MMA ( Mixed martial arts )

I’ve always wanted to have a go at MMA training but, funnily enough, I don’t like to get hit in the face. The place in Elephant seems to stress full contact sparing as a big part of the training, is it like that everywhere?

You're going to get hit in the face at some point with any martial art/fighting sport. Why don't you look at things like BJJ, Sambo etc as they are less strike orientated and therefore less likely to get a smack in the chops on purpose?

Just curious, is your dislike for a face hit due to the nose? Even though I've broken my nose twice, I would happily take a punch to the face anywhere except the nose!

Thanks, I’ll take a look at those two.

Just curious, is your dislike for a face hit due to the nose? Even though I've broken my nose twice, I would happily take a punch to the face anywhere except the nose!

Yeah exactly, I don’t want to get hit in the face cos I don’t want to break my nose....

you can train in something like this:

Oh my...

and look at this one if you think that ^ might be a little too over the top: http://www.wrestlingaids.com/detail.asp?pid=FG-3_3&cat=HG

Anyone know where I can get the FULL video of the akiyma-belcher fight? The one onyoutubes been pulled and I really wanna show it to my brother.

I can only find shortened ones with all the funny 'sexyama' build up removed.

Pretty much because if you stick a Kung Fu guy in against a Muay Thai guy he's gonna get murdered. It's like taking a knife to a gun fight.

Don't get me wrong though, I'm a big fan of people having 'backgrounds' as opposed to the 'MMA' style; nothing bores me more than some one who takes them down and then ground and pounds them out over three rounds or whatever.. snoozefest.

James Irvin, Machida, Diaz brothers.. they're up there with my favourite to watch. Pretty well rounded but always go back to what they know

If you're looking for fight videos got to the likes www.myvideofight.com and www.mmalinker.com and you can search a bunch of them.

I know what you mean and you can see it clearly in demo's like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjK0g-cDJI4

But the big kick boxing kicks used by many MMA fighters is surely as elaborate if not more so than traditional kung fu.

Im surprised that no one uses the extremely efficient forms of kung fu like wing chun which is widely used by special forces because it is so powerful, efficient & effective even if you are a smaller person with not much power or abilty to throw big fancy kicks. Im thinking of starting soon, got one of the best teachers/clubs by me just have to be willing to dedicate a whole month to training.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3jJ-lb7N8A

As described in this conference thing, wing chun combined with added groundwork & wrestling skills would make an ultimate combination.

My advice would be to start training, keep an open mind and find what suits your body style best; I'll put money on you sticking to jiujitsu, greco, muaythai/boxing and judo though.

Ive been wanting to do wing chun for ages. Im a smaller person, not massively strong upper body or athletic. To be honest im a bit clumsy (dyspraxia if you want to get technical) the style is very fast, efficient and precise, I think it will really teach me to use my body properly if you get me?

Im not into doing ring fighting/mma, ive only ever had half a fight in my whole life. Me trying grab the opponent to pull some headlock/sleep submission nonsense but the person being too quick to grab (eventually running away)

I just want to get sharper/quicker, learn to 'move' and do a bit of practice sparring/grappling.

There is a place about an 8 mile bike ride from me that does olympic wrestling & traditional jiu jitsu £4 a session, might check it out too.

DFP: You posted a video of BJJ and mentioned a club training traditional Jujitsu.. Just checking, you do know they aren't the same thing?

DFP: You posted a video of BJJ and mentioned a club training traditional Jujitsu.. Just checking, you do know they aren't the same thing?

yup, thats why I mentioned it. I dont there is anywhere decent that does brazilian style, bunch of fakers in crummy kick boxing clubs jumping on the mma bandwagon.

yea DFP not many good (recognised) BJJ Gyms in the UK except fo WOLFSLAIR and London Shootfighters ;)

http://www.wolfslairmma.co.uk/index.html <=== BJJ taught by Mario Sukata
http://www.londonshootfighters.com/ <=== not really much emphasis on BJJ but more Greco Roman Styleee

I dont there is anywhere decent that does brazilian style

DFP, not sure if you're in London but if so you've got a pretty good choice for BJJ

Carlson Gracie in Hammersmith
Roger Gracie in Wimbledon
BJJ at the Budokwai in Chelsea (stick around for some judo too, few of Team GB train there, also it's a SICK venue)

Lots of other clubs such as London Shoot, Elite, Diesel Gym etc but not sure what their standards are like though.

yup, thats why I mentioned it. I dont there is anywhere decent that does brazilian style, bunch of fakers in crummy kick boxing clubs jumping on the mma bandwagon.

You make it sound like bjj is just a phase like Pogs..

Where are you in the UK?

Gracie Barra have quite a few gyms around the UK and the club that I train with have a few in the South Wales/Bristol region. Some clubs train different martial arts but it doesn't mean that you would be getting half-arsed bjj training, there will more than likely be specific days through the week for certain martial arts.

Forgot to emphasise 'where I live' & what I think is reasonably good value. There is a gracie barra in birmingham but it costs like £10 a session! That is a fortune when you get paid below minimum wage.

Yeah, that is quite a lot! Very unfortunate :(

It may be worth you taking a trip down there to have a watch etc and then afterwards have a word with the instructor to see if either a.) They provide a concession for low wage/students or b.) They know of any other smaller clubs in the area.

As described in this conference thing, wing chun combined with added groundwork & wrestling skills would make an ultimate combination.

Well this is the essence of JKD, leave what is useless behing and use what only what works ... the man himself Bruce Lee said more or less this. The idea behind JKD is similar to MMA if not the same. CHUG_IT will know much more than me.

£10 a lesson is not actually that steep, we pay 7.50 for a training session if you don't "pay monthly". If it is 1-to-1 it is a fucking bargain you are getting. I pay about £4 a training session, I would be surprised if he didn't do monthly discounts like ours.

I throughly recommend kickboxing/thai boxing, I don't like taking weight or height into the equation, the guy who hits me hardest in sparring is 5ft 2 and does not seem to possess any fat on his body (he weighs buggar all). Technique is always more important than size.

On being dyspraxic ... I am dyspraxic and I don't have much trouble with routines. It is all muscle memory.

When I get into something, I get obsessive about it. If I started some martial art id want to train nearly everyday. My local boxing club is £10 a week, you can show up pretty much everyday for training & coaching. No ties or direct debit nonsense. Wing Chun place is £35 a month, you can come several times a week for full days of sparring & lessons with some of the best tutors in the country.

Im happy with this, not fussed about jiu jitsu too much especially as gracie-barra has no monthly option (£10 to be part of a big group lesson). Ill might check out the olympic wrestling place everynow and again for jokes.

I matched my brother in youtube learnt jiu jitsu today. He killed me due to massive weight advantage. getting ground beatings hurts.

I can kill you all with my three figured salute.

^

:D

A forum god speaks. BTW Tynan is those three fingers up the bottom?

DFP, have a look at this: http://slideyfoot.blogspot.com/2000/01/uk-bjj-club-list.html

^

:D

A forum god speaks. BTW Tynan is those three fingers up the bottom?

I don't like to say - but I will say that I don't mind washing my fingers after a fight.

Im happy with this, not fussed about jiu jitsu too much.

Where else are you going to find yourself forced into an uncomfortable position by a sweaty man and then find his ballbag resting on your cheek as he pulls your shoulder out of its socket?

The clubs I trained at in Londontown were all a tenner a session, ranging from an hour to 2 hours in length. My new club in Cambridge is a fiver a session (1.45 hours) and I get to hit the weights and olympic rings afterwards, f-king bargain!

Forgot to emphasise 'where I live' & what I think is reasonably good value. There is a gracie barra in birmingham but it costs like £10 a session! That is a fortune when you get paid below minimum wage.

GB Brum is probably the best place to train in Birmingham, but it does have a price tag to match (however, when you compare that to London prices, works out pretty cheap. At the Roger Gracie Academy, its £90 a month, and if you just want to train a single class, £18).

However, its not the only option in the city. As per my map, these are all the BJJ clubs I'm aware of in and around Birmingham:

Capojitsu BJJ
Synergy Fitness, Calthorpe School
Darwin St, High Gate
Birmingham
B12 0TJ
07779344103

     [ Capojitsu BJJ (West Brom) ](http://www.capojitsu.co.uk/)

Brandon Way
West Bromwich
Birmingham
B70 9PW
0800 612 9325

     [ Gracie Barra Birmingham ](http://www.graciebarrabirmingham.com/)

Stevie B's Gym, 32 Station Road
Acocks Green
Birmingham
B27 6DN
0121 707 9609

Pedro Bessa West Brom
The Rick Dubidat BlackBelt Academy
Unit 1 Brandon Way
West Bromwich
B70 9PW

     [ Roleta BJJ (Oldbury) ](http://www.myspace.com/dtecmma)

Tat Bank Road
Oldbury
Birmingham
B69 4NH
07904532502

     [ Roleta BJJ Birmingham ](http://www.roletabjj.com/?page_id=71)

Ramada Hotel
Sebastian Coe Health Club
Penns Lane
Walmely, Sutton Coldfield
B76 1LH
contact@roletabjj.com
0121 288 8678

Once you do get started, you might also find the BJJ Beginner FAQ useful.