Alliance Jiu-Jitsu *Please Help*

[The Sundance Kid]

So as some of you know I do train but have never trained at an official school. Well I've gotten fat enough on my training regimen, so I've decided to join a BJJ gym. The closest one to my house is about a 30min drive away and that's really not that bad. It is an Alliance Gym that is run by BILLY FLETCHER who is a brown belt under Romero "Jacare" Cavalcanti. I haven't checked the Gym out yet, but wondered if anyone had any advise or if anyone had any experience with Alliance and could give me some in site on it.


Any help would be apprechated.


Also I know there are some people that post here that live relatively close to me and wanted to know Where/If you guys train and if anyone has any experience with this gym in particular?


Please Check out there website and tell me what you guys think.:


[Only registered and activated users can see links]



Fee is 80 bucks but I assume this inclueds all the classes that you want to attend and access to the weight room. Is this a good price?

what is the average price for a membership for BJJ?

They also offer kickboxing and wrestling as well as conditioniing classes nutrision people flexiblity stuff and I'm sure there is other stuff also.....


HEre is there Calender for the month of Sept:


[Only registered and activated users can see links]



Let me know what you guys think.



Thanks.

[Easye1982]

I have not heard of this gym, but I do know of a gym at Myrtle Beach. I have been there one with my brother, it is a nice place....not sure if this is farther from your house then this one though

Myrtle Beach Martial Arts
843-236-2620
6417-E Old Highway 544
Myrtle Beach, SC 29588

The instructors of BJJ trained under Carlos Gracie Jr. You may have to call them up to see if they are cheaper in cost. Sorry to really be of too much help for your question....but like I said. I have not heard of that gym before.


EDIT: Manu Ntoh is a big time name in Muay Thai. I know his name and have tried to keep tabs on him since Mark Coleman trained with him back in 1999. So if the gym has him as a coach of Muay Thai, then the BJJ must be good lol

[brvheart]

Sundance, my best advice for you or anyone seeking a BJJ school is this:

Check the linage (in this case you know whom the instructor is under). Also, the sure fire way to know is go have a look at the school, watch a class or two ans see how the instruction is done, then roll a couple times and see how you click with the group. BJJ is like joining a group of brothers, these guys are going to help you along your journey and will help define the BJJ that you are doing. It is very very important to have good guys that are not careless and wont rip your arm off etc.

I know of the linage, but not the alliance particularly, sorry about that.

[The Sundance Kid]

I have not heard of this gym, but I do know of a gym at Myrtle Beach. I have been there one with my brother, it is a nice place....not sure if this is farther from your house then this one though

Myrtle Beach Martial Arts
843-236-2620
6417-E Old Highway 544
Myrtle Beach, SC 29588

The instructors of BJJ trained under Carlos Gracie Jr. You may have to call them up to see if they are cheaper in cost. Sorry to really be of too much help for your question....but like I said. I have not heard of that gym before.


EDIT: Manu Ntoh is a big time name in Muay Thai. I know his name and have tried to keep tabs on him since Mark Coleman trained with him back in 1999. So if the gym has him as a coach of Muay Thai, then the BJJ must be good lol




Yea unfortunatly that is about 5 hours away.lol

I'm going to go check the place out. See what's up.


Thanks for the advise guys......


What is a reasonable price for a Gi?

[Easye1982]

It really depends on if you want a plain one or if you like a little color. Or if you like a heavy Gi (double weave) or standard (single weave). I have worn both I like to practice in the double weave as it is harder for smaller hands to grab a hand full of, at the same time works me harder with heat and the weight. Pricing can range from 40 shipped on Ebay to whatever overpriced "special" any and all dojo's have marked that up to. I would never pay over 80 for a White Gi, and 125 for a colored one. Both prices include shipping. You will need to try on the Gi's in the dojo to see what size you need, some companies sizing charts vary from place to pace and can leave you stumped.

[brvheart]

I disagree with Easy on this one.... [Only registered and activated users can see links] is the best place to get a Gi, I know them personally and would pay it everytime. The gi last and last and they are great people (the "M" stands for Machados ;))

[The Sundance Kid]

there is a guy that Post over at MMANews.com and he said they sell them at the gym I'm talking abot for 120, but I'm not sure what kind they are. He said they were the best and didn't rip ect.ect.?

But I'm not sure if it was a colored one or not?

[brvheart]

check out mkimonos ;)

[The Sundance Kid]

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Double post prevented :) see post below
15.


Sorry but I had some PM's I needed to respond to and I couldn't until I had 15 post.lol
Double post prevented :) see post below
it auto merged my post. Darn it. (this not cussing stuff is hard) So I went back to my PM's and re typed what I had alread typed out once. Now I had to come back here to post again just to re-type what I have already typed twice in the PM...I'm a dumb butt.(LMAO) I need to copy and paste.

[Boo]

14
Double post prevented :) see post below
15.


Sorry but I had some PM's I needed to respond to and I couldn't until I had 15 post.lol
Double post prevented :) see post below
it auto merged my post. Darn it. (this not cussing stuff is hard) So I went back to my PM's and re typed what I had alread typed out once. Now I had to come back here to post again just to re-type what I have already typed twice in the PM...I'm a dumb butt.(LMAO) I need to copy and paste.

That double post feature is perfect for someone like Legendrvb, eh?


For those of you who don't know him, he HATES double posting and will inform anyone who does it excessively.

[The Sundance Kid]

That double post feature is perfect for someone like Legendrvb, eh?


For those of you who don't know him, he HATES double posting and will inform anyone who does it excessively.

Does he post here?

[Boo]

Does he post here?

He pops in once in a while.

[sandywh]

I train in Charlotte at Scott Shield's gym. I was at the Gracie Academy for a while, unti lthey focused on getting long term students in "fighting shape". $80 seems a decent price. It depends on the amount of personal instruction, and what term as freestyle time. A lot of gyms will teach technique after technique, but never take the leash off and just let you roll with other students. Our gym gives us time to just mess around roll responsibly. Noone ever gets hurt. Its primarily a JJ school, but there is a BJJ coach and a boxing coach, so its rounding out well. 3 hours is a little far to drive to train, but I'd say find a buddy to go with you wherever you decide to go and you'll enjoy it. The worst part about trainning at a Martial Arts gym is that you always feel like "the new guy" until all the others fade away. I don't really know what your trainning level is at, but if you're like me, you're too out of shape to be ultra-serious, but too good of an athlete to train with noobs, so pick you school carefully or might regress.

[Mastiff_owner]

on topic i have a family plan for my wife, our son, and myself. It runs me 225 a month. if it were just me then it runs 125 per month. the instructor has his bb in bjj from Rigan Machado, he is also a 10th degree bb in san sou kung fu (sifu/master) we get great one on one and well rounded training + kickboxing on fridays.

great school but you can see the price differential given his lineage

[jegray]

I started a small group to train in mma but primarily in Hayastan Jiu Jitsu. Everyone contributes and none of us pay. We all have experience but now we just do it for fun. Its hard to get started. This was my third attempt- sometimes it just takes the right time to start your group- but for the best training you do have to pay. Like I said- we do it for fun.

[neonatural]

^^^^ I've always been interesting in Hayastan grappling

and Legend posts here? sweet that guy is one of my favorites. You learn something new everyday

[Boo]

Pricing for Des Moines Jiu Jitsu Academy

Unlimited All Classes (BJJ and Muay Tai) / Month
$105 for cash
$90 for EFT

Unlimited Jiu-Jitsu Classes Only / Month
$90 for cash
$75 for EFT


Looks like the pricing for Alliance is pretty reasonable assuming it's for unlimited classes per month.

[The Sundance Kid]

Eft?

[Boo]

Eft?

Electronic Funds Transfer. It's when you set it up so that your monthly fees are directly withdrawn automatically each month from your checking account into their account. I have some of my bills paid this way each month.

My guess is that the the discount is because they don't have to deal with any paperwork, it's always paid on time, and you are unlikely to go to the trouble unless you are going to stick around for awhile.

[Easye1982]

Yeah, a few of the the larger gym in MD have the same setup. Where you get a discount if you pay though a bank account. You can get an even bigger discount if you prepay for the year. For example...125 a month or 1200 up front for a year. Not all options work for all people, but at least you can ask if you can get any kind of discounts....:D

[jegray]

Pricing for Des Moines Jiu Jitsu Academy

Unlimited All Classes (BJJ and Muay Tai) / Month
$105 for cash
$90 for EFT

Unlimited Jiu-Jitsu Classes Only / Month
$90 for cash
$75 for EFT


Looks like the pricing for Alliance is pretty reasonable assuming it's for unlimited classes per month.

I worked out there for three months... got tire of paying and not having a flexible training schedule. I was only able to go about 2-3 times a month.

[The Sundance Kid]

SO I talked to Billy Fletcher today on the phone... Seemed like a really nice guy. He wasn't at the gym at the time but I'm planning on meeting with my tomorrow at 10 and watch one of his classes. The prices are 80 bucks a month like I said but you have to sign a one year contract. or you can pay 100 and just sign a 6 month contract.


I'm looking foward to tomorrow and looking foward to checking the gym out.

Only thing is that I'm working 3rd shift tonight and I will have been up for over 24 hours once I get to the gym.lol

[Boo]

I worked out there for three months... got tire of paying and not having a flexible training schedule. I was only able to go about 2-3 times a month.

Yeah, I can see how the schedule wouldn't work for some people. It's really nice for the people who work downtown. From what I've heard, the noon classes are practically like having one-on-one instruction.


SO I talked to Billy Fletcher today on the phone... Seemed like a really nice guy. He wasn't at the gym at the time but I'm planning on meeting with my tomorrow at 10 and watch one of his classes. The prices are 80 bucks a month like I said but you have to sign a one year contract. or you can pay 100 and just sign a 6 month contract.


I'm looking foward to tomorrow and looking foward to checking the gym out.

Only thing is that I'm working 3rd shift tonight and I will have been up for over 24 hours once I get to the gym.lol

Man, I can not do that anymore. I can't believe I used to stay up all night and then actually function the next day. If I met with someone for the first time on no sleep, they would think I was "a little slow."

[jegray]

Yeah, I can see how the schedule wouldn't work for some people. It's really nice for the people who work downtown. From what I've heard, the noon classes are practically like having one-on-one instruction.


From what you've heard? I thought you trained there considering how much you promote the place.

[The Sundance Kid]

I talked to the guy this morning and set up another time for Monday, He told me to come roll with the guys and see how I would fit in......


I don't have a Gi.....What should I wear?

[Boo]

They'd be glad to choke you out with your T-shirt. Don't wear one of your favorites, lol.

[The Sundance Kid]

What are you talking about????


I'm going to tap everyone.

[Boo]

What are you talking about????


I'm going to tap everyone.

:doh: Of course, what was I thinking!?!