I Googled self defense training in Worcester mass about a year ago; I can honestly say it's one of the best decisions I have ever made. I wanted to be active, at 36 years old I found myself in the same hole many of my friends have fell into. Active in my youth, adding the few pounds here and there in college and after graduating, I got married, I got a mortgage, and kids...life came into play. I found myself in what seemed to be a blink of an eye not grossly overweight but for sure out of shape, not able to exercise and have what I would call a healthy active lifestyle. Seeing my kids growing up faster than it took me to land in my unhealthy state I decided to do something about it. I wanted to be active but I didn't want to do the gym thing, although that's where I started anyway. Boring and lacking the needed motivation to go and make it a habit, I stopped after a few weeks and only about four real times in the gym.
I decided to look into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu because I overheard a woman at lunch saying her son lost a lot of weight doing Jiu-Jitsu "He is addicted" I heard her say and the list of benefits kept coming from her mouth. She seemed very fond of all her son had accomplished. I inquired about the program and was told about Simmler BJJ. Still with a great feedback to back it, I was still not on board thinking I have responsibilities and connecting the BJJ with the mixed martial arts and blood baths you see on TV with the ultimate fighting style matches with I passed thinking 'I'm too old to start this now...'and things like that. I wish I hadn't. I try not to think about the what ifs...but it's hard to not think where I could be now if I pursued this when I heard the woman speaking to her friend, that was about three years ago now, last march I finally looked into it googling self defense schools, I made and went to three other places in the Worcester area before going to Simmler BJJ, I made the decision to go look at traditional martial arts schools first because that's the generation I am from and I felt like I knew, the schools where small, unkempt, or the system seemed watered down, there was a little something at each one I looked at that was unsettling and didn't seem to be what I wanted. Finally I looked into brazilin jiujitsu specifically. I filled out and sent contact forms two places, Simmler BJJ called me back about thirty minutes after I filled out the form, the other gym called me at three weeks and again at three months. When I went in for my lesson, staff was friendly, despite only being able to do a 7:30am intro lesson, when I appologised for only being able to come so early the front desk girl smiled and said she gets in at 5 so not to worry. (Thats horrible was all I could think lol) she was very knowledgeable and and the detail and patience of the instructor was first class. What I was more impressed with was the instructors and the size of the gym. Having checked out a few places all around the same size I assumed that's what the norm was. Not here. Its massive, more mat space than any other gym I know of, two floors, and clean, I mean clean clean, even during construction times it some how stays well above average and since I have been here (About a year now) it has been remodeled twice once top to bottom. Every month there is something upgraded and I year many students making comments about that. It is nice to see a great school getting even better weekly. Since I manned up and made my appointment I am proud to say I have lost 47lbs to date. I am active, I have energy, and I can honestly say my marriage and relationship with my wife and kids has improved as a result. I have less stress, I have something I love to look forward to after a hard week at work, and I have now since started my two boys (6&8) doing privates twice a week with two of the instructors to get them well on their way to having BJJ in their lives too. The kids schedule does not allow them to take regular classes because it conflicts with both me and my wife's work schedule but the individual lessons for the boys over the last 4 months have seemed to be propelling them faster than what I would expect from regular classes anyway. As far as instruction what I like is there is a clear cut curriculum, you can get a copy of it to follow, other schools teach randomly with no end goal in site, also there are many steps for quality control, In writing this it has brought back the feelings of my first class and all the experiences I have had since I have become a team member here. I can close with these words, this place has become a second home and unless life or health stops me from being able to participate in classes "I am a lifer!" Joining this gym has been a life changing decision and you owe it to yourself to check this place out for yourself. Don't just pick one place and go, look around so you can compare and really appreciate what this place has to offer.
Jason S read more