Official "Martial Arts/Hand To Hand Combat" Thread (Boxing, BJJ, Wrestling and all others.....)

[illphillip]

Greetings S+T,

I know we have a Boxing thread. And an MMA thread. But those are mostly for appreciation of the sports.

Not for actual practitioners.

So I'm testing the waters to see if this is something worth having. I tend to dabble in different disciplines.

So I'd like to get some feedback from others and hear what others are doing. Likes, dislikes etc.

For me....

-Been Boxing on and off since I was about 8 years old. My dad was a boxer who grew up in RedHook Brooklyn when it was really no joke. So he trained us well.
Went back again yesterday. Feel GREAT.
-Grew up loving Bruce Lee and Kung Fu movies. So I did about 2 years of Wing Chun. Which I enjoyed.
-Most boxing gyms offer kickboxing now, so I've done some Muay Thai. Hate kicking. Love using elbows and knees.
-Taken 1-2 BJJ classes. Definitely want to try more.
-Always been intrigued by Catch Wrestling because of Josh Barnett.
-Going to a Krav Maga class with my wife tonight because I'm trying to get her to start taking it. I've done a few before. Some similarities to Wing Chun actually.

So let's hear it. What have you trained in or continue to. Where. What have you liked, not liked?

 

[jecca650]

6 years of BJJ
5 years of muay thai
3 years of boxing
wrestled in college and did judo on and off for a year


tons of jiu jitsu tournaments, muay thai smokers, etc. never lost in anything. after high school it was my goal in life to be a pro MMA fighter, but there is no money at all in the lower ranks and i needed my paper so i gave it up. i have videos of my tournaments and smokers too. might upload some. ive trained with so many big named people(diaz bros, BJ, frank shamrock, gilbert melendez, bas rutten, ETC) and legends of their respective sport(rickson gracie, gordo, marcello garcia, saulo ribeiro, pretty much every gracie that lives in the westcoast ETC). trained muay thai with jongsanan and ganyao who are pretty much the best thai boxers teaching outside of thailand. for a big part of my life there was nothing more important than BJJ and fighting but that fire has fizzled out for me. ill still smash a dude that gets outta pocket tho.

 

[illphillip]

Would love to see the vids. I have a friend who does a pretty successful MMA podcast. Trains with Jorge Gurgel I believe.

He keeps telling me I need to try more BJJ.

How was the Judo experience? Another one I've always wanted to try.

I mentioned once in the MMA thread how I'm always excited to see great Judokas in the sport. Throws, trips etc.

 

[ooiron manoo]

Did Muay Thai, long ago, want to say more than 5+ years.

Want to get back into it, even though I'm dreading the initial shin pain. Krav Maga is another thing I'm looking into.

 

[jecca650]

Would love to see the vids. I have a friend who does a pretty successful MMA podcast. Trains with Jorge Gurgel I believe.

He keeps telling me I need to try more BJJ.

How was the Judo experience? Another one I've always wanted to try.

I mentioned once in the MMA thread how I'm always excited to see great Judokas in the sport. Throws, trips etc.

judo is awesome. i trained with willy cahill who was at one point the US olympic judo coach.


judo is even better if you combine it with brazilian jiu jitsu. your throws(tachi waza) and your ground game(ne waza) will both be solid.

personally to me if you are to train a single art do BJJ. brazilians are IMO the most alpha people out there and at the same time always provide that family atmosphere in the gym. you will learn to be a tough mofo in BJJ and at the same time build comraderie with your teammates. growing up and watching the gracies never back down from ANYONE and kick everyone ***** i knew BJJ was for me.

 

[illphillip]

It's weird. As terrible as this sounds, I don't know if I have the patience to learn Judo at a traditional japanese Judo dojo because I just assume it will be a "start from scratch", long drawn out process.

I'd rather do that with BJJ and maybe find an academy where they bring in a Judoka to add on to what I'm already learning.

Is that wrong?

IronMan, I'll come back depending on how much I stick with Krav Maga. I'm only 2 classes in right now. It's cool. And like I said, similar to what I learned in Wing Chun.

 

[jecca650]

its all good starting from scratch is awesome. everyone has to pay their dues but the more time invested the more your skills improve the more respect you garner. i remember starting bjj and getting choked out by a 13 year old 135lbs kid(i was 18 at the time 5'7 180). it was humbling to say the least.

 

[champcruthik]

Took two private sessions with an ATT affiliated MMA gym. One for stand-up, striking. One for ground game, BJJ.

Thought my cardio and strength was enough. Boy, was I wrong. Ended up gassed and sore. Technique > Strength.

My brother trains BJJ at his college and we have a mat at home. Planning to learn more.

 

[illphillip]

its all good starting from scratch is awesome. everyone has to pay their dues but the more time invested the more your skills improve the more respect you garner. i remember starting bjj and getting choked out by a 13 year old 135lbs kid(i was 18 at the time 5'7 180). it was humbling to say the least.

I totally get that. And I know the same will happen to me when I start BJJ. But that's my priority over Judo. I'd just like to dabble in Judo a bit.

I'm an old dog, so don't know if I can start from scratch in 2 disciplines.

 

[dman14]

Took two private sessions with an ATT affiliated MMA gym. One for stand-up, striking. One for ground game, BJJ.

Thought my cardio and strength was enough. Boy, was I wrong. Ended up gassed and sore. Technique > Strength.

My brother trains BJJ at his college and we have a mat at home. Planning to learn more.

taking some boxing classes. was drenched from jumping rope and doing cardio drills. hitting the heavy bag is therapeutic still trying to get my footwork down on the basics. you definitely feel it the next day. looking at some people taking the more advance classes, they are definitely in top shape.

would like to join but kinda expensive, and im not sure if im gonna be able to attend enough classes to make it worth while. might get some single passes, though.

 

[champcruthik]

DMan: Same predicament. I didn't want to spend the $140-per month on top of a regular gym membership.

 

[pbullet23]

Trained in Muay Thai for about 2 years, BJJ for 6 months and Wrestled for about 3 months. My body is built more for Wrestling BJJ I guess but I absolutely love striking. I started training off and on at the age of 25, but wish I had started as a kid. After doing MMA for about a year I took some time off because of the money. Gyms are expensive but well worth it to me. Started up again about 2 years ago but only Muay Thai and then last December tore my ACL, MCL and Meniscus playing basketball. I haven't trained since then and have gained about 20 lbs. in about 10 months. I can't wait to get back. Never did any tournaments, just sparred in house at my gym. I really miss it and can't wait to get back. I had the ACL and other ligaments surgically repaired Mid April so it hasn't even been 6 months yet. I should be back in the gym training Muay Thai in the next 2 months. I can't wait.

 

[illphillip]

Took two private sessions with an ATT affiliated MMA gym. One for stand-up, striking. One for ground game, BJJ.

Thought my cardio and strength was enough. Boy, was I wrong. Ended up gassed and sore. Technique > Strength.

My brother trains BJJ at his college and we have a mat at home. Planning to learn more.

taking some boxing classes. was drenched from jumping rope and doing cardio drills. hitting the heavy bag is therapeutic still trying to get my footwork down on the basics. you definitely feel it the next day. looking at some people taking the more advance classes, they are definitely in top shape.

would like to join but kinda expensive, and im not sure if im gonna be able to attend enough classes to make it worth while. might get some single passes, though.

Just to help you get in shape and get some basics down, sign up for every groupon, Thrillist, GILT City type site in your area.

I've had "trial packages" for like 4 different gyms in the last 6 months. Just to get my cardio back on track.

But I already know who I'm sticking with long term. Plus, that same gym also offers Muay Thai, BJJ and Yoga classes at different times of the day. All of which I'd probably take at some point.

 

[illphillip]

jecca650, I see you with the edits!

I'm a bit older, so I grew up in a mostly pre UFC1/BJJ era. Where the boxers ruled the street.

So the better boxer you were, the better off you were. They always talk about how often fights hit the ground at some outrageous percentage, but I haven't seen that.

Maybe I haven't gotten into it with any high caliber wrestlers/BJJ players.

Marcelo Garcia has an academy in NY. EVERY BJJ player that I train with in one of my boxing gyms (I hold mitts for some of them) say he is THAT dude. And that's where I need to go.

There are a ton of schools in NY though. Renzo's Academy (expensive!). Vitor Ribeiro. I believe the Machado's have a school here as well.

Need to shop around but I'm going to start getting my feet wet at the gym I mentioned earlier (Church Street) and then go to a proper academy to refine, do privates etc.

 

[jecca650]

NY has an amazing pool of BJJ schools to pick from. PERSONALLY I would go to Marcelo's but you can't go wrong with Renzo or Shaolin's as well. Marcelo's bodytype is exactly like mine and I modeled my style of grappling after him in my early BJJ years(loved fighting off my back, butterfly guard, x guard, guittotine chokes, arm drags, etc.). Eventually I became more of a top guy.

one piece of advice I give everyone is DO NOT train at school where the head instructor does not teach the class. I remember I started training at a school out here(who I will not name) and the head instructor was never there. A blue belt would teach the class and it really pissed me off. I aint paying this money to have a guy who has only been training for a couple years to teach me i want those experiences and knowledge that only a person with a lifetime of training possesses. little things that only someone who has been training for many moons knows. if the head instructor or one of his black belts isnt teaching the classes consistently i would not mess with that school.

 

[dman14]

Took two private sessions with an ATT affiliated MMA gym. One for stand-up, striking. One for ground game, BJJ.

Thought my cardio and strength was enough. Boy, was I wrong. Ended up gassed and sore. Technique > Strength.

My brother trains BJJ at his college and we have a mat at home. Planning to learn more.

taking some boxing classes. was drenched from jumping rope and doing cardio drills. hitting the heavy bag is therapeutic still trying to get my footwork down on the basics. you definitely feel it the next day. looking at some people taking the more advance classes, they are definitely in top shape.

would like to join but kinda expensive, and im not sure if im gonna be able to attend enough classes to make it worth while. might get some single passes, though.

Just to help you get in shape and get some basics down, sign up for every groupon, Thrillist, GILT City type site in your area.

I've had "trial packages" for like 4 different gyms in the last 6 months. Just to get my cardio back on track.

But I already know who I'm sticking with long term. Plus, that same gym also offers Muay Thai, BJJ and Yoga classes at different times of the day. All of which I'd probably take at some point.

that's what i did. got a groupon deal for 10 classes for $50. if the boxing gym had a nice weight room, i would consider joining. they have boot camps and other training but those are really expensive. a lot of their members are folks that make a lot of money and it's in a nice neighborhood so they can afford to charge. i think the owner is willing to cut me a deal, but still, i'm not sure if i will take enough classes to justify 120/month. weekend classes are cool since it's smaller class sizes and more personal time with the trainer, but it can get pack during prime times

 

[illphillip]

Did another Krav Maga class yesterday.

VERY similar in a lot of ways to Wing Chun. The defenses and simultaneous/follow-up attacks. Staying on the outside of the elbow.

Saw a lot of vertical fists.

I like it. Did some pretty cool head movement drills. Some cool multiple attacker drills. On a very basic level but still interesting stuff I've never done before.

I'm not sure why Traditional Martial Arts get such a bad rep now. They all have their good and not so good elements. The KM instructor said they take the best of everything, much like Jeet Kune Do did and now MMA.

There are obviously cultural elements to Traditional Martial Arts as well. It's a discipline. Not just a quickie tutorial in how to put someone down.

I still feel like there are benefits to doing a bit of both. Traditional when you're younger. Then more focused training as you're older.

But I'ma still be an old *** BJJ white belt in a bit here.....

 

[champcruthik]

Interesting. John Mayer actively practices Krav Maga.

 

[chino905]

I've been taking Muay Thai for the past 3 years, BJJ for the last 1.5 years. Before BJJ, I was doing Judo, but only did that for 2 months and then made the switched to BJJ. Before Muay Thai, I took Jeet Kune Do for 1 year.

Actually going to do my first BJJ competition in December. Excited but nervous at the same time . Any advice for someone doing their first BJJ tournament, or any kind of competitive match for that matter? Weight cutting advice?

 

[illphillip]

How did you like JKD? A good amount of that system is based on Wing Chun as well.

Interesting. John Mayer actively practices Krav Maga.

Do not run up on that man

 

[jecca650]

I've been taking Muay Thai for the past 3 years, BJJ for the last 1.5 years. Before BJJ, I was doing Judo, but only did that for 2 months and then made the switched to BJJ. Before Muay Thai, I took Jeet Kune Do for 1 year.

Actually going to do my first BJJ competition in December. Excited but nervous at the same time . Any advice for someone doing their first BJJ tournament, or any kind of competitive match for that matter? Weight cutting advice?

IMO I wouldn't really worry about cutting weight especially if its your first BJJ tourney especially since most tournaments make you weigh in same day now. Start watching what you eat now and diet down to a class you feel comfortable with. Focus on your strengths and play your game. If you dont have any go to take downs PULL GUARD! dont get tunnel vision and listen to your coach/teammates shouting out instructions. trust me this will help you big time!! me and my brother used to always coach each other during each other's fights and it helped so much. I remember my very first fight I could tell the other guy was nervous so I put it on him and won via armbar in like 1min actually won the next fight after that the same way


one huge piece advice i wish someone would of given me when i started was LIFT WEIGHTS!! i was always naturally strong and manhandled dudes, but im on a whole other level now and wish i would of been lifting while i was training. always neglected the benefits of weight training. dont focus on aesthetics but strength and performance ie powerlifting.

 

[chino905]

IMO I wouldn't really worry about cutting weight especially if its your first BJJ tourney especially since most tournaments make you weigh in same day now. Start watching what you eat now and diet down to a class you feel comfortable with. Focus on your strengths and play your game. If you dont have any go to take downs PULL GUARD! dont get tunnel vision and listen to your coach/teammates shouting out instructions. trust me this will help you big time!! me and my brother used to always coach each other during each other's fights and it helped so much. I remember my very first fight I could tell the other guy was nervous so I put it on him and won via armbar in like 1min actually won the next fight after that the same way


one huge piece advice i wish someone would of given me when i started was LIFT WEIGHTS!! i was always naturally strong and manhandled dudes, but im on a whole other level now and wish i would of been lifting while i was training. always neglected the benefits of weight training. dont focus on aesthetics but strength and performance ie powerlifting.

Right now I'm around 154lbs, and the weight class I'm going to do is 149, which shouldn't be a problem at all. 136lb weight class is also an option, that that's too low of a cut IMO. As far as strategy, I have 2 moves I'm comfortable with at each position (closed guard, half guard, etc). But my go to move will be De La Riva/Spider Guard and I have been drilling that at lot.

I've been doing traditional body building workouts for the past 3 years. But ever since 6 months ago, I've cut the strength training down to just Power Lifting (Deadlifts, Squats, Bench Press, Pull-Ups, KettleBell and TRX classes) and cut out the curls, incline press, flys, etc. Also been increasing my cardio.

Thanks for the advice. I think my main concern will be my conditioning/cardio. But i'll be working on that for the next 2 months.

 

[illphillip]

I'm still hoping someone is going to come in here talking about some Hapkido, Silat or Kali or some ****.