Quote:
Originally Posted by GrahamR
Since I used to be on a pro MMA fighting team, I can advise on what is effective on the combative and the fitness side - if it is self-actualization and inner peace you desire, don't ask me, but don't trust what others are selling you, either.
Grappling (brazilian ju-jitsu, or BJJ) is excellent, and if you would rather hit someone (not my preference), Muay Thai is good. I used to train both, and they were both physically rigorous, useful in my fights, and fun.
"Traditional" martial arts can be beautiful (i.e. kung fu, capoeira), but weren't for me, since I'm a pragmatist. It depends on what you want.
|
Hey, Graham, thanks for the reply.
Sorry if any of my questions are really basic, but this is an area of sport I simply know nothing about. MMA stands for mixed martial art, right? Is that something like that Ultimate Fighting where you guys just basically get thrown in a cage and there's no rules??? If you did that, I take my hat off to you, that takes guts.
I think I'm more after the physical side than the "self-actualization and inner peace" stuff. Don't get me wrong I'm all for "self-actualization and inner peace" and will take any of that if it comes along for free with the physical stuff. But I've done a lot of that kind of mental/spiritual/emotional stuff over the last few years and don't particularly feel I need a lot more right now.
I think physically, I'd be looking for two things:
1. Straight out cardio work. You know what I mean, get the heart rate up and have a good sweat and workout, burn some calories off.
2. Learn a useful skill. I don't mean useful as in I want to go out picking fights or anything (that's the last thing on my mind) but useful as in "mastering an art" like you might master learning to fly, or a language, or how to drive a race car. Yeah of course it would be nice to know how to defend yourself if someone attacked you, but like really, how often does that happen?
About your "grappling" (brazilian ju-jitsu, or BJJ) versus "hit someone" question, I think I'd actually prefer to hit someone!! Haha...obviously not hit someone as in hurt them, but you know to me it seems more satisfying to go WHACK than to kinda wrestle/grapple/struggle on the floor...
I know this might be a "how long is a piece of string" question, but with these martial arts, how much time do you spend punching/kicking thin air in practice drills as opposed to "fighting" in a you versus him/them situation?
Thanks a lot for your insights...