Decisions, Decisions

[Mikemok1981]

Ok, I would appreciate any input any of the members can give on this. Im in a bit of a predicament. Here's the situation. I'd love to train Kyokushin, obviously why else would I be here. I've trained in many other arts, boxing, bjj, etc, but none really had what I was looking for. I believe that Kyokushin has what Im looking for. Now, I've found a dojo that teaches Kyokushin. Its approximately 40 miles away. However the cost would be around 125 a month. And including gas thats quite a bit. Now, I can train Muay Thai closer to my house and cheaper. Muay Thai has some of the same aspects as Kyokushin, but there are enough dissimilarities to make me seriously question taking it over KK.

Now I have been to the Muay Thai gym. They have lots of students and the instruction is great. With the KK program, I would be one of a handful of students. However the instructor mentioned we would do many one on one sessions and this seems like it would be a good thing. Also, the instructor for KK is the branch chief for the AKKO. So there's my dilemma, do I travel a farther distance and pay more to train KK with a branch chief of a respected organization? And even have the chance to train one on one with this guy. Or do I train for cheaper and closer with a former IKF amatuer champ in something thats similar but not quite the same?

I thank you for any advice you may give me.

[Kansetsu]

OSU!

I say do what you are truly wishing to do....follow what your heart desires. For 3 years i drove 50 miles (each way), in NY Traffic (sometimes it's usually 2 hours in traffic), Train for 3 hours, then drive home dead tired for 5 days a week. I also paid 125 with NY gas prices.

What do you REALLY want to do? I would say meditate on that question...and make the decision and go for it. You can try it, and if you don't like it, go back to MT...it's not like a one time only decision no?

OSU!

[jcbel]

Can you can do a trial session at dojo? Nothing like trying it!

[sokaiya]

Definitely try a trial class if you can. Hell even lay it down before the Instructors and tell that you're also looking at another place to train and are trying to decide between the two.

[Miguel]

Since Kansetsu- san already touched on the "go with your heart" part I shall go with the other one that's also important (in this case): Don't forget about your pocket!

125+ a month is quite a bit to crack, especially in the US. As a knockdown practitioner I would love for you to go with Kyokushin, but you have to be realistic about these things. What good is Kyokushin gonna do to you if you're living in a cardboard box? Actually now that I think about it, it may help you fight off the other hobo's.

I say if it's going to take necessary money away from you and/or your family, it's not worth it. Muay Thai is a good (tough) art, and I have as much respect for their practitioners as I do for other knockdown guys and gals. If it's the philosophy you're after, that can also be learned at a Thai gym. Go through enough hardship, and you'll come out the other end as a better person.

Now If this is luxury money and you really want this, whatcha waitin' for?!.

[kakatootoshi]

Dear Mikemok1981,

Obviously you know the good things about the Muay Thai school (money, instruction and time) so let me focus on the Kyokushin Dojo. One-on-one (or a few) instruction is good for beginners (to pick up good Kihon) but I do not know how many people there are, perhaps at a certain point the problem of a lack of sparring parters will stand in your training. Branch Chief of course there should be a reputation but I always think your decision cannot base entirely on fame when choosing a Dojo. Sensei A produces many champions but you just do not know how many people there are whom he has failed to bring out the best of their potentials, and you do not know which group you fall into unless you really give it a try (and even that things may change after months or years of your training as you progess). At the end of the day I suggest you to try or at least observe more of the Kyokushn training before you make the decision. As for money and time that is your decsion to make.

OSU!

[powerof0ne]

Originally Posted by Mikemok1981

Ok, I would appreciate any input any of the members can give on this. Im in a bit of a predicament. Here's the situation. I'd love to train Kyokushin, obviously why else would I be here. I've trained in many other arts, boxing, bjj, etc, but none really had what I was looking for. I believe that Kyokushin has what Im looking for. Now, I've found a dojo that teaches Kyokushin. Its approximately 40 miles away. However the cost would be around 125 a month. And including gas thats quite a bit. Now, I can train Muay Thai closer to my house and cheaper. Muay Thai has some of the same aspects as Kyokushin, but there are enough dissimilarities to make me seriously question taking it over KK.

Now I have been to the Muay Thai gym. They have lots of students and the instruction is great. With the KK program, I would be one of a handful of students. However the instructor mentioned we would do many one on one sessions and this seems like it would be a good thing. Also, the instructor for KK is the branch chief for the AKKO. So there's my dilemma, do I travel a farther distance and pay more to train KK with a branch chief of a respected organization? And even have the chance to train one on one with this guy. Or do I train for cheaper and closer with a former IKF amatuer champ in something thats similar but not quite the same?

I thank you for any advice you may give me.

I wouldn't pay to train under anyone who's claim to fame is a amature title unless it was by this organization http://www.ifmamuaythai.org/index.php (this is the highest caliber of amature muay thai that is better then most pro organizations). I know that may sound harsh but bare with me, a lot of muay thai instructors skill/rank is based on having fights. The other thing it's based on is their students success. In the organization of Muay Thai I got instructor certified under to be a "Master" you must produce two students that become world champions.
IKF has gone down in recent years due to whatever reasons not to say it's a bad organization but it's not what it was in the late 90s. An amature title in the IKF also was never anything to base a career on. I myself paid to train with people that were professional Lumpinee champions from Thailand, had pro fights under the IKF, MTIA, WMC, etc.
If you want to train in Kyokushin, do it...40 miles might be a pain in the ass but you never know if you don't try.
The reason why I don't train in kickboxing near me is because well, I have more qualifications then the guy teaching it and his claim to faim to teach "muay thai" is fighting in toughman competitions. He also charges more then anyone I have ever known...something like $250 usd for your first month and $175 after that(for normal classes, not private lessons)...not that I can't afford to pay that but if I'm going to pay that I want it to be by someone like Buakaw.
You have any info on this guy? The reason why I ask is because Im curious if he's teaching legit muay thai or just has competed under muay thai rules. I'm not saying you should train under a pro world title muay thai instructor but every muay thai instructor I know has had pro fights and/or had students with pro fights, at the very least. In fact, to be a Kru/instructor...to receive that title, it's one of many requirements.

[Mikemok1981]

Thanks for all your advice guys. I've repped you all in thanks. And powerofone you can check out the schools site. Adams Muay Thai And I think I'll at least I'll give the KK dojo a try. Its really what I wish to do and of course it wont put me into any money troubles at all. Thanks a lot guys.

[Brad]

i hear what your saying ive just gone back to mauy thai last month because the dojo i was training at was a bit far. But in saying that buy putting these arts together it works out good so i think just take a run at kyokushin 40 miles is a long way to travel hope it works out for u.

[Dent]

Osu! MikeMok1981,

What a knife's edge dilemma. Maybe go for a month, and re-evaluate after that? The experience will probably give you a better idea to compare places.

Osu!

[Dent]

Osu! MikeMok1981,

As PowerOfOne said here,

Originally Posted by powerof0ne

He also charges more then anyone I have ever known...something like $250 usd for your first month and $175 after that(for normal classes, not private lessons)...not that I can't afford to pay that but if I'm going to pay that I want it to be by someone like Buakaw.

For $250 a month, it's worth saving a bit and flying to Thailand and living in one of the camps. (My vote would be the Lamai Gym, but that's another topic.)

And as Miguel said here,

Originally Posted by Miguel

125+ a month is quite a bit to crack, especially in the US. As a knockdown practitioner I would love for you to go with Kyokushin, but you have to be realistic about these things. What good is Kyokushin gonna do to you if you're living in a cardboard box?

I say if it's going to take necessary money away from you and/or your family, it's not worth it.

You could save those funds, and take a cross country trip and train somewhere every day for a month too.

IMO, a lot of it is going to come down to your circumstances.

Good luck!

Osu!

[hasbeen]

i`ve thought about this for a while, what i would do is go to the kyokushin dojo for a month and see if your pocket and time can take it.

you have nothing to lose, you can always fall back on the muay thai gym.

[powerof0ne]

Originally Posted by Mikemok1981

Thanks for all your advice guys. I've repped you all in thanks. And powerofone you can check out the schools site. Adams Muay Thai And I think I'll at least I'll give the KK dojo a try. Its really what I wish to do and of course it wont put me into any money troubles at all. Thanks a lot guys.

I checked out the site and highly reccomend trying out the KK. PM me if you want to know why, but if you can pull it off, do it.

[DKKC]

A few thoughts about training in KK 40 miles away:

a) Are you the only student traveling this distance and from this direction? You might find out there are other students traveling on yuor way and you could share cars, or take turns driving or/and contribute to the cost of petrol.
b) Go train hard and with dedication and if after a while you face financial hardship discuss it with the instructor - he might give you a discount especially if there are other ways you can 'pay' back. I've always met people willing to help me and I'm sure that if you train with dedication and the right attitude, the instructor will do his best to help you.
c) It might be a shock for yuor wallet when you start traveling but it'll get used to it - I'm travelling about 40 miles to train at my main club twice a week and once a week I'm travelling about 60 miles, and once a week about 100 (these distances are all one way). Yes, I have to think twice about what i want to buy as training is important to me and i wouldn't want to miss it for lack of petrol money - but i've set my priorities and it works. I'm optimistic that things will work for you too if you want it bad enough!

[jcbel]

Originally Posted by DKKC

A few thoughts about training in KK 40 miles away:

a) Are you the only student traveling this distance and from this direction? You might find out there are other students traveling on yuor way and you could share cars, or take turns driving or/and contribute to the cost of petrol.

This is a great point! You never know who is donig this already - in my case I used to take the train 50kms home after training but turns out someone at the dojo lived not quite as far as I did but was happy to drive me home since we indulged in discussion about training and Kyokushin.

[Mikemok1981]

Thanks for all your advice. It really has been helpful. And Im definitely going to give the KK dojo a try, at the very least for a month. I think I'd kick myself forever if I didnt at least try. Thanks again, all the new responses have been repped as well.

[jcbel]

So any update on your Kyokushin experience?

[Dent]

Osu!

Yes, good bump, JCBel. I'd like to know how it went too.

Osu!