Muay thai in MMA

[Yessir]

Hi.

I'm training muay thai and would like to train MMA.

Now, my question is this.

How far is muay thai and the stand up game in MMA from one another?

Of course I'd be better of getting started with MMA asap, but if I wait and concentrate on muay thai for now, how much of what I've learned would I have to unlearn when I go from the ring to the octagon?(yes I know pride fc use a ring too)

Yessir

[JkD187]

Originally Posted by Yessir

Hi.

I'm training muay thai and would like to train MMA.

Now, my question is this.

How far is muay thai and the stand up game in MMA from one another?

Of course I'd be better of getting started with MMA asap, but if I wait and concentrate on muay thai for now, how much of what I've learned would I have to unlearn when I go from the ring to the octagon?(yes I know pride fc use a ring too)

Yessir

You really don't have to "unlearn" anything...just be aware that it's MMA not a Muay Thai match and the takedown is there for the guy if you get sloppy in the clinch or throw too many kicks.Circumstances dictate tactics but i recomend that if your going to throw kicks you might wanna distract him with punches first...Dutch style Muay Thai works alot beter then traditional Muay Thai in MMA...but like i said use whatever is needed.

[Yessir]

Originally Posted by JkD187

You really don't have to "unlearn" anything...just be aware that it's MMA not a Muay Thai match and the takedown is there for the guy if you get sloppy in the clinch or throw too many kicks.Circumstances dictate tactics but i recomend that if your going to throw kicks you might wanna distract him with punches first...Dutch style Muay Thai works alot beter then traditional Muay Thai in MMA...but like i said use whatever is needed.

Hmm, okay..

But I'm thinking that the tactics becomes reflexes at some point which is be a pretty big thing to unlearn.

I went to a MMA sparringcamp and everytime I got in the clinch I was taken down.
If I'm not throwing a knee myself, I'm trying to get my hips as close to the opponents as possible to make it harder for him to knee me, but apparently it also made it a lot easier to him to take me to the ground

By dutch muay thai do you mean that there is more emphasis on boxing and the weight is more equally placed between front and rear leg?

Yessir

[JkD187]

Originally Posted by Yessir

Hmm, okay..

But I'm thinking that the tactics becomes reflexes at some point which is be a pretty big thing to unlearn.

I went to a MMA sparringcamp and everytime I got in the clinch I was taken down.
If I'm not throwing a knee myself, I'm trying to get my hips as close to the opponents as possible to make it harder for him to knee me, but apparently it also made it a lot easier to him to take me to the ground

By dutch muay thai do you mean that there is more emphasis on boxing and the weight is more equally placed between front and rear leg?

Yessir

My question to you is first how far do you want to go in MMA?....if you dont want to go pro then don't worry about the application of Muay Thai in MMA and just focus on learning the art and having fun with it.If you wanna go pro then i suggest that you spar alot more with Shootboxing type rules just stand up Muay Thai with takedowns and stop when you hit the ground.This will get you usted to adjusting your Muay Thai and clinch for MMA.There are no spec techniques that you need to learn or unlearn...sparring is the KEY to turning your Thai Boxing into something that works well in MMA.By Dutch Thai Boxing i mean that they do have a tendency to throw the kicks after hand combos which works more effective(for the most part) in MMA.

[Yessir]

Originally Posted by JkD187

My question to you is first how far do you want to go in MMA?....if you dont want to go pro then don't worry about the application of Muay Thai in MMA and just focus on learning the art and having fun with it.If you wanna go pro then i suggest that you spar alot more with Shootboxing type rules just stand up Muay Thai with takedowns and stop when you hit the ground.This will get you usted to adjusting your Muay Thai and clinch for MMA.There are no spec techniques that you need to learn or unlearn...sparring is the KEY to turning your Thai Boxing into something that works well in MMA.By Dutch Thai Boxing i mean that they do have a tendency to throw the kicks after hand combos which works more effective(for the most part) in MMA.

Okay, thanks, it sounds like a good idea with the shootboxing... however I don't really think there *are* any shootboxing schools in my country... but a couple of the guys in the gym do have some experience with MMA, I could probably get them to spar with take downs.

I would like to compete in amateure MMA events at some point.

[DickHardman]

any grappling art can help you out a lot. wrestling and judo are two very popular sports that are very common that can give you insight into grappling to back up your muay thai skills.

[Yessir]

If I should choose a grappling art I probably would choose BJJ or submission wrestling.

I know Couture have a wrestling background, and it does give a good base on the ground and in the clinch, but later you have to work on your subs, I would prefer train an art that includes subs from the beginning.

Judo does have subs, but I've heard that their game is clinch and throwing/takedowns, groundfighting second.

BTW, totally off topic, but what do you guys think about Martin Kampmann as a fighter? (I'm just curious because he's from Denmark too)

[JkD187]

Originally Posted by Yessir

Okay, thanks, it sounds like a good idea with the shootboxing... however I don't really think there *are* any shootboxing schools in my country... but a couple of the guys in the gym do have some experience with MMA, I could probably get them to spar with take downs.

I would like to compete in amateure MMA events at some point.

No prob anytime.It's def a good idea to spar alot to get usted to that or any other range.

[JkD187]

Originally Posted by Yessir

If I should choose a grappling art I probably would choose BJJ or submission wrestling.

I know Couture have a wrestling background, and it does give a good base on the ground and in the clinch, but later you have to work on your subs, I would prefer train an art that includes subs from the beginning.

Judo does have subs, but I've heard that their game is clinch and throwing/takedowns, groundfighting second.

BTW, totally off topic, but what do you guys think about Martin Kampmann as a fighter? (I'm just curious because he's from Denmark too)

Go with BJJ for sure...espically since your having a hard time with takedowns.Kampmann is a very good up and commer...he looked great when he submitted Crafton Wallace and when he destroyed the highly viewed undefeated thalies leites.

[Yessir]

[quote=JkD187;256821]Go with BJJ for sure...espically since your having a hard time with takedowns.QUOTE]

What about submission wrestling? I mean in MMA you don't have the gi to grab on to, which was why I also metioned SW.