Training at The SNIPER GYM in Miraflores, Peru

After a long week consisting of 3 dental appointments, food poisoning, a huge party for the in-laws, and 100's of heirnes. All I had time for fitness wise, was about 15 miles of running, 1 work-out in the pool, and I trained a free class at the Gold's Gym's Peruvian Fighting Center, or PFC. Not to say anything bad about that school, but it definitely was not for me.

Atlas! I made it to Miraflores and enrolled myself into the Sniper Gym. This gym is most undoubtedly the best jiu-jitsu gym in Peru. There are many black belt instructors, all belted from high level, respectable black belts, nice brown belts, and many many purple belts.

Before you read ahead, please don't assume until I finish.

As I walked through the door, I could smell the sweat, and the heat. It wasn't the cleanist gym I had ever seen, the pads on the floor were used and abused, the punching bags were a mixture of new and used with tape to hold them together, the purple belt's gi's were tethered and had been through battle, the walls were covered from end to end with posters of cage fights and tournaments, medals were hanging from the wall, and every single person inside the gym had that distinct look of strong, determind, yet humble and ready to learn. My first thought was that this gym was going to be fully legit!

We began class with a mixture of fast push-ups and jumping jacks, with 150 ab repitions, did some stretching. Not exactly what I'm used to doing in the U.S. , but never the less, I am now training at another gym during my stay in Peru, I will respect the black belts here at all costs, after all, they are also legitamate black belts!

We went over a very useful technique and repped it out for about 10 minutes. After that we trained! Everyone there was determined to win, but also polite and respectful.

Before I started the class my wife and I explained to the instructor that i had a bad herniated disk in my neck, along with another one that wasn't too extreme. I could train at 60% but to be mindful of my problem so that I could be quick to tap if I was about to be put in a vulnerable position. Life's not always fair but everyone there was respectful of that.

I took a picture at the end of the class with the group I trained with, and shook everyone's hand, I thanked them all graciously for allowing me to train there for a free class, shortly after I enrolled into the school.

Although Enlgish is the only language I speak, and many people there only speak Spanish, we all got along fine because we all speak Jiu-Jitsu!

I will be hitting the pool shortly and then again, going to Miraflores for a great night of training tonight as well!

See you later!