how to appraoch gym owner/operator?

[ashe]

so up till now i've just been training in the park and in my back yard, but if i'm going to up my game i need some decent sparring partners, so i guess it's time to join a gym.

to get the closest approximation to sanda i should probably be training with mma guys.

the thing is, pointers are always welcome, but i'm not interested in learning mma, i want to refine the art i'm already doing against some hard core guys, find some amatuer (kickboxing) competitions that are local so i can get in some training fights, and then go win at the CMA competitions that have lei tai.

the three big ones are nick scrima's tourney in florida, the taiji legacy in dallas and the uswskf tourney in va..

so, how do i approach a gym owner/operator without coming off like a dick with a superiority complex?

[SupergeZ]

is there no gyms in the area specialising in the kind of martial arts that you do? you could advertise meets or sparing sessions for people that also study it at your place for example. im sure your not the only guy that does your specific martial arts it where you live. could get a regular sparing / training thing going amongst a select few practitioners of the martial arts you study could be good fun, like skunk was training with his buddy at their home, you could do the same with a few folks at yours

just an idea

[Chris M]

I know when I've been to fights, there are usually some gyms that advertise. Try talking to some people or competitors to see what they suggest.

[ashe]

i'm the head instructor in my state, plus the few who train are just into it for health, etc.

i'm also a long distance student to make matters even more complicated.