I'm a complete newbie looking for a place to train in NYC. I've searched and read through the relevant posts on these forums, but I'm hoping to get and I would really appreciate some more personal recommendations. (I understand there is no real "best" place-- but only what is best for each individual).
I got my BA this May. I'm heading to Boot Camp this Fall-- I'm going for Infantry in the Marine Corps Reserve, so I'll be back in the City (looking for employment) sometime Spring next year. I want to start training MMA this summer and resume when I get back.
I am looking to do MMA as an avenue of personal and physical development, but the most important reason is that I want the practical combat skills. I'm with the MCMAP type combat philosophy-- if it's something that I can only use in a ring, it's useless to me. Otherwise-- I prefer more disciplined and austere approaches-- I'm a "form follows function", functional/anti-decorative kind of guy-- I want good trainers, not a pretty gym.
I'm in decent shape. I've got a 240/300 Marine PFT score. My training regiment generally consists of weightlifting, calisthenics, running, swimming, and biking. Never had any martial art training-- ran a fight club kind of deal during my freshman year in college until I got punched+ring in the eye and got a subconjunctival hemorrhage.
In any case, those fights did show me how much more important ground technique is than stand-up. I'm starting CrossFit soon at CrossFit NYC, and am also looking to get a membership at Chelsea Piers. Considering what I have saved up and these other expenditures, I really can't afford anything over $150.
I already have an idea of what places there are in NYC-- what makes the good ones good? When I start visiting any recommendations, what should I look for?
Again, I'm really excited to get started, and would really appreciate any advice.
Best Place for _me_ to train in NYC?
