Muay Thai in Chicago

Lionidas · 10-22-2009, 12:40 PM

Hey guys,
I'm new to kickboxing but Muay Thai has definitely peaked my interest.
Problem is, I'm not sure where to go train in Chicago.
I'm looking for a place that's welcome to beginners and people just wanting to learn the art of Muay Thai. Competing is not even on my mind yet, I just want to learn the art for now.

My main concern is starting...I've never done any standup fighting.
(I wrestled in high school and now I'm training BJJ)

Also, any tips for a beginner with virtually no stand up experience?
I know stretching is key...but what else?
Any and all information is greatly appreciated, thank you.

Razor Bump · 10-22-2009, 01:33 PM

My partner Tommy Johnson just opened a school out there. He is the 3 time Kyuk Too Ki Champion. His stand up is grand though not a Muay Thai Style. I want to say the gym is called The Institute of Fighting Arts. Very good learning.

Lionidas · 10-22-2009, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Razor Bump

My partner Tommy Johnson just opened a school out there. He is the 3 time Kyuk Too Ki Champion. His stand up is grand though not a Muay Thai Style. I want to say the gym is called The Institute of Fighting Arts. Very good learning.

What's the difference with Grand and Muay Thai?
Also, where is your friend's gym located at?
Is there a website I can check out as well?

Thank you.

Flinteh · 10-22-2009, 03:23 PM

lollll if im not mistaken, i think he meant grand as in "he has good stand up"
haha

mr.allday · 10-22-2009, 03:54 PM

I know of one off hand that hasn't opened yet. Its called CUMMATA or chicago unified mixed martial arts training academy and is in elgin, it opens Nov 19th and has Muay Thai Classes as well as MMA, boxing/striking, and BJJ and other grappling techniques. But there are a number of places in Chicago or just outside to train. Oh yeah and they cater to beginers and fighters.

Erob2464 · 10-22-2009, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lionidas

Hey guys,
I'm new to kickboxing but Muay Thai has definitely peaked my interest.
Problem is, I'm not sure where to go train in Chicago.
I'm looking for a place that's welcome to beginners and people just wanting to learn the art of Muay Thai. Competing is not even on my mind yet, I just want to learn the art for now.

My main concern is starting...I've never done any standup fighting.
(I wrestled in high school and now I'm training BJJ)

Also, any tips for a beginner with virtually no stand up experience?
I know stretching is key...but what else?
Any and all information is greatly appreciated, thank you.

where abouts in chicago are you looking for?

Lionidas · 10-22-2009, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erob2464

where abouts in chicago are you looking for?

Southwest side.

Also, CUMMATA sounds promising, is a website up for it yet?
I tried googling it but I keep finding some guy named john cummata who deals with bankruptcy lol.

erznana · 10-22-2009, 04:23 PM

Team Toro Muay Thai in Burr Ridge, IL. Hands down the best PURE MT school in the Midwest. Every other place in the area is just an MMA gym which has "jack of all trades, master at none" type of instructors. Many of the training methods at Team Toro are similar to what they do in Thailand and the Kru was trained by Saeksan Janjira himself. In fact the school name may have been renamed to Janjira Muay Thai.

Lionidas · 10-22-2009, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erznana

Team Toro Muay Thai in Burr Ridge, IL. Hands down the best PURE MT school in the Midwest. Every other place in the area is just an MMA gym which has "jack of all trades, master at none" type of instructors. Many of the training methods at Team Toro are similar to what they do in Thailand and the Kru was trained by Saeksan Janjira himself. In fact the school name may have been renamed to Janjira Muay Thai.

Awesome, turns out it's pretty close to where I live.

Are they used to training beginners?
Although I like a challenge, some schools simply throw newbies to the wolves for the first year.
I went to a school like that a couple years ago and I learned very little. Other students taught me more than the professor did.

erznana · 10-23-2009, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lionidas

Awesome, turns out it's pretty close to where I live.

Are they used to training beginners?
Although I like a challenge, some schools simply throw newbies to the wolves for the first year.
I went to a school like that a couple years ago and I learned very little. Other students taught me more than the professor did.

Yes. In fact he prefers that they have no background at all that way he can mold them from the get go.

I was at a school where they threw newbies to spar with their more seasoned fighters. Basically acting as human punching bags. Never really cared for us, we were just there to take hits. This place is not like that. In fact he won't even let you spar for at least 6 months.