Starting MMA with no martial art experience

[MessiahMills]

Hi,
First post here. I've had a look for threads on this and whilst I'm sure there are some the search function isn't doing me much good after looking at the first few pages.
To give you all a brief explanation of my short and long term goals and experience:
- I have no martial art experience what so ever
- initially I am looking to improve my fitness (I'm currently at the top end of "average" weight for my height) and to learn to defend myself
- I have a recently found keen interest in MMA which has spurred me to contact a local gym about Muay Thai classes. I start on Wednesday and can't wait.
- Long term I would like to compete in some amateur MMA events, not looking to go pro or anything crazy, just want it to be my hobby not my job

Okay, so as I've mentioned I'm looking to start Muay Thai with the ultimate goal of one day moving to MMA. In my mind I makes sense to have a good grounding in a martial art/style before becoming a jack of all trades. However, I'm wondering yor guys opinions and experiences of whether it will actually benefit me or whether if I want to do MMA I should just jump straight in with that in the first place rather than spending 1-2 years in a discipline that ultimately I will not compete in but may help me with an aspect of MMA?

Either way I'm going to be doing one or the other, just looking for some guidance as I do not know anyone into martial arts to ask myself.

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[NHB7]

Personally, I think it is good to be grounded in one martial art and then become a jack of all trades. A few years ago I would have said it is best to make your grounding art wrestling or BJJ then move to the striking arts, but plenty of great, predominately strikers have demonstrated you can go either way.

 

[joeyjoejoe]

One art a time my friend, take it as far as It can go then move on if it fits your current lifestyle and schedule. If nothing else you should be pretty comfortable on your feet if you just stick with MT.

 

[Was at Pride GP 2000]

Try to get to the next class. Meaning I have done jiu jitsu for a long time. I met a lot of guys once. The majority don't come back cause they are too sore physically or egotistically.

If you can make it to the second class (by the way you can. You just need to have the mental toughness to go). Then go to the next. After a year re evaluate what you want out of martial arts. You will be disiplined to do a lot of different things if you go more than 100 times the first year.

If you try another martial art in a year, be humble. It's going to be different and is going to take the same effort as the first.

Now go train jiu jitsu.

 

[ThunderL1ps]

Personally, I think it is good to be grounded in one martial art and then become a jack of all trades. A few years ago I would have said it is best to make they grounding wrestling or BJJ then move to the striking arts, but plenty of great, predominately strikers have demonstrated you can go either way.

Agreed.

 

[qw3rty]

IMO you could do MT and BJJ in order to see if you feel good with the striking and grappling part of MMA.
2 or 3 years later you could mix them with another disscipline

Haven't you done wrestling at college? If not, you can change BJJ for Wrestling classes

 

[MessiahMills]

IMO you could do MT and BJJ in order to see if you feel good with the striking and grappling part of MMA.
2 or 3 years later you could mix them with another disscipline

Haven't you done wrestling at college? If not, you can change BJJ for Wrestling classes

In the UK and we don't do wrestling at school/college. No experience in any fighting/wrestling discipline what so ever.

That method (mixing MT and BJJ over a period of say 2-3 years) is the way I was looking. Seems that most people on here agree.

 

[Pierced7681]

Definitely learn striking first. It's way easier to get good at grappling than it is to learn to strike.

 

[Byron Pechorin]

Honestly, when it comes to starting out, people need to stop analyzing and weighing every little thing like they are already high caliber athletes that need to pinpoint every little thing that they do. Just go find a local gym with a decent reputation and try out a few classes. I would advise that you start at an MMA gym that offers classes in multiple disciplines because you may walk in thinking you will like striking and get hit a few times and realize that you absolutely hate it/don't want to lose any brain cells for free and decide to do BJJ...or vice versa. Do your best to stick it out if you really think it's for you. Training consistently is a lot tougher than most people assume it will be and the vast majority of people don't come back after the first class. It takes about a month of solid training to get acclimated to it.

Also, Muay Thai is a lot more "terrifying" to get into because you're getting punched in the face...but ALL of my injuries have come from grappling lol.

 

[Byron Pechorin]

Seriously though fucking everybody should know jiujitsu lol.

 

[Big_Chief_Stove]

Hi,
First post here. I've had a look for threads on this and whilst I'm sure there are some the search function isn't doing me much good after looking at the first few pages.
To give you all a brief explanation of my short and long term goals and experience:
- I have no martial art experience what so ever
- initially I am looking to improve my fitness (I'm currently at the top end of "average" weight for my height) and to learn to defend myself
- I have a recently found keen interest in MMA which has spurred me to contact a local gym about Muay Thai classes. I start on Wednesday and can't wait.
- Long term I would like to compete in some amateur MMA events, not looking to go pro or anything crazy, just want it to be my hobby not my job

Okay, so as I've mentioned I'm looking to start Muay Thai with the ultimate goal of one day moving to MMA. In my mind I makes sense to have a good grounding in a martial art/style before becoming a jack of all trades. However, I'm wondering yor guys opinions and experiences of whether it will actually benefit me or whether if I want to do MMA I should just jump straight in with that in the first place rather than spending 1-2 years in a discipline that ultimately I will not compete in but may help me with an aspect of MMA?

Either way I'm going to be doing one or the other, just looking for some guidance as I do not know anyone into martial arts to ask myself.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Focus on just one or two aspects. Like BJJ and boxing for awhile, 1-2 years.

5 most crucial martial arts
Greco-Roman Wrestling
BJJ
Muay Thai
Boxing
Judo

Honorable mention: TKD, Panantukan