Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Bryan]

[Captain Corea]

[peter07]

[Clemmens]

Temporary Hijack... You guys see the Fedor/Syliva and Silva/Irvin fight? Hope so. Was awesome. I've been a long time fan of MMA but my fanaticism is trumped by my pussydom. Been thinking about trying it out though. How long you guys been training? Is it hard to get into? Seems so diverse that I wouldn't know where to start.

[Bryan]

[Bryan]

Updates Golem?

[i4NI]

Since i'm on break from school, I want to start training at the jiu jitsu place in apgu, but i'm just worried about having time when school starts up again. Anyone here going there?

[Bryan]

Where is Toohon Jung Shim Kwan? This is the gym that Dong Hyun Kim apparently fights out of (the Korean who just won his UFC debut and has an 8-0 record I believe).
http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=4268&zoneid=3

Also, has anyone heard of or trained at DongInn MMA? Do they have good instructors?

[Don Gately]

[CPT]

Are there any gyms out in Gimpo? I'd prefer MMA, but if anyone knows of any muay thai, boxing, kickboxing, jiu jitsu, or judo gyms I'd like to know.

[Bryan]

There's a lack of places that are open on both Saturday and Sunday (other than Frankl's). I've been looking for Muay Thai and can't find anything open on both weekend days, nor MMA.

Some places are open Saturday but it doesn't justify paying $100+ for one time per week.

I'm here in Korea now and will probably check out Mapo Lion Boxing out, but if anyone has any other Muay Thai suggestions (or MMA gyms with late/flexible hours) let me know.

I have Judo Monday Wednesday and Friday at my university so when I want to do Muay Thai those nights its gotta be late, including travel time.

[Scaggs]

I just wanted to add a couple cents here.

I went to KTT for about 6 weeks this summer and plan on returning once I get my schedule worked out a bit. I have been really happy there so I wanted to chime in for those looking around.

The gym's normal schedule is M-F and has three sessions. 11:00 AM, 3:30 PM, and 7:30 PM. Members can go to any sessions they want. The morning and evening classes are for amateurs and the 3:30 class is much more intense and geared toward the pros and more serious students. I went to the morning sessions. The sessions aren't really on a tight clock, but they always went over an hour, and sometimes went for two. It usually starts with stretches and basic physical fitness stuff, goes through some techniques (wrestling, BJJ, and kickboxing, one discipline a day), and ends with sparring and free weight work. Saturday also has one session, but I never attended.

The coach there is really great. He has had something like 20 years of coaching experience and studied physical education. His English is pretty good, and he is super friendly. In fact, one of the things I liked about the place is that for a total newbie like me, it was nice to have everyone be cool and supportive.

Someone mentioned that he doesn't coach everyday, and that is not true exactly. The head coach instructs the morning and afternoon class everyday with the occasional exception when he has to travel abroad to do promotional business stuff for the pro fighters. He doesn't teach the night class everyday. When he is gone, one of the pro guys usually gives a quick lesson and we do more sparring than usual. The professional fighters usually have limited English ability, but many of the students speak English at a wide variety of levels.

It's small and not so fancy, but I had a really great experience there and am eager to get back. In fact, my positive experience is pretty much motivating me to write this little testimonial.

Good luck and good fun to everyone.

[Golem]

I am thinking of checking out a BJJ gym in Cheonho I have heard about. The thing is no one talks about other BJJ gyms at John Frankl's school so I have no idea if this guy is legit or not (BJJ has stupid politics sometimes). I think people should be able to train with whomever they want wherever they want. From having talked to John I think he has the same belief but there are a few BJJ gyms in Korea that have taken a different stance. The only real issue should be what gym's banner you compete under. Unfortunately John's school is far from where I live and the time doesn't work for me.

All I really know about this school in Cheonho is that an Aussie guy I know went their yesterday and told me the guy was a Black Belt and had a Brazilian guy sleeping on the floor. Sounds promising?

I honestly think that there isn't any gym here in Korea that has got the broad experience in skills sets needed for training properly in MMA. Everyone who is succesful in MMA in Korea basically dominates because of one particular skill set they have (e.g. experience in Judo, BJJ, or Wrestling, etc.) Most of the Muay Thai places I have seen in Seoul don't think about MMA and the same is mostly true with Judo except for gyms run specifically by Judo guys who have moved to MMA (e.g. Dong Sik Yoon). In other words, these gyms excel in one area and if you are lucky two but haven't yet produced well rounded fighters.

[asian sensation]

Anyone know of an MMA school in or near Osan? Or other serious training going on?

[hossenfeffer]

i4NI--

I've been training at John Frankl's BJJ school in Apgujeong for a few months now. If you have any questions, feel free to pm me.

Hoss.