Beginners and Mixed Martial Arts

As MMA is growing, it's obvious that more people are getting into the sport. A lot of gyms offer kickboxing/muay thai, bjj, boxing and wrestling classes. A good number of schools also offer MMA classes. What I've noticed, however, is that these "MMA" lasses are really just BJJ, Muay Thai, or Wrestling classes (I'm talking about classes for beginners). Many people want to get into MMA but hardly anyone wants to train in the particular styles that "make up" MMA. It seems like everyone wants to just put on grappling gloves and learn how to fight in the cage or ring. It's unfortunate that a good number of students get discouraged because they realize it takes time and a lot of sacrifice to get good in MMA. What can make matters worse, you have some MMA instructors who actually think they can just teach "MMA" and have people with no background spar MMA rules after a class or two. The students get hurt because they really don't know what they're doing and the instructor doesn't know what he/she is doing, too.

When a person is completely green with no background in grappling, striking or takedowns, and the person wants to do MMA, they inevitably will be taught the basics of each area. They need to have solid ground work, know how to strike, and know how to execute and defend takedowns. As a result, MMA classes, again particularly for beginners, turn into a regular BJJ, Muay Thai, Wrestling class. When it comes to more experience athletes, they can mix everything up and truly focus on the finer details of MMA training.

I see this happen in the Philippines and the U.S. often; I'm sure it happens all over the world. It makes me wonder whether a true MMA curriculum can be created. I don't expect the curriculum to be static because the sport and its techniques/strategies evolve. However, maybe a basic MMA curriculum is possible. It would clearly entail all aspects of the fight game: ground, takedowns, striking, etc. I know of some teams/gyms that have tried this but many of them weren't successful. It seems their training was (is) too broad, and athletes never get enough focused training on a certain area. The best fighters still are the people who come from a solid background in a particular style.

Will programs progress to a point where a person with no background can enroll in a fight gym and learn a strict "MMA curriculum?" I don't know. Until that happens, new students ought to understand that they have to spend time training in grappling, striking, and takedowns. There aren't any shortcuts.

Tags: beginners, mixed martial arts, programs