NYC AREA

[Coach Tran]

Anyone interested in training in CST or RMAX martial arts material living within NYC please contact me. I am looking for serious and good training partners especially in RMAX martial arts material. Clubbell training is a solo act for me.

[Rob Hand]

Hi Bao,
I live in Jersey City and work in Manhattan M-F. I will be taking a break from 3 years of Tai Chi Chuan for something different and with throwing and groundwork. I checked out a Systema class last night and am also considering the New York San Da gym on 37th street. Don't have the funds to study both so have to make a decision soon. I read one of your posts, you mentioned Sambo. Do you train sport Sambo and Systema?

Anyway, I'm reaching out because we might be able to train together at some point. I'm new to Russian Martial Arts but have some stand-up skills and train as serious as a man with two kids and a full time job can.

Robert

[Coach Tran]

Dear Robert:

Greetings and good health. I am glad you research both schools. I am new Sambo myself and I recently started in Dec with Coach Stephen at the 37St school. Much of my previous training CST and RMAX has helped me greatly before I started Sambo and I believe the 37St school is a great school to learn Sambo. Coach Stephen is a good and decent man. It is a great school to apply CST and RMAX materials.

Personally I been out of practice for three weeks due to a shoulder injury which sux because I am trying my best to reach my performance goals for CST and well get myself flowing in Sambo. I have to prepare for my CST seminar in April and I am also looking for people to workout with me using RMAX materials and what I learned at the softwork seminar. I would HIGHLY recommend Coach Stephen's Combat Sambo. One of the benefits of training at this school is that you will learn from a talented Combat Sambo Coach, meet decent and down to earth training partners, and have someone such as myself who has a background in CST. I would be more than willing to workout with you in NYC inside and outside of the Sambo school.

Your friend and maybe future classmate,
Bao

[zakropotch]

hello, I'm also looking to form a group here in New York City. I'm hoping to grow it to meeting at least 1x/week. The more the merrier. Please respond if interested, thanks.

[Scott Sonnon]

"Zakropotch"
Before using the forum, as per forum courtesy policy, begin with posting your introduction at the Welcome Mat to your background and interests here at RMAX, including your full, real name in your signature.

[Coach Tran]

Z,

I would be interested in meeting new people and having a training partner but I would have to get to know you. Since you are a stranger, I think it is best if we had lunch and discuss our views and see if our temperaments match. I hope you understand because forming a Rmax group all depends on having the right temperament and having Rmax performance goals. My focus is doing Rmax materials and not just a particular martial system. Do you have any experience in Rmax? I read you wanted to form a group, but since you are new here. I am wondering what is your aim in "forming your own group"? If you have Rmax/CST experience and want to do Rmax together with me, then I am in and would welcome your own insight. However if you just want to me to follow your particular martial system or style, then I am definitely not in. Again, please dont take this as me being rude or disrespectful. I am trying to be as direct and clear as possible so there are no misunderstandings between us.

With Care and Respect,
Bao

[zakropotch]

Totally understandable. I have been a student of movement in all facets of sports and daily activities for years. I work as a personal trainer and my approach is more functional with tremendous focus on what planes, movements and overall imbalances need to be corrected in order to produce a better wholistic self. From clubbells, kettlebells, freeweights, bands, calisthenics, etc, all these modalities are part of an artist’s palette and myself as trainer will use this to create my work in producing a better functioning “you”. I had been using original Indian clubs quite some time ago as well as kettlebell years ago before they have become the new “flavor of the month”. However being a student of the old Masters like Hackenschmidt, Anderson, Sandow, Maxick and many others I have seen fitness come full circle back to what was being practiced decades ago. It is interesting to see how much information from these great men as well principles and concepts found in traditional martial arts have been repackaged as new. I have arrived at many of the same conclusions, epiphanies and discoveries as Scott Sonnon and it has been a pleasure paralleling his journey and seeing a comrade in spirit walking the same journey. I am by no means at the end of my journey but only the beginning. Every time, I make another realizations, I have only more questions. Yet I find it important not to hold on to this realization so defiantly so that I don’t get stuck in one way. The secret is finding the similarities among all these modalities, concepts and principle not the differences. I am looking to find like minded people who wish to step onto this road of discovering the limits of our human capacity so that we may reach it and perhaps even exceed it. I have been fortunate enough to have had access to many great minds, been under the tutelage of some of these individuals and allowed myself to further my understanding. However I also realize that in order to reach my capacity at its fullest, we must be open to other viewpoints, understanding & knowledge among other things so that we may better comprehend our own understanding in order to see the bigger and not miss “all the heavenly glory”. Just like understanding E=MC2 is saying that energy and mass are really one of the same in different states. So it is the same that mind, body and spirit are really expressions of the same and synergistically they produce a greater whole which is our being. I have not intention of finding people to follow me but rather I seek to further be taught and teach what I know in return so that I may understand. I greatly appreciate many of Scott Sonnon’s ideas and as aforementioned am thrilled to hear someone else saying many of the same things I’ve held to be true. My only intention is to keep finding the similarities so that I may understand better our true human potential. I hope this alleviates any concern and I look forward to meeting you.

[Scott Sonnon]

Geoff,

As I stated before, this belongs in the Welcome Mat. Thanks.
Secondly, please spare me that the Clubbell is a "flavor of the month." It's required years of work, traveling, training, and coaching not just by me but the entire CST Coaching Staff and Instructor Cadre on the unique efficacy of the CST System (as opposed to traditional Indian club swinging). It's one thing to honor the past, but quite another to disrespect the present.

[zakropotch]

No disrespect Mr. Sonnon but when I said, "flavor of the month" I was referring to kettlebells exclusively. I apologize for the miscommunication and any offense you may have taken. At many of the gyms I work, I have seen many trainers having just got their qualification to teach kettlebells use them exclusively with clients and forget any other modalities of training. They forget proper training progression and totally disregard any concern if the person is even ready for this type of training. It's just a new tool and a new toy and they'll even have clients start out with explosive overhead snatches and heavily weighted upper windmills to show off. They do nothing but KB's & forget everything else in the gym. Its been become a pet peeve of mine. In the end, I believe KB's are a great and powerful tool in a trainer's arsenal. As per clubbells, I have a deep appreciation to how far you and your company have taken clubbells both in the new design and research in proper training protocal using the clubbells. From your books and videos, I've encountered many new ways of utilizing the clubbell that I never thought about with my old Indian clubbells. For that reason, I've ordered a clubbell several months ago to experience the difference in design between the two. I've been more than content and will soon be buying the next heavier ones. I hope this clears any misunderstanding.

[Rich_Hav]

Geoff,

I agree with Coach. I read about clubbells a few years back on the DD kettlebell forum. Clubbells are great tools and work well with kettlebells and everything else you can add to them.

I am also from New York brother.

Anytime you want to get together and swing some weight around let me know.

Peace,
Rich

[Rich_Hav]

Sorry about crashing your thread Bao.

Peace,
Rich

[Coach Tran]

There is no such thing as crashing my tread, Rich. Maybe we can also swing our clubs together when I come back from Bellingham, Rich? Coach, I dont think Castro was being disrespectful that clubbells was
a flavor of the month. I respect Castro's company in their willing to try anything new in fitness and his health club company is exceptional in quality than my own company, but I have seen his company take Kettlebell training to the general masses and certifying their trainers through an organization called "kettlebell concepts" which is in my opinion a rip off to Pavel's body of work and original hard work in bring KBs to the USA market first. I agreed with Castro that you can take a good thing make it worst and abuse it within the health and fitness industry. However when I start my CST work in NYC, I will learn from the past mistakes
of KBs and experiences like Castro. I will make sure that this wont happen to me and to Rmax when I bring CST to NYC. I know you have my back, Coach, and I hope you know I have your back.

[Rich_Hav]

Sounds good Bao,

Talk to you soon.


Rich

[Coach Tran]

I have finally worked out with fellow tribe member Robert Hand and he has suggested that we developed a Rmax Group. He has also offered a workout place for group study of Rmax/CST study on Sunday. Therefore anyone who lives within the NYC area and is interested in learning Rmax in a group under the guidance of CST instructor (me), please contact me.

Yours in CST,
Bao

[zakropotch]

Fantastic. Count me in. When's the first meeting and where?

[Coach Tran]

Castro,

Is there a clubbell training at your gym?

[zakropotch]

Not officially. I have some clubbells which I use to use MYSELF ONLY. However there are a few trainers that have followed my lead but have gone a step beyond in using them with their clients which I don't agree with unless you're qualified.

BTW, any word on getting a group together?

[Coach Tran]

Castro,

The training group is still a work in progress. I shall keep you updated.

Yours in CST,
Bao

[JasonE]

Zakropotch -

Per forum rules, please edit your profile so that your first and last name is in your signature. Thanks! :)

[Alexk]

Hello....

Anybody there still practicing as a group in New York City? I see this thread hasn't been visited in a while.

AlexK

[zakropotch]

There was talk of one materializing but I don't think anything came of it.

[Alexk]

Hello Zakropotch!

Maybe people could try it again...we could meet in a park...it's probably better to do it outside.

I'm an absolute newbie, having only messed around with kettlebells..I've ordered the Intu-Flow system to get a good idea of the biomechanics then shortly I will get my first dual 15lb set.

I'm game, definately on weekends!

AlexK

[zakropotch]

Weekends are bad for me since I work on weekends. During the day on weekdays are best. Perhaps if we get enough people, we can rent a small space for a class and it can grow from there.

[Coach Tran]

Zakropotch -

Per forum rules, please edit your profile so that your first and last name is in your signature. Thanks! Alex, I have your number I shall be calling you soon. Happy New Year!