Train in mixed martial arts or two traditional styles of martial arts?

Question

I am months away from becoming a police officer. I will make this a career decision. Anyway, I want to learn muay thai and I also want to learn jiu jitsu. Would it be more effective to learn the two styles seperately or would it be just the same effectiveness to learn muay thai and jiu jitsu in a mma class that also includes wrestling(yes, i found one that does combine the three)? Thanks in advance for all serious answers!

Answer 1

Honestly, it's my opinion that training several arts separately only confuses things. For instance, in muay Thai they teach you a certain stance. That stance is great for striking, but it leaves you vulnerable for a take down. In jiu-jitsu and wrestling, they teach you a stance that's better for securing, or halting, the take down. So you see, with two arts that are so drastically different, I think it's a little counter productive to train them separately. One art teaches you one thing, the other teaches you another, if you want to use them in combination you have to find a compromise. It's more hassle than you need.

In terms of efficiency, you'd be better off training MMA.

Answer 2

First of all muay thai and jiu jitsu are very different but you already know that.  What you need to ask yourself is what you need these arts for.  

If it is for your job, then jiu jitsu is probably better.  I say probably because depending on the jiu jitsu, there is submission only and NHB.   I am guessing that if you want  to learn for your job, then submission only is the best.

Muay Thai, the hurdle is very high.  First of all unless you can do a complete split and your shins are already trained (pissed blood lately?)  Then muay thai is a very high hurdle compared to jiujitsu.  Also practicing muay thai could be rather hard on your body and quite possibly mess you up physically that you might not be able to perform well on your job.  

The hurdle for jiu jitsu is lower but that doesnt mean that it's weaker.  It's got a very mild learning curve but it is very very deep.  No one masters it.  

Keeping the above in mind, I would recommend Jiu Jitsu.  If you want to learn to throw a punch, then I would go to a boxing gym and on top of the jiu jitsu.  No need to learn to do high kicks.  They look great but it's practically useless in the real world where grappling, takedown, submission would pretty much restrain almost all the criminal thugs.

One last thing,  the police in Japan learn Judo and Kendo.  Why not karate?   Hint, submission via takedown and night stick.

Answer 3

my father is a police officer and my best friends father was a police officer (and combat police teacher) for compton california. my father learned aikido and combat jujitsu(this is good for controling the scumb bag your aresting without hurting him because he might sue!!) while my friends father chose judo for his martial art. judo works also but a throw into the cement could injure somebody very effectively(my freinds father ended putting 24 people into the hosptial because of his throws).

to be honest i would do mma for about a year,(so you can have at least a good solid overall base) and if you get bored or un confident with it i would just take a break from it a do jujitsu and boxing or relly w/e you want.

Answer 4

Ouch ...they are so different...trying to learn them at the same time may derail the teaches of the other.

Answer 5

Why not try fighting systems like Krav Maga? It has things thay Muay Thai and BJJ don't have, like gun disarms, multiple opponents, street tactics, etc.

I think it's best for you on this one...

Answer 6

MMA is a sport so unless you are planning on encountering a bad guy with a referee and a timer that may not be as good for you in your police work.

If I were you, I'd be looking at judo or aikido since they are very defensive styles (police brutality anyone?).

Answer 7

do the mma class and fitness training