Off to College

**Mooshoo** · Posted On: 6/21/2010 2:14pm

Hey I'm going to Kent State University starting in August and I've done a lot of internet research about schools in the immediate area but I didn't see anything too promising. I really want to start competitive MMA and I have previous training in Jeet Kune Do and stuff (lol). If anyone could help me out with some suggestions that would be awesome. I'm actually not sure if this was the right board to post this on but forgive me

**dwkfym** · Posted On: 6/21/2010 2:25pm

Are you really serious about competing in MMA? Even if you aren't going to make a career out of it.

The best way to go about this is obviously to sign up for a reputable Mixed Martial Arts school and learn all-around game (by that I mean standup, standup grappling, and ground fighting (jujitsu)).

If you aren't SUPER serious, or money and time is an issue, pick a good fight sport style and learn. Judo, BJJ, Muay Thai are the three main ones. San-Da is good also. I personally like regular kickboxing but for MMA it does not cover any clinchwork-- Sanda/sanshou is probably the best for this.

Wrestling (greco, freestyle, etc) also make up a foundation of MMA but if you train that you will not know anything else; some good MMA schools make it part of their curriculum.

Boxing is also cheap and good instruction is widely available. Even a little bit of pure-boxing training can help you a lot, but if you are dead-set on MMA I would not stick with "just boxing" for more than a few years.

Check out the dojo review section of this website for good schools.

**OiScout** · Posted On: 6/21/2010 2:45pm

Your school might have some sort of club as well. When I went to Boston Uni, they had a jiujitsu/MMA(mostly bjj though) club and it was pretty damn good. They also brought in some actual instructors which was nice. Most people there weren't dicks, nor were they paid, so it was just more of a hobby for them. I've done a class with a black belt instructor who was fucking horrible compared to them.

**TheMightyMcClaw** · Posted On: 6/21/2010 3:01pm

See what's available at your university and surrounding town.
The biggest obstacle I can see is balancing school with training; when I was in college, I was lucky if I could make it to BJJ practice twice a week.

**Mooshoo** · Posted On: 6/21/2010 3:05pm

I am definately serious about fighting. I guess my dream would be to go professional so yeah. But I've looked everywhere and the best thing I could find was a judo club at kent so I dont know how that'll be. Judo seems really interesting to me but I'm not sure if that's enough to compete. And college will probably keep me pretty busy but I don't wanna stop training

**EmperorCesar** · Posted On: 6/21/2010 3:44pm

Originally Posted by TheMightyMcClaw

See what's available at your university and surrounding town.
The biggest obstacle I can see is balancing school with training; when I was in college, I was lucky if I could make it to BJJ practice twice a week.

I trained for two weeks before my work caught up with me. I have not trained since, and will not have time to train until I graduate. It is really difficult balancing school and training.

**Mooshoo** · Posted On: 6/21/2010 3:50pm

I trained for two weeks before my work caught up with me. I have not trained since, and will not have time to train until I graduate. It is really difficult balancing school and training.

That's depressing for me. As spoiled as it sounds, I don't want to wait 4 years!

**Business** · Posted On: 6/21/2010 7:18pm

Originally Posted by Mooshoo

That's depressing for me. As spoiled as it sounds, I don't want to wait 4 years!

I know plenty of people besides myself that balance school and training accordingly. Stay on top of **** and you'll be ok. If you wanna dick around and be drunk 4 days out of the week it will be more difficult.

**dwkfym** · Posted On: 6/21/2010 8:06pm

You'll find time. I did my first year of law school training for a fight, teaching kickboxing, and getting C's in all my classes. Oh, I also tracked my motorcycle and ****. Doable. lol

**Mooshoo** · Posted On: 6/21/2010 8:10pm

Originally Posted by Business

I know plenty of people besides myself that balance school and training accordingly. Stay on top of **** and you'll be ok. If you wanna dick around and be drunk 4 days out of the week it will be more difficult.

That's wise advice. I'm still at a loss about where to train though!