4 years ago
Pentagon Mixed Martial Arts AKA Pentagon MMA is a ...
Pentagon Mixed Martial Arts AKA Pentagon MMA is a great, fun and welcoming mixed martial community, the founder and head instructor Vivek Nakarmi you can tell really cares about making this the best mixed martial arts training dojo.
If you need to improve a technique and the instructor sees you struggling or weak in an area they will really help you improve and advise you compassionately. Side note often with with little welcomed light humor.
One great instructor that teaches both Foundations and Intermediate Advance classes to be, Master Kru Chon. He has years of knowledge and a great way of distilling down fundamentals and body movements and a keen eye for noticing where people can improve or what they can change and how to change it. He many a time pointed something out that either I didn t notice I was doing or a way I could improve and not only what it was wrong but actionable ways to improve it.
I have been attending classes here for since June of 2017 and albeit not always as consistently as I believe I should or would like to, with some weeks coming in 2 to 3 times and other weeks once or even missing a week or 2 at a time. With this said I still always feel welcomed when I return, this is a reason along with other reasons I will list below that really makes this a great mixed martial arts gym.
The classes are welcoming to all ages, genders, nationalities and fully non-exclusive with programs offered targeted at all skill levels and classes taught in Muay Thai, Jiu Jitsu, women s kickboxing, Sparring as well as a Warrior Kids MMA program for younger ones.
Foundations classes teach and focus on fundamentals, there is a focus and time dedicated to technique and one on one instruction as well as demonstrated group instruction. Proper form, foot placement, body movement and execution is really a focus in these classes.
Intermediate / Advanced Classes you will be more tested on endurance and application of fighting techniques, much of this taking and building off the foundations class as well as more advanced moves brought in.
I have said a whole lot of good things about this gym, as to some areas I'd like to see some improvement:
1. Class times, I find the class times are on the whole really good and yet for someone that is an early to rise and work person and having to be at work at 7 A.M., it would be nice if there were more classes offered earlier, say around 5:00 A.M. ( Caveat, I do believe I heard there may be some earlier classes to be offered a couple days a week recently but I didn t see them on the website schedule )
2. This 2nd area of improvement ties into the last and that is I really would like to see showers or an attached locker and shower area or even an outdoor shower setup, partially as the time it takes and leaving all sweaty to go back home to shower can be a big inconvenience and one that would be nice if could be avoided. (With that said I spoke to the Master Vivek and he and other staff have informed me that it is something that they have tried to obtain and the ownership of the building that they rent from have not supported or allowed this to be perused. For this I really wish the owner of the building that is leasing out the space would be more flexible and accommodating as this would really make a big difference in the global experience as to how visits to the gym fit into one s own schedule and day)
3. Class size, I find often classes are of an adequate to manageable and fun size and yet I will say some days the gym can feel a bit crowded and I sometimes wish there was a way the gym could be expanded, again this may fall back to the building ownership and not Pentagon MMA s choices.
All in all this gym is really something quite special and I appreciate such talented and passionate instruction and having a great community to count myself a part of, I recommend anyone in the Arlington or surrounding Falls Church and National Landing VA area come check them out if you are looking for a quality mixed martial arts dojo to join!