First Muay Thai/BJJ session

[bloodinbloodout]

First day training at a mma place. The Thai instructor has been fighting mt for 10 years and mma for 5. The BJJ instructor is i believe a brown belt learned from one of the gracie schools. I knew nothing. Felt like such a loser. There was like 8 people there. 5 of them are fighters. 2 or 3 seem to be on their way. I couldnt even do the warm up drills. I feel useless and I thought I actually thought I maybe could pick it up. True, it is the first day. I guess I was expecting to be better. Got a lot to learn. No one to console me. I guess I have to earn my respect. Two VERY VERY hard sports.

 

[Kane Fan]

don't worry training is way more difficult then competing

 

[bloodinbloodout]

for some reason i find that hard to believe

 

[Judo Tom]

you should be proud that you showed up and jumped on in.. trust me people will respect you for that so long as you keep with it and just put in a good effort

soooo many people never make it on the mat because they are afraid of how they will do or what type of shape they are in and tons of other weak excuses.. if you want to try it try it.. just work hard and see if its for you.


the strength and conditioning will come garuanteed so long as you work hard and go to class consistently.

did you learn anything at all your first day?

great combo of skills btw

 

[bloodinbloodout]

Basically learned the steps to get out of guard. It came pretty easy, I didn't get to roll though since I really don't know shit. I guess it would be bringing everyone else down if I were out there. But I'm going to stick with it and eventually get out there and hopefully be able to whip some ass. The thing is, these guys all seem experienced. I wonder if I'm bringing the class down by not knowing shit.

 

[StackIt]

You have to start somewhere. I remember my first day of class, not knowing anything, but a week or 2 later and you'll start picking everything up and really getting in shape. The best advice I can give you is to stick with it.

 

[Judo Tom]

see in judo there is a principle that translates into "mutual benefit and well being" in this case it is actually in the best interest of the experienced people in teh club to give you the added attention and time you NEED at the beginning to build a solid base. if this does not happen you will never be a challenge to the experienced players there. but if they help cultivate you and allow you to improve SOON you will be a challenge to them and then you win and so do they. if they just crush you and fly throw techniques without describing them and allowing you sufficient time to practice you both lose.

so dont worry you are helping the class so long as you work hard, play safe and have respect for your partners.

my first bjj class i learned a lot of the standing techniques used to get a clinch and after that i was hooked

Good Luck

 

[Kane Fan]

solid theory

 

[Judo Tom]

i think so.. its amazing how quickly some new people can add to a class to if they work hard and the class works hard to help them.

 

[Kane Fan]

for some reason i find that hard to believe

well the getting hit in the face part is rough to get used to
but the actual execution and stuf is easier because there isn't pressure on you to have form perfect at each swing
and you don't do multiple slip to body hooks in a row in a fight
on the other hand you can't take that few seconds breather when your both tired either when your at a real fight if the other guy isn't tired and you need a break your getting hit...
so there are pros and cons but for me sparing is easier then rigorous training

 

[Judo Tom]

if you dont make your training harder then competitions then you might want to adjust your training a bit..

for instance my next tournament will most likey have about 32 competitors in my division.. so i would need to be able to win 6 5 min long matches...

i NEED to make my training harder then those 6 matches.

i need to be able to fight back to back no rest high intensity against fresher stronger opponents.. this way when im dead tired after 5 matches.. im still in better condition then the guy coming onto the mat....

 

[shootfighter1975]

It's only been one day!!!!

Keep at it! When I have lay offs from MMA and go back to classess I can barely get thru the warmups. It is a different type of conditioning than bodybuilding or running.

Don't get discouraged. Stick with it and see how you feel after 6 months!!!!

 

[Saintinistic]

Don't get discouraged. Stick with it and see how you feel after 6 months!!!!

Very good advice, this is. I too am looking forward to getting back into training. Getting over the initial overload to the body will be the hurdle. Too much study and work has pulled me away. Time to reintroduce myself to it.

 

[Judo Tom]

how are things going?

 

[1392477]

"The more you sweat in training the less you bleed in war"

Proper training never comes easy but pays off when it counts. Stick with it and give it at least 3 - 6 months before deciding to try something different.

 

[bloodinbloodout]

It is going well. Still learning the basics in Muay Thai and began very light sparring - 20-30%. The sparring has made me realize two things 1) I have to work much much more on my form especially with kicks. 2) I have to do a lot more shadow boxing with a partner and sparring to get my reflexes down. I have to get into a better groove when fighting and work better combos, but this will come, I assume, as my basic technique gets better.

In BJJ I am still learning to pass guard. I learned a few simple techniques when in guard and I think i will start rolling soon with the other beginners to at least drill passing guard in a live situation.

Ill keep u all posted thanks for all the responses.

 

[Kane Fan]

consider handball
I use a tennis ball bounced off of a wall and I catch it
I dont' even do it quickly I just do it at some lightly exerting pace and it helps with timing
it'll help especially with parrying from what I notice

what is your favorit guard pass
thusfar I mean

 

[bloodinbloodout]

kane I only know one so far

 

[maxreps]

Keep in mind when you do start rolling your going to get tapped out over and over and over! Its a learning experience and expect it. then ask the person who tapped you out what you did wrong. Most of your time rolling will be just defense. after a while you will notice that it will take longer to tap you out and some guys wont be able to. then you might try a few subs of your own that you learned in class. Oh and remember this 1 thing "position before submission" (you cant arm bar someone when your in there guard)

 

[Kane Fan]

well how do you like that one guardpass : o )

 

[bloodinbloodout]

I learned two new ones one is more of a stack, the other is basically a neck crank until u basically have to drop your guard or else...I also learned a pass from butterfly guard to side mount/arm bar submissions.

In MT today I went over some cover ups into 2-3 punch combos, learned some kneeing in the clench off a parry of a teep. Just worked my basic punches a lot as well. Did some punch parry into either cross or hook. Conditioning was sick. 3 minute rounds of super squats, mt climbers and thai sit ups. A lot of rope jumping a lot of shadowing with a partner.

I love it its so sick

I

 

[Judo Tom]

sounds real cool.... can you explain the neck crank thing at all?

also how did you do the sets of squats mt climbers and sit ups?

thanks

 

[bloodinbloodout]

Basically just put my hands behind the head just like as if in clinch, then just pull the head towards me.

Supersquats -

Jump, squat, sprawl, pushup, up, repeat.....for 3 damn minutes.

Thai situps - legs straight out, situp but crunch real hard at the top of the situp. Also you keep your hands in your thai guard.

Mt Climbers- cant really explain these, just normal mt climbers.

We did these three things for 3 consecutive 3 min. rounds.

 

[Kane Fan]

are Thai situps harder then regular situps?
so the neckcrak gaurdpass is sort of like your in their guard then you pull their head down towards you as if to force them into a Guillotine or headtohead possition sort of right?

 

[Judo Tom]

now i know w/ striking things change dramatically but...

be very weary about reaching your arms out and around someones neck while you are in their guard.. even more so if your off balance..

 

[bloodinbloodout]

almost pulling their neck to their chest and stretching their spine. The pain is unbearable and the only way to stop it is to release your guard. Judo Tom maybe you're right though I will drill it more and see if i leave myself open. Thanks.

 

[Judo Tom]

i was taught by a really good player never to extend your arms above his belt unless you want to be armlocked.. i good/great player will armlock you if you keep extendending your arms. it is just easy to isolate the arm and gang up on it and trap it once it starts coming closer towards the guys chest area.

 

[Kane Fan]

if they grab my arm I usually stand up and use the extra help of them hanging on to me to do a minislam on them
but I'd prefer not to risk an armbar but whatyagonna do : o )
but never above his beltline? how do you do that when in their guard the way I picture it I'd have to be scrunched up to the pointof not being able to breath to be down that low in his guard with my arms

 

[rgjujitsu]

Also it dosen't hurt to look at other schools that might be more your temperment, if you are not looking to be a serious fighter, this may not be the school for you. If this is your only choice...it is like being the new kid at school work hard to earn your respect and eventually people will open up and teach you little tricks and be more freindly. remember this is supposed to be enjoyable! you sound a little depressed about it.

 

[rgjujitsu]

The neck crank is an ok pass to begin with but Judo Tom is right, extending your arms while in the guard, usually not a good idea. Also this is easy to defend without breaking guard, place blade of forearm across their throat and push while they try and crank trust me, they will let go. Or, pull down on their elbows while scooting hips back and sitting up slightly. also, when you have someone in your guard, it is a good idea to never be flat on your back, either be sitting up or on side slighlty. too easy to pass guard flat on back and hard to attack for offense

 

[bloodinbloodout]

since the first training session I have befriended everyone there, and have made enormous strides. I am actually contemplating fighting some time down the road maybe a year or so. No need to change the atmosphere I am completely balls to the wall about everything I do adn this is the right place to go if you want to be serious about learning the sports. Definitely not depressed I was very overwhelmed at first. Now I am going 4 times a week and loving it. Thanks though man.

 

[rgjujitsu]

Good to see you make such strides. People tend to go two ways, come for a few weeks or maybe months to be able to tell freinds they train and then never come to class again but talk about it like experts the rest of their lives. Or they catch the virus and can never completely not do it again, it becomes a part of them.

 

[bloodinbloodout]

I get so pissed when I have to work late and not make my training session. I almost feel like I am letting my coaches and camp down. I always knew that I would love something like this I'm glad I found such a good school so close to home. (literally a 5 min. drive)

 

[Judo Tom]

if they grab my arm I usually stand up and use the extra help of them hanging on to me to do a minislam on them
but I'd prefer not to risk an armbar but whatyagonna do : o )
but never above his beltline? how do you do that when in their guard the way I picture it I'd have to be scrunched up to the pointof not being able to breath to be down that low in his guard with my arms

yep thats a rule i try to follow as best i can but really i only stick to it in a match if i feel the guy is a lot better then me on the ground .. which is rare

j/k but that is what i tell new people at first too especially when fighting the people who are really good at armlocks..

the way to not have to extend your arms is to maintain a very good base and do not allow yourself to be pulled down towards his chest. you want to be pretty much vertical. aiming to get your hands on his belt and your elbows tucked in to start.. then attack from there.. IMO

again this is for sport alot of you guys deal way more w/ striking and that changes things big time.

 

[bloodinbloodout]

does this apply at all to no gi

 

[Judo Tom]

the way you avoid armlocks is to not extend your arm or not allow your arms to be extended. once your arms are extended from your body they are weaker and more prone to being locked up.

in that sense you obviously have to reach out further with your arms if you are trying to control his head or chest while in the guard.

for players with a good guard game i would not reach until i started neutralizing how effective his attacks can be. meaning i need a good base. i need to control my balance and i need to start getting passed his legs not controlling his head or upper body. i start by controlling his legs. i use my hands, legs and knees to accomplish.

once you start reaching you are exposing yourself to attacks and will then be forced to defend the attacks rather then pass the guard which should be your only focus.

IMO of course

 

[Kane Fan]

yah guardpasses are a differnt game altogether when you can hit the person who has you guarded

 

[rgjujitsu]

if you are gonna extend arms only good way is bicep control, head down on their chest but that is to set up no gi pass, w/gi need posture and lapel control if someone plays too much open guard i love toe holds

 

[Judo Tom]

i def agree w/ rgjujitsu if i ever extend my arms while in someones guard or if im caugh with my arms above the belt i immediately try to gain sleeve control

kane: i train with a guy who is moving towards pure judo but is coming from an mma type background and he said that all his instructor ever taugh were guard passes that involved striking.. meaning if you can strike why not use it to soften up the guy while you are in that position.. cant say i agrue by any means

 

[rgjujitsu]

hey Judo Tom, although I have been doing this for awhile 99/100 they have us start on our knees and I am great at takedowns from the knees that dosen't mean a hill of beans anywhere but class. got any good no gi judo takedowns? I have 3 or 4 takedowns and that is all I am proficient in and they all involve body locks or foot sweeps. I am looking for something that dosen't require me to turn my back towards opponent. I like inner and outer reaping, but that has only worked for me with a gi. Also in the tournaments I have entered, your opponent is in more of a freestyle wrestling base rather than a hips back kind of approach. They are usually right leg forward hips forward straight back but crouched and ready to sprawl. I can't tell you how many jiu-jitsu tournaments I have seen judo guys win on points because they have such good takedowns. I really respect Judo alot, I love Hideheko Yoshida and his heart and discipline and budo spirit so amy advice would be appreciated. Who knows, maybe I have some bjj tips to share with you?

 

[bloodinbloodout]

Today I sparred for the first time, no kicks or clench just hands. I fought against a pretty seasoned guy (he has earned his thai shorts) and he got me with a few barrage of punches to the face, i caught him a couple of times with the right. Coach said I was crossing my feet too much, wasn't stayin in stance, and that I was way too tight out there and I need to relax more. He says with speed comes power and he could see every muscle in my body tightening up with my punches. So I'm way too tense.

 

[dicedgunz]

"The more you sweat in training the less you bleed in war"

Proper training never comes easy but pays off when it counts. Stick with it and give it at least 3 - 6 months before deciding to try something different.

couldnt have said that better, i was just about to post that then i scrolled down. well put... i stress that alot at work as im in the military...

 

[Kane Fan]

Today I sparred for the first time, no kicks or clench just hands. I fought against a pretty seasoned guy (he has earned his thai shorts) and he got me with a few barrage of punches to the face, i caught him a couple of times with the right. Coach said I was crossing my feet too much, wasn't stayin in stance, and that I was way too tight out there and I need to relax more. He says with speed comes power and he could see every muscle in my body tightening up with my punches. So I'm way too tense.

sounds like you and I could trade out instructors and get the same advice from a different voice
except for the crossing the feet that dosnt seem to be a problem for me but I come out of my stance pretty often and am told I'm too tight and to relax constantly
guess those are pretty standard mistakes huh

 

[bloodinbloodout]

yea I guess so, a few other fighters in my camp have the same problem. Unlike regular boxing it seems you should be more relaxed since in thai boxing u should be ready to use so many weapons.

 

[danbo]

First day training at a mma place. The Thai instructor has been fighting mt for 10 years and mma for 5. The BJJ instructor is i believe a brown belt learned from one of the gracie schools. I knew nothing. Felt like such a loser. There was like 8 people there. 5 of them are fighters. 2 or 3 seem to be on their way. I couldnt even do the warm up drills. I feel useless and I thought I actually thought I maybe could pick it up. True, it is the first day. I guess I was expecting to be better. Got a lot to learn. No one to console me. I guess I have to earn my respect. Two VERY VERY hard sports.

Dont worry about it, you'll soon be up with the rest of the guys as far as skill and fitness goes.

When i started BJJ i got tapped about a million times in the first week. Now i have been doing BJJ for around 6 months alot of people find it hard to tap me out.

Also when i started doing MMA the fitness side really killed me. I was so screwed by the end of the first session i was vomitting. Now i am one of the fittest people in the class for MMA now and i've only been doing it once a week for 4 months.

Just stick with it, you'll be surprised how fast you learn.