[mackz]

Have you ever noticed this?.....this stuffs expensive. I've bought shorts, rashguard, and a compression short+cup..and If I do order the GI from SSF, then I have spent over $200. I thought I would only be spending around $50-$100. But I don't know if buying it all at once was a smart idea. Have any of you spent a lot of $$ on equipment? if so how much was the highest you went? I seriously need to repay my mother for this....when I get a job. (i dont have a credit card and i'm only 15 turning 16). BUT, my bday is comin up this December so I guess $200 bucks aint so bad. I'll just have to work my ass off by doing chores and what not =/.. I just feel a bit spoiled ....and a bit guilty.

[Tone C]

The most I went was about £400 (in 1 whack)to set up my gym in my garage...I get 3 or 4 people a week who train and pay per session(I teach self defence rather than MMA)The money goes into a pot and we just buy what we need/want ,as and when money permits or we wear stuff out.Or seminars etc.

That £400 was for mats,gloves,pads(thai)focus mitts,headguards,mma style gloves,bag gloves,thai bag and skipping ropes.Probably some other bits too..

Look at it this way,if you keep training you are making an investment in yourself for the future,for your fitness,your confidence and you may well find something that you stay with for the rest of your life....I've been training for 20+ years now in 1 martial art or another.

[PT Sandman]

Shop around and you will get better deals. I get the Nike and no name brand "under armor" for $10 each at local discount stores like AJ Wright, TJ Maxx or Marshalls. Is exactly the same as $30 rash guards? No but it works nearly as well for a fraction of the price.

Gloves, shin guards, gi's and other protective sparring gear is where you can really spend alot.

[skeet]

$200.00 is not a lot of money.

[vu]

It's what happens when we train in a niche sport that has relatively fewer suppliers of specific equipment than "mainstream" sports...and the fact that they generally don't mass-produce like companies like Nike, Adidas, etc...they don't get to take as much advantage of ecomonies of scale...thus, the consumer has to pay more for their product...

[amphibious]

It may be expensive relative to how much money you have, but it's not expensive relative to other sports simply because we require less gear, and the gear we require is less technically engineered. A good hockey mask or football helmet is going to be more expensive than a complete set of MMA gear.

[Lucky Strike]

Like others have said compared to other sports it's not too bad.

At least we don't need shoes....basketball shoes run like $150

[vu]

Originally Posted by Lucky Strike

Like others have said compared to other sports it's not too bad.

At least we don't need shoes....basketball shoes run like $150

True

Think about something like...Golf...

Clubs
Green fees
Shoes
Stupid clothes

[GameOnGAMECOCK]

Originally Posted by skeet

$200.00 is not a lot of money.

he's 15 years old man....

[Tone C]

Originally Posted by GameOnGAMECOCK

he's 15 years old man....

Yep ,its all relative....although I bet his mum is gonna be happier seeing a big parcel of gear coming thru the door than one pair of shoes for the same money.And those shoes will probably be knackered in a few months and the outlay starts again....still gotta pay training fees though,but its better learning something where he can learn to defend himself than trying to jump high I'd suggest.

And to the original thread starter,its nice to see that you seem to be a good kid and have your head screwed on right and seem to have an awareness about money and that you acknowledge that you owe your mum/need to repay her,even if it is thru doing extra chores to help out...so many little brats around nowadays that have "I want ,ergo,I get "mentallity.You don't seem like that so I wish you well in your training and I hope you enjoy it and are a success with it.