Okay, so I’d been hearing some buzz about MMA gyms around Fort Worth, and Phalanx kept popping up. I was looking to shake things up a bit, get off the couch, you know? So, I decided I’d just drive over there one afternoon after work to see what was what. Wasn’t sure what to expect, honestly. Maybe a bunch of tough guys staring me down.
Walked in, and yeah, there were definitely people training hard, but the vibe wasn’t intimidating like I thought it might be. Someone at the front desk, pretty chill, asked if they could help me. I mumbled something about checking the place out. They offered to let me watch a class that was going on. It was a jiu-jitsu session, I think. Lots of rolling around on the mats. Looked complicated but kinda cool.
Getting Started
After watching for a bit and chatting more with the front desk person, I felt okay enough to sign up for a trial class. Seemed like the best way to actually see if it was for me. Showed up for that first real class, feeling super awkward. Didn’t have any gear, just workout clothes. The coach, I think his name was John, maybe? Super welcoming, showed me some real basic stuff before the main class even started. Just simple movements, how to stand, that kind of thing.
The actual class was tough, not gonna lie. Lots of moving, drills I wasn’t used to. My lungs were burning pretty quick. We did some partner stuff, mostly basic positioning and trying not to get tangled up like a pretzel. Everyone I partnered with was patient, even though I was clearly clueless. No one was trying to prove anything, just helping me learn the drill.
The Grind and the People
Decided to stick with it, signed up for real. Started going a few times a week. Mostly did the striking classes at first, Muay Thai stuff. Learning to throw punches, kicks, knees, elbows. It felt good hitting the pads, letting off some steam. The coaches were good at breaking things down step-by-step.
Here’s kinda how it went:
- Warm-ups were always intense. Lots of jumping jacks, sprawls, push-ups. Gets you sweating right away.
- Then technique drilling. Coach shows a combo, we pair up and practice it on pads or with light contact.
- Sometimes some conditioning drills at the end. More cardio, bag work, stuff like that.
- Eventually, I tried the jiu-jitsu classes too. Way different pace, more like a physical chess match. Still learning heaps there.
The people are a big part of it, really. You meet all sorts. Some guys are serious competitors, others are just there for fitness like me. But mostly everyone is cool. You sweat and struggle together, helps build a bond, I guess. You end up chatting before and after class. Share tips, complain about how sore you are.
Sparring came later. Started light, just technical stuff. It’s nerve-wracking at first, trying to use what you learned while someone is trying to hit you back (even lightly). But it definitely speeds up the learning. Made me realize how much I still didn’t know.
Wrapping Up Thoughts
So yeah, that’s been my journey with Phalanx MMA here in Fort Worth. Just showed up one day kinda curious, stuck with it, and now it’s part of my routine. It’s hard work, you get banged up sometimes, but it feels good. Definitely better than just sitting around. Learned some self-defense, got in better shape, met some solid people. Still got a long way to go, always something new to learn, but I’m enjoying the process. Just gotta keep showing up.
