Leon S Kennedy
2/02/2007 3:13am,
I've been going to IKCA for about a year now and it's a really great place to train. The main instructor, Jerry Huffman, is very knowledgable in Muay Thai, Combat Submission Wrestling (CSW), and Filipino Martial Arts. The training is very detail oriented and the instructors make sure you get the techniques right and training with aliveness is encouraged and expected. For the rest of this review I'll go over each rating I gave this facility.
Aliveness: 10
Aliveness is always encouraged and expected. All the instructors remind us to drill with intention, use footwork, etc. The idea being that if you train without intention, you're likely to spar and fight without intention.
Equipment: 7
IKCA comes with everything that's needed: matted floors for grappling, heavy bags, focus mits, thai pads, etc. However, there is no ring or cage nor is there any weights really. So this place is lacking compared to other places.
Gym Size: 6
This place is, unfortunately, notably small. It's large enough for everything but sometimes the place can get a bit crowded especially the beginner classes.
Instructor/Student Ratio: 9
The instructors are really nice and take time to get to know everyone that joins. There are also enough instructors for the amount of students and every class available.
Atmosphere/Attitude: 10
Since it's a small place it seems to help develop a close knit group. Everyone knows each other and are really nice. No real assholes here except the occasional person that thinks every sparring session is a fight and is out to hurt people.
Striking Instruction: 10
There's a lot of attention to detail on techniques to make sure people don't develop bad habits like not keeping your hands up and crossing your feet in footwork. Sparring is encouraged so long as everyone participating has the proper equipment (ie cup, shin guards, and gloves).
Grappling Instruction: 10
Like striking, a lot of attention is given to details on techniques. First half of class consists of drilling while the last half is rolling time.
Weapons Instruction: 10
There's stick fighting and knife fighting available. I believe there's also firearms training but I haven't had any experience in that. Like striking and grappling training, there's a lot of attention to detail.
Aliveness: 10
Aliveness is always encouraged and expected. All the instructors remind us to drill with intention, use footwork, etc. The idea being that if you train without intention, you're likely to spar and fight without intention.
Equipment: 7
IKCA comes with everything that's needed: matted floors for grappling, heavy bags, focus mits, thai pads, etc. However, there is no ring or cage nor is there any weights really. So this place is lacking compared to other places.
Gym Size: 6
This place is, unfortunately, notably small. It's large enough for everything but sometimes the place can get a bit crowded especially the beginner classes.
Instructor/Student Ratio: 9
The instructors are really nice and take time to get to know everyone that joins. There are also enough instructors for the amount of students and every class available.
Atmosphere/Attitude: 10
Since it's a small place it seems to help develop a close knit group. Everyone knows each other and are really nice. No real assholes here except the occasional person that thinks every sparring session is a fight and is out to hurt people.
Striking Instruction: 10
There's a lot of attention to detail on techniques to make sure people don't develop bad habits like not keeping your hands up and crossing your feet in footwork. Sparring is encouraged so long as everyone participating has the proper equipment (ie cup, shin guards, and gloves).
Grappling Instruction: 10
Like striking, a lot of attention is given to details on techniques. First half of class consists of drilling while the last half is rolling time.
Weapons Instruction: 10
There's stick fighting and knife fighting available. I believe there's also firearms training but I haven't had any experience in that. Like striking and grappling training, there's a lot of attention to detail.