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Radical MMA is a fight academy focusing on Vale-Tudo, MMA competition and real world self-defense. We constantly evolve and adapt, taking what works, and leaving behind what does not. We employ a cutting-edge, data-driven / evidence based approach to fighting that has led to a long record of success in the cage.
Rene Dreifuss, the founder of Radical MMA, holds a strong interest in all forms of fighting. Aside from his extensive martial arts training across the globe, he holds a master’s degree in Eastern Asian Studies from Columbia University, with a concentration in warfare. His in-depth research and study of tactical combat, passion about the subject, and his analytical thinking are what make the academy unique.
Respect each and every member, from newest to the most senior. We promote an environment that is 100% inclusive to people from any race, ethnicity, religion, gender, identity, age, etc. We will not tolerate any type and form of discrimination.
Our focus is set firmly in MMA and self-defense, and not in sport or performative martial arts. We aim to be relevant in a fight context and we relentlessly pursue the most effective techniques and tactics, not beholden to tradition or any orthodoxy.
While we provide a curriculum to build a solid foundation, we encourage our students to ultimately discover the fighting style that best suits them individually, and express themselves through the art with creativity and their own innovation.
Our fighting system is strongly rooted in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a fighting art that helps you build problem-solving skills. We put emphasis on correct and precise application of techniques that can unable the physical advantages of larger or stronger foes.
René Dreifuss is the founder and head coach of Radical MMA. Prior to founding Team Radical, Coach Dreifuss was an active MMA fighter in the New York area. Since 1975, he has trained extensively in a variety of martial arts in the US, Japan, and Brazil, and holds instructor ranks in a multiple styles of combat.
In 1992, Coach Dreifuss fulfilled his lifelong dream of moving to Japan to practice martial arts in the home of the samurai. He studied a number of fighting arts while there, but placed a special emphasis on developing his Judo skills. Unfortunately, due to a freak car accident he was forced to return to the US in 1998.
The accident left him with severe injuries, and eventually almost complete paralysis of his left leg. But after two years of surgery and physical therapy, he began to recover, and slowly restarted his martial arts training.
Coach Dreifuss has always been impressed with the Gracie family’s grappling skills and particularly their competition in Vale Tudo (old school MMA). Because of his experience in many martial arts, he became enthralled with Vale Tudo and MMA. These fights allowed fighters to utilize a wide range of skills, and combine striking, throwing and submission fighting. So he began his current love, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu with the intention of someday testing himself in the MMA ring.
Coach Dreifuss has been extremely fortunate to have trained under many renowned BJJ instructors, including the great Master Rigan Machado, Prof. Marcelo Garcia, Prof. Lucas Lepri and the Santos Brothers. After many years of hard work, both in the US and in Brazil, he earned his black belt under Alex Chung (Gracie Barra). He is now the only person outside of Japan with legitimate rankings in both Kosen Judo (under Sensei Kanae Hirata) and in BJJ.
Coach Dreifuss’ love and passion is translating his experience in multiple styles of combat into MMA and self defense. Due to the limitations of his body, he developed a system called the Rat Guard, which gives even very inflexible or injured people an easy method to protect oneself on the ground and keep an aggressive opponent at bay. The Rat Guard is gaining popularity in MMA and has even been used in a number of world title matches.
In addition to having a successful fighting and teaching career, Coach Dreifuss is completely fluent in Japanese and also holds a masters degree in East Asian Studies, with a concentration on Japanese military history, from Columbia University.
Radical MMA NYC is located in a very spacious three floor facility that is on 29th street & 7th Avenue in the heart of Manhattan.
We have an entire floor devoted to strength and conditioning, a second gym area for our students’ own individual drilling or weight training, and a third level that is fully matted specifically for martial arts training. We also have showers and changing areas.
Our academy is in walking distance from all major subway lines, and offers convenient access to Herald Square Station as well as Penn Station. Our address is 235 W 29th Street, New York 10001.
Our monthly membership fee is $249 for full access to all our classes seven days a week. There is no contract and no cancellation fee. The membership also includes full use of our fitness and conditioning floor stocked with weights, cardio equipment, showers and a sauna.
The payment is a monthly auto-pay deduction from a credit or debit card of your choice.
Students should have a rashguard/compression shirt and pair of MMA shorts or compression leggings. This is for both hygiene and safety issues. We do recommend you get knee pads, shin guards and MMA gloves.
Also see: Training Gear
If you have gear from another academy that is safe and hygienic then you are more than welcome to wear it.
If you have a serious injury or medical condition, please consult with your doctor first. Please also inform your instructor in advance.
You do not need any prior experience to start. Remember even the most successful champions all started from nothing.
Fighting is violent, but MMA at it’s technical best is about controlling violence with skill and finesse. At Radical MMA, we focus on teaching an intelligent, strategic and technical approach to fighting, We always emphasize the use of technique over brute strength.
More importantly, all our instructors stress martial art ethics, using training as a way to better oneself. We make sure each person on the mat is respectful to everyone and keeps training safe and enjoyable. Any type of bullying or discrimination is prohibited at our dojo.
We welcome people of any gender and sexuality.
A typical class begins with movement drills, then moves on to a technique section, where fighting moves are taught and practiced to perfection. After the technique section students will participate in sparring. The level of difficulty will be adjusted to the level of the student.
We have an detailed curriculum based on our study of the most effective fight strategies for MMA and self preservation. This consisting of organized and logical progression of techniques centered around an understanding of strikes, takedowns, positional controls, and submissions.
We do not just teach individual techniques, but help students to connect moves strategically, to make the most effective tactical decisions possible, and to be highly efficient in their execution.
Much of the leg lock attacks we see today can leave you vulnerable to strikes in MMA or very exposed in street scenarios involving weapons. We do integrate lower body attacks but only when a solid foundation of positional control has been mastered.
Yes, we have a very active and successful Pro/Am fight team. Once you have demonstrated enough skill and dedication you can try out for the team. If you join the squad, you will be allowed to attend our weekly team training sessions. When the coaches deem you are ready, you will be selected to compete in the cage.
Also see: Fight Team
We are an MMA academy so our curriculum encompasses more than a standard single-sport program. While we do not use the standard BJJ belt progression, we follow their five belt ranking system. That is to keep our instructors and students informed on where students stand in their skill levels and understanding of our fighting system.
But instead of thinking about belts, we encourage our students to focus on improving their technique with consistent, high-quality training. Royce Gracie once said that a belt only covers four inches of your rear end, the rest you have to cover yourself.
We have a curriculum for each skill level, which is made available to all students. Instructors will constantly evaluate your understanding and application of the material, and the efficiency of your movement.
In the Radical MMA fighting system, grappling, wrestling and striking (especially striking defense) play integral parts. A student must know how to fight in all ranges of combat with all tools possible, including punches, kicks submissions and chokes. But a very heavy emphasis is placed on understanding the MMA wrestling and submission game as a foundation. If you can’t wrestle, you can’t control the fight.
Competition is a matter of choice. We will never force students to compete in any manner, and competing is not necessary for promotion. However, we do recommend competing as it provides an amazing learning experience.
© 2024 Radical MMA, All rights reserved.
© 2024 Radical MMA, All rights reserved.
