Do you need a solid base in another art to be good at MMA?

arybvtcw0eolkf

trying to learn MMA as one thing is setting yourself up for failure.

Jon, Paul either of you guys know how to split this thread for further discussion please?.

NG-DOC

RWCNT wrote: »

Also "setting yourself up for failure"? How do you define failure? I'd imagine far more people that take up MMA have the goal of improving their fitness via something they find interesting and enjoyable than becoming the next UFC champ. Since I've started MMA I've lost weight, toned up and learned more about the only sport I've ever enjoyed, so I certainly can't see how I'm "failing" thus far when I'm succeeding in everything I set out to achieve.

i am talking about a circumstance in which someone is looking to become competitively as good as they can be, which in most peoples eyes means being "champion".

not one in which you are just looking to enjoy yourself. as i said earlier on, if your goal is enjoying yourself/getting fit etc. that's fantastic, congratulations on your weight loss, and i'm delighted that martial arts was the medium through which you could achieve this

NG-DOC

NG-DOC wrote: »

trying to learn MMA as one thing is setting yourself up for failure.

of course if you are just looking to practice recreationally for a bit of fun. there is obviously no harm in doing an "MMA Class".

the full quote from earlier

yomchi

Maleah Long Nozzle wrote: »

Jon, Paul either of you guys know how to split this thread for further discussion please?.

Done

SanoVitae

I think the current generation of kids and teenagers taking up MMA are cross training from the very beginning, training equally in BJJ, wrestling, boxing, muay thai etc.

GSP, despite coming from karate, was cross training very early on and has been less reliant on his "base" martial art than the likes of Matt Hughes who been on his (wrestling). I believe that's one of the major reasons why he's so well-rounded.

Chris89

GSP is a full time athlete and I would bet he is doing as much boxing as a boxer and as much wrestling as a wrestler. While he is cross training, i think its fair to say he is as near as you can get to a specialist in most things.

In reference to the title of this thread, MMA by its own nature is not an art, it is an abbreviation for mixed martial arts, so you obviously need a solid base in a number of arts to be in any way proficient at the sport.

An easy one really..

crosdad

if someone tries to learn all three disciplines at the same time i believe they'll fail to reach a high level at any one of them. i believe you need to specialise in one and then you can focus on the other two.
Theres no way you could become an expert at wrestling, boxing and bjj by just training mma as a whole! To develop a good standard at any one you have to dedicate countless individual hours which wouldnt be available if u trained all 3 simultaneously. i dont think you could possibly master bjj or ever become a black belt without training at least 3-4 times a week minimum, and that alone takes up so much training time for the averege person

Chris89

devils advocate - GSP was asked to wrestle with the Canadian national team and his only wrestling experience came from wrestling with the intent of applying it to the sport of MMA.

I completely agree that a specialist in one field, ill use the example of a bjj blackbelt - who takes up boxing or something, should have much more success then someone who came in a blank slate and "learned MMA".

I guess the point i seem to be trying to make is that initially, every fighter started off with one style or art or whatever, grappling, striking or anything. But when one reaches an elite level, surely their training will reach the stage where they are just "training MMA".

No?

NG-DOC

Chris89 wrote: »

devils advocate - GSP was asked to wrestle with the Canadian national team and his only wrestling experience came from wrestling with the intent of applying it to the sport of MMA.

I completely agree that a specialist in one field, ill use the example of a bjj blackbelt - who takes up boxing or something, should have much more success then someone who came in a blank slate and "learned MMA".

I guess the point i seem to be trying to make is that initially, every fighter started off with one style or art or whatever, grappling, striking or anything. But when one reaches an elite level, surely their training will reach the stage where they are just "training MMA".

No?

I amn't exactly sure what way gsp's career worked, but, as far as i'm aware he was already an established striker and possibly even a bjj black belt before he became known for his wrestling.

As in, he had already devoted time to 'master' two of the arts individually, and had sufficient knowledge of them to allow time away, to learn wrestling.

hopefully that made sense.

i also agree that you would reach a point when you are just 'training MMA',

my argument is that this type of training becomes much more beneficial once you have developed a strong base in one (or in gsp's case two) of the arts. i believe you will accelerate faster in the sport of mma, than a person who simply learnt mma through generic 'mma training'. whatever that is, by taking this route.

NG-DOC

i'm pretty sure my whole argument is just, someone who has trained more than someone else, will be better.

pretty hard to dispute.

SanoVitae

Chris89 wrote: »

GSP is a full time athlete and I would bet he is doing as much boxing as a boxer and as much wrestling as a wrestler.

He was actually working 2 jobs (binman and bouncer) when he first took up boxing, BJJ and wrestling. So it's not like he was training full-time in any way.

Anyway he clearly is an exception - the speed at which he has developed his wrestling is astonishing.

Chris89

I said he is a full time athlete, not was!

CathalMcKenna

Where can you buy mma gear in Dublin?

arybvtcw0eolkf

CathalMcKenna wrote: »

Where can you buy mma gear in Dublin?

Here ya go buddy, try the MMA forum.

And welcome to boards.ie

pablohoney87

NG-DOC wrote: »

I amn't exactly sure what way gsp's career worked, but, as far as i'm aware he was already an established striker and possibly even a bjj black belt before he became known for his wrestling.

Think GSP earned his black belt a few days before or after the 2nd BJ Penn fight only. He's trained kyokrushin(probably spelt wrong) karate since he was 5 or 6 i think. Not sure if anyone else has really been successful entering mma with a kyokrushin background but the wrestling and bjj I think he only picked up when he started training in mma.

JohnMc1

All-in MMA training is good if you're just starting out, but after a few fights and you realize this is how you intend to make a living you should start rounding out your skills individually.