ideas and opinions?

[Shotim]

After a few emails back and forth between Ari and myself he recommended I post this problem here and see what you guys think...?

I have been formally and informally training grappling of some kind or another for about a year and a half. Initially I got started in an MMA school, was knocked out by the instructor and given a concussion which I was in the hospital for. Needless to say I lost a lot of respect for my instructor, and decided that getting hit in the head is really not something I want to happen on a regular basis, so I started really getting into just the grappling side of things. My dilemma is this, around where I live their is one of two places, the first is the typical MMA school, now dont get me wrong I completely respect what these guys do, cross training in so many arts and actually very proficient at a few of them. But not the biggest fan of the attitude sometimes of o that wont work cause Ill just punch you as Ari put it. Or the lack of creativity, atleast in the places I have checked out. But on the plus side of the mma schools is they are open to no-gi stuff, just not the experimenting and trying new things. Then their is the BJJ school. Which I love the art, but the Gi is just not for me, I have tried and tried with judo, and BJJ and personally I hate it. So asking them if I can train on the no-gi days, I was told I need atleast 2 years experience with the gi before I should really get havy on the no-gi stuff. Which Ari agreed with me on that its total bullshit. And the prices of the BJJ places around my parts is insane, talking 150-190 a month.
---So here is my question to you fine gents, you have an incredible passion to train, love learning the art. I have so many books on different types of grappling its sickening, love the different side of the art IE rubber guard and twister, yet no place to train for just purely no gi grappling....?

I would kill to be able to train at a place like Ari's because its open minded and no ego. But Canada is a little to far to make a daily commute to :(

What would you do?

Thank you guys very much for any responses, and sorry for such a long post.

[Ghosted3]

Firstly, sorry that your instructor did that to you. It would be very hard for me to go back to that place if that person runs everything. Some gyms have it set where there is an individual coach for each aspect of the game, and some gyms just have the "mma" coach. If you are at a gym that has a coach for each, and the grappling coach is not the one who tried to take your head off I would stay there. It sounds like it is a much better fit for your style and your likes.

[Dannicus]

It's pretty messed up that your instructor felt it necessary in his teaching to hit you hard enough to KO you. In my humble opinion, and take it for what it's worth, this is a school I would not want to be affiliated with at all. It sucks that you have a lack of options, but I personally would not go back to that school. Even if there are seperate coaches, why would you want to train in a school that would allow such an instructor to work for them? Training isn't about ego, it's about learning from your mistakes, and striving to make both yourself, and your training partners better fighters. Good Luck in whatever you decide. If push comes to shove, remember, you always have your training partners here at this fine digital dojo. But don't cross me, or I'll knock you out! :)

My 2 cents boys

[Shotim]

Appreciate the responses so far, and yeah I am not there anymore as he was the owner of the gym and head and only coach. I have bounced around trying to find a different place, but still have not found a good fit. I made a damn good grappling dummy, and have quite a few of victory belts publications(Mastering Rubber Guard, Mastering Twister, Guerilla Jiu Jitsu, BJ Penn's Book of Knowledge, Coutures Wrestling for fighting) which have made it so I am still learning, and my strength and conditioning is top notch, but I know nothing beats live rolling partners and quality instruction....

[Ryan]

Do you have a local YMCA? I know the one in my area has Jiu-Jitsu, Aikido and Judo. The competition may not be as good but it may be sufficient enough to either try new things and get mat time at a place that respects you as a pupil.

I don't know what to tell you about the other 2 except that maybe you should try the MMA gym that you visited but let the instructors know that you only really care about the grappling part of it and that your only open to safe striking practices like head gear and hitting a bag (if that is what you want). Most places will respect that you only want to learn the art and not necessarily compete in the UFC.

I wouldn't go back to the other gym unless you truly feel that the instructor got a lucky shot in or just hit you in the right place to cause a KO.

[CEB]

I wonder if this place would be any good?

http://www.grapplers-edge.com/location.htm