What is the best form of MMA to learn first? (muay thai or BJJ)

[kisaj]

MMA gyms are so hard to find because they are like Crossfit, IMO. So many don't know what they are really doing and injuries and attitude is abundant.

[oogaly_boogal]

In tournaments they do that Bro not in combat

No ****, what you practice though is what becomes second nature. In the line of duty, many an officer has been shot down due to the training practice of recovering your shells from the ground.


In bar fights I've seen guys tap out lol.

Side note have fun going to the ground in a street fight and then being stabbed/stomped/shot by the guys friends.


I'm outta here

[Goldie612]

I hear yah Bro but if I'm going to the ground it's a rap from there no reaching for nothing cause mind is set on a few or more choices I have . Only takes me a few seconds to choke someone out shirts & coats are a fast way to know how to end a street fight if your not familiar with collar chokes Bro takes little as 10 seconds for a black out lol yaw brotha's be cool I'll holler

[Tomahawk88]

Y'all must be some damn masters haha.

[jimbuick]

Y'all must be some damn masters haha.

But not one of them can out piss my 3 yard mark.

[Goldie612]

Y'all must be some damn masters haha.

Not even close Bro but I do know some things

[Goldie612]

You got me there Bro lol

[13bret]

MMA gyms are so hard to find because they are like Crossfit, IMO. So many don't know what they are really doing and injuries and attitude is abundant.

There are 3 or 4 here(maybe more). Don't know if any of them are good(radio commercials make them sound awesome).

[kingk0ng]

This may has been asked already, (sorry i am new) but i am thinking of starting one of these styles. I am leaning on the Muay Thai. My main concern is losing muscle. Opinions?

I started out solely boxing when I was 16. I continued to train solely as a boxer alone until I was about 21, then I discovered BJJ.

The first time I went to a BJJ gym and actually trained I was hooked. I trained in kickboxing, boxing and BJJ for about two years until I noticed my lifts and strength starting to decline and I decided I was going to choose one of them.

In all of the fights I've been into since I started training in all of them (street fights) I really feel that it's a close between BJJ and boxing. If you're fighting someone with absolutely no training at all they are usually throwing hay makers, forget to breath as they swing, etc. and that's when you can learn boxing alone and kick someone's ass. Lets say that your opponent has some training behind them, then I think BJJ comes in.

IMO, if every fight is going to start standing up, you should learn stand up before ground game.

[kisaj]

It has been a very long time since I was in a street fight because I became smart enough to avoid them and not get into those situations that I actually used to seek out (stupid early 20s). People don't realize that a typical street fight is going to last 10-15 seconds at most. During that time, there is going to be mad swinging and cheap shots. So the best you can defend that and counter to get out of the situation, the better for you. Typically that is going to be a striking discipline.

That being said, if you don't like to get hit and kicked, but want to think and strategize, then I would say BJJ is a great place to start.

In the end, you can't lose by gaining a skill no matter the order you learn.

[Goldie612]

It has been a very long time since I was in a street fight because I became smart enough to avoid them and not get into those situations that I actually used to seek out (stupid early 20s). People don't realize that a typical street fight is going to last 10-15 seconds at most. During that time, there is going to be mad swinging and cheap shots. So the best you can defend that and counter to get out of the situation, the better for you. Typically that is going to be a striking discipline. That being said, if you don't like to get hit and kicked, but want to think and strategize, then I would say BJJ is a great place to start. In the end, you can't lose by gaining a skill no matter the order you learn.

Your right bro street fight's dose not last long at all and if your skill level is up to par I don't care if it's ten your not taking me to the ground nor stomping or stabbing my timing is too much for a street fighter and my cardio is the same and when Im in the club Im with more than 15 brothers that do the same

[swolenick1]

Do bjj im a assistant coach over at TNT mma training center in phx az, and working and learning ground fighting will build a base for striking by learning takedowns and footwork trust me

[Goldie612]

Ju jitsu all day brothers but you go with what you want to do or what your comfortable with it's better than not training at all

[swolenick1]

Agreed jiujitsu all day

[reps4jesus]

Jiu jitsu man! I love it! I work at a martial arts school which is nice but I wish I had started with jits. For being an all around fighter you need a stand up game also. And if even throw in some wrestling for the grappling aspect. So a good Mma gym should serve your needs.

[swolenick1]

Witch school do you work at,

[harbonah]

Im going to piss off someone with this post...but oh well the best to start with is all! You need three things to compete at a pro level im talking skills not athleticism. Jujitsu, wrestling and muay thai. If you start wit anyone separate 98% of people will fall back on what they started with and never be a well rounded fighter. I have been tied to this sport in one way or another since 99 im old...

[oogaly_boogal]

Im going to piss off someone with this post...but oh well the best to start with is all! You need three things to compete at a pro level im talking skills not athleticism. Jujitsu, wrestling and muay thai. If you start wit anyone separate 98% of people will fall back on what they started with and never be a well rounded fighter. I have been tied to this sport in one way or another since 99 im old...

Very true you fight how you train.

sorry for prior douche posts. Muay thai is my baby.

[kisaj]

Same, muay thai is my passion when it comes to any disciplines. Quite frankly, as many of us have mentioned, anything you do is better than nothing and there is a difference if we are talking about defense, competition, fitness, etc...

Personally, my krav maga training is what I am going to if I have to get out of a situation. I am not sticking around to roll with someone or taking a risk of breaking my hand. My whole goal is to stop it in 5 seconds and get the hell out of there. But, I love trading shots in the gym with muay thai and it is an insane fitness tool for me.

[htghunterray]

Wrestling and boxing

[Dr.JJ]

I wrestled in high school, trained BJJ and catch 4 years on and off. Kickboxing 1 year total and boxing six months now. For the purpose of MMA I have found Wrestling BJJ, and striking in that order. For self defense Boxing, BJJ, Muay Thai and wrestling in that order.

[Lil Ace]

A striker ( boxing, kick boxing, etc.) Is only at their best and most dangerous while standing up. If a grappler (bjj, judo, wrestling, etc) gets them to the ground which happens a lot in fighting they're are completely out of their comfort zone, and their experience and skills don't mean much since they can't use footwork, most strikes, defensive skills. I'm a striker taekwondo, muai thai, boxing. And I'd be more worried about a grappler because my training has primarily been stand up. Safest bet would be to balance your striking and grappling. Muai Thai is fun, striking is great but if you look at fighters like Royce Gracie they easily defeat bigger stronger fighters because ground fighting doesn't require you to be incredibly big or strong. Look at kimbo slice vs Shawn Gannon. Giant superhuman Kimbo got beat in seconds by a guy who didn't even look like a fighter. Whatever you decide, just remember no great fighter ever got great without learning the basics first. Strong basics beat weak flashy techniques everytime.

[rowz4broz]

Ive instructed shotokan karate kickboxing and grappling out of the 3 the most practical was kickboxing

[kisaj]

Now that I have spent almost 2 years taking Krav Maga, another 2 training Muay Thai and BJJ, and now basic defense and tactical weapons training, I'd question what the purpose or end result is that you are looking for. Everything is different and all have a purpose. All I know is that my primary goal is to stop someone and get the **** out of there and that is all I've built up my skills to do.

[CpenDoc7]

One only? Why not both? Personally I think you should start with your ground game. However I would cross train. Most MMA clubs offer multiple styles. I agree with 18bret. There is something to be said for wrestling. Gotta love the take down. I have actually KO'd a guy on a single leg take down. Lucky I didn't seriously hurt the guy. Bounced his head off the ground. Self defense.....I would make it a point to train whatever whenever with whom ever takes the time to show you right.

[CpenDoc7]

18bret, harbonah, are on the right track....