Soon to Start BJJ and Kickboxing at an MMA Gym Next Week. Advice on What to Expect?

**karma2343** · Posted On: 6/14/2010 3:19am

Some tips about striking:
- Like everyone has said, hands up and chin down.
- Work on proper breathing, or you'll gas out extremely quick.
- When sparring at early levels, try your best to be controlled, but don't mistake that with tame and passive.
- Throw combinations.
- The only way to overcome fear of getting punched in the face is to get punched in the face... a lot.

**Tsukyomi** · Posted On: 6/14/2010 11:26am

When I came from TKD into MMA a common reflex I did was put my front leg up (like I was going to do a side kick) for some odd reason.

**ZenOfAnger** · Posted On: 6/15/2010 6:44pm

Update:

I will sign up and have my first official classes in bjj and boxing tomorrow. I will ask about the "Fight Fit Conditioning" classes to see whether they are for the school's top fighters, or if a total noob could take them as well. I will keep my hands up and chin down in the boxing class, will do my best to not take the bjj class as a judo class, and of course I will do my best to make a conscious effort to breathe.

Will let you know how the class goes the day after, as I have work that night.

Sincerely,

ZoA.

**jinro79** · Posted On: 6/17/2010 2:59pm

How did your class go? I train at the Fenton school. Guidry trains some tough guys.

**Dr. Sleepless** · Posted On: 6/17/2010 3:27pm

To get your ass kicked.

**ZenOfAnger** · Posted On: 6/17/2010 5:13pm

Originally Posted by jinro79

How did your class go? I train at the Fenton school. Guidry trains some tough guys.

The classes were great!

I asked about the conditioning classes when I got there, and he explained to me that they were for anybody, so I went ahead and signed up for that as well. I was a good hour worth of exercise and it really had me pushing myself. Afterward was jiu jitsu class. They divide their bjj classes by either a technique or a sparring class, so one day may only be repetitions, but others are entire days devoted to just rolling and using what you know.

Thankfully for me it was a technique class and we went over a choke, armbar, pass, and a sweep. I had a bunch of fun in that class and look forward to doing it even more.

Last was boxing class, and that day it turned out that they were focusing on conditioning more than technique. That meant throwing around the medicine ball back and forth, repetitions on the kick shield and a lot of stretching and cardio.

Like before when I took my free class a couple weeks ago, we also did a couple HKD wrist locks at the end of class, which served to be more of a cool down after boxing than an actual full hkd class.

Afterwards I was exhausted, and went home to sleep, then woke up right before midnight to leave for work. It was a fun day.

I had a blast training there and am definitely going back for more.

Sincerely,

ZoA.

**omoplatypus** · Posted On: 6/17/2010 7:50pm

our little zenny is all grown up! :)

**Alucard619** · Posted On: 6/18/2010 12:59pm

Again, sounds like a really great school.

**jinro79** · Posted On: 6/18/2010 4:49pm

Originally Posted by ZenOfAnger

The classes were great!

I asked about the conditioning classes when I got there, and he explained to me that they were for anybody, so I went ahead and signed up for that as well. I was a good hour worth of exercise and it really had me pushing myself. Afterward was jiu jitsu class. They divide their bjj classes by either a technique or a sparring class, so one day may only be repetitions, but others are entire days devoted to just rolling and using what you know.

Thankfully for me it was a technique class and we went over a choke, armbar, pass, and a sweep. I had a bunch of fun in that class and look forward to doing it even more.

Last was boxing class, and that day it turned out that they were focusing on conditioning more than technique. That meant throwing around the medicine ball back and forth, repetitions on the kick shield and a lot of stretching and cardio.

Like before when I took my free class a couple weeks ago, we also did a couple HKD wrist locks at the end of class, which served to be more of a cool down after boxing than an actual full hkd class.

Afterwards I was exhausted, and went home to sleep, then woke up right before midnight to leave for work. It was a fun day.

I had a blast training there and am definitely going back for more.

Sincerely,

ZoA.

Sounds like you had a great class. Welcome to Team Vaghi.