One of the prime rules I have when writing a review is to "keep out the bias". Unfortunately, I'm not sure I can particularly manage that with this review, and here's why. When I lived in Hawaii for all of a very short year, I participated in a MMA club that was the REAL deal (I practiced with bonafide fighters and past fighters, many are in the UFC). Every workout was a body-grueling endurance workout that ended in a whole lot of sweat and occasionally some tears. I had coaches that didn't accept mediocrity and pushed their students to the brink. I LOVED IT. And I miss them everyday because they were my ohana. Unfortunately for me, it seems that my MMA experience will never be the same again. (SOB.)
When I arrived back in plain, old Nevada, I started searching for an appropriate MMA gym replacement. I didn't find much in the Carson City area and it seemed that I would have to travel to Reno to get my jolt of punching in for the day. That's how I happened onto 360 Martial Arts Academy.
From the get-go, Paul was -amazing-. Super kind, attentive, explanatory, etc. To be honest, that's more the reason I went with 360 than anything else (after all, other gyms had felt narcissistic and unapologetically rude). He even provided me with 3 days of free, one-on-one lessons to seal the deal. And seal he did. Those three days were the only satisfying MMA lessons I ever got with 360. I sealed the deal with a membership for MMA/Tae Kwon Do and an add-on of Jiu Jitsu, about a $130 month cost. It was actually cheaper when I considered the costs of other gyms for the same get, but I haven't even factored in the amount of money spent on gas every class day that I drove up to Reno, $$$$$$$$ (*Silent scream of horror), or the cost for all the stupid uniform requirements. The Jiu Jitsu uniform I understand (it is universally recognized as essential), but the fucking Tae Kwon Do white pants, 360 T-shirts, and annoying fucking belt that fell off and had no utility PISSED me off. They were totally unnecessary. And totally unattractive and uncomfortable. (What was I, 5?!)
So I went to 360 for all of a month or two. In that time, I learned that the MMA lessons were (in my biased opinion) pathetic. As I said, this is a more Tae Kwon Do inspired MMA gym and it shows. They put more stress on the uniform, the color of your belt, and passing your tests (which cost you a hunk of $20 each time) than they do about genuinely teaching an all-around MMA discipline. The class was snail-slow (good luck producing any sweat) and technicality was not their focus. I recognized that there were students far ahead of me in "belt-achievement" that COULDN'T EVEN STRIKE CORRECTLY!!! How the HELL does a person get a green/orange belt and not even be able to do basic things well?!?! That was my clue right there. We were divided among belt colors, told the combinations we were to complete and expected to only do that combination until our "belt day". (Like my belt color told my achievements. All I wanted was to be taught. Everything.)
I came from a gym that had no divisions, we were all thrown into the pit and all expected to survive. We started from "ground zero" and no one was better than anybody else. I practiced with the best and the worst. I learned more combinations than I can remember (literally) and I burned more calories in a week than I did at 360 MMA classes in my entire two months.
However, I did the Jiu Jitsu classes as well, but these were nearly the exact opposite of the MMA classes. My instructor, Alex, was patient, kind, experienced, and taught just enough. Eventually, I gave up on the MMA class because it was a waste of my time, and instead came to Jiu Jitsu. I learned SO much in my short time and I regret having to leave it behind. BUT. Classes rarely started on time because students were late or the instructor was late, and that's a pet-peeve. If I can manage to be here on time, can find it important enough to be ready, then start the damn class. It does no one any good to be lazy. And many students approached this class with less than a serious attitude. It sets a tone and not one that tells me this is taken seriously.
So here's my final say: I think 360 is more about the money ($$) side of things. I don't think that they care much about their students becoming truly proficient in the craft, I think they focus too much on the belt to give people the assurance that they are capable. Maybe I came from a harder environment (UFC fighters), maybe I am a harder person (after all, I have always been a competitive athlete), but this felt like such a waste of my money, time, and love of MMA. I came to work hard and, although that "intensity" did not go unnoticed, it did get wasted. If you want a bonafide workout/training, GO ELSEWHERE (except the Jiu Jitsu was great). But if you just want some discipline for your kids, a brown belt for your ego, this might be your kinda place. You decide. read more