TKO Fighting Arts was born on Charles St. Kitchener in a rundown building. They once offered 4 heavy bags, a smaller than average size ring, and minimal floor space for students. Classes were held twice a week, with Saturday being a "come in and train on your own" kinda deal. It never was about the money. Owners Steve Witter and Chris Greig were in it for the love and the Art of Muay Thai. They just wanted a place that was pure and honest. There were no promotional gimmicks used. Students found out about TKO mainly by word of mouth. All the trainers ask of students was they give it their all during training hours.
April 2007 would see TKO Fighting Arts expanding into a larger and more suitable place for students to train, and for trainers to instruct. Multiple number of classes are now available on weekdays, while Saturday still remains open for freestyle training.
Facility and Equipments:
The gym hosts open concept padded floor space for training. There are around 6-7 long bags, 2 banana bags, and 3 half sized bags. A medium sized ring can be found by the entrance. The gym provides students with kicking pads, boxing pads, and gloves for training. Although they do advise that serious students, or those planning to do Muay Thai for some time, buy their own pair of gloves. If you plan to spar, make sure to purchase 16 ounce gloves, head guards, shin guards, and a cup. Mouth guards come with membership.
There are two washrooms on the ground level, and two showers and change rooms on the top level. They are kept very clean as the gym hires cleaners to make sure the place is in tip top shape every week.
Classes
The structure and focus of classes varies depending on the instructors. Every trainer has their own unique style of teaching and program. A typical 1 hour TKO class looks like this:
Skipping 10-15minutes (5*3min rnds)
Body based exercises (push ups, sit ups, chin ups and variations of the sort) 15min-20min
Pads (with a partner) 5*3min rounds
Burn-outs 5min
There are 3 level of classes, Beginners, Intermediate, and Advance. The levels are categorized by color of shorts. As you move up a level, you will have the additional perk of attending classes from the tiers below you. It takes Green Short members on average 3 months to advance to Blue shorts. To achieve Red shorts will depend on a number of factors including, practical experience (fighting and sparring), time in, dedication, and trainers' overall assessment of the individual. Red to Black shorts are at the complete discretion of trainers, therefore time-in does not always guarantee advancement. Tests, administered by trainers, are required for advancement. They are held once every few months. There is a small fee to taking the test. Sign-up sheets will be posted weeks before,however trainers will ask you to hold out if they don't think your ready.
TKO also offers 1 conditioning every Friday. These classes are held by Kru Greig. They involve repetitive drills designed to develop muscle memory and enhance physical conditioning. Also on Friday is Kru Hackburt's All-Women Kickboxing class. These classes are high pace and conditioning oriented.
Click on image to enlarge:
Instructors
Steve WitterStyle: aggressive, pressure fighter
Head Coach and owner of TKO Fightings Arts. Kru Witter was a student of SIAM's Ajarn Suchart, founder of Muay Thai in Ontario. Kru Witter is one of the first generation Muay Thai practitioners in Canada. He has trained and fought all over the world, gaining wide recognition during his time. Steve believes in expressing your true self.
- 20 Years of Martial Arts Training ( inc. Kickboxing, Filipino Self-Defense, Muay Thai Boxing)
- IKF North American Full Contact Champion
- KICK North American Low Kick Champion
- CASK Certified Coach
Chris Greig (Fighter and Instructor)Style: well rounded, technical
Kru Greig once a kick boxer training under Rob Fowler, now trains strictly Muay Thai under Kru Witter and Ajarn Suchart. He has extensive competition experience and currently holds the CASK title at 67KG.
- 9 Years of Martial Arts Training (inc. Kickboxing, Muay Thai, Boxing)
- 40 + Fights (inc. national, and title bouts)
- CASK Thai Boxing Champ
- CASK 2007 Provincial Champ
- CASK 2007 Fighter of the Year
- CASK Certified Coach
Scott Berry - Certified Thai-Boxer instructor
- Certified Official Level 2 - CASK
- Over 18 Years Martial Arts Experiance
- 12 years Filipino martial arts experience, specializing in empty hand self-defence
- 4 years Eskrima/Kali experience - having worked with law enforcement staff on stick
- 4 years - instructor self defence, safety awareness - Conestoga College Paramedic Program
Kyle TrainorStyle: technical, defensive, counter fighter
Kru Trainor has a very deceptive style of fighting. He is a fighter who relies on out-smarting the opponent, often fighting just outside the pocket.
7 Years of Muay Thai Experience
-Senior Member at TKO
Christine “Crusher” HackburtStyle: aggressive, pressure fighter
7 Years of Muay Thai Experience
CASK 2007 Fighter of the Year
CASK #1 Ranked Novice Female Athlete
Costs
Membership cost is one of the lowest compared to gyms across the province.
http://tkofa.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=68&Itemid=54
PROS
TKO has a Muay Thai mixed with K-1 style. There is much emphasis on hands as there are with kicks. The gym is known to have very strong boxing skills as the head instructor has a kickboxing background. Every week boxing veteran from Greece, Aurel Stana, comes to the gym to hold pads for the fighters and anyone else interested. I believe he charges 5 dollars for 3*3min rounds. Worth every penny though.
Of all the gyms I have trained at, TKO by far offers the most cardiovascular intense sessions. I don't care how fit you think you are, you will feel the intermediate-advance classes the next day. Classes are taught by mostly Black Short members and assisted by Red Short members. Stay away from Kru Chris's classes unless you willing to work. If you are looking to compete, be prepared to go on vigorous runs before classes, do extra sparring with the fighters, and additional pad rounds with trainers. Warning: pads with Kru Witter in preparation for a fight feels like death.
TKO is known to produce fighters with a strong heart and mind, conditioned to fight to the very end. If you are looking for a gym that will challenge you more physically, and push you past your current known limits, definitely check out this gym when in town. Of course like anything else, classes are hard as you make it!
Recently Kru Greig has traveled to train and fight in Thailand. He worked along side clinch master Omnoi from Kiatphontip Gym. Expect some new drills and technique coming TKO's way.Another thing that the gym is known for is the positive atmosphere. There is very little ego going around. Everyone are friends with everyone else, and they all help each other to get better. I remember my very first few classes at TKO 3 years ago. Despite knowing nothing at all, the trainers were very attentive and patient. I asked a million questions; they sincerely tried to answer them all.
The staff and students act as one big family. You don't get the sense that money is involved. This definitely filters down from Kru Witter's philosophy on fighting. He does not believe in making a living off Muay Thai; all the money that the gym makes goes right back into it. He preaches about being real, being yourself, and having fun. There is no vanity at the gym. Over the years i have been here, those who come in with negative attitudes do not last. They either change for the better, or quickly cease to fit in and eventually departs. There is no tolerance for bullshit. You don't have to be a star athlete or strive to be, you just have to be yourself train hard. You must put in the work If you want the respect or noticed by the trainers and other members.
Looking to Compete?
TKO is part of the CASK (Canadian Amateur Sport Kickboxing) organization. There is a lot of opportunities to travel and fight abroad within this organization every year. In 2009, selected members competed in Africa and Italy. CASK holds annual provincial and national tournaments to determine the right candidates to represent the Canadian team. CASK offers Full Contact (kicks above the waist only), Low Kick (low and high kicks), and Thai Boxing (modified Thai rules - similar to K-1 Rules) fights. Fights are scored by a clicker system (Olympic style scoring). Points are given to each landed shots. Certain techniques are worth more points than others. Full protection must also be worn during fights include, Top Ten head gear, 10 ounce gloves, shin guards, cups, mouth guard, and boots.
TKO students are solely involved in CASK within Ontario. If you are looking for a more authentic Muay Thai experience within Ontario, go elsewhere as the CASK setup caters more to the K-1 Style.
If you are not ready to put in the hours, don't expect the club to allow you to fight.
CONS
TKO boasts conditioning and endurance, often at the expense of sound technique. In my opinion there is not enough emphasis on self-control and technical execution during training. Of course this does not apply to all the fighters and students, but as a gym this is definitely an area that needs work. Kru Greig is aware of this and has been implementing a lot of technical drills along with thorough instructions of techniques during classes.
I also found that because all the trainers are volunteering their time and are also active fighters, it can be hard to get extra attention outside of class hours. However anyone is welcome to train a long side the fighters as they prepare for their bouts.
Like I said above, if you are looking for a traditional muay thai gym, look elsewhere. TKO's style resembles the K1 Style which is more advantageous in CASK and most North American organizations. Elbows are almost non-existent in their training. Knees and clinch are worked on more but are not as evolved as their punches and kicks.
Contact INFO
TKO Fighting Arts
Address: 300 Mill Street, Kitchener, ON
Phone: 519-514-0155
Website: www.tkofa.com
View Larger Map
Photos above courtesy of Justin Fabian Fine Art Photography and Rob Cox.
Any more questions regarding TKO Fighting Arts can be directed to me at dennis_luu@hotmail.com.
1 comment:
Post a Comment