hey guys well i recently started training MMA and i just have a quick question basically someone i know who also trains told me that to start off with you cant really just train everything at once and that its good to just first pick one style ie muay thai or bjj etc and stick to it for a while before mixing in and learning the rest. I mean i want to be the best fighter that i can and so i obviously want to be good at all aspects of the game. However some are more appealing to me then others ie i prefer stand up than grappling, i have some previous MA experience trained TKD as a kid for about 6 years up to the age of 14 and did wingchun kung fu for about a year. So i just wanted to hear what you guys think, im looking to be training 4 times a week and at my gym theres training sessions available in BJJ, greco roman wrestling, mauy thai and chute box so what would your advice be?
Consider your training like creating a 'Recipe' for making yourself into a fighter. You may have compiled a bunch of the ingredients that you need, but if you dump everything into a bowl and try to cook it, things don't mesh as well. Taking 'individual styles' and compiling them as you begin to develop is probably the best route. Alot of fighters who 'Trained MMA' did not develop as crisp or rounded as fighters who came from distinct striking or grappling backgrounds. You learn how to handle more situations when you don't have the 'Freedom' that MMA rules can give you. In kickboxing/MT, if you get rocked, you aren't ALLOWED to shoot for a takedown, so you have to improve your defense and learn to survive the feet. When you transfer over, little bonuses like that add-up.
I agree with Guards. I dont see anything wrong with training in striking and grappeling at the same time just so long as their trained seperatly.
Very good double-post. I've had the same experience myself. When I first started training MMA, and me coming from a judo-background I'd always just want to take it down when I'd get outstruck. Last 3 years I've only been training MT and I can't stress enough the difference it's done for me. I'm thinking of picking up MMA again come the autumn, and boy I can't wait for all the sloppy strikers there.
The boards screwed me! I actually clicked for the Quick Post, checked the page... Refreshed, and my comment was still not added so I pasted it in again. :icon_conf To expand on what's been said before, Rolf's grappling background is just like what I was saying originally. Because of his Judo background, he would always try to 'revert' to that whenever he got in trouble. With his training and emphasis on MT, now he has BOTH trained pure instead of a shoddy mixture. He's less likely to have a 'Panic' preference. He knows kickboxing, and how to fight there like a kickboxer, he also knows grip and grappling as a Judo player. Look into the training of some strong S-class fighters like GSP, A, Silva & Nog, alot of their training is specialized and separate. They may work wrestling two days a week, kickboxing two days a week, and then once a week 'Mix it up' and do everything.
so if i was to go muay thai 3 times a week and then do one other? what do u think would compliment MT better( btw im 5"7 and quite stocky if that helps) wrestling, BJJ or chute box, or should i go twice muay thai and twice one of the other styles?
Arguably, Wrestling has been semi-unanimously voted as the best 'base' style for MMA groundwork. 2/2 would be your best bet, I think. When you become strong at escapes, creating a base, powerful and explosive transitions THEN move to BJJ and watch yourself soar past the other whitebelts.
I agree wrestling is the best base for MMA. I say go focus on what appeals to you the most, but if you're going for MMA, take some wrestling/judo classes as well. You can nullify alot of people's BJJ with solid wrestling skills.
I WAS THINKING about this too. There is a local gym that teaches BJJ, kickboxing and MMA. And I'm wondering how "MMA" is different that taking the BJJ & Kickboxing classes? I guess MMA is moer general and works on "everything" while obviously the BJJ class would be pure BJJ. The MMA class teaches "everything" but I'd wager you would be a better grappler, for instance, if you took a pure BJJ class.
well put. dont take too much on at once - you can over train and end up hurting yourself instead - this happened to me a few years ago and i ended up hurting my ankle pretty bad from some jui jitsu
