MMA Noob: Where to start? Which Discipline?

[buckallred]

Gents:

I am a fan of MMA but have never participated in any discipline of MA at all.

Now, at 32, I am interested in starting out. Obviously this will be for exercise/health only and not for any sort of competitive participation.

So for a guy like me, who likes the sport but knows very little of the various disciplines, where should I begin?

I am more interested in the striking disciplines than the grappling ones. Or I think I am. Taekwondo seems to be popular, I see it advertised a lot, but I don't see much taekwondo in the octagon (or I don't think I do, anyway), and I recall Rogan saying once that "taekwondo doesn't work in the octagon." Is this true? Does this mean that taekwondo is not something I should look into?

So, as you can see, I don't know what I don't know as far as MA.

Any advice on which discipline would be a good place for me to start would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[CowboyPete]

You're in no rush to get competitive or start tearing up the MMA scene so sample whatever arts interest you, pick your favorite(s) and train. If this is for exercise purposes, it really doesn't matter if it "works inside the octagon," does it?

That being said, Fedor Emelianenko says Tae Kwon Do is "indispensable." I don't think I have to tell you his opinion holds more weight than Rogan's or the average sherdogger. There are plenty of Tae Kwon Do "mcdojos" that don't train in a serious fashion the same is true of just about every martial art there is. Avoid thes enad you'll be fine.

 

[US Tomato Can]

Mark Weir = Tae Kwon Do

 

[mepersoner]

I don't think I have to tell you his opinion holds more weight than Rogan's or the average sherdogger.

Funny you say that since Rogan is a taekwondo champion.

 

[Evil Eye Gouger]

Funny you say that since Rogan is a taekwondo champion.

Joe Rogan scored once by winning the US Open -- which is quite an achievement -- but let's not make him into something he's not. He was never a taekwondo champion.

To the threadstarter:

If you would like to get into MMA, you should join an MMA gym. They will teach you all aspects of MMA, give you a chance to spar under MMA rules, and you will have balanced instruction.

If you would like to get into martial arts in general, and use the lessons from MMA, then you should pick an art which you enjoy, and which you will actually stick with.

Pick one striking art: Boxing, kickboxing, karate, TKD, Muay Thai... and one grappling art, like Judo, BJJ, wrestling, sambo, submission wrestling, etc.

The exact art you choose will depend on what you enjoy most, what you have available to you, and which schools offer good instruction. Many traditional martial arts schools are populated by fake masters teaching crap, so make sure you have a look at a school and see what their classes are like before joining.

I personally think that TKD can be very effective, but it's an art which takes dedication, and you will probably need to work a bit extra on your punching technique, as it is usually de-emphasised. You will develop excellent kicks and footwork, though. Be EXTRA MEGA CAREFUL in the US, because there are many McDojos. Look for schools which are Kukkiwon-certified, regularly compete, spar with contact, and cover the entire curriculum (including self-defense, hand techniques, etc).

But generally, look at you options (schools nearby), visit them and see which ones have good instruction, and pick on striking and one grappling one and you should be fine.

Last piece of advice is that, for MMA/ring/cage fights at least, the martial arts that train with contact and live sparring tend to be more effective. Make sure you look into that when you are choosing a school.

 

[Nick Fletcher]

You should visit several of the schools close to your house. Most schools will let you try out a class or two for free. If you go to a TMA school watch the higher ranked students. If they don't look like they know what they are doing, chances are it's a mcdojo. Other than that, look for the school that fits the level of intensity you are looking for.

For a lot of people, finding a school close to you can be the difference between training that day and deciding you don't feel like driving all the way to class, working out, and driving back home.

 

[Bamaispriceless]

MMA gym x 2.

If not, then it's hard to go wrong with Muay Thai and BJJ

 

[buckallred]

Thanks for the responses.

 

[CowboyPete]

Funny you say that since Rogan is a taekwondo champion.

And he's reached the top of the MMA food chain too, right?

 

[Chris Kimmerly]

If you want to do MMA for fun and health reasons you should approach it as if you wanted to fight. Train like a fighter and you will get in shape fast.

 

[pollo loco]

MMA gym x 2.

If not, then it's hard to go wrong with Muay Thai and BJJ

quoted for truth

 

[fourchamberz]

If you're trying to get into shape, I wouldn't recommend BJJ over wrestling, boxing, or muay thai. The last three are far more fast paced. But since you are 32, BJJ might be easier on the joints...

 

[FearlessFighter]

tae kwon do haha

 

[gotHEARTfighter]

Gents:

I am a fan of MMA but have never participated in any discipline of MA at all.

Now, at 32, I am interested in starting out. Obviously this will be for exercise/health only and not for any sort of competitive participation.

So for a guy like me, who likes the sport but knows very little of the various disciplines, where should I begin?

I am more interested in the striking disciplines than the grappling ones. Or I think I am. Taekwondo seems to be popular, I see it advertised a lot, but I don't see much taekwondo in the octagon (or I don't think I do, anyway), and I recall Rogan saying once that "taekwondo doesn't work in the octagon." Is this true? Does this mean that taekwondo is not something I should look into?

So, as you can see, I don't know what I don't know as far as MA.

Any advice on which discipline would be a good place for me to start would be appreciated. Thanks!

taekwando focuses on speed and points. if your trying to stop a cross with a switch kick, points down matter...how hard you hit them does. regardless of style...theres certain ways of kicking that work. traditional martial arts USUALLY dont teach things in this context

 

[Shizzy]

I would start off with western boxing. You'll get whipped into shape and get some decent hands. Then after a while perhaps transition into Muay Thai/KB. Then if grappling interests you get into some BJJ/Submission Grappling. I would reccomend getting into some striking first as it seems like a lot of BJJ/Sub guys dont like to get hit. If you can find a well rounded mma gym in your area it would probably be ideal. But some "mma" gyms can be lacking in the striking department and it might be better to go to a straight up boxing/kickboxing gym first.

 

[bunnunce_boy3]

find a gym that works with beginners. learn technique before u try anything else! technique is very important. maybe like a cardio-kickboxing class. then move on to bigger and better things!

 

[UrbanSavage**]

The most common fighting styles used in the octagon are Muay Thai, Boxing, Wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Any of those would be good, an MMA gym would probably be better suited to what you want to do, though.

 

[Brent Schermerhorn]

find a gym that works with beginners. learn technique before u try anything else! technique is very important. maybe like a cardio-kickboxing class. then move on to bigger and better things!

Please DO NOT start with a cardio-kickboxing class!!!! Take KB if you'd like and adapt your OWN cardio routine out of that. Skip the Tae bo!

 

[P-Town BeatDown]

Please DO NOT start with a cardio-kickboxing class!!!! Take KB if you'd like and adapt your OWN cardio routine out of that. Skip the Tae bo!

I'd have to agree with Scherm here. Chances are in a cardio kickboxing class you will end up learning not-so-good technique that will be a bitch to unlearn later when you are ready to get serious. bunnunce_boy3 was right about trying to find a gym that works with beginners though. There are lots of trainers that will sell you on their place and then, once you get in there, they spend the majority of the time working with their top-level guys. Then there are the great instructors who, amazingly, find time for everybody in an 1.5-2 hour session (like mine :icon_chee ). You can take the free class that almost every gym offers and hopefully get an idea of which type that instructor is. For me, it was just luck though (or percentage, since every other place I had trained the last 8 years seemed to be more of the former).

Anyways, good luck.

 

[Orsyn]

Joe Rogan scored once by winning the US Open -- which is quite an achievement -- but let's not make him into something he's not. He was never a taekwondo champion.

To the threadstarter:

If you would like to get into MMA, you should join an MMA gym. They will teach you all aspects of MMA, give you a chance to spar under MMA rules, and you will have balanced instruction.

If you would like to get into martial arts in general, and use the lessons from MMA, then you should pick an art which you enjoy, and which you will actually stick with.

Pick one striking art: Boxing, kickboxing, karate, TKD, Muay Thai... and one grappling art, like Judo, BJJ, wrestling, sambo, submission wrestling, etc.

The exact art you choose will depend on what you enjoy most, what you have available to you, and which schools offer good instruction. Many traditional martial arts schools are populated by fake masters teaching crap, so make sure you have a look at a school and see what their classes are like before joining.

I personally think that TKD can be very effective, but it's an art which takes dedication, and you will probably need to work a bit extra on your punching technique, as it is usually de-emphasised. You will develop excellent kicks and footwork, though. Be EXTRA MEGA CAREFUL in the US, because there are many McDojos. Look for schools which are Kukkiwon-certified, regularly compete, spar with contact, and cover the entire curriculum (including self-defense, hand techniques, etc).

But generally, look at you options (schools nearby), visit them and see which ones have good instruction, and pick on striking and one grappling one and you should be fine.

Last piece of advice is that, for MMA/ring/cage fights at least, the martial arts that train with contact and live sparring tend to be more effective. Make sure you look into that when you are choosing a school.

as always, good post.