Author Topic: MMA Equipment Suggestions (Read 3120 times)

onlyme · « **on:** June 03, 2008, 11:44:05 PM »

Okay guys I know this is not normal but I thought I would do it anyway cause I don't like to do things regular. Anyway, what equipment do you guys recommend I get for my MMA center. I have 3 octagons going in. DO you think I need a boxing ring. I have Zebra Mats for the mat room. For gloves, headgear, guards and even the heavy bags I am going to private label with our name in it. The 5 speed bags will be the adjustable Everlast ones. I have kettle bells going in (any suggestions on company). We have an elevated mezzanine that will have two bleachers so that you can get an elevated view of the ring room and the mat room. WHo makes the best octagons. Also, I am getting 22' ones.Any other suggestions would be helpful.

Hedgehog · « **Reply #1 on:** June 04, 2008, 12:20:14 AM »

Get big tires. Not just for flipping. But also for Cuban stick beating.

onlyme · « **Reply #2 on:** June 04, 2008, 01:06:58 AM »

Also have a question, how big is the octagon they use in actual UFC competition. I had no idea there were so many sizes.

IronFan · « **Reply #3 on:** June 04, 2008, 11:22:58 AM »

For what it's worth:

http://www.sherdog.net/forums/f2/ufc-octagon-size-454166/

IronFan · « **Reply #4 on:** June 04, 2008, 11:25:03 AM »

Also:

http://www.mmaforum.com/gear-equipment/1108-octagon-ring.html

americanbulldog · « **Reply #5 on:** June 04, 2008, 12:19:55 PM »

Throwdown makes some great cages.

benz · « **Reply #6 on:** June 04, 2008, 01:15:37 PM »

You are building a multi million dollar gym and you look for answers to your questions here at getbig? sounds like the gym is gonna fail

onlyme · « **Reply #7 on:** June 04, 2008, 02:15:39 PM »

Quote from: benz on June 04, 2008, 01:15:37 PM

You are building a multi million dollar gym and you look for answers to your questions here at getbig? sounds like the gym is gonna fail

Like I siad in the first thread I am just getting suggestions. Sorry to let you down. But I unlike you I know how to run a business and since I am not an expert on buying MMA gear I will do what it takes to get the best at the best prices. But since you are so smart. I want to hear your suggestion on where to get octagons. I want to see if you have any idea. I found a great place. But I need to prove how stupid you are. So please give me a suggestion on where you would buy your octagons.

onlyme · « **Reply #8 on:** June 04, 2008, 02:29:15 PM »

I did find out 30' is the size of the octagon they use for competition. So I had to up the size of the largest one. I am waiting for the brilliant Benz to chime in with an answer. It takes him so long to do research and he is an expert.

benz · « **Reply #9 on:** June 04, 2008, 02:49:25 PM »

Quote from: onlyme on June 04, 2008, 02:29:15 PM

I did find out 30' is the size of the octagon they use for competition. So I had to up the size of the largest one. I am waiting for the brilliant Benz to chime in with an answer. It takes him so long to do research and he is an expert.

"multi million dollar" project and you are looking for advices here... more like your "gym" is not opening anytime soon.

americanbulldog · « **Reply #10 on:** June 04, 2008, 03:35:24 PM »

What brand of kimono's are you going to sell. Vulkan and Keiko as well as HCK and gameness have good profit margins and are good quality.

onlyme · « **Reply #11 on:** June 04, 2008, 11:12:16 PM »

Quote from: americanbulldog on June 04, 2008, 03:35:24 PM

What brand of kimono's are you going to sell. Vulkan and Keiko as well as HCK and gameness have good profit margins and are good quality.

I haven't even got to the clothing yet. I found THE place to get the cages and also the heavy bag rack. I have room for 25 to 30 bags (various sizes and shapes).

Quote from: benz on June 04, 2008, 02:49:25 PM

"multi million dollar" project and you are looking for advices here... more like your "gym" is not opening anytime soon.

hahaha just like I thought, all mouth no action. Opening soon, no not till December.

americanbulldog · « **Reply #12 on:** June 05, 2008, 12:45:07 PM »

Quote from: onlyme on June 04, 2008, 11:12:16 PM

I haven't even got to the clothing yet. I found THE place to get the cages and also the heavy bag rack. I have room for 25 to 30 bags (various sizes and shapes).

hahaha just like I thought, all mouth no action. Opening soon, no not till December.

Is Mica going to heading your BJJ program, if so, selling GIs (or kimonos) will be a good profit center for you, particularly if you can private label your club/gyms logo for competition purposes.

onlyme · « **Reply #13 on:** June 05, 2008, 05:06:07 PM »

Quote from: americanbulldog on June 05, 2008, 12:45:07 PM

Is Mica going to heading your BJJ program, if so, selling GIs (or kimonos) will be a good profit center for you, particularly if you can private label your club/gyms logo for competition purposes.

We will see. He has his schools. I have net him and he said he'll me anyway I want but I would like him to head the program maybe. We are going to private label everything. I have the manufacturer of the cages so I save about $15,000 for a 30' cage. I also have several manufacturers for the bags, gloves ad other gear. I have set aside quite a bit for athlete sponsorship. Also, even more for event sponsorship. We should be getting that program going around August or maybe late July. I also found a pretty neat bag stand system at www.heavybagsystem.com Tell me what you think. We have room for up to 30 various sized heavy bags.

onlyme · « **Reply #14 on:** June 05, 2008, 05:08:44 PM »

Also talked to Zebra mats for quite awhile today. They sponsored that show i did in Hawaii in 2001. Got a very deal with them.

americanbulldog · « **Reply #15 on:** June 06, 2008, 02:10:07 PM »

Quote from: onlyme on June 05, 2008, 05:08:44 PM

Also talked to Zebra mats for quite awhile today. They sponsored that show i did in Hawaii in 2001. Got a very deal with them.

Really good mats. Can you get me some for my garage? I will be selling some Swain mats if Keith can hook me up.

Geo · « **Reply #16 on:** June 06, 2008, 02:19:15 PM »

buy cups for everyone because it really hurts when ya get kicked in the nutz

onlyme · « **Reply #17 on:** June 06, 2008, 02:42:27 PM »

Quote from: americanbulldog on June 06, 2008, 02:10:07 PM

Really good mats. Can you get me some for my garage? I will be selling some Swain mats if Keith can hook me up.

Kev, no problem. I can add them to our list and just charge you what we are paying plus the shipping out there.

SpeedDemon · « **Reply #18 on:** June 07, 2008, 12:29:21 PM »

That bag stand system is cool but what is your need for it?? what other use are you planning for that space that the bags would need to be moved on a regular basis??

Throwdown built our cage well actually it was donated as part of like a sponsorship deal. because of that I think they half assed the job. its kinda middle of the road. I've seen better and worse.

Half cages are stupid. They look good for selling memberships but for training they suck.

onlyme · « **Reply #19 on:** June 07, 2008, 11:12:40 PM »

Quote from: SpeedDemon on June 07, 2008, 12:29:21 PM

That bag stand system is cool but what is your need for it?? what other use are you planning for that space that the bags would need to be moved on a regular basis??

Throwdown built our cage well actually it was donated as part of like a sponsorship deal. because of that I think they half assed the job. its kinda middle of the road. I've seen better and worse.

Half cages are stupid. They look good for selling memberships but for training they suck.

Well I think it is cool cause they can be set to one side or moved depending on how are needed at the time. If we need more room for something else then we can simply move them with no effort. Additional seating for one whenever we have an exhibition. I have set aside about 1024 (32 x 32) sq. ft. for the bag area including speed bags and various sized heavy bags. There is also a good area for stretching and kettle bell training.

SpeedDemon · « **Reply #20 on:** June 08, 2008, 06:10:15 PM »

Ok, just making sure the cost equals the usefullness. we keep all of our bags hanging from an eye bolt to a piece of climbing rope to a carabeaner (sp?) Metal on metal contact is no good, shavings and fragments.

It takes about ten minutes for two guys to take all 22 bags down and put them under the ring.

sounds cool though. if you like it get it.

Zebra mats are cool, thats what we have in our cages. They are great for stand up but they tend to eat your skin if you're not wearing a gi. I would suggest having an area with some wrestling mats too.

onlyme · « **Reply #21 on:** June 08, 2008, 10:31:41 PM »

Quote from: SpeedDemon on June 08, 2008, 06:10:15 PM

Ok, just making sure the cost equals the usefullness. we keep all of our bags hanging from an eye bolt to a piece of climbing rope to a carabeaner (sp?) Metal on metal contact is no good, shavings and fragments.

It takes about ten minutes for two guys to take all 22 bags down and put them under the ring.

sounds cool though. if you like it get it.

Zebra mats are cool, thats what we have in our cages. They are great for stand up but they tend to eat your skin if you're not wearing a gi. I would suggest having an area with some wrestling mats too.

Yes I have a 3,000 sq. ft. mat room that is separate

SpeedDemon · « **Reply #22 on:** June 09, 2008, 01:38:55 AM »

oh ok, cause in the first post you said you had zebra mats for the mat room... so I assumed that all your mats were zebra mats.

I like zebra mats cause they are firmer than wrestling mats and have great traction even when wet BUT they also give you really bad mat burn

I like that we have both. if we are doing mma or takedowns from the feet i like the zebra mats but if I'm just rolling and plan on spending most of my time on the ground I'll go on the wrestling mats.

by wrestling mats I mean the pvc laminated foam mats, like resilite. http://www.resilite.com/wrs.shtm

onlyme · « **Reply #23 on:** June 09, 2008, 09:03:33 AM »

Quote from: SpeedDemon on June 09, 2008, 01:38:55 AM

oh ok, cause in the first post you said you had zebra mats for the mat room... so I assumed that all your mats were zebra mats.

I like zebra mats cause they are firmer than wrestling mats and have great traction even when wet BUT they also give you really bad mat burn

I like that we have both. if we are doing mma or takedowns from the feet i like the zebra mats but if I'm just rolling and plan on spending most of my time on the ground I'll go on the wrestling mats.

by wrestling mats I mean the pvc laminated foam mats, like resilite. http://www.resilite.com/wrs.shtm

thanks for the link i will check them out

Logan32 · « **Reply #24 on:** June 16, 2008, 05:02:31 AM »

Quote from: onlyme on June 03, 2008, 11:44:05 PM

Okay guys I know this is not normal but I thought I would do it anyway cause I don't like to do things regular. Anyway, what equipment do you guys recommend I get for my MMA center. I have 3 octagons going in. DO you think I need a boxing ring. I have Zebra Mats for the mat room. For gloves, headgear, guards and even the heavy bags I am going to private label with our name in it. The 5 speed bags will be the adjustable Everlast ones. I have kettle bells going in (any suggestions on company). We have an elevated mezzanine that will have two bleachers so that you can get an elevated view of the ring room and the mat room. WHo makes the best octagons. Also, I am getting 22' ones.Any other suggestions would be helpful.

Sorry a little late coming to this conversation. Equipment all depends on what type of MMA gym you are going to have. i.e. will it be an MMA gym that is also a fitness facility...

3 Octagons may be a bit excessive but then again I don't kow how many pros/amatuer fighters you will have at your place. If you have the space a ring would be awesome due to the fact you may also be able to attract a lot more pure boxers to your gym which would give your guys a great advantage from a stand up perspective. Kettleballs are a fantastic add to any MMA gym. Also as someone else said tires. Great for flipping and also doing sledge hammer drills on them. Also look into some plyometric type equipment. Muay Thai pads, focus mitts, double end bags, uppercut bags and interval timers are all great additions if you have the budget.

Good luck with your gym venture very tough fickle business...