Curriculum and grading

CURRICULUM AND GRADING

Before you read our curriculum, let me just give you some friendly advice about choosing an MMA Gym, especially as a beginner. You should not choose a school simply because they have the words “MMA” painted on their sign.

You must to be very selective.

In fact, you should NEVER join a school or MMA program unless it meets the following FIVE criteria:

1. Their instructors are qualified and have proof to show that they have reached a high level in the art. Are the instructor’s full-time or part time? That’s a big clue there. Remember if you want to be the best you have to learn from the best.

2. The school MUST have a written curriculum they can show you. You’ll be shocked to know how many schools don’t follow a step-by-step program so neither the teacher nor the student knows where they are going nor how far along they are. Surprising but true.

3. The school must produce winners. The Good Book says by their fruits you shall know them. What are the fruits? The students the school produces of course. Ask yourself, Have this school produced any champs or winning teams?

4. The school should allow you to set your own goals whether you just want to be physically fit, learn self defense or train for the competitive level. You don’t want to be forced into any sparring if you don’t want to.

5. The prices are NOT unbelievably low. Remember that you usually get the quality you pay for. You can’t expect to eat caviar on a McDonald’s budget. These “bargain” price schools usually have dirty facilities, unqualified instructors and don’t offer an advanced program. Of course you want to see clean and well-kept surroundings that you should expect from any professional school. You don’t have to settle for anything less.

GRADING:

Well now you may ask yourself how will you be graded. When I was living in México we used to wear the traditional Ju-Jitsu uniform or Gi and the Japanese masters graded us with belts. Those uniforms were very uncomfortable, heavy and over all hot. Since México City is not a cold place, training in those uniforms were like training MMA inside a sauna suit. And our dojo (Gym) did not have air conditioning. We had eight belts, white belt, yellow belt, orange belt, green belt, blue belt, brown belt, black belt, and red belt being the highest ranking in the Sei-Shin-Kan Bu-Jutsu style.

Our Japanese Sensei’s (Teachers) flew from Japan once a year to give us an exam. If you pass the exams you will receive a diploma and your new belt. If you do not pass the exams you will have to wait one year to re-do it. We used to train very hard to pass the exams because it was very shameful to fail.

Since I moved to the United States the MMA movement has become a monster. With new clothing and regulations, we no longer use heavy uniforms or the Belt system. Now our uniform is an MMA short of your choice and a Rank shirt. We use seven different colors for you to know how are you advancing on your martial arts path, and you will also receive a certificate of recognition.