How to train w/MMA fighters for non-MMA fighters?

**edward** · Posted On: 9/27/2004 7:52pm

How do you train with MMA fighters if you're not an MMA fighter?

Are there any schools where you can go in, do your particular style, even if's a TMA (Shotokan, Kyokushin, Judo, etc.) without having to learn their particular brand of MT/Kickboxing/BJJ?

Or even if you're doing BJJ at one school, and striking at another school, then how do you go to spar against people MMA style?

Or another thing would be, where do you go to get into fights like the UFC? What's the initial training step?

(If this is in the wrong forum, please feel free to move it, mods.)

**Zeddy** · Posted On: 9/28/2004 4:37am

Enrol in MMA, or ask people to go freestyle with you after class?

I am confused though why the hell you would go to a school and not learn their particular style. I wouldn't go to my old goju ryu dojo to practice my BJJ. What is your point here?

**MUT** · Posted On: 9/28/2004 7:13am

You dont have to be a MMA fighter to train in MMA....

To get into the UFC you should fight in smaller organisations (shooto whatever) if you fight well you might get noticed and get a manger from there..

**BaguaZhang** · Posted On: 9/28/2004 9:28am

why would you train a style different from the school you goto????

**Crapfestival** · Posted On: 9/28/2004 9:40am

People come to our school from other styles, and very quickly want to learn what we are doing, because we shut them down on what they are trying. Go there, spar and do your thing.... but I bet you will quickly want to learn what they are doing.

**Grant** · Posted On: 9/28/2004 9:42am

It sounds like you mean open mat.

**ojgsxr6** · Posted On: 9/28/2004 10:27am

I think he's saying that he crosstrains and he would like to know where he could put his stuff together. I have a similar issue, I always wondered if they had like open mat gyms.

**edward** · Posted On: 9/28/2004 12:32pm

Originally posted by ojgsxr6
I think he's saying that he crosstrains and he would like to know where he could put his stuff together. I have a similar issue, I always wondered if they had like open mat gyms.

Yes, the problem I find with MMA places is their kickboxing is very basic techniques and boring, and their grappling is mostly like bad Judo ground techniques.

So if you train in BJJ or Judo, and in some striking art like karate or wing chun, then where do you go to spar the both of them together? On a regular basis, like multiple times a week.

**edward** · Posted On: 9/28/2004 12:35pm

Originally posted by Dark Majique
It sounds like you mean open mat.

Yeah, but how many places have open mat?

Originally posted by J-Lau
People come to our school from other styles, and very quickly want to learn what we are doing, because we shut them down on what they are trying. Go there, spar and do your thing.... but I bet you will quickly want to learn what they are doing.

Everybody says this, but I have yet to find a place that actually falls into this category. I usually get that from Wing Chun places that do a little bit of grappling and call it JKD.

Most places they won't let you work on your techniques, what they'll do is 'put you down' as it were, with their greater speed, strength or training, not necessarily better techniques, and then pressure you into doing exactly what they're doing.