Help me advise my friend

[Patches24]

A friend of mine, a former track & field athlete with no martial arts experience whatsoever, wants to "learn MMA".

In our area, there is no institute that trains specifically for MMA. There is one small institute that trains for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and is part of the Gracie Barra network of schools. There's another institute that trains for kickboxing and boxing. Their teachers are all certified by USA Boxing. They've trained successful competitive amateur boxers, but as far as I know no competitive kickboxers. She would want to do kickboxing.

She asked me where I would train if I were her, but I'm really not qualified to advise her. Thought I'd ask the question here. Any of you have an opinion on this?

[armbar83]

both

[BigTurk]

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is great for MMA. Boxing would be next choice. In my opinion Gracie jiu jitsu is MMA.

[armbar83]

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is great for MMA. Boxing would be next choice. In my opinion Gracie jiu jitsu is MMA.

eh.

if its a girl, shell probably enjoy kick boxing more than bjj...

[BigTurk]

she would enjoy it more, but she'll probably get submitted during a MMA without experince of bjj.

[armbar83]

agreed, is she hot? we need more gina carano's...

[Patches24]

agreed, is she hot? we need more gina carano's...

LOL This person is attractive but not as attractive as Carano.

[zimmy]

unfortunately.. girls don't usually like bjj... too bad cus the few girls in it that i know love it so much but they just don't have as many apponents.

I would suggest what works for her... is she an agressive person? Laid back? Thinking? Instinctual?


kickboxing / muay thai are great for girls (over bjj) because they don't have that closeness w/ other people that creep out alot of girls... but if they don't have much agression either...kickboxing might not be for her either.


Tell her to try both... and drop which ever she doesn't like after a month or so (if she doens't like one of them, else wise keep doing both )

[Panzerfaust]

In my opinion Gracie jiu jitsu is MMA.

I don't have a clue how you have come to such a conclusion?

GJJ/BJJ alone will get your ass kicked.

[armbar83]

I don't have a clue how you have come to such a conclusion?

GJJ/BJJ alone will get your ass kicked.

ditto

[rar1015]

I don't have a clue how you have come to such a conclusion?

GJJ/BJJ alone will get your ass kicked.

My thoughts exactly!

[zimmy]

how'd i miss that? Especially since Gracie JJ is a very passive style of bjj... like royce's.

[Patches24]

I should have mentioned this but for logistical reasons she has to start out training in only one style. Here's my thoughts on this at the moment. To get to an advanced level, one would eventually want to have trained at both something for the ground game, like BJJ, and something that has striking, like kickboxing. There are great fighters who learned ground-game stuff first, and there are great fighters who learned the striking stuff first. So I don't think the order in which you learn them matters a lot. So she should start with whatever she likes better, or would find easier when starting out.

[Patches24]

I should have mentioned this but for logistical reasons she has to start out training in only one style. Here's my thoughts on this at the moment. To get to an advanced level, one would eventually want to have trained at both something for the ground game, like BJJ, and something that has striking, like kickboxing. There are great fighters who learned ground-game stuff first, and there are great fighters who learned the striking stuff first. So I don't think the order in which you learn them matters a lot. So she should start with whatever she likes better, or would find easier when starting out.

So I'm agreeing with zimmy on this.

[BigSwol]

Ima play devil's advo here, if she trains only BJJ, one could argue she'd be more able to defend herself vs any size opponent (if she were good). Kick boxing alone would do shit for a ground game, and quite a bit of fights go to the ground, (as we all know). Size can play qite a bit of an advantage when it comes to striking. Id rather try and control a fight on the ground with a bigger dude than try to slug it out. So I'd say bjj would be better for fighting all around. But if shes training for MMA she'd be ok doing wichever she'd like. After all good striking with a subpar gound game can be devastating.

BigSwol

[spywizard]

wow, and see, as a striker, i'd rather not allow a 350 lb man to pin me, or land on my chest, but then, like i said, i'm a striker..

[Hunter]

Ima play devil's advo here, if she trains only BJJ, one could argue she'd be more able to defend herself vs any size opponent (if she were good). Kick boxing alone would do shit for a ground game, and quite a bit of fights go to the ground, (as we all know). Size can play qite a bit of an advantage when it comes to striking. Id rather try and control a fight on the ground with a bigger dude than try to slug it out. So I'd say bjj would be better for fighting all around. But if shes training for MMA she'd be ok doing wichever she'd like. After all good striking with a subpar gound game can be devastating.

BigSwol

Well I am not a big guy by any means but I would be completely comforting standing with a larger opponent in like a bar or club sitution becouse undisplined striking is ugly and not hard to defend. Also in a club or bar sitution you really dont want to be on the floor and risk his friends jumping in. I like being on the ground come from a grappling background but in a club or bar your better off on your feet.

[BigSwol]

Well I am not a big guy by any means but I would be completely comforting standing with a larger opponent in like a bar or club sitution becouse undisplined striking is ugly and not hard to defend. Also in a club or bar sitution you really dont want to be on the floor and risk his friends jumping in. I like being on the ground come from a grappling background but in a club or bar your better off on your feet.

No doubt in this above situation, im just saying typical one on one, not bar fight...swingin chairs, elbows and a'holez, frineds jumpin in all that good stuff. If its gonna get that crazy, nothings gonna hlp, cept good old fashioned brawlin, with some background in something or another. Lets try and look at the situaiton a little differently though. Ex A: striker/no ground game v Bjjer/Judoka/Wrestler/insert own grappling art......who wins 9 times out of 10. Im talkin expert level here, not newb who knows a rear naked choke here, and im talkin boxer/kickboxer with pro fights. I'd venture to say the grappler. Its just my opinion though.

[Hunter]

No doubt in this above situation, im just saying typical one on one, not bar fight...swingin chairs, elbows and a'holez, frineds jumpin in all that good stuff. If its gonna get that crazy, nothings gonna hlp, cept good old fashioned brawlin, with some background in something or another. Lets try and look at the situaiton a little differently though. Ex A: striker/no ground game v Bjjer/Judoka/Wrestler/insert own grappling art......who wins 9 times out of 10. Im talkin expert level here, not newb who knows a rear naked choke here, and im talkin boxer/kickboxer with pro fights. I'd venture to say the grappler. Its just my opinion though.

Ok I can see your point to. I wouldn't say the grappler would always win and I wouldn't say the striker would, so many variables. Thats why I love this part of the forum no bs and what not.

[BigSwol]

Ok I can see your point to. I wouldn't say the grappler would always win and I wouldn't say the striker would, so many variables. Thats why I love this part of the forum no bs and what not.

Correct, there are always many variables...and a grappler can get KTFO'd just like anybody else. Very interesting topic though....all in all I think women prefer the striking aspects better than rollin around with sweaty stinky dudes though.

BigSwol