There are a lot of factors that make a great martial arts school. Knowledgeable and experienced instructors, a spacious, well-maintained facility, and sensible class schedule are some of the first necessities that came to mind when I was searching for martial arts in the Hudson Valley. These are all important pieces of a great training facility, but I got much more than that when I became a member at Precision Boxing and MMA. I had found awesome coaches who had a wealth of knowledge and experience. Our facility was beautiful and continued to expand during my years of training. However, one thing that kept me looking forward to class everyday was the community of members that Precision had created.
This wasn’t like a local grocery store or any other business that we all paid money to go to, this was a home away from home. Going to Precision was a departure from my normal activities, but that was only one of many reasons why I loved going to class. It was somewhere that I could go to blow off some steam, learn something new and feel genuine support from my teammates and coaches. Regardless of how my day was, I would always leave class feeling good about myself. Even if I struggled with a technique, everyone was eager to help and would remind me that I’m putting in an admirable effort. I was overwhelmingly nervous to begin my martial arts journey, but after a couple of classes I realized that my classmates words of encouragement were genuine and that they too felt confused and nervous at one point. After being a member at Precision for over five years, I’ve seen many people come and go. Some have become lifelong friends, some have moved elsewhere and others I still train with to this day.
I used to meet with prospective members and help them with the sign-up process, and I quickly gained a keen sense as to who will be a good fit for our community and who won’t last long. I found that those who came in looking to learn, exercised humility and were willing to help others not only became staples in our community, but also experienced rapid skill progression. Whenever I think about people who are important to the community at Precision, I always am reminded of Carlo, one of my favorite training partners.
When Carlo first came in, he was scheduled to check us out with a friend but told me that his friend “chickened out”. Although many people are intimidated to begin their martial arts journey, Carlo was determined and excited. He wasn’t going to let his friends’ hesitation stop him from starting this chapter of his life. I proceeded to give a short lesson including some basics of boxing, Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Carlo paid close attention and was able to do everything that I asked of him. He had no prior martial arts experience but showed the focus and mentality of a dedicated martial artist. I had a great time working with him and we have trained together at least a couple of days a week consistently since that day!
Carlo quickly became one of our most consistent students, putting in equal effort towards his grappling and his striking. Carlo isn’t the physically largest guy in the room but his spirit is larger than life. He’ll spar or roll with anyone regardless of their size or experience and have meaningful insights to share with his partner after the session. I happen to have significantly longer limbs than Carlo but anytime we spar in Muay Thai, he patiently works his way past my jab and teep and begins to engage with me from a clinching distance.
Having gained some respectable skill and knowledge, Carlo is a part of our fundamental, intermediate and advanced level classes. Although he frequently trains with more experienced practitioners, Carlo is always cognizant to help out any newcomers. I always see him introducing himself when there’s new faces in class and frequently giving technique tips to those who may be struggling. To me, this is one of the most important aspects of a quality martial arts community. Everyone remembers what it’s like to be the new person in class and Carlo is a shining example of the culture that we aim to create here at Precision.
Not only does Carlo extend a helping hand to new students, but he also has helped me through many rough training sessions. I have been training martial arts for about five years now, and I still get frustrated during some sessions. When I’m feeling like I’m hitting a plateau or struggling to understand a technique, Carlo is there with encouraging words and a relaxed attitude. If I’m putting too much pressure on myself I’ll look over at Carlo who’s usually cracking a smile or fixing his vision on his task with laser focus and I’m reminded of all the reasons why I love martial arts. Carlo’s simultaneous joy and dedication to his craft serve as a compass to realign my focus when I’ve felt lost on the mats. I’ve affectionately begun referring to him as “King Carlo”; a silly nickname that pays homage to his cool, calm attitude.
Carlo is one of many wonderful people in my life who I’ve met through training martial arts in the Hudson Valley. If you want to make your martial arts dreams a reality and meet some great people along the way come check out Precision Boxing and MMA! Give us a call at (845)392-8495 or click HERE to come train with Carlo and I!
About the Author
Oliver Swanson is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and assistant boxing coach at Precision Boxing and MMA in Poughkeepsie. An avid martial arts practitioner, Oliver spends most of his time on the mats but also enjoys hiking and playing music with friends.
