soon got fed up with the money-making and slow progress of belts ie. 'you can't learn that technique for 3/6 months'.
I now train at a school that has no belts and I am amazed how quickly I can progress.
What I am getting at is, that as long as what you teach has merit and does the job, you will get students - if people want tradition, they will go to a traditional school, if they want a fresh approach they will seek you out.
As long as you remember that your students will be investing a lot of money and more importantly time in what you teach - so it needs to be effective. I hope that my opinion is valid - after all it is just my opinion. All the best.

Answer 4

If your talking about WWF style wrestling than you are wasting your time man. Real wrestling is where it's at. I'm talking about amateur wrestling. College and Olympic wrestlers have dominated the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championships) ever since they began. Real wrestling is by far the most dominant of all martial arts. Heard the names Dan Severn, Randy Cotoure, Matt Hughs. These are legendary names. They are nothing but college wrestlers taught how to punch. Research it! After you learn how to wrestle (not play judo etc.) you can learn submissions and boxing. If you master those three, you will be a bad mo fo!

Answer 5

Well sound like it can work out very well. However be sure to kick out any students who want to bring linegal war, spiritual and harmony crap into the gym. Those will conflict with some of other styles.

I know I would be interested if there was a such gym in my area and that's because I'm training to fight, not to play out some fantansy.

Answer 6

Get some muscles and a spandex outfit. Paint your face a get a catchy theme tune. They will come flocking...