Start MMA training Monday

[lightsout]

Sort of pumped for this. My school has an MMA club that I just learned about this week. President of it has some amateur experience apparently and knows enough to teach a bunch enthusiasts. Sort of pumped to just be involved in sports again, really. Some motivation to stay in great shape and something for me to look forward to a few times a week besides video games and hanging out with the chick I'm talking to.

Anybody have any experience in this sort of stuff that can tell me what I can expect as far as learning curve for somebody who is pretty green with their striking? I wrestled in high school, but that's as far as experience goes for me.

[Captroop]

If it's anything like my school, they will make your first session hell. If they don't make you throw up (or at least burp up your last meal a little), your instructor is soft.

More important than striking is learning to absorb strikes. It's going to hurt like hell the first few weeks, but after week 2, you'll be shocked at how little you feel. I don't know if your instructor will do this for a bunch or amateurs, but if he does, listen for "windmilling" for it is the sound of your DOOM! It was among the most excruciating pains I ever felt when I started. After two years, it just really, really hurt. Which reminds me, don't go cheap when it comes to buying shin pads and gloves. Spend a few extra bucks, you're 50-year-old self with thank you in the future.

In general, it's a blast, and me personally, I actually kind of got addicted to the pain. I wanted people to hit me harder. And I used to impress myself with how much my pain threshold increased.

If your instructor knows what he is doing, you will have fun.

[Ja Rhule]

Done MMA at my school. You will absolutely love it. Practices usually last about 2 hours. U start with running for about 10-15min, then stretching for about 10-15min, then endurance exercises for 20-30min, then u will learn moves (I did jiu-jitsu and boxing). Then with about 20-30 min left, you will do practice fights. Then every 2-3 months u will travel for mma amateur fights where u will fight people just like you. Do good, u will receive different belt, u will advance and fight people in higher class.

[Ja Rhule]

Oh yea, u will feel like u got hit by a bus for the first few weeks. U will feel really sick and u will also have bruises all over ur body... Might even have hand imprints from another dude grabbing u so hard. Just heads up.

[PhillyB]

make sure you get a good TapOut tshirt

[Darth Biscuit]

Would like to take this myself... they offered a Krav Maga course at my gym last weekend, but I wasn't able to attend.

[lightsout]

make sure you get a good TapOut tshirt

I chuckled at this a little.

Yeah, all of that sounds about like what I'd expect. I talked to a guy this morning who has been in it since day one. Said it's much tougher on the really green guys like me coming in than it used to be, because the instructor has gotten so much better with time management and knows exactly how to push guys. Said I could expect to throw up early. Best advice he gave was "you have about a week until your first practice...run and do abs every single day. it won't stop the throwing up, but it'll make you last longer and the ab work will keep you from cramping up from the puking you're going to do".

Also, as far as gloves and pads, they apparently have a lot of those. They apparently clean them before each practice, but they encourage buying our own gloves. I am close to getting a job, which will open the door for me to buy my own stuff. Any suggestions and what and where to buy? Combat Sports is where a few amateur guys I know get their stuff, and they say it's pretty good quality.

[PhillyB]

remember you can't just be hardcore while you're training, you have to BE hardcore. In the cafeteria, at work, raking the leaves, in the library. everyone has to know youre hardcore. this can be accomplished by wearing fitted tees, fist bumping as much as possible, nonchalantly mentioning pushup counts, and getting a quality tribal band tattoo.

YOLO!

[Captroop]

Best advice he gave was "you have about a week until your first practice...run and do abs every single day. it won't stop the throwing up, but it'll make you last longer and the ab work will keep you from cramping up from the puking you're going to do".

Abs are definitely good, because you don't want to be soft in the gut region when you start getting hit there. Also, strong abs contribute to strong knee strikes, which (as they were my favorite and my specialty) I would highly recommend you use liberally.

Any suggestions and what and where to buy? Combat Sports is where a few amateur guys I know get their stuff, and they say it's pretty good quality.

3 bits of advice on gloves:

1. Try them on and make sure the thumb strap doesn't rub too much on the webbing b/w your thumb and index finger.
   
   
2. Do NOT get the gloves with the grip bar in the palm. It will interfere with your ability to grab your opponent.
   
   
3. No matter how comfortable they might feel, don't get anything with gel inserts.
   
4. Oh, and 4: get some gloves that have very sturdy, very tight wrist wraps around your wrist. Protect your wrists at all costs.
   

[PhillyB]

either invest in world-class shinguards or start tibia-strengthening exercises immediately. there is no pain in this world equivalent to a full speed shin clash.

[rodeo]

either invest in world-class shinguards or start tibia-strengthening exercises immediately. there is no pain in this world equivalent to a full speed shin clash.

Try failing a box jump. Full speed shin clash, plus the added benefit of an ankle to knee scrape.

[lightsout]

Try failing a box jump. Full speed shin clash, plus the added benefit of an ankle to knee scrape.

Been there, done that in high school. You could see the skin on the box. It was painful as hell and all the girls in there freaked out. Hilarity ensued.

[Darth Biscuit]

Saw a girl do that in my gym about two months ago... jumped... misjudged... tore about 4" of skin off both her shins. That had to hurt like a mother.

[lightsout]

Update: After two days of striking work and being introduced to the clinch, as well as a LOT of body conditioning (especially shins), I am sore, aching, tired, but most of all, loving every second. Was told by the only guy working with the group that has an actual amateur record of 4-2 that I pick things up naturally. Made me feel good. Sparring this Friday, most likely against that guy because I'm the only regular attendee at his weight. Yeah, I'm screwed, but it'll be a good test of my toughness and a learning experience. I was worried I wouldn't be any good at kicks, but it turns out that kicks are my strong-point, as of right now.