Most people have at least heard of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, though not all of them know exactly what it is. BJJ is actually made up of three different components:

1. Martial arts
2. Combat sports
3. Self-defense

What sets BJJ apart from other forms of martial arts is that the main focus for training is on grappling, especially the ground fighting. The fundamentals of this training are also to teach how someone smaller can actually defend against and then overtake a larger and stronger opponent.

Another thing that is part of the BJJ culture is self-defense. Self-defense helps you recover from the most vulnerable of positions. An example of this is when an attacker has you on the ground. BJJ is able to teach you the right techniques so you are able to release from these and other holds.

Takedown MMA and Fitness is not your ordinary MMA studio. We have experienced professionals to get you where you need to be. With more than 50 years of experience between our instructors, there is no reason to train anywhere else.

There are many benefits to taking MMA at our studio. If you want to regain your self-esteem, then taking MMA will help you. Here are some other benefits to taking MMA:

• Restore your confidence
• Become healthier
• Become more fit in body and mind
• Enjoy it at all ages
• Have a positive self image

If you and your family have been debating whether or not to take a MMA class, now is the time to do so. Not only will you and your family become that much healthier, but you will all have fun while doing it. So stop thinking about it and do it now.

Health-minded individuals and those who do not go to the gym on a regular basis can also benefit from taking MMA at Takedown MMA and Fitness. You do not have to be one of those gym rats to be able to enjoy an MMA class. We have many different levels of learning because we understand that we all do not learn at the same rate. Here are the age groups of our customers:

• Children
• Adults
• Seniors

You will no longer have that disparaging feeling of defeat when you take one of our MMA courses. Our courses are specifically designed to make you look and feel better. You will not believe the person that you will turn into after one of our courses. Here are some of the areas we help strengthen:

• Confidence
• Self-esteem
• Positive attitude
• And much more

There is no other better to transform yourself than by taking an MMA course. You will learn every thing from Muay Thai Kickboxing to BJJ and much more. Come sign up today. People of all ages love our courses and continue to return. We bring the action to you.

Come sign up today at Takedown MMA and Fitness. You will not be sorry that you did. We are looking for people just like you.

 

 Come join us in our Fitness Boot Camp classes at Takedown MMA on September 9th.

 This is going to be a fat burning high intense conditioning class, thats going to be tot by our Favourite former high school Gym teach / wrestling and rugby coach Mr Mario Raponi!

This man is a legend to Father Bressani high school, if you went to this high school you will kno this man!

Don’t miss out this is going to be a great class, and it well get you to your fitness goals.

 

Takedown MMA in Toronto vaughan made it on york region living for the frankie edgar seminar!

check it out

“Each time we face our fear, we gain strength, courage and confidence in the doing…”

I found this quote this morning and I remembered how martial arts training built confidence in others including myself.

As a martial artist whether you realize it or not you build confidence every time you show up to your class. Just stepping into your dojo takes courage and every time you do it.

I don’t know about you, but I still get butterflies every time I am asked to roll or spar with someone. As soon as the match starts, the butterflies go away and my focus shifts to doing my best.

This is exactly how martial arts training builds your confidence. If you are an adult, you know that the butterflies you feel when you are sparring or about to perform a move in front of your instructor and classmates are the same you feel when you are asked to give an important presentation, approach your boss for an important assignment or raise.

By training in the martial arts, you know you can handle anything that comes your way, because you expose yourself to challenging situations and perform at your best. You are building or “conditioning” your confidence, making it stronger with every class. You are training yourself to focus and perform under pressure, no matter what the situation may be that is causing the pressure.

This is also why martial arts competition is a great tool for building confidence in children and adults. Nowhere else can you find something that builds confidence in a safe and fun environment at the same time, pushes you to perform and be your best.

Whether it is through your martial arts classes or participating in martial arts tournaments, every time you push yourself to train, you are building your confidence and a stronger you.

If you’re not involved in a Mixed Martial Arts program I high recommend that you do. If you’re looking check our 30 Day Trial MMA program, we’re located north of Toronto in Vaughan.

 

Weather your training Muay Thai or Mixed Martial arts (MMA), 3 of the most important things you need to train 1) Stand up 2) takedowns 3) ground work.

If you already have experience in stand up, knowing how to fake your moves can help you in the fight. These are little tricks can give you a bit of an upper hand in you sparring sessions or the fight.

Come give it a try in our classes at Takedown MMA in Toronto Vaughan.

UFC is bring our best MMA fights back to Toronto in September.  UFC 165 will take place on Saturday, September 21st at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.

The last time UFC came to Toronto, the ACC saw a crowd of 16,800 fans watch Jon Jones defend his title against Vitor Belfort at UFC 152.

Toronto also held UFC 140, drawing 18,303 and UFC 129 — which drew a crazy crowd of 55,724 at the Rogers Centre was the first time they ever came to Toronto, which was an amazing event.

UFC 165 should be a good one, don’t miss out on all the MMA action right here in Toronto.

 

Dana White (UFC president) made a public opinion that Toronto is the “MECCA” of MMA when it comes to producing both fans and talent.

“The reason the UFC works, not just up here in the Mecca in Toronto but all over the world as we continue to roll this thing out, is because we’re human beings,” Dana said. “Canada and Toronto just gets it and likes it a lot more than everybody else.”

With its growing popularity all over canada, White said it’s not a question of whether Canadians are ruthless, just appreciate it more.

“(Canadians), they’re not blood thirsty,” Dana said. “They’re a fan of this art. These guys are so incredibly talented.”

And we are, look at all the fighters that Canada has produced. Just as an example look at Georges St. Pierre and Mark Hominick which are two of Canada’s more popular mixed martial artists, the country has produced its fair share of fighters.

I believe that this is only the beginning of what Toronto and Canada will build for MMA.

 

I’ve been training MMA in Toronto for almost 15 years. There are 3 things a MMA fighter needs to train conditioning, technique, and strength.

Aside from conditioning and technique training, fighters should have certain days in a week where they work on building their strength. General strength is important to create power, which is needed to knock people out and for takedowns sometimes. Having great technique and strength is the key elements for success in Mixed Martial Arts. Technique can be acquired through muscle memory and retention, while strength and conditioning is built by having regularly strength training routine. Here are 7 strength training for all MMA fighters:

1) Deadlifts

Deadlifts is the core workout for all fighters who want to add lean muscle and strength to their whole body. It is the purest test of strength because you are lifting the weight straight from the ground and at dead weight, with no inertia or stored energy. Fighters should use the deadlift with repetitions in the 3-5 range.

2) Front Squats

Front squats help build both the upper and lower body strength. The front squat is done with the barbell on your front shoulders instead of your upper-back, bend through your knees in a squatting motion and go back right up. Front squats are built to strengthen the core and lower body at the same time. Similar with with the deadlifts, front squats should be done in the 3-6 repetition range.

3) Heavy Sled

Notable MMA fighters such as Roy Nelson, Rashad Evans, Rampage Jackson, etc have added the heavy sled workout in their training regime because of its great results. Doing the heavy sled workout both increases conditioning and lower body strength. If you want to increase your lower body strength more, do the exercise at the start of your workout and put heavy plates on the sled and do 10-second sprints. On the other hand, if you want to focus on conditioning more, do the heavy sled exercise at the end of your workout, increase the sprinting time and put lesser weight on the sled.

4) Kettlebell

Kettlebell training is one of the most simplest forms of strength training because you’ll just need tWo kettlebells and you’re ready to go. Hold the kettlebells at one arm each and start at bent over position (pretty mich like the starting position for deadlifting) with your knees slightly bent. Then, explosively raise the kettlebells to your shoulders (rotate elbows around and underneath the kettlebell) while simultaneously extending the hips, knees and ankle  in a “jumping action”. This should be done in a fluid motion for 3-5 repetitions in 3-5 sets. Always remember to always keep elbows tight and do this workout explosively.

5) Weighted Pull-ups

Weighted pull-ups is an upper body strengthening exercise where the body is suspended by the arms. Pull-ups increases punching power because when doing pull-ups the back and the core strengthens, which is a key element that adds power, along with the hips, when you throw a punch. When doing weighted pull-ups, the usual repetition is between the 3-8 range, do this for 3 sets. Keep in mind that whenever you do a pull-up, make sure that your body doesn’t swing so as to perfect the exercise.

6) Sledgehammer

To start off with this exercise, you’ll first need a sledgehammer and a truck tire. You’ll just need to hit the truck tire at the same time controlling form and motion. Stand in front of the tire, about 2 to 3 feet away from it and when you’re swinging from the right, your left foot must be your lead leg. Left hand should be at the bottom of the hammer and the right hand should be closer to the head. As you bring the sledge up, your right hand slides toward the head; as you swing down, your right hand will slide down to join your left hand. Smash the tire as much as you can then control form while its going up. Controlling the hammer as it goes up is half of the workout. Make sure to switch sides alternately after hitting the tire. Do this for 6-10 repetitions for 3 sets. Sledgehammer workout strengthens the core and it enhances grip and forearm strength, it also improves explosiveness.

7) Rest

Finally, the last workout fighters need in their training regime is rest. Rest is essential for the body to recover and help grow the muscles that you worked hard on, just give it a day or two for the body to heal up. After workouts you can try to drink protein shakes for better generation of lean muscles. Treat the body right, and it would do the same to you and provide you with your desired outcome!

With strength and conditioning combined with MMA training, eating well and resting up, fighter’s tend to see the improvement in their performance! Come try our MMA Strength & Conditioning Boot camp for free for 30 Days, we’re located in Toronto.

 

What is the true meaning to belts in the martial arts or brazilian jiu jitsu (BJJ)?

Coloured belts represent levels of progress for students in Martial arts or BJJ. The system was created in the 19th century by Jigoro Kano, considered by many as the father of judo. The belt system has since come to be used by other martial arts, including BJJ, Karate, and all other arts. Colours vary between disciplines, and even within disciplines can be different from country to country or club to club. But the symbolism of the belts are the same in every discipline.

White belts are typically given to beginner students of the martial arts. White is a symbol of birth and beginning, indicating that the student is just starting to gain knowledge. White belts are used in most martial arts, including karate, taekwondo, judo, and jiu jitsu.

The Black belt is the highest level of belt in judo, karate and Jiu jitsu — though there may also be levels of black belt. The black belt is the opposite of the white belt, signifying completion and maturity in the student. It is popularly said that ancient martial artists’ white belts would become black with dirt over years of training, but this story is likely just that.

All the other belts in between very among arts and schools. The main thing is that belts are not a symbol of what you can do, it is a symbol of years of training that you have been through. Most people when starting at a new school feel that their starting over, which they shouldn’t feel that way. You should understand that if you are confident in your ability you should excel fast.

Come try Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at Takedown MMA in Woodbridge, Vaughan.

 

So many people think that Anderson Silva is trained by Steven Seagal. That is such a stupid though, it is not true. Steven Seagal has no MMA experience. I was just reading and article on this, by Demian Maia. He says that Steven Seagal’s movie career is down that is why he hooked up with Anderson Silva to help boost his career. Check it out http://www.bjpenn.com/demian-maia-says-silva-training-with-seagal-is-all-lies/