Jivara
Vero Milanista
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2006
- Messages
- 12,729
- Reaction score
- 8,585
It's near impossible to properly train MMA and not have irreversible damage You are also 33, so if professional MMA isn't an aspiration, I would just pick one art and try to stick with it.
Not to sound harsh, but I don't think your view of how to approach it will work. For example, for you to be "decent" at BJJ, it would take you at least 3 times a week for at least 2 years. With the wear and tear on your body and with you wanting to dip in other disciplines, you'd have to be prepared to be the "nail" (at least in BJJ class I can tell you) for a long time. Meaning, you are likely the worst person in class and would constantly get smashed. Now imagine doing that for multiple arts, multiple times a week, it would be hard to sustain.
But definitely try things: I'd recommend figuring out if you prefer a striking art or a grappling art. Once you pick that path, then you can pick 1 art (Boxing, Muaythai for standup, or BJJ/Judo/Sambo for grapplin) and try to improve in that.
I am definitely not considering professionalism. I just want learn the techniques of the discipline and use them to keep myself in shape.
So for example with BJJ, I am learning to how end fights. For a long time when I tussled around with friends, I would pin them down, even the ones who did practice BJJ, but ultimately I'd get tired a he would win because I had no finish. Its like playing chess, you need to know how to checkmate as quickly as possible otherwise you are giving your opponent a chance.
Over the years I've practised many sports and exercises and I know what I like and what I need to work on. This is the basis of my thought, to try x, y and z to make myself better all round. In the past, the goal was always to serve my footballing ability. I realized that by swimming, playing basketball
.. etc. All of these made me a better footballer and vice versa. I remembered how useful grappling was for me when I was young and perhaps that's what I will return to first. I will try other disciplines just to see if they can add something important to my skill set, I am sure they will but I understand that ultimately I will have to narrow down my options to one or maybe two disciplines.
My original thought was wrestling and boxing, I really like the idea of mastering the fundamentals. I know that BJJ and Muay Thai are more advanced and possibly more effective forms of fighting. I just thought that it would be good to start with those two and then after a while go to the latter two. Then I thought about my Capoeira friend and said maybe I need to work on my agility and make use of my kicking ability. Its all so overwhelming honestly, I guess I just need to start with something and see where the road takes me.
Thank you for your advice
Last edited: