This weekend I was in Miami and stopped by American Top Team Hollywood to train with a friend, which I'll post photos and notes from later. But first...
I know that the gym is having some trouble since the main instructor, Carlos Rollyson (for whom the gym was originally named) has left. Edson Diniz of ATT was brought in to replace him, but they're still sorting issues out and could use some promotion.
Since I was given great hospitality, I figured I could do a little to help them out.
I had a lot of trouble finding the gym, and even my friend said it took him a year to figure out where it was, since it's hidden from the road. So my contribution is to make them easy to find.
The address is:
5450 South State Road 7, Suite 27-28
Hollywood, Fl. 33314
Street level on 54th Ct
And the website and flier say it's "across from the Seminole Hard Rock Casino!"
But it's not. Across from the entrance to the casino is just an empty lot. It's...
It's also not in the shopping/office complex it would appear to be in. No, it's hidden off to the side instead.
If you follow my guide, you'll be rewarded with nice gym with a ton of mat space and a weight training room.
Hope that helps anyone else wanting to check out the gym.
We had a great training session Sunday with Matt showing me a lot of things they do in his gym. I have been training mostly no-gi the last several years and he did a lot of things on crab guard, cross guard, and various grips that I am trying to work for my game.
I worked some of the things with him that Marcelo Garcia has taught me in some private lessons and some seminars. It was a great session.
Edson Diniz teaches gi on Tuesday and Thursday at 7:30 P.M and Saturday afternoon. He also teaches an NHB class at 6:30 on the same nights. If you don't know Edson he is a second degree black belt and a world champion in BJJ, as well as holding numerous titles in BJJ, submission grappling, and NHB.
He is also a great instructor and nice guy and is really interested in putting together a competition team for kids and adults.
We also do no gi on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, with black belt Josh Manso teaching and brown belt Andrew Cargill assisting.
I teach an early morning Saturday class at 7:30 A.M. with open mat following. That class is highly slanted towards the things I have picked up from Marcelo Garcia. Marcelo has already agreed to do a seminar early next year at the gym.
Thanks again for the post Matt. Hope to see some South Florida people drop by or anyone who is vacationing in South Florida and is looking for a great place to train.
I've been a member of this school for the past year and can guarantee that having the new instructors with more classes is a great addition. What has really kept me at this school is the attention given the each student, the family-like enviroment and best of all, the cleansest mats around...lol.. The only thing we need now are some Women to join!!..
I'll be in Hollywood on business first week of December, I'd like to come by to train. Who do I need to get in touch with?
Drop me a line at tomasdrgon@hotmail.com..
Hey Leo, is the Saturday Open Mat open to everyone? I live down the road in Plantation, it would be nice to roll with some different people from time to time.
Might have some nominal mat fee. I just started doing it at this gym so I will find out from the owner if he wants something.
But come in. If you want to add something to the class feel free. I run it like a clinic. I always have things i am working for me, but then I find out if someone wants to work on something else or teach something.
I have done this for a couple of years with some other guys and so far it truly has been as close to an ego free enviornment as I have found in martial arts.
