I've trained at Crawford's MMA for going on 5 years now and I've seen the school go from humble beginnings, to a reasonably large space with a full cage, ring, and up to 40 students at a time during various classes.

Steve Crawford has been training fighters for combat sports since back when Pankration was one of the only ways you could hold MMA-like events in the midwest. His fighters have fought in the UFC, WEC, Cage Rage, and dozens of other local, regional, and international shows.

One of the best things about the school is Steve's approach to teaching. He's an extremely laid back, accomodating guy who can figure out your strengths and weaknesses in a fairly short amount of time.

The AJJ fight team is very close knit, and the school's best fighters are all great people who'll help out newbies just as much as they'll turn the heat on and throw down with each other. The atmosphere at the school really conveys that this is a family-run school.

Kids classes teach age-appropriate techniques based more on traditional Judo and Japanese Jujitsu, and reinforce practical approaches to the Martial Arts beyond just passing your kid through the belt ranks based on meaningless tests and demonstrations.

In Kansas City, there really is no other fight team like AJJ, which dominates local MMA events to such a degree that their fighters often find themselves matched up against those from a sister school. Notable fighters from AJJ include Curtis Stout, Rob Kimmons, John Cornett, Jason Teeman, Ron Jackson, Matt Cox, Dominic Brown and many others. Just about everyone who's anyone in the local MMA scene has trained with Steve.

Address:

Crawford's MMA / American Jujitsu
8819 Metcalf Ave Overland Park, KS 66212


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Great review.
The cage and the ring look small, but awesome!

True the cage and ring are small ,for a reason. With the cage and the ring being smaller you have to fight, and it also helps in teaching you to not move straight backwards. You learn to engage and get out using angles not just backing straight away. It also makes your shot defense better because you always do not have enough room to sprawl.

The ring at my boxing club is also about that size. There's no running away, you learn how to fight off the ropes, and it's good for footwork and angles.

How is the training though? I am doing kickboxing at another local school and not liking it. We pretty much ONLY spar and I want to learn techniques before I spar that much. This school is RIGHT next to my apartment, so I might have to check them out.

How is the training though? I am doing kickboxing at another local school and not liking it. We pretty much ONLY spar and I want to learn techniques before I spar that much. This school is RIGHT next to my apartment, so I might have to check them out.

Usually the class consists of a 30 minute warmup/conditioning, 45 or so minutes of technique, and up to an hour of free rolling/sparring afterwards. There's also a technique class on Tuesday and Thursday evenings that covers the basics which is best for people who want to focus on techniques.

my name is chris i am 17 yrs olsd and i love the sport of mma and i would like to get into it but i have no resources of where to go and how to get into it if somebody can help me i wold appreaite it
my email is chrisuftring@rocketmail.com
thanks,

I have heard great things from about this school from people I trust.Good review

I've been looking at the schedule for the past two years now (waiting to train until I'm out of school...finally) and it looks lighter than in the past.


Phrost (or others), am I having a stroke or is there less AJJ + kickboxing training now than in the past?

I highly recommend Crawford's AJJ. I love going there and I even heard that he is upgrading to a larger and more state of the art facility very soon! Exciting!!!

Mollie E? That you?

Anyone want to give a current update of the club?

yes I'd like to hear an update as well, I drive past 635 and I35 daily. On anther thread on this forum I read they teach some dog brothers type self defense stuff, is that correct? Do they do muay thai or what is the standup component like? Safe training environment or lots of hotheads that try to rip heel hooks or kick full force in light sparring etc? sorry for all the questions

I don't train there but I called a few days ago when I was looking for a new school in the area, he said he has changed his teaching style and doesn't really teach stand up all that much, it's more of an American Jiu Jitsu school now... I have not trained there myself though...

yes I'd like to hear an update as well, I drive past 635 and I35 daily. On anther thread on this forum I read they teach some dog brothers type self defense stuff, is that correct? Do they do muay thai or what is the standup component like? Safe training environment or lots of hotheads that try to rip heel hooks or kick full force in light sparring etc? sorry for all the questions

It has moved to a location in merriam now it still has a cage but it is mostly ajj now the fighters still train other things but mr.crawford himself only teaches ajj i go there Tuesday and thursday for my ground technique and monday and wednesday's i am doing different things sometimes ground and sometimes standup but overall crawfords is a very good place to train