Best BJJ gym in Las Vegas for a 40+ beginner

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jamesmaxx45

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I know lv is the Mecca of mma and has some of the best bjj gys in the world. Looking for advice on the best place for a person in my situation. I have heard, and read, some accounts of people getting thrown in to hard sparring their 1st week and getting injured and never coming back. I know u can get injured walking ur doggy but just trying to minimize chances of being injured and being out of work.

Just wondering what gym or atmosphere would be the best. Such as places like Drysdales, ckjj, Wands, Throwdown or more traditional places Micas, Sergio, or Cavalcantai? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Especially from people who started Bjj later on in life. I know it is going to be tough but I am going to do this. Thanks!
 
Murdoch said:
Ice 9 and I should probably have a word doc to cut and paste from as there are always a lot of threads on training in vegas. I think we'd both agree that the best thing to do is stop in and train for a week at all the gyms in town.

There is a ton of great instruction in the valley. I have friends at just about every gym in town. I think one thing to consider is if you want a jiu jitsu school or an mma school. I prefer to train jiu jitsu with jiu jitsu people. MMA gyms that offer jiu jitsu are not my favorite.


Come by Sergio Penha's in Chinatown and give it a shot for the week. Sergio will be the first to tell you to try out our classes and also others in town. If you enjoy the academy then sign up. I can say that we have a great mix of tough upper belts and also a lot of hobbyists as well. So if you want to win mundials or just roll with some friends you'd be happy at our academy. Sergio does no marketing and the gym is basically built around word of mouth. You never know who might drop in as well. In the past we've had Roger, Renzo, Saulo, Garry Tonon, Ryan Hall, Sara McMann. Jon Fitch is training with us now as well. Bernardo Faria comes out a lot to train with Sergio.

I didn't know there was a cobrinha school here. Welcome to Vegas! 10th planet is coming as well, just no information on a location yet.
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Thanxs, Sergio's is one of top gyms on my list to checkout. How many guys who are brand new start out there? Seems like a gym for the people who r experienced. I could be completely wrong though.
 
what's your sports background? were you a wrestler or martial artist at one point in your life? If you have some prior grappling exp like wrestling or judo and you were average or at least decent then maybe you'd want to go to some of the places you mentioned.

if you have no such background and you want to train say 2 or 3 times a week you reeeaaallly don't want to go to a competition focused school. I may get flamed for this but take it from some body who's wrestled mma'd and NOGI BJJ'd for over 20 years even with my jack of all trades grappling background when you roll with a competition level blue, purple, or brown at our age and all the fucker does is train, and compete..... it wont be a pleasant experience come rolling time.

and at 40 your recovery abilities wont be the same after getting twerked by some single with no kids 25 yo BJJ blue belt that on top of being on the mats 6 days a week he lifts weights, does cardio and competes every weekend.

they may be generic but since you're just a lil younger than me I'd advise UFC gym. you'll get competent BJJ instruction and you'll be there with other hobbyists that wont leave you questioning your manhood. either way good luck. BJJ is something I've been doing for years and it is so cathartic and stress relieving I just wish I'd started it earlier.
 
I've heard that Kobra Cai and Sergio Penha's gym are pretty friendly, with a nice atmosphere
 
zsmith3727 said:
Cobrinha just opened an academy there. It is headed up by brown belt Hector Vasquez. He trained directly under Cobrinha at headquarters in LA until the move to Vegas a month or so ago. He is an awesome dude and works really well with brand new students.
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Where is it located?
 
My favorite place to go to in LV is Cobra Kai. Sim Go is the head instructor. Its super relaxed, with great instruction. Very friendly and easy to fit in schedule. If Paul Kuvelis is there, he's pretty old too, and is a super nice black belt instructor. Great team and environment they have there.

Drysdale's is cool, because of Drysdale. The vibe wasn't as friendly though. Sergio's Academy was very friendly but more traditional, which is really a preference thing.
 
jamesmaxx45 said:
Thanxs, Sergio's is one of top gyms on my list to checkout. How many guys who are brand new start out there? Seems like a gym for the people who r experienced. I could be completely wrong though.
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Yea it's rare for us to have a lot of whitebelts. I wouldn't say it's a gym just for people who have experience only though. Sergio is a bit like a graduate level professor. It helps if you can at least have some basics. We have a ton of blackbelts so you'll always get whatever level of support you need. He is also very cognizant of everyone's levels and matches them up for technique and rolling accordingly.

I'll be starting up my fundamentals/drills class in another few weeks. I try to fill in some of the gaps that Sergio may forgo to explain higher end details. I just need to recover a bit more from my last surgery.

Hope to you see you stop in.
 
I would check them all out. I would say the largest factor is going to be what area of Vegas you live in
 
I can vouch for the friendly atmosphere at Cobra Kai.

Awesome guys and tough rolls if you want them. Seemed like a great mix of young and old, competitor and hobbyist.

All the guys were cool as shit.

Train there.
 
zsmith3727 said:
Cobrinha just opened an academy there. It is headed up by brown belt Hector Vasquez. He trained directly under Cobrinha at headquarters in LA until the move to Vegas a month or so ago. He is an awesome dude and works really well with brand new students.
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yovan said:
I can vouch for the friendly atmosphere at Cobra Kai.

Awesome guys and tough rolls if you want them. Seemed like a great mix of young and old, competitor and hobbyist.

All the guys were cool as shit.

Train there.
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Thanxs.
 
Jack Handy jr said:
what's your sports background? were you a wrestler or martial artist at one point in your life? If you have some prior grappling exp like wrestling or judo and you were average or at least decent then maybe you'd want to go to some of the places you mentioned.

if you have no such background and you want to train say 2 or 3 times a week you reeeaaallly don't want to go to a competition focused school. I may get flamed for this but take it from some body who's wrestled mma'd and NOGI BJJ'd for over 20 years even with my jack of all trades grappling background when you roll with a competition level blue, purple, or brown at our age and all the fucker does is train, and compete..... it wont be a pleasant experience come rolling time.

and at 40 your recovery abilities wont be the same after getting twerked by some single with no kids 25 yo BJJ blue belt that on top of being on the mats 6 days a week he lifts weights, does cardio and competes every weekend.

they may be generic but since you're just a lil younger than me I'd advise UFC gym. you'll get competent BJJ instruction and you'll be there with other hobbyists that wont leave you questioning your manhood. either way good luck. BJJ is something I've been doing for years and it is so cathartic and stress relieving I just wish I'd started it earlier.
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I have stayed in shape my entire life but no real grappling background to speak of. The UFC gym really? Thanxs for the info.
 
11987198_1124852494210695_258844000140228214_n.jpg

http://www.openmatradio.com/blog/
If you're swinging by for "Old Man" Worlds be sure to check out Sergio's seminar Sunday. Pre-hegister and save a few bucks.
 
Ice 9 Cobra said:
I would check them all out. I would say the largest factor is going to be what area of Vegas you live in
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Moving near torry pines and sahara. For what I can see within 10 min car ride is Drysdales, Sergios, Mica, CKJJ, and perhaps Wands. Could be off on that though. Kinda new to lv.
 
I will be in Utah for NAGA. At this rate we'll never train with each other lol
 
One of my former students moved to Vegas and trains at Mica's. He seems to really like it there. He's in his mid-30s with a wife and 2 kids and does not compete. He is a blue belt now but moved there as a white belt.
 
Jack Handy jr said:
what's your sports background? were you a wrestler or martial artist at one point in your life? If you have some prior grappling exp like wrestling or judo and you were average or at least decent then maybe you'd want to go to some of the places you mentioned.

if you have no such background and you want to train say 2 or 3 times a week you reeeaaallly don't want to go to a competition focused school. I may get flamed for this but take it from some body who's wrestled mma'd and NOGI BJJ'd for over 20 years even with my jack of all trades grappling background when you roll with a competition level blue, purple, or brown at our age and all the fucker does is train, and compete..... it wont be a pleasant experience come rolling time.

and at 40 your recovery abilities wont be the same after getting twerked by some single with no kids 25 yo BJJ blue belt that on top of being on the mats 6 days a week he lifts weights, does cardio and competes every weekend.

they may be generic but since you're just a lil younger than me I'd advise UFC gym. you'll get competent BJJ instruction and you'll be there with other hobbyists that wont leave you questioning your manhood. either way good luck. BJJ is something I've been doing for years and it is so cathartic and stress relieving I just wish I'd started it earlier.
Click to expand...

Good advice. I'm 40 and some of those younguns Jesus, they have cardio and athleticism for days.
 
jamesmaxx45 said:
Moving near torry pines and sahara. For what I can see within 10 min car ride is Drysdales, Sergios, Mica, CKJJ, and perhaps Wands. Could be off on that though. Kinda new to lv.
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Drysdale's is going to be your closest option, it's probably walking distance. It's not too crazy for you to reach all the gyms because you're decently central.

If you do stop by CK, let me know.
 
Dogstarman said:
Good advice. I'm 40 and some of those younguns Jesus, they have cardio and athleticism for days.
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yeah bro I can go h.a.m if I run into "mundials guy" but then I need like two to three days recovery lol. I see why so many MMA fighters north of say 36 take trt. I only do about 1/3 of the shit they do and it takes a lot out of me.

I still train with Killers because it wouldn't be fair to train with hobbyists with no type of wrestling background. I've gone against these guys and I literally cant take it any "easier" on them or I wouldn't be moving. and I still can do whatever I want. and I suck not really but I'm not "elite".

but with a guy like TS imo a UFC gym or a gym that's not considered "elite" would benefit him. I'm not saying he suffers from ego or pride but I've seen many guys with no background come in and they want to spar and roll and they get so relatively beat up and tapped like 15 times and they don't come back some guys ego's just cant handle it. my 2ct
 
Ice 9 Cobra said:
Drysdale's is going to be your closest option, it's probably walking distance. It's not too crazy for you to reach all the gyms because you're decently central.

If you do stop by CK, let me know.
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Will do, u guys have a great rep and membership plan. Thanxs.
 
Jack Handy jr said:
yeah bro I can go h.a.m if I run into "mundials guy" but then I need like two to three days recovery lol. I see why so many MMA fighters north of say 36 take trt. I only do about 1/3 of the shit they do and it takes a lot out of me.

I still train with Killers because it wouldn't be fair to train with hobbyists with no type of wrestling background. I've gone against these guys and I literally cant take it any "easier" on them or I wouldn't be moving. and I still can do whatever I want. and I suck not really but I'm not "elite".

but with a guy like TS imo a UFC gym or a gym that's not considered "elite" would benefit him. I'm not saying he suffers from ego or pride but I've seen many guys with no background come in and they want to spar and roll and they get so relatively beat up and tapped like 15 times and they don't come back some guys ego's just cant handle it. my 2ct
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I assumed everyone loses a bunch in the beginning. I was looking to minimize my chance of getting injure by some knucklehead trying to put another notch on his belt. I've worked out the majority of my life and kinda look like someone who plays fullback for the chargers. Which I have heard can make u kind of a target. Lets beat up/tap the new big guy. I am considering what u posted.

It is probably going to come down to who has the best schedule for me. Another question if u dont mind. When I am looking at these gyms schedule. Most dont seem to have a fundamentals/ beginner's class listed. If they do it is usually once a day. So this means if u can't make this class u can't train or u just jump in any of the Bjj classes offered? Thanks again.
 
I'm gonna be in LV next weekend.
Gonna try to either hit Syndicate MMA or Cobra Kai.
 
Opening a gym with a Brownbelt in an area as saturated as Vegas takes some guts. I guess he does have a pretty good area though
 
Here's the chargers Full back for reference: #88

antonio-gates-david-johnson-nfl-preseason-dallas-cowboys-san-diego-chargers-850x560.jpg
 
jamesmaxx45 said:
I know lv is the Mecca of mma and has some of the best bjj gys in the world. Looking for advice on the best place for a person in my situation. I have heard, and read, some accounts of people getting thrown in to hard sparring their 1st week and getting injured and never coming back. I know u can get injured walking ur doggy but just trying to minimize chances of being injured and being out of work.

Just wondering what gym or atmosphere would be the best. Such as places like Drysdales, ckjj, Wands, Throwdown or more traditional places Micas, Sergio, or Cavalcantai? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Especially from people who started Bjj later on in life. I know it is going to be tough but I am going to do this. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Cobrinha just opened an academy there. It is headed up by brown belt Hector Vasquez. He trained directly under Cobrinha at headquarters in LA until the move to Vegas a month or so ago. He is an awesome dude and works really well with brand new students.
 
jamesmaxx45 said:
I assumed everyone loses a bunch in the beginning. I was looking to minimize my chance of getting injure by some knucklehead trying to put another notch on his belt. I've worked out the majority of my life and kinda look like someone who plays fullback for the chargers. Which I have heard can make u kind of a target. Lets beat up/tap the new big guy. I am considering what u posted.

It is probably going to come down to who has the best schedule for me. Another question if u dont mind. When I am looking at these gyms schedule. Most dont seem to have a fundamentals/ beginner's class listed. If they do it is usually once a day. So this means if u can't make this class u can't train or u just jump in any of the Bjj classes offered? Thanks again.
Click to expand...

A bro if you're kinda swole guys are going to automatically go harder with you even if you wear a t shirt with "I am a beginner" emblazoned in green neon across the front. it's the Nature of weekend warrior hobbyists. that said do what I do.

I don't care if I'm Rolling with a UFC fighter, new guy teenager, Palhares. I always say "hey no heel hooks!" you can knee bar me, toe hold me, calf slice me, but no GD heel hooks.

I think if you take the kinda humbleish(made a new word:P) approach in telling a guy before hand hey "I've got an ache here) " "I'm kinda injured there" " please don't neck crank me", or "I'm a beginner" unless you're rolling with an ass you'll do fine.

That said if you've hit the weights the majority of your life. I've noticed guys like us when they're new use A LOT of strength and explosive dynamic "raw" type grappling that some one with a lot of experience could conscrew as you trying to make them look bad, or you wanna go harder so keep that in mind.

And try out some of the Harder places you mentioned in LV. take a free week here and there. and then decide which programs level of intensity is for you. I'll freely admit I cant get past the warm ups in some of these elite places.:redface:
 
Ice 9 and I should probably have a word doc to cut and paste from as there are always a lot of threads on training in vegas. I think we'd both agree that the best thing to do is stop in and train for a week at all the gyms in town.

There is a ton of great instruction in the valley. I have friends at just about every gym in town. I think one thing to consider is if you want a jiu jitsu school or an mma school. I prefer to train jiu jitsu with jiu jitsu people. MMA gyms that offer jiu jitsu are not my favorite.



Come by Sergio Penha's in Chinatown and give it a shot for the week. Sergio will be the first to tell you to try out our classes and also others in town. If you enjoy the academy then sign up. I can say that we have a great mix of tough upper belts and also a lot of hobbyists as well. So if you want to win mundials or just roll with some friends you'd be happy at our academy. Sergio does no marketing and the gym is basically built around word of mouth. You never know who might drop in as well. In the past we've had Roger, Renzo, Saulo, Garry Tonon, Ryan Hall, Sara McMann. Jon Fitch is training with us now as well. Bernardo Faria comes out a lot to train with Sergio.

I didn't know there was a cobrinha school here. Welcome to Vegas! 10th planet is coming as well, just no information on a location yet.
 
Visit every academy/school/gym that offers a free trial for the entire extent of said trial. Select afterwards.
 
Jack Handy jr said:
A bro if you're kinda swole guys are going to automatically go harder with you even if you wear a t shirt with "I am a beginner" emblazoned in green neon across the front. it's the Nature of weekend warrior hobbyists. that said do what I do.

I don't care if I'm Rolling with a UFC fighter, new guy teenager, Palhares. I always say "hey no heel hooks!" you can knee bar me, toe hold me, calf slice me, but no GD heel hooks.

I think if you take the kinda humbleish(made a new word:P) approach in telling a guy before hand hey "I've got an ache here) " "I'm kinda injured there" " please don't neck crank me", or "I'm a beginner" unless you're rolling with an ass you'll do fine.

That said if you've hit the weights the majority of your life. I've noticed guys like us when they're new use A LOT of strength and explosive dynamic "raw" type grappling that some one with a lot of experience could conscrew as you trying to make them look bad, or you wanna go harder so keep that in mind.

And try out some of the Harder places you mentioned in LV. take a free week here and there. and then decide which programs level of intensity is for you. I'll freely admit I cant get past the warm ups in some of these elite places.:redface:
Click to expand...

Yeah thats what I thought. Warmups are also something I have consider. Hear Ckjj warmups are pretty short in duration. Thanks for the info. Going to check out a few, probably going to come down to scheduling and location. Might come back and post which one I chose and why for the next guy in my situation.
 
Ice 9 Cobra said:
I will be in Utah for NAGA. At this rate we'll never train with each other lol
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Worked out well for you though didn't it? Advanced Gold if I'm not mistaken? Congrats man. Happy to see you getting the results you want!
 
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