Old School -vs- New MMA School

YamaMotoYama

Hi Folks,

I was just wondering - do you think its better to get a good base in a traditional martial art - boxing, TDK, Ju Jitsu, Karate, Muay Thai - before making the leap into MMA.

I know there are loads of MMA gyms popping up all over the place at the moment - and to be honest I think some of the folks running them are just "tough" guys that don't have a good grounding or base in any martial art and fancy themselves as Kimbo types.

When you look at the best MMA guys around at moment like GSP and Lyoto Machida they both had strong Karate backgrounds before making the MMA move.

My opinion is that MMA straight off may suit some - but I think investing a few years in old martial art style training (with a quality traininer) is better than jumping staight into new untried MMA gym.

Yama

Jason Mc

It depends on the quality of instruction

columok

Hmmm...

My opinion is that MMA straight off may suit some - but I think investing a few years in old martial art style training (with a quality traininer) is better than jumping staight into new untried MMA gym.

Jump in straight away into a tried MMA gym. If you can't find this right now then jump in with a tried bjj, judo, wrestling, muay thai, full contact kickboxing or boxing club.

Furious-Dave

YamaMotoYama, why don't you have a look at MMA gyms in your area, give them a try and if you feel you should focus on a single art first, then do so. Personally, if I was starting Martial Arts for the first time, I think I would go straight for MMA. That said, I don't regret training in any of the other systems I have trained in in the least.

cowzerp

if you wanted to get good at gaa football you'd join a gaa football club and not a soccer club where you might learn how to kick the ball better, the simple reason is there is more things needed in gaa than soccer, same applies with mma, karate is not and never was great for mma anyway, lyoto definetly trains boxing and muay thai and gsp has a boxing coach thai coach and a wrestling coach, they also train mma aswell as 1, gsp does not train karate anymore. Why? Ask him.

Nothingcompares

YamaMotoYama wrote: »

Hi Folks,



I know there are loads of MMA gyms popping up all over the place at the moment - and to be honest I think some of the folks running them are just "tough" guys that don't have a good grounding or base in any martial art and fancy themselves as Kimbo types.

For example?

cowzerp

if you wanted to get good at gaa football you'd join a gaa football club and not a soccer club where you might learn how to kick the ball better, the simple reason is there is more things needed in gaa than soccer, same applies with mma, karate is not and never was great for mma anyway, lyoto definetly trains boxing and muay thai and gsp has a boxing coach thai coach and a wrestling coach, they also train mma aswell as 1, gsp does not train karate anymore. Why? Ask him.

Roper

Can't think of a gym anywhere in Ireland where the coach doesn't have a background in at least one discipline.

koking

only the extremely gifted can use traditional karate in mmaq but in my opinion its the disipline that is instilled in karateka that helps them in mma,bas rutten alway recommended starting in a traditional art.people that spend a bit of time in traditional arts in my opinion seem to be able to pick up technique pretty quick as they are used to tryin to perfect technique through repitition,well thats my opinion but not everyones

Nothingcompares

Well I think it's largely up to the individual. I don't think MMA has been around quite long enough for anyone to agree that there is an absolute way of doing it. It's obvious that it's important to be well rounded in MMA today. Maybe 5 years ago you could get by with being exceptional good at one area and relatively poor in others. But I still think it's better to be Good at one thing and average in the other two than just average in all three. So if you can pick a base (striking, wrestling or grappling) and get exceptional at that. Then try and bring the other things up to standard. And the best way to get really good at something is to inverse yourself in it and learn it thoroughly. I strongly believe the guy that learns a Muay Thai/Kickboxing hybrid type of thing for MMA striking will never be as good as the lad who trains Muay thai on it's own in a Muay THai environment. Logically this is obvious. But I don't think it's just simply a matter of time (a MMA guy's training is split 3 ways, a Thai Boxer one) but also being exposed to the full range adds that extra layer of depth that really stands to you.

But having said that, what are the kids who are 7/8/9 now learning MMA as well as wrestling/boxing/bjj going to be like in 15 years? Off the hook awesome

Martin25

I think that if you want MMA or any art for that matter then go for it and don't beat about the bush. The only problem might be the there is a lack of instruction in your area but heck if you want it badly enough there is always a way to get it. Decide on your goal,write it down and go get it!
all the best
Martin

YamaMotoYama

Nothingcompares wrote: »

For example?

I can name a profile Dublin gym straight off the bat - where the guy training it is a tough nut but hasn't any formal martial arts background.

He said its all BS and basically thought himself how to kick and punch - I think its a bit rich to be charging a top premium class rate when you are a self taught (and not that good).

arybvtcw0eolkf

YamaMotoYama wrote: »

I can name a profile Dublin gym straight off the bat - where the guy training it is a tough nut but hasn't any formal martial arts background.

He said its all BS and basically thought himself how to kick and punch - I think its a bit rich to be charging a top premium class rate when you are a self taught (and not that good).

Right then name the gym/coach or are you just trolling?.

.

YamaMotoYama

Lucia Limited Notch wrote: »

Right then name the gym/coach or are you just trolling?.

.

I'm not trolling nor am I mentioning anyone gyms coz they are making a living from them... besides isn't making me name and shame a bit off topic from the original question?

I just think its more likely that you'll find a good quality established traditional martials art gym over a quality new MMA gym. Just my 2 cents...

Roper

YamaMotoYama wrote: »

I'm not trolling nor am I mentioning anyone gyms coz they are making a living from them... besides isn't making me name and shame a bit off topic from the original question?

I just think its more likely that you'll find a good quality established traditional martials art gym over a quality new MMA gym. Just my 2 cents...

I know every MMA coach in Dublin and I don't know anyone who fits your description. If you'd prefer you can pm me confidentially but until then I'll ask you to name who you're talking about.

arybvtcw0eolkf

Roper wrote: »

I know every MMA coach in Dublin and I don't know anyone who fits your description. If you'd prefer you can pm me confidentially but until then I'll ask you to name who you're talking about.

I'd back Roper in this too.

Its in everyone's interest to know who 'YamaMotoYama' is talking about.

Personally I'm verging on treating this as a troll.

.

bella1

jk....kickboxing....bjj.....wrestling.......boxing.....mma
andy.....judo......bjj......wrestling......boxing......mma
barry .....kickboxing.....bjj.............mma
cowser......boxing.........bjj...........mma
just some off the coachs in dublin who have trained at other martial art or sport be fore doing MMA

ninjasurfer1

I did Shotokan up to first DAN, and then started experimenting with other martial arts and learnt to pick and choose the practical pieces from the different disciplines.
While a lot of the stuff taught in the more "traditional" martial arts was completely impractical for modern day scenarios, I do think the repetition did allow me pick up other martial arts elements faster.
I've never done mma so dunno whether they emphasise it, but I know shotokan, judo, etc, definitely taught discipline/etiquette as well as how to "tame" the opposition (seemed to take a bit longer to get to practise the "good stuff" though!! :-)

cowzerp

YamaMotoYama wrote: »

I'm not trolling nor am I mentioning anyone gyms coz they are making a living from them...

That why you should name them, personally i dont believe a word of it and think your just sick that anyone called you on it.

i'd prefer an MMA coach that trained MMA only with a genuine club and then set up there own gym when experienced enough than some TKD or Kenpo lad setting up to make a few quid with limited MMA knowledge..and believe me we will have more of this in the next couple of years..

Judomad

MMA is the hot and fast growing sport at the min, anybody looking to make a few quid will be jumping into "running" an MMA club soon, its a shame but its true, at the minute though i dont know of any gyms that sound even remotely like what the OP is saying....i think its a troll job..if not theyd name the club..simple as...i reckon Makikomi should take strong measures here if he doesnt name them..

Those of whom we do not speak have MMA classes.

Roper

I've not recieved a message from that lad.

I think let this one die unless he's willing to come out with it. I reckon it's just an attempt to cast aspersions on those coaching MMA in clubs at the moment dressed up as concern about the game. Ignore it.

I'll list off some people like Andy did just to prove a point, I'm probably forgetting people but sorry if I am, I'll also include the college clubs:
Me (Informed Performance)- Taekwondo, boxing, kickboxing, BJJ then MMA
Andy Ryan (Ryano)- Judo, BJJ then MMA
Paul Cowzer (Rush)- Boxing, then MMA
John Kavanagh (SBG)- Kenpo, kickboxing, BJJ then MMA
Dave Jones (NG)- Karate, BJJ then MMA
Dylan Costigan (NG)- Kickboxing, Jiu Jitsu, BJJ then MMA
Shane Thomas (Kokoro)- Karate then MMA
Colm O'Reilly (Spartan)- Kenpo, BJJ then MMA
Jim McInerney (UCD)- BJJ, International level grappler then MMA
Oisin McCabe (DCU)- Kickboxing then MMA
and even the club we can't mention doesn't fall into the OPs category as they're experienced kickboxers.

So I literally cannot think of one coach of MMA in Dublin who falls into that category whether they coach a big club, a small club, a new club, an old club or whatever. I call bullsh1t.

Mickk

In fairness to the OP I know a couple in Dublin. It's not people opening dedicated clubs, where it's happening is in big commercial gyms. They already have boxercise and pump and tone classes but now they want something to appeal to their male members and they are putting on "UFC" classes for them!

arybvtcw0eolkf

Mickk wrote: »

In fairness to the OP I know a couple in Dublin. It's not people opening dedicated clubs, where it's happening is in big commercial gyms. They already have boxercise and pump and tone classes but now they want something to appeal to their male members and they are putting on "UFC" classes for them!

I'm not calling you out on this, but I do wish someone would name name's.

If these clubs are advertising, or offering these classes then they have put themselves out in the public domain and not us!.

They're hardly operating an underground 'fight club' experience, so name them!.

.

cowzerp

Roper wrote: »

Paul Cowzer (Rush)- Boxing, then MMA
.

I'd actually trained Kenpo-:o, Kicboxing and BJJ and had some privates doing Muay Thai before i ever coached in MMA aswell even though i was not an expert in any "in saying that!" and i had done some of all above bar BJJ before i trained in an MMA club.

since after i got into MMA i've done Judo too. Just thought i'd let ya know-:D

Im still doubting wheter the claim is a troll job or just a misinformed parson.