Grappling?

[jread]

For those of you who train in JKD, do you do any grappling? I figure that since JKD takes the best from all the styles, that grappling would be included.

I am thinking of joining a JKD school and am wanting to eventually compete in the local Texas MMA competitions. Most of those guys are taking BJJ and Muay Thai mixtures of some sort, so I wonder if JKD can compete with them. I'm not as curious about JKD competing as a standup art, but I do wonder if JKD students train enough in grappling to compete with BJJ guys.

Any input on this?

[T-3]

It depends on the instructor that you have chosen and what his background is. If he is adept in grappling then he will probably incorporate it into training. Just let him know what your intentions in training are and see if he would be willing to help you train in that regard. In training to compete, it is important to train specifically, especially your "weaker" aspects.

[William Holland]

Grappling in JKD?

See if you can get a hold of April and May 2003 issues of Black Belt Magazine. I wrote a two part article on how grappling fits into the JKD spectrum.

Yes, most JKD instructors are balancing their arsenal with grappling either with the Gracies or the Machados or Shootfighting or Sambo. More likely, a combination of them all.

I am actually trying to relocate to Austin as we speak. I want to open a JKD school there.

William E. Holland II
"The Mongoose"

https://www.tactixtrainingcenter.com

https://www.ijkda.com

[atlas1212]

The question is whether JKD contains enough grappling for MMA Competitions. It probably contains enough for the street, but MMA is a sport with a definite gameplan and set of rules and strategies to play by. If you are going to do MMA, find a successful coach in your area who has helped other MMA guys succeed. JKD is most likely going to be more of a "self-defense" type of thing. Basically what I am saying is, that while training in JKD will help you to be a better streetfighting, you may waste some valuable training time on things you can't use in the ring.

[jread]

Thanks for the replies so far everyone!

William, I hope you do make it to Austin and are able to open your school

Atlas1212, you are right... I didn't think about the fact that to compete in MMA, you need to be trained specifically for it. Hmm... it's hard to decide. The JKD school I want to go to here in Austin (Ray Parra is the instructor) is great and they have an awesome Muay Thai class there (which I am VERY interested in learning). There are quite a few MMA schools in the Austin area, but they focus more on BJJ and don't have the awesome Muay Thai program.

Then again, there is one school here that is more competition-oriented, and the instructor is trained in BJJ, Muay Thai and JKD: http://www.vasquezacademy.net

Maybe that's what I should go with. It's much closer to where I live as well.

ACK! Decisions, decisions. Nothing is quite as nerve-racking as deciding on a martial arts school... especially when you have more than one in your area that are geared towards what you want!

[atlas1212]

Go to each of them and watch the classes. See how the other students are. See which capitalizes on your strengths. If you aren't a bruiser, than no amount of Muay Thai is going to make you a knock out artist. If you are a good puncher, than focus on that and learn enough grappling to no get taken down and to survive. I promise you that if you go to each of the schools you'll find one that has the perfect amount of intensity and skill for you.

[jubaji]

I promise you that if you go to each of the schools you'll find one that has the perfect amount of intensity and skill for you.

You promise?
??????????????????

[jubaji]

learn enough grappling to no get taken down and to survive. .

In other words, go take up grappling.

[atlas1212]

no

No, you don't need to "take up" grappling. Cro-cop, Vochanchyn, Maurice Smith..those guys are hardly "grapplers". I'm saying learn ENOUGH to stay striking. Grapplers have a different fighting mentality and strategy.

[jubaji]

I'm saying learn ENOUGH to stay striking. Grapplers have a different fighting mentality and strategy.

'Enough' is learning grappling. If you kid yourself that you can play around a little and be able to deal with a good grappler, well...

[atlas1212]

Totally false. That view is about 5 years old Jubaji. Guys like Cro-Cop, Maurice Smith and even Wanderlai Silva in his early fights proved that a striker can learn "just enough" grappling to survive on the ground and get restarted (or avoid takedowns), without becoming "grapplers". Yes, you must learn some grappling and actually grapple with people. But it does not have to be your major emphasis of training to be a black belt in BJJ like people thought you'd have to do a few years ago. You don't have to learn many submissions or become a champion in JJ to win a MMA fight. These days there are many fighters who just learn "enough" to stay standing or get restarted. Technically, yes, it is learning grappling. But are you emphasizing take downs, submissions, a ground and pound or submission oriented philosophy? No. You can learn "grappling light" and survive. You won't ever tap out a BJJ expert, but you survive long enough to knock him out. For instance, Mike Tyson is getting into K-1 and is learning how to foil grapplers from the same coach who taught Mirko Filipovich. Mike Tyson is never going to be a "grappler", he just needs to learn how to neutralize other people's grappling. Get what I'm saying?

[jread]

Totally false. That view is about 5 years old Jubaji. Guys like Cro-Cop, Maurice Smith and even Wanderlai Silva in his early fights proved that a striker can learn "just enough" grappling to survive on the ground and get restarted (or avoid takedowns), without becoming "grapplers". Yes, you must learn some grappling and actually grapple with people. But it does not have to be your major emphasis of training to be a black belt in BJJ like people thought you'd have to do a few years ago. You don't have to learn many submissions or become a champion in JJ to win a MMA fight. These days there are many fighters who just learn "enough" to stay standing or get restarted. Technically, yes, it is learning grappling. But are you emphasizing take downs, submissions, a ground and pound or submission oriented philosophy? No. You can learn "grappling light" and survive. You won't ever tap out a BJJ expert, but you survive long enough to knock him out. For instance, Mike Tyson is getting into K-1 and is learning how to foil grapplers from the same coach who taught Mirko Filipovich. Mike Tyson is never going to be a "grappler", he just needs to learn how to neutralize other people's grappling. Get what I'm saying?

This is sort of what I want to go for. I realize that grappling is important, especially if you're fighting a grappler, but I don't want to get deep into the intricacies of it all. I'm a standup fighter, all of my fighting background (boxing/TKD/Han Mudo) is in standup styles, I don't like being on the ground, rolling around with some dudes sweaty ass crack and balls all over my leg, etc. To hell with that. It's the same reason why I enjoy K-1 a LOT more than UFC.

[jubaji]

Good luck guys, you'll need it. Reality can be a bitch.

[atlas1212]

Jubaji, how many rounds do you think you could go with Cro-cop? He holds no rank in grappling and spends very little time on the mat before a fight.

The point is, EVERYONE knows you need to know how to grapple or neutralize grappling. Quit being so sarcastic and try to contribute something positive instead of trolling for an argument.

[jubaji]

Jubaji, how many rounds do you think you could go with Cro-cop? He holds no rank in grappling and spends very little time on the mat before a fight.
.

So now this is about me specifically? When did that happen?