Frequently Asked Questions
Can my children train at Progressive Fighting - Maryland?
Absolutely. Children ages 10-13 may train in our Escape to Gain Safety program, which was specifically designed for them. Children younger than ten years old may train in ETGS on a case by case basis, after consultation with instructors. Teenagers 14 years old and up may train with the adults in the Rapid Assault Tactics Program. The only program we have that is not open to teenagers is the Edged Weapons program, which is available only for adults over the age of 18.
Will I have to purchase any equipment?
Different classes require different sets of equipment. You will need at a minimum a mouth guard and a set of MMA gloves. Men are recommended to purchase a cup.
Children beginning Escape to Gain Safety will not be required to purchase any equipment. As they progress, they will need boxing gloves, sparring helmets with face protectors, chest protectors, and shin pads. Advanced children will require a kali stick and lacrosse gloves.
Students in the Rapid Assault Tactics course will need to acquire the following equipment over the course of time: Boxing gloves, sparring helmets with face protectors, shin pads, kali sticks, training knives, and lacrosse gloves.
Students in the Edged Weapons course will need to acquire the following equipment over the course of time: Sparring helmets with face protectors, shin pads, kali sticks, training knives, training swords, and lacrosse gloves.
All equipment will be available to purchase through Progressive Fighting - Maryland, or students make purchase recommended equipment on their own.
Do I have to be in shape to start training at Progressive Fighting - Maryland?
Absolutely not. If you're not in shape, training at PFM will help you get there. Our Rapid Assault Tactics class has been designed in order to not only teach you fighting skills, but get you fighting fit. Alongside technical training, you will also receive strength and cardiovascular training. Our system is designed to help you meet your fitness goals, and provide you with state of the art combatives training along the way. We'll supply you with all you need to get fit and get fighting and if you'll provide the will and determination, we'll encourage you as you go.
Are you like Krav Maga?
In the sense that both Rapid Assault Tactics and Krav Maga are military fighting systems designed for and tested in combat, yes. However, our training methods and systems are quite a bit different. Krav Maga is a great system for those practicing it.
Do you teach MMA?
Progressive Fighting - Maryland is not a competition school. We do not train for ring fighting, be it kickboxing or mixed martial arts. These sports are great means of personal development and can provide some valid fighting skills.
However, ring competition begins with an agreement between two parties, not an ambush. Both parties know that the other is unarmed, and that they will only be fighting one on one. We train for worst case scenarios, being ambushed and attacked, the possibility that our opponent is armed, and the likliehood that we will have to deal with multiple attackers.
Though our paradigm is different from sport training, our training methods are very similar to mixed martial arts. The systems of Muay Thai and Brazilian Jujutsu form the foundation of our training program. We use sport training methods to develop delivery system we which further develop utilizing tactics that would never be allowed in a competition, and add weapons training. Sifu Paul Vunak likes to refer to it as "Filthy MMA".
Our goal is not to win trophies or medals. Our goal is live a good life, ensuring our safety and the safety of our loved ones.
Do you spar?
Sparring is an integral part of all of our programs at Progressive Fighting - Maryland. It is done at various levels of training, utilizing various formats. Sparring is not done as a form of competition training, but rather as an essential way of familiarizing and internalizing technique and tactics. Students are introduced to a given technique, and then train that technique in isolation, before integrating it with the rest of their skill set. Sparring plays a role in the latter two stages. Students will train and drill a technique in isolation until they are completely comfortable with it, and then work on integrating it with the rest of their training.
Sparring is not done as a competitive exercise, nor to the level seen in professional competitions. Trainees are taught to see other students as partners in training. If we hurt ourselves or others during training, we lose the ability to train. Team-building and unit cohesion is an essential part Special Operations training. If you hurt your team mate, the whole team is weakened. A weakened team runs the risk of failure on the battlefield, a place where failure can have fatal consequences.
All sparring in childrens' classes is done with the utmost attention to safety.
Do you wear uniforms or belts?
No. We do not require you to wear a gi or other martial arts style uniform. We recommend you come wearing comfortable workout attire. We have Progressive Fighting - Maryland T-shirts and various logo gear available as well.
There are no belt ranks in Rapid Assault Tactics or any of the other programs at Progressive Fighting - Maryland. Students progress through various phases and levels of the curriculum, each of which addresses certain skill sets or phases of combat. Thus, one student could be considered a Level One student, or a Level Five student, but this is not seen as indicative of a rank structure. Students who have completed training in Levels One through Nine of Rapid Assault Tactics can be considered for testing for an Apprentice Instructor certification.
Absolutely. Children ages 10-13 may train in our Escape to Gain Safety program, which was specifically designed for them. Children younger than ten years old may train in ETGS on a case by case basis, after consultation with instructors. Teenagers 14 years old and up may train with the adults in the Rapid Assault Tactics Program. The only program we have that is not open to teenagers is the Edged Weapons program, which is available only for adults over the age of 18.
Will I have to purchase any equipment?
Different classes require different sets of equipment. You will need at a minimum a mouth guard and a set of MMA gloves. Men are recommended to purchase a cup.
Children beginning Escape to Gain Safety will not be required to purchase any equipment. As they progress, they will need boxing gloves, sparring helmets with face protectors, chest protectors, and shin pads. Advanced children will require a kali stick and lacrosse gloves.
Students in the Rapid Assault Tactics course will need to acquire the following equipment over the course of time: Boxing gloves, sparring helmets with face protectors, shin pads, kali sticks, training knives, and lacrosse gloves.
Students in the Edged Weapons course will need to acquire the following equipment over the course of time: Sparring helmets with face protectors, shin pads, kali sticks, training knives, training swords, and lacrosse gloves.
All equipment will be available to purchase through Progressive Fighting - Maryland, or students make purchase recommended equipment on their own.
Do I have to be in shape to start training at Progressive Fighting - Maryland?
Absolutely not. If you're not in shape, training at PFM will help you get there. Our Rapid Assault Tactics class has been designed in order to not only teach you fighting skills, but get you fighting fit. Alongside technical training, you will also receive strength and cardiovascular training. Our system is designed to help you meet your fitness goals, and provide you with state of the art combatives training along the way. We'll supply you with all you need to get fit and get fighting and if you'll provide the will and determination, we'll encourage you as you go.
Are you like Krav Maga?
In the sense that both Rapid Assault Tactics and Krav Maga are military fighting systems designed for and tested in combat, yes. However, our training methods and systems are quite a bit different. Krav Maga is a great system for those practicing it.
Do you teach MMA?
Progressive Fighting - Maryland is not a competition school. We do not train for ring fighting, be it kickboxing or mixed martial arts. These sports are great means of personal development and can provide some valid fighting skills.
However, ring competition begins with an agreement between two parties, not an ambush. Both parties know that the other is unarmed, and that they will only be fighting one on one. We train for worst case scenarios, being ambushed and attacked, the possibility that our opponent is armed, and the likliehood that we will have to deal with multiple attackers.
Though our paradigm is different from sport training, our training methods are very similar to mixed martial arts. The systems of Muay Thai and Brazilian Jujutsu form the foundation of our training program. We use sport training methods to develop delivery system we which further develop utilizing tactics that would never be allowed in a competition, and add weapons training. Sifu Paul Vunak likes to refer to it as "Filthy MMA".
Our goal is not to win trophies or medals. Our goal is live a good life, ensuring our safety and the safety of our loved ones.
Do you spar?
Sparring is an integral part of all of our programs at Progressive Fighting - Maryland. It is done at various levels of training, utilizing various formats. Sparring is not done as a form of competition training, but rather as an essential way of familiarizing and internalizing technique and tactics. Students are introduced to a given technique, and then train that technique in isolation, before integrating it with the rest of their skill set. Sparring plays a role in the latter two stages. Students will train and drill a technique in isolation until they are completely comfortable with it, and then work on integrating it with the rest of their training.
Sparring is not done as a competitive exercise, nor to the level seen in professional competitions. Trainees are taught to see other students as partners in training. If we hurt ourselves or others during training, we lose the ability to train. Team-building and unit cohesion is an essential part Special Operations training. If you hurt your team mate, the whole team is weakened. A weakened team runs the risk of failure on the battlefield, a place where failure can have fatal consequences.
All sparring in childrens' classes is done with the utmost attention to safety.
Do you wear uniforms or belts?
No. We do not require you to wear a gi or other martial arts style uniform. We recommend you come wearing comfortable workout attire. We have Progressive Fighting - Maryland T-shirts and various logo gear available as well.
There are no belt ranks in Rapid Assault Tactics or any of the other programs at Progressive Fighting - Maryland. Students progress through various phases and levels of the curriculum, each of which addresses certain skill sets or phases of combat. Thus, one student could be considered a Level One student, or a Level Five student, but this is not seen as indicative of a rank structure. Students who have completed training in Levels One through Nine of Rapid Assault Tactics can be considered for testing for an Apprentice Instructor certification.
