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An Inside Look at Tiger Schulmann's Mixed Martial Arts Empire
An Inside Look at Tiger Schulmann's Mixed Martial Arts Empire
I have been training at Tiger Schulmans Paramus since February 2011. I needed
a change in my workout. What I was doing on my own at home was not working. I
was constantly bored and not seeing any results. By changing my at home tness
program and adding TSMMA to my workout routine, I was able to exceed my tness
and health goals. The instructors and atmosphere at Tiger Schulmans Paramus is so
supportive and encouraging that I have set new goals for myself; ones that I thought
could never be obtained. If I hadnt started training. I would have been so frustrated
with my at home tness that I probably would have given up and accepted my life
the way it was, whether I was happy or not. But I took the rst step.
I have met people that I never would have and they have changed my life. These
students, now my close friends, have been there for good times and bad. They have
been there for me through some tough times both related to my training and in
my personal life. I speak to everyone about the TSMMA Paramus school. Training
under Joshu Michael Murray and Joshu Brian Russo has given me self-condence,
discipline and focus that carries over into my at home tness as well as in my pro-
fessional life. This is not just about a great workout, its about a way to a better life.
My story is very diferent than anyone elses that trains. Its possibly the most unique
situation in the Tiger Schulmans organization. I have a chronic medical condition
that will always be with me and does cause some problems when I train. The instruc-
tors have made it a point to sit down with me and truly understand the situation.
They have gone above and beyond and have given me rules so that my health
does not hinder my training and accommodated me when needed so that I can still
train at the level of intensity I want and not let this unfortunate circumstance get
in the way. I cannot say enough about Joshu Murray and Joshu Russo. They are not
only amazing instructors with their knowledge and technique but they truly care
about their students. They go out of their way to help students better themselves,
not only in their abilities in class but in their daily lives as well. The atmosphere is like
a family and I truly believe they have everything to do with this.
WILL MURPHY
I rst started training at TSMMA back in January 2010. At the time, I weighed 216
pounds, lacked condence and was very unhappy with my appearance. This caused
me to frequently battle with feelings of anger and depression. Realizing I needed to
do something for myself, I joined TSMMA Syosset because I always enjoyed watch-
ing UFC and wanted to try something diferent than just another gym.
What I found there while training under Sensei Nick Gravina was far more than just
a workout; it was an experience that positively changed the entire way I lived my
life. By that spring I had lost 30 pounds and began to really perfect my technique.
More importantly, my feelings of anger and depression began to disappear just as
fast as the inches of my waste and my condence grew with each drop of sweat
left on the mat.
Unfortunately, a combination of school and work forced me to stop training to-
ward the end of 2010. From then until September 2012, I gradually regained the 30
pounds I had lost as well as an additional 25. Once again I found myself often feeling
angry and depressed and lacking condence. By my 29th Birthday in August 2012, I
realized that I could no longer continue living in such an unhealthy way both physi-
cally and mentally. I would turn 30 a year later and knew my family had a history of
obesity, heart disease and diabetes. I promised myself then that by the time I turned
30 I would be in the best shape of my life to avoid similar health problems and also
rebuild my mental strength and discipline.
I knew exactly where to go. I joined TSMMA Seaford and never looked back. Training
under Sensei Joe Belluomo for over a year now I have seen myself lose 85 pounds,
transform my body into the greatest shape its ever been throughout my entire life,
and nd the focus, condence and discipline I was sorely lacking. Initially my goal
was a simple one; lose weight. As I lost weight, however, my goals changed. I didnt
just want to be skinny. I wanted to be as toned as possible. I didnt want to just hit
a bag, I wanted to have perfect technique and challenge myself in advanced grap-
pling and sparring classes. I didnt just want to survive a class, I wanted to attack a
class with every ounce of energy I had and set an example for others. I now hope to
continue advancing toward my Black Belt and maybe to even teach TSMMA classes.
Thanks to Sensei Belluomo and TSMMA I was able to keep the promise I made to
myself on my 29th Birthday of being in the best shape of my life when I turned 30.
Thanks to Sensei Belluomo and TSMMA I am also a better, stronger, more successful
person than Ive ever been before. I owe much to Sensei Belluomo and TSMMA,
but the most important thing Ive learned is to never give up on myself. It was that
simple concept that allowed me to achieve what I have in the past year and one I
share with every new student who walks into our school. The results I achieved are
attainable for everyone so long as they just never give up on themselves. In fact,
after seeing my results, my 51 year old mother even joined TSMMA Seaford and has
now lost 40 pounds of her own. TSMMA Seaford has become our extended family
and will always be an essential part of our lives moving forward.
ELISE
On March 19th I walked through Tiger Schulmanns East Hanovers doors not
knowing what to expect, but knowing that something in my life had to change. At
30 years old I came to a point in my life where you can say I hit rock bottom. I
weighed 226 pounds, sufered from depression, emotional eating, and self harm. I
was very unhappy with a lot of areas in my life, but being overweight was the hard-
est issue for me to try to gain control of. It was an issue I had struggled with for
many years, and lately began to spiral out of control. After seeking help from my
family and therapy I was able to gain some control of the emotional areas of my life.
It was then that I felt that it was time to start focusing on my physical self. Thats
when I decided I should to get back to my athletic roots (my high school years)
since thats when I was the happiest, and most t, in my life.
My rst trial class is a day I wont forget for the rest of my life. It was the day that
something great and empowering had awoken within me. Joshu walked me around
showing me pictures on the walls of amazing ghters, gave me a small background
on the schools history, introduced me to Sensei Lopez and gave me my rst ever
pair of boxing glovesI felt super special at that point! After surviving the rst trial
class I felt a little overwhelmed, yet full of energy and excitement! I wanted to take
some time to see if it was really something I wanted to commit myself to, but deep
down I already knew. Tiger Schulmanns was where I belonged and a month later I
ofcially started. Thats when I felt my new self come to life!
Focus and discipline are words you will always hear coming out of Senseis mouth
and thats exactly what I needed to hear on a daily basis to be able to accomplish
what I have in the short months that Ive been with Tiger Schulmann. Before I start-
ed training I never thought achieving any type tness goals were possible. However,
shortly after I began training, I started to see a diference in how I felt physically and
mentally. It felt absolutely great and I did not want it to stop. Feeling my uniform
and belt get bigger and bigger, hearing all the encouraging words from everyone
around me and achieving my rank of hi-white belt, was all the motivation that I
needed to keep going full force. Its then that I realized that anything is possible so
long as I stay focused and have the discipline to come to training. I also had the help
and encouragement from the other students I train with, and as a whole I really feel
that none of my accomplishments wouldnt have been possible without my family,
Sensei, Joshu and all the other wonderful strong people Ive met at the school. To
this day I have placed in two challenges, and lost a total of 63 pounds (and count-
ing!). I have been of my medication, and have not relapsed to my old eating habits
or cutting in 246 days, feats would be absolutely impossible not too long ago.
During this journey Ive learned a lot about myself. In these past 8 months I found
out what I am truly capable of, how strong I really am, and to never forget that I
can do anything that I put my mind to. I truly thank Tiger Schulmann for giving me
the physical skills I needed to get myself back into shape, the mental skills of learn-
ing how to not give up, how to stay positive and focused on any goal that I set for
myself in life, and providing a fun and healthy environment to practice these skills.
Whether its short term, long term or on or of the mat, I know I can and will accom-
plish it; TSMMA has truly changed my life for the better.