So I wanna learn MMA. Should I take kickboxing or BJJ first or just jump into MMA?

Question

Basically the topic question. I wanna learn this sport really bad and I just need some advice on how to attack this. This school http://www.4kickbox.com/index.cfm? offers MMA, BJJ, and Muay Thai. But should I take a few classes in BJJ or Muay Thai then do MMA? Or should I just jump into MMA? I really want to get fit and learn self defense quickly. It would also be nice to get some muscle tone while getting a good Carido work out. I know with that being said Kickboxing would be the best, but I want to learn MMA really bad. Also want to get some sparring on inside the gym. So if someone can help me start on Martial Arts journey that would be helpful. Thanks.

Answer 1

If you plan on being a striker (Muay Thai):

- Strong Boxing techniques

- Great Takedown defense

- Great Submission defense

- Leg Kicks

- Fast hands and/or accurate heavy strikes

- Conditioning

- Iron Chin

If you plan on being a grappler (BJJ):

- Excellent submission knowledge

- Patience

- Good takedowns

- Solid natural standup before taking fights to  the ground

- Strength

- Ring/Cage awareness

Answer 2

im not being picky but isnt bjj and kickboxing like considered to both be mma?

Answer 3

Tea kwon do. hey its how Anderson Silva got started

Answer 4

If MMA is your goal then why not train that way from the start??  MMA is a sport in itself now and has its own style that is taken from other TMA's as it works for you.  Trust me, if Royce and the originators of MMa in the US knew then what they know now, they would have trained the style we see today with heavy influence by boxing Thai Boxing and Wrestling.  Usually when learning from an MMA instructor they still focus on individual aspects of each part and then begin to blend them together.

Some traditionlists on the board might disagree saying that becoming very proficient at one art and then adding other parts of the game to fill holes is better because you are learning BJJ in a GI ro Boxing with 14oz gloves.  Legends, EX Couture, AKA, ATT  all of these camps train the sport of MMA, some of the fighters were experts at one art or another but now train MMA even though they offer classes for BJJ, Thai, Boxing, Wrestling etc....

We are still in the infancy of this sport so we still see people who were excellent in one art pick up other tools to fill voids, like Marcello garcia learning to adjust his BJJ game to MMA, but the future of the sport is training the sport of MMA leaving very few voids as they grow.  BTW Marcelo has much better BJJ than Nick diaz (Nick is good but Marcelinho is on a different level) but wont take an MMA that was offered at DREAM because Nicks BJJ and stand up are much better suited for MMA at this time.

Answer 5

I'd say it would be better to start with MMA.  Regular Muay Thai and regular BJJ are a little different than Muay Thai and BJJ in MMA.  But if you can, why not take all three to really sharpen all your skills?

Answer 6

I train in all three.  everyone of them includes alot of cardio, each one will get you in shape.  When I first started I lost 15 pounds in the first month going twice a week.  Any reputable gym will not let you spar until you can properly defend yourself.  Talk to who ever is in charge at the gym and see if you can try everything  first before deciding what you want to focus in.  If you are like me, then you'll want do everything and pony up the money to have total access of your gym (mine is $160 per month).  Have fun with it, thats what it is really about.

edit- the guy above is right about the differences of MMA style BJJ and Muy Thai and its traditional forms.  but improving on the traditional will make you better in MMA.

Answer 7

Even though they say they teach MMA, they don't list times for MMA classes on their actual class schedule, just BJJ and Muay Thai...

It looks like a good gym though!

Answer 8

well i started with bjj its just more fun!!