Thread: Best decision to make...

Hi guys,

New to the forum, basically I am seeking some advice.

I want to give MMA a serious shot.

About 8 months ago i was convinced to start learning a "hard style" of Kung Fu. (other than a year of shotokan when i was young, this is the only fighting experience i have) I have done 2 gradings since then and do enjoy it most of the time as i have made a few friends there aswell.

The "hand shapes" and eye gouging/crotch grabbing techniques which give me no advantage in MMA and are a waste of time. The sparring is full contact and by no means "soft", but my instructor somewhat frowns upon relying on any other Martial Art, when i asked him about maybe doing BJJ aswell he replied with "if you learn our style properly, the fight will never go to the ground".

Everywhere i go i hear people saying how "unrealistic" Kung Fu is and how it is useless in MMA and i now realise I only go for the fitness, padwork and sparring (which takes up about 50% of every lesson) all other aspects I have no particular interest in.

What do you guys think i should do?

Ditch the KF and take up a more suited style? (Muay Thai? Kickboxing?)

If so how many styles should i study at once, shall i do both BJJ and a good stand up style?

Any advice on how to train is a huge help guys.

Have a look at what the local MMA gys specialise in. Like Kaobon mainly do Luta Livre and Muay Thai.


I feel BJJ/Luta Livre and Muay Thai is the best ombination. I would defo throw some wrestleing in, if there is a real good judo gym then maybe the odd night there woudl do you well.

Its all knowing what is available to you.

"if you learn our style properly, the fight will never go to the ground".


That is the "wake up" statement right there. If anything is this world was 100%, everyone would do it.

It is also the perfect clause, if it works, its the style, if it doesnt, your not doing it properly.

Any kind of additional discipline is a good starter if youre looking to get into MMA, although I would say there are probably several better than Kung-Fu as a basis for starting MMA with wrestling being the strongest and most useful in my opinion.

Whilst wrestling on its own is not necessarily the best way to win a fight there is some truth in the opinion that the best wrestlers in MMA have the ability to decide where the fight will occur and have greater ability to dictate whether it remains upright or goes down onto the deck.

As for the opinion that learning a particular stand up style will prevent you from ever getting taken down to the ground - thats utter nonsense that has been disproven time and time again in professional MMA competition where expert strikers with no ground skills are frequently taken down and destroyed by people with experience in takedowns and ground fighting.

I wouldnt necessarily quit what youre doing if you enjoy it and find it useful although if your coach wont let you introduce BJJ to your Kung-Fu then why not cross train at an MMA club and bring your Kung-Fu to the BJJ?

Hi there, and welcome :thumb

Firstly what style Kfu are you practicing?

I myself studied Wing Chun for a number of years, but like everything in life (and the real world) there is always going to be a element of pluses and minuses.

If you too study WC, is it under Sven?

If Im stood in a pub and a bottle / knife or any other weapon comes flying torwards me, as Im afraid good old fisty cuffs just dont cut the mustard nowa days, unfortunately.
Then Id sure as hell prefer to have the structure and the know how of proper elbow positioning, hard and soft energies etc etc rather then trying to wip a arm bar out the box lol.
Jokes aside, I have witnessed a Boxer do his magic in a bar, aswell as been on the receiving end of one, + and -'s... So the good old stand up does work, sometimes Ha.

But, there is no way this day in age where a fight goes to the floor outside of the ring where no one else gets involved and sticks the boot in, which is sad.

As far as a sport goes though, then MMA is the absolute dogs dangle berries.
It sort of goes back to the Queensbury rules, two 'people' up for a bit of a ruck, and usually still be rather gentlemanly about it at the end.
I am not going to pretend Im an expert, as like you I am only just thinking about taking MMA up :yes:
But I am really eager to give it a go, I reckon there are a few openings in clinches etc (That dosnt mean I think I will be able to run rings round anyone though!)
As far as fitness goes, us Kfu boys didnt even come anywhere close, thats why it suited me!!

Oh... We done floor work, nearing the end on my last few years, patience is the virtue.
I have also dabbled in Escrima, which has their own close quater combat (Dumog) which had even more floor work, but there I was blessed with a brilliant teacher, this makes the world of difference.

Thats another thing, I dont agree with.
I could go and rent some village hall and call my self 'Sifu KoB' and away I go, teaching BS to unsuspecting punters, I went to a school a few months ago, it was a complete joke, the teacher asked to roll with me (Chi sau) and was powering up trying to out muscle me?

Anyway, I wish you good luck in what ever you choose to do.

Regards

Possible trolling?
If not, do both, with an open mind for both til you gain or figure out what you require, you may find that you need, or just enjoy it enough to carry on with both.

I agree with RSP!:thumb

Originally Posted by rsp84

Possible trolling?
If not, do both, with an open mind for both til you gain or figure out what you require, you may find that you need, or just enjoy it enough to carry on with both.