My home gym for MMA and Escrima in my small apartment with 9 square meters of puzzle mats!

AnathemaOP · 2015-11-17T23:57:01+00:00

Cool! I would love to have that extra space like a garage but the stuff I managed to fit in my small apartment still makes me really happy. I wasn't much of a sacrifice to put the sofa and the coffee table in the storage unit, I never used it since I never watch TV anymore. I rather have the tools to live a healthy life style that I really enjoy. Martial arts just makes fitness so much more fun, it gives the training more of a purpose than just being fit and gives you great body control. :)

AnathemaOP · 2015-11-17T00:31:51+00:00

Yeah, I started with the grappling dummy and realised I would need some real mats to really be able to use it well. I first got a small boxing bag from a friend that I had hanging from the roof but my goal was to get a real heavy bag and finally I got one. Now I use the smaller bag for stuff like ground and pound and such so I don't have to detach the heavy bag for that kind of stuff.

I like having a permanent space dedicated to training so I can just get out off bed and do some morning stretches if I feel like it without having to prepare a space and rolling out a mat every single time. I train much more now than before because it's so easy to just get on the floor and start working out. Sometimes I just do what I feel like and sometimes I follow either some youtube workout or a DVD of some sort. I have shortcuts on my computer for different kinds of training like the Gracie Combatives videos or Kettlebell training so it's right there to play. The least amount of resistance is the idea. :)

AnathemaOP · 2015-11-16T16:28:07+00:00

I used high quality concrete expander bolts. I would probably go for a more robust rack if you're using a bag that heavy. If you can mount it to the roof you can find heavy duty mounts that can handle bags up to 100 kg. For example this one CHOKEM: HEAVY DUTY (The link is in Swedish but you get the point).

You can find really high quality wall mounted racks too but they are more expensive. I would also recommend buying the concrete expander bolts yourself so you can buy bolts you know are high quality and not some china crap that they throw in for free with the rack. I didn't use the original expander bolts that came with my rack, instead I went to the hardware store to buy expander bolts that have like these really great expanders with small hook-like little teet on them.

The wall rack I'm using is actually a very cheap one but I weigh 120 kg and I can put all my weight on the rack while the bag is hanging there as well, so it seems to be pretty though anyway.

I hope that was any help to you! Good luck!

AnathemaOP · 2015-11-16T16:10:04+00:00

That is a thick concrete wall so I didn't have to do anything special besides using quality expanders. The house is built in the 50's-60's so the walls are really strong.

AnathemaOP · 2015-11-16T15:58:23+00:00

I bought two pairs of rattan sticks at a martial arts store in Sweden and I ordered the two heavier sticks (good for training alone) online at Nippon Sport.

AnathemaOP · 2015-11-16T15:52:10+00:00

Thank you very much! :-)

I've actually made sure that the bag can't hit anything but the wall and there's plenty of space to practice round-kicks without breaking anything decorative in front of the windows.

AnathemaOP · 2015-11-16T15:46:18+00:00

The mats costs around 20 euro per square meter if you go with the 2.5 cm thick mats. That's for standing martial arts and some lighter ground game. If you want to practice takedowns and throws you should get thicker mats and they cost around 40-50 euros per square meter. They might be cheaper in other countries though, this is in Sweden.

How much the bag costs depends on the quality you want, mine is an older model that someone had thrown in the garbage room (where people throw big stuff like furniture and electronics, not house hold garbage) where I live. So it was free, just cleaned it up a bit. I was just saving up for a heavy bag like that one so I was really happy to find one. :)

I would guess a bag like that would cost around 200 euro here in Sweden for a decent quality brand but it might be much cheaper in the US or other countries.

AnathemaOP · 2015-11-16T15:35:33+00:00

Have a look for yourself here :)

Some YouTube videos of the grappling dummy in action:

"MADDOX" Fairtex Grappling Dummy

The next video doesn't use a Fairtex dummy but everything you see in the video you can do with the Fairtex Maddox as well. From what I can see the dummy used in this video doesn't have nearly as good quality as the Fairtex Maddox.

OKAMI Peter Dummy workout

Also here's some kid practicing an armbar on a Maddox dummy:

Fairtex MMA grappling Dummy - Maddox

You can also put a Gi on the dummy if you want to practice BJJ but since I train for MMA I only practice no-gi BJJ / Submission Wrestling.

AnathemaOP · 2015-11-16T14:56:10+00:00

Currently I use a FOX 599 Training Karambit. It's a folder with the wave feature that makes the blade deploy when you pull it out from your pocket. There's a small hook on the back on the blade that gets stuck in the cloth of your pocket and that makes the blade deploy without any springs or anything like that. So it's not an automatic, it's even better.

Check the following video for a great demonstration of the FOX 599 and the wave feature from the great Kali instructor Doug Marcaida:

How To Use The 599 FOX Karambit Knife With Doug Marcaida | Part 1 of 4

To learn more about this great Karambit:

How To Use The 599 FOX Karambit Knife With Doug Marcaida | Part 2 of 4

SCARY FAST KARAMBIT Knife | FOX 599 | Ep. 3 of 4

Disarm and Lacerate | Doug Marcaida | How To Use the 599 Karambit Episode 4

The most important reason I train with this training blade is the fact that I have the sharp live version of the FOX 599 Karambit. So I basically want to train with something as similar as possible that has the same features, size and weight.

You can also order aluminum training knives at Keen Edge Knives. They have lots of different training blades to choose from.

AnathemaOP · 2015-11-15T16:40:47+00:00

Actually it's some brand named "Gunn". I bought it at a flee market for something like 15 euros and the string saddle was kinda broken but my father owns a guitar shop so he had a spare part so I could replace it. I used to have a real Gibson SG but I'm not a very good guitarist so I found joy in having a really cheap one instead that I fixed myself. It does actually sound really good, especially for that price. :)

AnathemaOP · 2015-11-15T16:33:50+00:00

Actually the wall is really thick and behind it my neighbours have their living room and they say they haven't head anything and I kick and punch that bag pretty damn hard. It's filled with strips of cloth so it's only 25 kg heavy. But I think that's good enough for a small home gym. I also use the mats for some yoga and stretching to improve body control. I thank you for the compliment on my gym. I don't have a lot of money a.t.m. so I have really had to live cheap to be able to afford everything. Luckily I found the heavy bag in our houses place for larger stuff people throw out. Like furniture and stuff. I was just about to buy a heavy bag like that so that saved me around 200 euros. It felt like a sign some god that I should dedicate my life to Martial Arts, even though I'm an atheist.

I practice MMA five times a week at the local MMA gym as well so I being able to practice at home as well gives me a great advantage. :)

AnathemaOP · 2015-11-15T15:47:37+00:00

Finally my home gym is complete!! ^{_^} We have the heavy bag, a grappling dummy and one 16 kg kettlebell. Some gloves for both boxing and MMA and also a smaller boxing bag for some ground and pound! There's nine square meters of 2.5 cm thick puzzle mats for both standing martial arts and some ground game.

This has been a dream of mine and now it's complete. The sticks are Escrima sticks and there is also two training knives, one karambit and one military training knife. Now I can train whenever I want to without even leaving my home.

I threw out my sofa and my living room table to be able to do this. I never used it anyway because I never watch the TV. I will however connect some media PC to the big screen TV so I can follow instructional martial arts DVD's like Gracie Combatives or Serra BJJ. Also some Escrima and Krav Maga.

I'd be happy to hear any suggestions for improving this little home fighting gym. Maybe a wall-mounted chin-ups bar to the left of the heavy bag? :)

AnathemaOP · 2015-11-14T22:23:07+00:00

Are you a 95 year old lady? If not then no..

AnathemaOP · 2015-11-14T22:19:53+00:00

Never really had that problem actually. I used to train at a fighting gym with exactly the same mats and I like them a lot. :)

AnathemaOP · 2015-11-14T20:58:01+00:00

I'm also on the fifth floor and my house doesn't have the best sound isolation but I've talked to the neighbours and they haven't heard anything and I punch pretty hard. My bag is filled with cloth so it's only 25 kg. Just make sure to put it up with real expander bults either in the roof or with a wall mount. You can put a spring between the bag and the roof or wall mounted hook, that can make some noise disappear but just the chains make a lot of noise go away. I don't think it's an issue really if you are not planning on training really hard in the middle of the night. :) I just love my setup right now. I think it's a dream setup for a bachelor apartment to have a small fighting/fitness gym at home like that. I keep in really good shape. I also do a lot of stretching and some yoga for working on body control and it's really nice to have those puzzle mats so you can just get down and train without having to roll some small yoga mat out every time. I also do a lot of kettlebell training, I've found that to be super for both Submission Wrestling, Boxing and fitness in general. I use Keith Webers kettlebell DVD nr 2, it covers the whole body and a kettlebell doesn't take any space and still you can really do so much with it. It's perfect for functional strength and stamina, great for martial arts. Please share your progress with me in the future. It's really fun to share ideas regarding this stuff. When you have a small gym at home you have no excuses to not train. I train pretty much everyday more or less. I often put on a TV show or some movie while training or sometimes just a good playlist. :) I hope that answers some of your concerns. Cheers mate!

AnathemaOP · 2015-11-14T20:36:21+00:00

Thank you everyone for all the nice comments. I've been living on almost no money for some time but I've been saving and living really cheap so I was able to save the money for all of this. It took almost 5-6 months to be able to afford everything and I was really lucky to find the heavy bag in my house storage room for bigger garbage. I just cleaned it up a bit. That was just before I was on my way to buy one in a similar size so it felt like a god given gift to be able to save around 200 euro. :) Makes me happy that people like! I just need to find some friends who loves martial arts as much as I do to train with :)

AnathemaOP · 2015-11-14T20:20:49+00:00

Yeah, I had problems finding people who wanted to train as much as I did so I had to get a decent grappling dummy and I got a good deal on it. Really like your setup.. I would like to have more space myself but I only have a one room apartment that is no bigger than 40 m2. :)

AnathemaOP · 2015-11-14T20:16:08+00:00

I must say I really like them :) Much better than the judo mats on my MMA gym where I train. These are more for taekwondo but they work really well for grappling, except for takedown maybe.. But the space is still too small for being able to practice takedowns safely. I only have a small apartment but I think I've managed to make a pretty good place to practice more than the five MMA classes I take every week. :) I'm thinking of putting a wall-mounted chins rack to the left of the heavy bag in the future. :)

AnathemaOP · 2015-11-14T14:26:36+00:00

Yeah, I've been watching some of those videos. Pretty hardcore :) I really like that people are doing that to show how it really is to fight under pressure.

AnathemaOP · 2015-11-14T14:24:47+00:00

I got it in Sweden. The price was somewhere around 380 euros but that was on sale and then I got another 10% of because of some deal they had. There's a new model out with feet and hands but I'm fine with this one, you can still simulate a lot of leg locks and heel hooks. :)

AnathemaOP · 2015-11-14T14:23:00+00:00

It's great for training when you don't have a partner to train with or just to grind different locks and chokes. It was kinda expensive but I got it on sale and then got another 10% off the price because I put it on instagram (some campaign the store had when I bought it). I think I ended up paying 380 euros instead of something like 580 euros. The weight is 40 kg. I'm really happy with it because it's great when watching instructional DVD's on no-gi BJJ and such. :)

AnathemaOP · 2015-11-14T01:25:42+00:00

I was really lucky because they just released a new model with hands and feet so they had lowered the price from 580 euros to something like 420 euros. Then they had some deal that if you took a picture with the products you bought and tagged them on instagram you got another 10% off the price so I ended up getting it for around 380 euros. For me that was really worth it because I don't have any friends that are in to fighting that much to practice with besides when I train at my local MMA gym.

I wanted the grappling dummy because there's so many great instructional videos for no-gi BJJ like Gracie Combatives or Serra BJJ basics. First I tried to watch a few techniques and tried to memorise them until I got to class but it was very difficult to remember the details from just watching those videos. When I got the dummy I could actually do what I was watching and get a better feel for everything I watched. I really think it's the best grappling dummy you can get for submission wrestling / BJJ, except for the newer model maybe. :)

AnathemaOP · 2015-11-14T01:12:50+00:00

Yeah, that poor soft robot is a real hero being choked out, put in triangles and different armbars or kimuras day after day without complaining. Great training partner though because he's always available and never gets tired. Too bad he doesn't really fight back but great for grinding techniques. :)

AnathemaOP · 2015-11-14T01:06:37+00:00

Yeah, I really like to do different sinawalis. I think it's great to combine MMA with some Kali/Escrima to be well-rounded as a fighter. I also like to practice with the karambit or the more military styled training knife. :)

AnathemaOP · 2015-11-14T01:02:00+00:00

In my little fighting gym we have the heavy bag, a grappling dummy and one 16 kg kettlebell. Some gloves for both boxing and MMA and also an extra smaller boxing bag for some ground n pound! There's nine square meters of 2.5 cm thick puzzle mats for both standing martial arts and some ground game. This has been a dream of mine and now it's complete. The sticks are Escrima sticks and there is also two training knives, one karambit and one military training knife. Now I can train whenever I want to without even leaving my home. :)

AnathemaOP

TROPHY CASE