What should I do to start training?

Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and the various styles of striking and grappling that make up our MMA program are strenuous and vigorous exercise.  It is recommended that you check with your doctor to make sure you are in good physical health before training.  A proper diet and plenty of rest are also very helpful.  If you are ready to start, visit the student portal to the left and create an account.  Don't worry, you are not signing up for any financial obligation.  You just need to supply some simple information about yourself and agree to the release of liability waiver.  Once you've done this, check our class schedule for the class and time you'd like to come in and show up.  You'll have the opportunity to try a couple of classes for free to make sure our club is a good fit for you.

What if I am a beginner with no experience or prior training at all?

Great, that means you have formed no bad habits and we have a clean slate to work with.  Our academy is open to new students training in every structured class.  Our basics classes are just perfect for those who to the sport as well as those wanting to keep their basics tight.  So whether you have former experience or no experience at all, you'll feel right at home with us.  No need to be nervous, all of us had a first cend faqlass at some point as well and we look forward to making yours fun and exciting.

What if I have trained before at other places or in other styles?

No problem, we have many martial artists and grapplers with various backgrounds in our facility. You will probably run across people that have done some training in something similar as you and can relate to your previous training as well. We also have many life long martial artists in the facility who are looking to add to their current style. Share a SHORT run down of your previous training with the Academy Staff when you arrive for your first training session, this will make your training more enjoyable and relevant.

Do I need a uniform or should I bring my last one for training?

We don't require students to own a uniform their first week in the facility. We even have some loaner uniforms in the academy.  We do not recommend wearing any type of gi other than a jiu-jitsu or judo gi.  Gis not made for grappling are likely to rip.  Eventually if you are going to be training you will need some basic gear for protection and training. We will guide you to the basic essentials which we usually have on site at our facility. We can also order any other high quality equipment that you may need, often at a discount.

What if I want to come in but am out of shape?

Eat a healthy light meal no less than two hours before your first class and drink plenty of water.  Nothing will prepare you for the way we instruct and train you, so in order to start forward  progression, come in and take your first class.  If at any time, you feel the need to slow down, stop  or take a short break, please feel free to do so.  We want to help you get in shape in a healthy and safe manner, so we will never force you to do more than you are physically capable.  Our classes are very vigorous and will take some time to get used to.  However, if you stick with it, you will be in great shape in no time.

What if I want to use this as a way to work out or for stress relief?

You will meet your goals and more. Our facility caters to both the leisure enthusiast and the professional athlete alike. You will be among many that have the absolute same interest and ambitions as you.

Am I too old?

Probably not, we have many people older than dirt in our facility training away each week. You will have to take things at a logical pace. Use the likes of Helio Gracie, Carlos Gracie and Megaton Diaz as a inspiration and motivation to keep training.  You'll find as your training progresses, you will look and feel younger.  The good exercise and the ability to burn off excess stress are great for your body and mind.

What if I have physical limitations; can I still train?

In one way or another we all have physical limitations. Our system is more about overcoming physical limitations than one would expect. We look forward to discussing & seeing what can be done to help you overcome your physical limitations. Look to people like Kyle Menard for inspiration.

What if I wanna do MMA, or "I'm a fighter"?

If this is a statement on the tip of your tongue and you are seeking us out we suggest you take a free class like everyone else. Your goals will be discussed with our staff & appropriate action will be taken. This is not an overnight transformation so enjoy a couple of classes for free. After that we can move forward.  We have some pro fighters at our club who are willing to help evaluate your skills and come up with a solid game plan to help you reach your goals. 

Just remember, if you are just looking for a fight, this is not the place for you.  All of our staff and students check egos at the door and come in with respect and humility.  We are all here to learn and work hard together.  We are not here to prove who is the biggest badass or attempt to prove how "great" we are by trying to hurt our training partners.  Those who don't act accordingly will be dealt with on a case by case basis.  If you are just looking to show off, we will show you out.

Is your facility safe?

At our academy we are very controlled and have no interest in hurting our training partners or new students. Although we have many very seasoned and accomplished competitors and atheletes at our facility training each day it is not a "tough guy convention". We use the motto, " train today so you can train tomorrow" in our facility. That means, use control when drilling and sparring; don't injure yourself or your training partners. We are here for the long haul.  If we go breaking ourselves or the people we train with we can't train anymore. We don't train with anger or an ego. We are a large structured group of humble helpful people that help each other meet our personal & training goals.

How often can I come in?

We are usually open six days a week. The amount of classes you can attend is dependant on the program and pricing structure you sign up for.  If you have any questions about how much you need to train to reach your goals, or working within a confined work schedule, please do not hesitate to ask.  Our friendly staff are more than willing to help you select the best program for your goals and life schedule.

Why should I train at ACS over another academy or gym?

We are truly focused on our students and their specific needs.  We understand the rigors of life and are committed to helping every student achieve their personal goals.  Team ACS is also a family.  We support our students in their goals, their triumphs and their losses.  We believe that being positive role models and doing our best to be a positive influence on our students is just as important as teaching them how to fight.  When you train with us, you aren't just training at a martial arts academy, you are training with a martial arts family.

How do I sign up?

Signing up is easy.  Just follow these simple steps and you'll be on your way to being part of Team ACS.

1. Visit the student portal link to the left and create an account and login.  Don't worry, you aren't signing up for any financial obligation.  You will be filling out student information and agreeing to a release of liability waiver.  Filling out this simple information on line makes your first visit to our club a breeze.  Your privacy is also our main concern.  Your information will never be sold or shared.  We don't like spam any more than you do.

2. Come by and try out a free class or two.  No one likes to sign up for a membership, only to find they don't like the club they've joined.  Our try before you buy option gives you the opportunity to make sure our club is a good fit for you. We don't believe in high pressure sales, so you can enjoy your trial visit without worrying about feeling like a target.

3. If you enjoy your trial visit and would like to sign up, just ask one of our friendly staff and they'll assist you in joining Team ACS. 

What if I want to have a family member, friend or whole family sign up?

We offer discounted rates for family members.  We also have a fantastic referal program that gives you the potential to train for free.  Be sure to ask our staff about our family discounts and referral bonuses.

What if I only want to train for a little while?  

Some training is much better than no training. In the first several months of training, the learning curve is the greatest.  For self defense you really just need the basics. So even if you trained in our system for six months or so we are sure you will be much better off than investing your efforts anywhere else hands down.  So talk with our staff about the length of time you are willing to train and we will work out a program that suits your needs. 

If you are visiting from out of town, drop in and let us know.  We have very competitive walk-on mat rates and always welcome visitors to our club.

What ages do you train?

Our age ranges depend on the classes you'd like to take.  For jiu-jitsu, we generally train people above the age of 8 due to the logic skills that are required.  Under 8 years old can train with their parents present or participate on a private or semi private basis and be evaluated.  We are looking to add a 4 -7 year old class in the summer of 2011.  Our regular kids classes cover ages 8-12. Teens are evaluated and placed in proper classes on their first visit to the facility. Our oldest adults in our programs would be as described by them as ancient. Everyone is welcome. 

For MMA, we currently train ages 13 and up.  However, we are looking forwrad to adding kids 8 to 12 MMA classes very soon.  Before we do, we want to make sure our curriculum is safe and suitable for the younger age range.

Do women train?

Yes, we have women of different ages, experience levels and size that train in our facility.  This is very important to potential competitors to have fellow ladies to train for competition with and drill moves with. Women train in regular class & prescheduled women's training sessions.

What are a couple of quick tips for my first visit to ACS?

There are a few basic tips that will help make your first visit enjoyable.

• Arrive in good hygiene; coming in dirty is disrespectful to your fellow classmates.  So please shower and brush your teeth. 

• Don't make a contest of your first class, that never works out well.

• Don't bite your lip or tongue when concentrating in class.  Purchasing a mouth guard is a good idea if you have a tendency to subconsciously bite your lips or tongue.  We have mouth guards available for purchase at our facility.  

• Be hydrated, never come in after drinking alcohol. 

• Relax, think and have fun with class.

• Remember repetition in technique will give you muscle memory.

• Use a good work ethic and be a cooperative partner in class.  Laziness and lack of focus not only hurts you, but it takes away from your training partner's experience as well.  Also, we are not here to hurt our training partners.  Maliciousness or attempting to prove you are better by hurting your partner will not be tolerated.

Is there any screaming or bowing in class?

Our Jiu-Jitsu class is structured in its very own tradition.  We line up and bow at the beginning and end of every traditional bjj class as a show of respect to the tradition and the dojo.  Our Judo class follows the traditional Judo structure of bowing in and out of class as well.  There is no bowing for striking classes.  There is no screaming period.  We do not believe that screaming, yelling and making a general nuisance of ourselves is an effective way to instruct.  Sometimes we get excited and loud when we are coaching students during live rolling and tournament training, however, it is never in anger and is always in a positive manner.  As we are being loud, you will also see smiles on our faces and lots of clapping and cheering.  A positive learning environment always makes learning a tough sport more enjoyable.

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