Anyone here ever done kickboxing?

[GrantMeThePower]

My buddy wants to join a MMA (mixed martial arts) gym and wants me to do it with him. They focus on Boxing, Kickboxing and JuJitsu. The biggest focus is Muay Thai Kickboxing.

There are classes and training and sparring. I've never really done anything beyond a regular gym's kickboxing class, which is nothing like what this is supposed to be like. This is real training and real fighting.

Is it going to be totally nutz and out of control? I figure my friend and i will team up, but he is a lot stronger than i am (he's 5'6" and 180-I'm 5'11 and 140)

 

[Liberator21]

Well, I'm kind of into mma myself, and if this is the real Muay Thai, it's going to be pretty rough. Hardcore Muay Thai fighters are known to kick bamboo trees (or equivalent) with their shins up to a thousand times a day to deaden the nerves, thereby making their kicks extremely powerful. I've also seen documentaries where Muay Thai fighters took turns kicking and punching each other in the face, usually falling down...for practice! I would say this combination (Muay Thai, boxing, and JuJitsu) is a pretty sound way to get into mma. Even though you may be sparring together, you would be in different weight classes. At 140 you would either be in lightweight or featherweight, and with you're height you would probably have a definite reach advantage. I'm 5'11 and 205, and my reach is actually a disadvantage with the guys I work out and train with....All that being said, if there was Muay Thai instruction around here, I would be the first to sign up! You should consider yourself fortunate if this sort of thing interests you.

 

[James Bond]

JuJitsu ftw

 

[slimrhcp]

Originally posted by: GrantMeThePower
My buddy wants to join a MMA (mixed martial arts) gym and wants me to do it with him. They focus on Boxing, Kickboxing and JuJitsu. The biggest focus is Muay Thai Kickboxing.

There are classes and training and sparring. I've never really done anything beyond a regular gym's kickboxing class, which is nothing like what this is supposed to be like. This is real training and real fighting.

Is it going to be totally nutz and out of control? I figure my friend and i will team up, but he is a lot stronger than i am (he's 5'6" and 180-I'm 5'11 and 140)

Any good school MMA should be focusing on grappling first and striking second. As Dana White said a couple months back, fighters need to have an inherent aptitude for grappling; striking can be learned.

 

[slimrhcp]

Originally posted by: El Liberache
Well, I'm kind of into mma myself, and if this is the real Muay Thai, it's going to be pretty rough. Hardcore Muay Thai fighters are known to kick bamboo trees (or equivalent) with their shins up to a thousand times a day to deaden the nerves, thereby making their kicks extremely powerful. I've also seen documentaries where Muay Thai fighters took turns kicking and punching each other in the face, usually falling down...for practice! I would say this combination (Muay Thai, boxing, and JuJitsu) is a pretty sound way to get into mma. Even though you may be sparring together, you would be in different weight classes. At 140 you would either be in lightweight or featherweight, and with you're height you would probably have a definite reach advantage. I'm 5'11 and 205, and my reach is actually a disadvantage with the guys I work out and train with....All that being said, if there was Muay Thai instruction around here, I would be the first to sign up! You should consider yourself fortunate if this sort of thing interests you.

Actually the bamboo thing is a myth. They used to kick banana trees, which have a softer bark. And it's not about deadening the nerves, it's about strengthening the bones.

 

[SirStev0]

A very good friend of mine did some MMA. He ended up blowing out his knee before doing his tv debute. Still hasn't recovered completely.

 

[GrantMeThePower]

The thing is that my buddy is WAY more into it than i am. He loves UFC and pride and all that stuff...i think its ok. I'm down to try it for the exercise, but in terms of taking it to the next level-not for me. That's why i feel a bit apprehensive.