“Well, it didn’t make me want to puke.” No, that’s not our commentary on the mixed martial arts temple in New Rochelle that is the Westchester Fight Club—that’s our instructor’s feedback after our first punching and kicking session, where yes, we got to whale on some of our best friends. To quote Andy Samberg’s Nicholas Cage caricature on Saturday Night Live, “That’s high praise!” For those who don’t know, mixed martial arts (“MMA”) is the current popular wave in sports combat. It’s the foundation for the ultimate fighting you see on TV (think octagon, not square ring). At the Westchester Fight Club, beginners are provided a free consultation and then start in the “foundations program” where they learn just how to do it. Start with Muay Thai, where you learn how to fight standing up, and Brazilian jujitsu, where you learn how to grapple on the ground— taught by coaches, such as Mike “The Irish Machine” Stewart, who all compete themselves (and win!). Our Muay Thai class started with a wonderfully insane combination of jumping rope, squats, fast-paced music, and then, boxing gloves on our hands, a square pad in front of our friend’s chest, and the blissful high-speed contact of the two. Once students master the basics, the school adds in boxing, wrestling, and mixed training, which teaches students how to put all their skills together, turning them into lean, only somewhat mean, fighting machines. And you’ll be in absolutely sick shape when you’re done.
We left saying: “We love our friends; but we can’t help loving kicking and punching them a little, too.”
Bring a friend: Yes, but classes offer plenty of opportunity to make new friends.
Fear factor: Low/medium. You are going to get kicked and punched, but you should be more afraid of letting yourself down during the rope-jumping drills than anything else.
Just do it: westchesterfightclub.com, (914) 355-2618
Plus
â–º Hang Glide
â–º Paintball
â–º Archery
â–º Fly an Airplane
â–º Drive a racecar
â–º Rock Climb
â–º For more from 914INC’s Q2 2013 Issue, click here.
