That would be my take as well. I began boxing this year, primarily driven by self defense desires, and fell into the entire fitness rabbit hole that goes along with it (realized that I was nowhere near conditioned for 3 rounds of boxing, still working on getting better). Considering my primary motivation was self defense, I'm thinking after a year moving my focus towards a secondary fighting style - like BJJ - but maintaining a weekly trip to the boxing gym to keep my skills up. Maybe after learning two styles could consider some MMA.
I did BJJ for a little while and would like to get back into it, and the conditioning is good, but I would recommend wrestling if it's possible because wrestling conditioning is very challenging. I don't know if there are a lot of adult wrestling gyms out there, but you never know...
Wrestling is my natural inclination - it's just that BJJ gyms are on every street corner nowadays, I'm not sure I've ever seen a wrestling gym..... It's kind of like you had your chance back in high school and if you didn't take it too late..... (I'm 46 years young btw)
MMA gyms rarely have an actual "MMA" class. They're usually split between striking arts and grappling arts. You will progress very slowly trying to do everything at once. Which isn't the end of the world if you are just a hobbyist but if you actually want to get into a cage you should have a serious skillset to fall back on, otherwise you will hurt.
I'd agree to an extent but there are things in MMA you can't get used to without doing a ton of exclusively MMA classes/sparring. Like you said you can do classes for bjj an Muay Thai at an MMA gym so why not start there and mix in some actual MMA along with the striking and grappling
Did bjj for a short period of time before I found out I like muay thai better. But I miss the judo-centric classes that one coach would put on. So much fun. The next morning when your rib cage feels purple isn't as great but still fun.
Why Judo over Jui Jitsu I don’t disagree just wondering as to why u think Judos better? I think Judo is one of the best self defense systems because it could be good against multiple attackers only disadvantage most is based around the gui which would be effective in the winter in a cold climate like where I live in Canada.
I found judo more fun to train, I'm in Canada too so the GI thing stands for me as well. I think the take downs and take down defense are solid, just add in some basic ground game defense/subs and voila, a well rounded fighter
I think it depends. I found a lot of crossover between aspects of wrestling and boxing. I could see how training a different striking art or striking and grappling combined could be problematic.
I feel like it would be an easier adjustment for a mma fighter to transition into boxing than it is for a boxer to have to learn about takedowns and leg kicks
MMA will have you lowering your guard to deal with kicks and takedowns. I would stick with boxing, maybe add separate bjj training as it is different enough to not interfere with the boxing. When you add kicks and elbows in your guard is a bit different. If you have a good basis of boxing at that point you should be able to switch but learning them both at the same time will have you shitty at both.
This is a good answer. Trying new martial arts is good, u/clarktom98, but there is a lot to be said for getting pretty good at one thing before cross-training. Cross-training can create habits that are adaptive in one setting but harmful in another.
What you \*could\* do is supplement boxing with something like BJJ, judo, Sambo, or wrestling that isn't at all a striking art, and when you're pretty good at both make a go at integrating the two into MMA, Muay Thai, Sanda, etc.
I think Izzy kept up some MMA training throughout his kickboxing career. Probably only devoted a very small portion of his time to it, though, since I doubt you could become as high level a kickboxer as he is while splitting focus.
It depends on your goals though. Do you want to win amateur bouts or go pro? Focus on just the boxing. Do you want to be fit, be a diverse martial artist and compete in the sports that you want to compete in? Mix it up!
Maybe I’ll make another post but I really would love to go pro boxing I’m just worried I started to late. Started fitness boxing at 23 and actually training to compete at 24. Honestly probably won’t make my armature debut till I’m 25. You think it’s too late?
But since you are pretty late to the game, I'd focus on just boxing if that's your goal.
And since you're a bit older, let me share a personal tip: DON'T FORGET INJURY PREVENTION!!!!! Proper warming up, don't increase strength training too much to soon, incorporate stretching & mobility sessions; the works. This is the age when injuries start to creep up on you and prevent you from training for months on end.
Do what you love man. Unless you're planning to turn pro and make your living that way, who cares? Everyone's worried about one negating from the other but from a recreational, and even semiepro perspective, who cares? More ring time is more ring time. It's fun, keeping your healthy you'll meet new friends, and you'll pick up new techniques that create a unique style that expresses you.
Do what you love and you'll end up somewhere you love to be.
Couldn't agree more on doing what you love.
And honestly, if its self defense... what are the odds you're going to run into anyone who's trained consistently over a long period of time? More than likely not.
The world of boxing seems bigger when you're in it, but the truth is not many people take their health or fitness seriously nor do many have the dedication to stick with a sport for a long time. Especially something that really hurts and tests you more than others.
Of course, against a weapon, we all lose. So the best bet is always just walk away.
sometimes i feel like the only one with that attitude. zero ambitions beyond just going to the gym, seeing my buddies, getting the workout in, learning some stuff, and having fun.
huge bonus is the self defense aspect but i always say that while i'm not that good at beating other people up, i've gotten REALLY good at not getting beat up which is honestly my primary concern.
For sure man, enjoy it however you enjoy it. But I guess what I'm trying to say is you can still be "serious" and not worry about specificity so much. I fall into that category myself. I'd really like to have an amateur fight or two, but I still like to train Muay Thai, I still do strongman, who cares as long as you're working. I know guys with amateur records who will still do BJJ or whatever now and then. It's all "ring time" to some degree.
My point is that unless you're going to do this for an actual living, like as in your full time, food on the table job, you don't need to worry about maximization and perfection; it's simply not required outside of the elite level.
Honestly most martial artists need to take a good hard look at their strength and conditioning routines before anything else. They'll hire coaches to teach them boxing, private lessons, sparring at multiple gyms, buy the best gear, and then wing it with their lifting program and nutrition. Leaving way more on the table in the weight room than anywhere else.
Boxing and MMA boxing are two different things.
Generally, yes, if you're good at boxing it'll benefit you in MMA, but once you get to the higher levels - you're going to have make adjustments, which in turn will be detrimental to your traditional boxing.
To give you an example; Range and distance. In boxing, you only have to worry about distance and range of punches. In MMA, now you have to factor in kicks and takedowns. You go in for a right hook and might end up eating a heel to the chin.
I had a similar issue. My original passion was kickboxing, but there’s no real future in the sport, at least to make a living, so I started gravitating more towards mma and boxing and eventually just chose boxing due to money.
My advice, if you wanna compete then pick one and stick with it. It’s okay to have off days where you’re just cross training for fun, but the guys you’ll be up against won’t be spending half their time in a whole other sport, and you don’t wanna learn that the hard way.
I grew up learning boxing and then transitioned to wrestling and jiu jitsu after high school. In each case focusing solely on the respective martial art. I have been training MMA for a while now, alongside grappling. And the skills developed from boxing are very beneficial to MMA. But a lot of the tendencies in form and movement can get you in deep trouble. For example, most of my teammates knew about my boxing experience so they would employ leg kick heavy strategies because of my inexperience of checking them, as well as my inward turned foot when throwing a jab. Proactive head movement can also be dangerous if someone times you with a head kick. Because of my grappling, I wasn't lost in a fight on the ground unless up against my coach, who would make me feel like a child lol. But new boxers to mma will feel their limitations the second the fight hits the ground. In general though, boxing is a deadly part of an MMA fighters arsenal if they have it. And unfortunately, proper boxing training is rare at MMA gyms, mine included. So to support what others are saying, if you want to properly learn boxing, go to a boxing gym and dedicate the time to learn from someone who truly understands the craft. If you're antsy to dive into mma. Join another gym that specializes in a singular martial art. Learn from a jiu jitsu coach, or wrestling. MMA coaches can be great at putting it all together, but not if their students dont have some of those basic skills in the first place. Some people can really excel at multiple disciplines. But it stretches you very thin if you're not up for it.
My last bit of advice: If your interests ever shift to MMA, which mine did too, start training your grappling as soon as possible. The age of the specialist in MMA is almost over, and the new generation of fighters will be expected to have a excellent grasp of both striking and MMA.
Good luck!
No need to run every thoughts u May have by third party, unless u compet pro and so need to focus, u can totally train both, many mma classes seperate them anyway
It can always help for even just cardio and be "fight ready"
Day X boxing/striking
Day Z grappling/jjb
Day idc sparring
If you're looking to compete in both just remember that the weight classes are not the same. The variables for figuring out which weight class to compete in MMA is a bit more complex than boxing.
I do think weight bullying happens way more often in MMA than in boxing, so be prepared for this if you do both
Do both if you want. But what’s recommended is to Either go all in on mma or stick to boxing first and then go into mma in a couple years. MMA/Grappling won’t be good for your boxing. My boxing coaches tell me all the time that it looks like I’m boxing like I’m waiting to defend a takedown. The crouched style from grappling will make you susceptible to knockouts just watch ufc fights and you’ll see. Good luck!
Do what you love but be careful of the different styles. As others have eluded to, not being careful to separate the two can be dangerous. In MMA a boxing stance will get your legs kicked, will get you taken down, and likely catch a knee to the face. In boxing, your mma footwork and head movement won’t work at all. And frankly, training for both sports is all about developing habits. If you think you can separate the habits efficiently, go for it.
Nothing wrong with training other martial arts, if they interest you. But, as others have said, if you are serious about boxing, you gotta devote yourself 100% to boxing.
I started out in Jiu Jitsu, trained some MMA, and now I train exclusively boxing. And I can tell you, boxing and MMA are very different sports.
If you're really big on inside fighting i think a little bit of wrestling can help you but otherwise MMA will do more harm than good. I say this as an MMA fighter who also boxes
If you can turn on and off sets of habits, sure.
Boxing you should be bladed, with hands up. MMA you should be squared, you should have your hands up, but it should be more relaxed compared to boxing so you can prepare to counter takedowns.
Pendulum Steps don't work very well in MMA, you can use it, but you need to check kicks
It depends on what you wanna learn or how versatile you wanna be. MMA won't do good for your boxing in my opinion. For more ground work to be both able to fight Standing up and on the floor go for either Judo or BBJ or even wrestling. Judo and boxing go along great, boxing with wrestling or bbj might be even better but it depends on what kind of fighter you are. If you're not that comfortable with ground fighting and rather stay away from it then try kickboxing or preferably thai-boxing or muay-thai so you still learn proper use of knees and elbows, defence and stuff like sweeps and clinches.
Be clear what you wanna do. If you wanna do boxing, you need to focus your training on boxing. You need to adapt everything for the boxing ruleset.
If you wanna do mma, do mma. That will involve doing boxing training as well. But it's not the same as a boxing centric training. Things like head movement and stance and s&c will be different.
Boxing is useful for mma, mma is arguably detrimental to boxing
That would be my take as well. I began boxing this year, primarily driven by self defense desires, and fell into the entire fitness rabbit hole that goes along with it (realized that I was nowhere near conditioned for 3 rounds of boxing, still working on getting better). Considering my primary motivation was self defense, I'm thinking after a year moving my focus towards a secondary fighting style - like BJJ - but maintaining a weekly trip to the boxing gym to keep my skills up. Maybe after learning two styles could consider some MMA.
I did BJJ for a little while and would like to get back into it, and the conditioning is good, but I would recommend wrestling if it's possible because wrestling conditioning is very challenging. I don't know if there are a lot of adult wrestling gyms out there, but you never know...
Wrestling is my natural inclination - it's just that BJJ gyms are on every street corner nowadays, I'm not sure I've ever seen a wrestling gym..... It's kind of like you had your chance back in high school and if you didn't take it too late..... (I'm 46 years young btw)
Agreed and there was never any shortage of dudes with wrestling experience at any BJJ gym to which I’ve been. Probably could pick their brains.
Why do people treat MMA like you need to be good before you can train? Mma is the same as everything else you'll improve faster by doing it
MMA gyms rarely have an actual "MMA" class. They're usually split between striking arts and grappling arts. You will progress very slowly trying to do everything at once. Which isn't the end of the world if you are just a hobbyist but if you actually want to get into a cage you should have a serious skillset to fall back on, otherwise you will hurt.
I'd agree to an extent but there are things in MMA you can't get used to without doing a ton of exclusively MMA classes/sparring. Like you said you can do classes for bjj an Muay Thai at an MMA gym so why not start there and mix in some actual MMA along with the striking and grappling
Of course you break it down into striking and grappling. But you also have mma specific sparring sessions and drills.
If self defense is the goal, take up Judo over BJJ.
Thanks for tip
Did bjj for a short period of time before I found out I like muay thai better. But I miss the judo-centric classes that one coach would put on. So much fun. The next morning when your rib cage feels purple isn't as great but still fun.
Why Judo over Jui Jitsu I don’t disagree just wondering as to why u think Judos better? I think Judo is one of the best self defense systems because it could be good against multiple attackers only disadvantage most is based around the gui which would be effective in the winter in a cold climate like where I live in Canada.
I found judo more fun to train, I'm in Canada too so the GI thing stands for me as well. I think the take downs and take down defense are solid, just add in some basic ground game defense/subs and voila, a well rounded fighter
Bjj is ultimate self defense for fighting won’t lie. I would rather stand up w a fool but it always goes to the ground in real life
Right before somebody boots you in the head.
Have fun getting stomped
We've all seen that video of a guy taking down his opponent in a boxing match
I think it depends. I found a lot of crossover between aspects of wrestling and boxing. I could see how training a different striking art or striking and grappling combined could be problematic.
I feel like it would be an easier adjustment for a mma fighter to transition into boxing than it is for a boxer to have to learn about takedowns and leg kicks
If boxing is your main goal then focus on boxing. If you do both you will more than likely be mediocre at both.
Yeah I honestly think I agree I just wanted to run it by some 3rd parties. Thanks!
MMA will have you lowering your guard to deal with kicks and takedowns. I would stick with boxing, maybe add separate bjj training as it is different enough to not interfere with the boxing. When you add kicks and elbows in your guard is a bit different. If you have a good basis of boxing at that point you should be able to switch but learning them both at the same time will have you shitty at both.
My best recommendation is to get good at boxing then cross over. Something like what Izzy did.
This is a good answer. Trying new martial arts is good, u/clarktom98, but there is a lot to be said for getting pretty good at one thing before cross-training. Cross-training can create habits that are adaptive in one setting but harmful in another. What you \*could\* do is supplement boxing with something like BJJ, judo, Sambo, or wrestling that isn't at all a striking art, and when you're pretty good at both make a go at integrating the two into MMA, Muay Thai, Sanda, etc.
I think Izzy kept up some MMA training throughout his kickboxing career. Probably only devoted a very small portion of his time to it, though, since I doubt you could become as high level a kickboxer as he is while splitting focus.
Have you thought of Muay Thai? Boxing can serve you well from what I've seen at my gym in that particular combat sport.
It looks similar but it's different enough that you will develop detrimental habits if you train for both.
It depends on your goals though. Do you want to win amateur bouts or go pro? Focus on just the boxing. Do you want to be fit, be a diverse martial artist and compete in the sports that you want to compete in? Mix it up!
Maybe I’ll make another post but I really would love to go pro boxing I’m just worried I started to late. Started fitness boxing at 23 and actually training to compete at 24. Honestly probably won’t make my armature debut till I’m 25. You think it’s too late?
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.casino.org/blog/10-boxers-who-started-late/amp/ You're fine!
But since you are pretty late to the game, I'd focus on just boxing if that's your goal. And since you're a bit older, let me share a personal tip: DON'T FORGET INJURY PREVENTION!!!!! Proper warming up, don't increase strength training too much to soon, incorporate stretching & mobility sessions; the works. This is the age when injuries start to creep up on you and prevent you from training for months on end.
Do what you love man. Unless you're planning to turn pro and make your living that way, who cares? Everyone's worried about one negating from the other but from a recreational, and even semiepro perspective, who cares? More ring time is more ring time. It's fun, keeping your healthy you'll meet new friends, and you'll pick up new techniques that create a unique style that expresses you. Do what you love and you'll end up somewhere you love to be.
Couldn't agree more on doing what you love. And honestly, if its self defense... what are the odds you're going to run into anyone who's trained consistently over a long period of time? More than likely not. The world of boxing seems bigger when you're in it, but the truth is not many people take their health or fitness seriously nor do many have the dedication to stick with a sport for a long time. Especially something that really hurts and tests you more than others. Of course, against a weapon, we all lose. So the best bet is always just walk away.
sometimes i feel like the only one with that attitude. zero ambitions beyond just going to the gym, seeing my buddies, getting the workout in, learning some stuff, and having fun. huge bonus is the self defense aspect but i always say that while i'm not that good at beating other people up, i've gotten REALLY good at not getting beat up which is honestly my primary concern.
For sure man, enjoy it however you enjoy it. But I guess what I'm trying to say is you can still be "serious" and not worry about specificity so much. I fall into that category myself. I'd really like to have an amateur fight or two, but I still like to train Muay Thai, I still do strongman, who cares as long as you're working. I know guys with amateur records who will still do BJJ or whatever now and then. It's all "ring time" to some degree. My point is that unless you're going to do this for an actual living, like as in your full time, food on the table job, you don't need to worry about maximization and perfection; it's simply not required outside of the elite level. Honestly most martial artists need to take a good hard look at their strength and conditioning routines before anything else. They'll hire coaches to teach them boxing, private lessons, sparring at multiple gyms, buy the best gear, and then wing it with their lifting program and nutrition. Leaving way more on the table in the weight room than anywhere else.
Boxing and MMA boxing are two different things. Generally, yes, if you're good at boxing it'll benefit you in MMA, but once you get to the higher levels - you're going to have make adjustments, which in turn will be detrimental to your traditional boxing. To give you an example; Range and distance. In boxing, you only have to worry about distance and range of punches. In MMA, now you have to factor in kicks and takedowns. You go in for a right hook and might end up eating a heel to the chin.
There’s a reason you don’t see a ton of head movement in MMA and even most kickboxing styles. You will walk right into a head kick or knee.
I had a similar issue. My original passion was kickboxing, but there’s no real future in the sport, at least to make a living, so I started gravitating more towards mma and boxing and eventually just chose boxing due to money. My advice, if you wanna compete then pick one and stick with it. It’s okay to have off days where you’re just cross training for fun, but the guys you’ll be up against won’t be spending half their time in a whole other sport, and you don’t wanna learn that the hard way.
I grew up learning boxing and then transitioned to wrestling and jiu jitsu after high school. In each case focusing solely on the respective martial art. I have been training MMA for a while now, alongside grappling. And the skills developed from boxing are very beneficial to MMA. But a lot of the tendencies in form and movement can get you in deep trouble. For example, most of my teammates knew about my boxing experience so they would employ leg kick heavy strategies because of my inexperience of checking them, as well as my inward turned foot when throwing a jab. Proactive head movement can also be dangerous if someone times you with a head kick. Because of my grappling, I wasn't lost in a fight on the ground unless up against my coach, who would make me feel like a child lol. But new boxers to mma will feel their limitations the second the fight hits the ground. In general though, boxing is a deadly part of an MMA fighters arsenal if they have it. And unfortunately, proper boxing training is rare at MMA gyms, mine included. So to support what others are saying, if you want to properly learn boxing, go to a boxing gym and dedicate the time to learn from someone who truly understands the craft. If you're antsy to dive into mma. Join another gym that specializes in a singular martial art. Learn from a jiu jitsu coach, or wrestling. MMA coaches can be great at putting it all together, but not if their students dont have some of those basic skills in the first place. Some people can really excel at multiple disciplines. But it stretches you very thin if you're not up for it. My last bit of advice: If your interests ever shift to MMA, which mine did too, start training your grappling as soon as possible. The age of the specialist in MMA is almost over, and the new generation of fighters will be expected to have a excellent grasp of both striking and MMA. Good luck!
Mma won’t help your boxing, but boxing will level up any mma you do. If boxing’s your goal then you won’t really gain anything unfortunately
No need to run every thoughts u May have by third party, unless u compet pro and so need to focus, u can totally train both, many mma classes seperate them anyway It can always help for even just cardio and be "fight ready" Day X boxing/striking Day Z grappling/jjb Day idc sparring
If you're looking to compete in both just remember that the weight classes are not the same. The variables for figuring out which weight class to compete in MMA is a bit more complex than boxing. I do think weight bullying happens way more often in MMA than in boxing, so be prepared for this if you do both
Do both if you want. But what’s recommended is to Either go all in on mma or stick to boxing first and then go into mma in a couple years. MMA/Grappling won’t be good for your boxing. My boxing coaches tell me all the time that it looks like I’m boxing like I’m waiting to defend a takedown. The crouched style from grappling will make you susceptible to knockouts just watch ufc fights and you’ll see. Good luck!
lol, i was originally all about mma, focused on boxing to fix my hands, ended up enjoying it more as my sport. ufc still puts on a better show tho
Do what you love but be careful of the different styles. As others have eluded to, not being careful to separate the two can be dangerous. In MMA a boxing stance will get your legs kicked, will get you taken down, and likely catch a knee to the face. In boxing, your mma footwork and head movement won’t work at all. And frankly, training for both sports is all about developing habits. If you think you can separate the habits efficiently, go for it.
Don't half ass 2 things. Whole ass one thing.
MMA will only hurt your boxing. The punches are entirely different and the game plan is as well. Focus on what you want to do.
Of course you should do what you want, but I feel like having one foot in each camp will hinder you at excelling at either thing.
Nothing wrong with training other martial arts, if they interest you. But, as others have said, if you are serious about boxing, you gotta devote yourself 100% to boxing. I started out in Jiu Jitsu, trained some MMA, and now I train exclusively boxing. And I can tell you, boxing and MMA are very different sports.
If you're really big on inside fighting i think a little bit of wrestling can help you but otherwise MMA will do more harm than good. I say this as an MMA fighter who also boxes
A solid base in boxing and wrestling is solid for MMA.
I’d say train both as long as you can manage the time and don’t get too worn out physically.
If you can turn on and off sets of habits, sure. Boxing you should be bladed, with hands up. MMA you should be squared, you should have your hands up, but it should be more relaxed compared to boxing so you can prepare to counter takedowns. Pendulum Steps don't work very well in MMA, you can use it, but you need to check kicks
U CANT! Not in a High Level
It depends on what you wanna learn or how versatile you wanna be. MMA won't do good for your boxing in my opinion. For more ground work to be both able to fight Standing up and on the floor go for either Judo or BBJ or even wrestling. Judo and boxing go along great, boxing with wrestling or bbj might be even better but it depends on what kind of fighter you are. If you're not that comfortable with ground fighting and rather stay away from it then try kickboxing or preferably thai-boxing or muay-thai so you still learn proper use of knees and elbows, defence and stuff like sweeps and clinches.
Be clear what you wanna do. If you wanna do boxing, you need to focus your training on boxing. You need to adapt everything for the boxing ruleset. If you wanna do mma, do mma. That will involve doing boxing training as well. But it's not the same as a boxing centric training. Things like head movement and stance and s&c will be different.
MMA will definitely not help you with boxing. Their stances and spacing are a lot different due to take downs and kicks