Joined an MMA gym.

[nitrousninja]

I joined the Olympian Center down the road from me because the regular gym was getting stale and I've always been a fan of MMA.

The have classes for boxing, Thai boxing, jiu jitsu, and grappling.

I went to the first boxing class last night and I've never thrown a punch in my life. It was a class of 10 people and they were all really cool and very helpful. The instructor was great too helping me out with technique and body position.

The workouts were fun but not terrible because my conditioning is pretty good. I lost 60 pounds over the past couple years with a trainer. He quit the gym I was going to so he could train the Detroit Tigers farm team.

We did two 3 minute jump rope drills to get our heart rates up and throughout the rest of the class did punch drills, movement drills, and sparring. They said the workouts are usually around 1000 calories or more.

I'll keep this thread updated as I go through more classes and have time.

 

[presidentender]

I encourage you to wear headgear when sparring. Most of the local MMA clubs in my area discourage this (in order to make training more realistic), but repeated head trauma, however slight, is a recipe for brain injury.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: presidentender
I encourage you to wear headgear when sparring. Most of the local MMA clubs in my area discourage this (in order to make training more realistic), but repeated head trauma, however slight, is a recipe for brain injury.

This is true, but I wouldn't think they'd let him spar until he got a great deal more experienced. If they do throw him into sparring though, headgear is a necessity.

 

[presidentender]

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged

Originally posted by: presidentender
I encourage you to wear headgear when sparring. Most of the local MMA clubs in my area discourage this (in order to make training more realistic), but repeated head trauma, however slight, is a recipe for brain injury.

This is true, but I wouldn't think they'd let him spar until he got a great deal more experienced. If they do throw him into sparring though, headgear is a necessity.

Indeed not! And when he starts, he should wear headgear, even if he's been doing it for a period of months or years. You still get hit in the head, and your brain doesn't get conditioned and hardened the way the rest of your body does.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

I liked this blog entry

I hate headgear, and every time I've tried some brand or another, quickly abandoned it. There are circumstances where I would wear it, but it has been a long time since I was in with anyone I would choose to put it on for. If I do need it again, I'll try the bayflex stuff, one poster there mentioned.

Almost forgot the OP: Good to see you enjoyed/liked it. Some free advice, work on whatever you learn in a class, a little while each day, in between classes. Your progress will be much faster. You don't have to go balls out, just work on the mechanics in front of a mirror. Even 15-20 minutes a day like that will go a long way.

 

[conorvansmack]

Originally posted by: presidentender

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged

Originally posted by: presidentender
I encourage you to wear headgear when sparring. Most of the local MMA clubs in my area discourage this (in order to make training more realistic), but repeated head trauma, however slight, is a recipe for brain injury.

This is true, but I wouldn't think they'd let him spar until he got a great deal more experienced. If they do throw him into sparring though, headgear is a necessity.

Indeed not! And when he starts, he should wear headgear, even if he's been doing it for a period of months or years. You still get hit in the head, and your brain doesn't get conditioned and hardened the way the rest of your body does.

SC is right, a proper gym will not let a brand new student spar. They "should" and will likely work on proper defense, in which gloves will serve much of the same purpose that headgear would. A mouthpiece is probably a good idea to have now though. Headgear will be useful down the road, but the coaches should let you know when you need to buy more equipment (shin/kick pads or headgear).

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: conorvansmack
They "should" and will likely work on proper defense, in which gloves will serve much of the same purpose that headgear would.

That made me good to see someone that gets it.

 

[howlinmad]

why anyone enjoys being hit in the head is beyond me, headgear or not.

 

[conorvansmack]

Originally posted by: howlinmad
why anyone enjoys being hit in the head is beyond me, headgear or not.

The idea is to avoid as much of it as possible, but it's like playing outside in the rain, you're going to get wet.

The real idea is to avoid taking so many big shots to the head that you end up like Rocky in Rocky V. That sucked.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: howlinmad
why anyone enjoys being hit in the head is beyond me, headgear or not.

It is definitely not for everyone.

 

[presidentender]

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER

Originally posted by: conorvansmack
They "should" and will likely work on proper defense, in which gloves will serve much of the same purpose that headgear would.

That made me good to see someone that gets it.

Gloves serve to provide additional protection, that's for sure. I far prefer being hit in the gloves to being hit in the head(gear), and (as previously mentioned) a proper gym will make sure you work on your defense first. That said, headgear does provide additional protection, and you can't parry or dodge every blow regardless.

 

[NGC_604]

Originally posted by: howlinmad
why anyone enjoys being hit in the head is beyond me, headgear or not.

We don't want to be hit in the head, the idea is to not get hit. But like DaPunisher said, it's not for everyone. Some of us are just crazy enough to be into that sort of thing I guess.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: presidentender

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER

Originally posted by: conorvansmack
They "should" and will likely work on proper defense, in which gloves will serve much of the same purpose that headgear would.

That made me good to see someone that gets it.

That said, headgear does provide additional protection, and you can't parry or dodge every blow regardless.

Even fewer wearing the god damned horseblinders Wear it if you want to, no justification is needed. There are a number of good reasons for it -

You don't want to risk a cut that will cause you to miss a sanctioned fight, or be a tender new scar that can open up.

You don't like cuts, abrasions, swelling, and bruising, on your face.

You fight with your hands down like almost everyone at a TKD tournament. :laugh: No offense TKD guys, but the no hands to the head rule has made you lazy.

 

[Pantlegz]

Originally posted by: howlinmad
why anyone enjoys being hit in the head is beyond me, headgear or not.

this is actually what makes it fun, for me. Try to hit them and not get hit is the point, if I understand correctly. But really gloves are about equal to head gear imo, I've never been hit so hard with gloves that I thought putting head gear on would be a good idea. Granted I've only sparred with guys smaller than me, not by choice it's hard to find guys at ~220 that train around here.

 

[nitrousninja]

When I said sparring I should've clarified. We were going at maybe 20%. The goal was to try out 2-3 combos on a moving target while we were moving. Just basically trying to touch the other person.

I sparred with the instructor and he found MANY holes in my game but I adaptedy fairly quickly.


Last night I went to a sporting goods store and got some Everlast boxing gloves, hand wraps, dual mouth guard (mine is only single), and punching pads. They didnt have headgear in my size though so I'll try MMA Stop later today.


I'm hitting the open gym there tonight to work on my technique and break the new gear in.

 

[M0oG0oGaiPan]

Originally posted by: nitrousninja
When I said sparring I should've clarified. We were going at maybe 20%. The goal was to try out 2-3 combos on a moving target while we were moving. Just basically trying to touch the other person.

I sparred with the instructor and he found MANY holes in my game but I adaptedy fairly quickly.


Last night I went to a sporting goods store and got some Everlast boxing gloves, hand wraps, dual mouth guard (mine is only single), and punching pads. They didnt have headgear in my size though so I'll try MMA Stop later today.


I'm hitting the open gym there tonight to work on my technique and break the new gear in.

You should have a different set of gloves for the bag and for sparring. http://kofightgear.com/ has a quality set of sparring gloves for cheap.

Cagesidemma is a good site if you need mma style gloves/gear.

You should think about picking up a set of mexican style handwraps. Usually the Everlast wraps they sell at the sporting good stores are a little too short.

Oh and a cup might be handy.

 

[TallBill]

I absolutely loved boxing and grappling. Unfortunately a shoulder injury prevented me from competing or continuing training. It was unbelievably fulfilling.

 

[presidentender]

Originally posted by: M0oG0oGaiPan
You should think about picking up a set of mexican style handwraps. Usually the Everlast wraps they sell at the sporting good stores are a little too short.

Mexican wraps are so stretchy, though. It's almost like not having wraps (which is an option).

 

[KingGheedora]

I recommend longer wraps too, at least 170, preferably 180 inches. You can get long wraps that aren't as elastic as the mexican style ones. I prefer the mexicans though, because I recently got some 180 inch wraps that have no elasticity and they suck because they don't hug your hand as much so they tend to get loose and parts come undone while I workout. Mainly where i loop around the outside of the thumb to in between each finger.

 

[nitrousninja]

The ones I got are only 108 so we'll see how they work. I'll need to find someone at the gym that knows how to properly wrap them. I'm not sure what to feel when I'm done wrapping them.

 

[nitrousninja]

Had another class last night. We did jump ropes drills, shadow boxing, and bag work. Then we all got in the cage and did a drill where everyone got up against to the walls and one guy got in the middle and sparred with everyone else. There were 11 other people.

It was so much fun. Everyone went pretty easy on my due to my no0bness but it fun to try to learn counters to thier techniques. I was tired at the end too and that felt great. I can't wait untilthe next class!

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: nitrousninja
I can't wait until the next class!

That is what it is all about, being stoked. But, I hope you are not waiting for the next class to practice.

 

[presidentender]

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER

Originally posted by: nitrousninja
I can't wait until the next class!

That is what it is all about, being stoked. But, I hope you are not waiting for the next class to practice.

Indeed! Between classes is what makes the difference between fast advancement and non-advancement. Now, you can hurt yourself hitting the air too hard, but if you use your off days to practice form and technique rather than speed... perfect.

 

[nitrousninja]

Yep I'm practicing in between. I hit the heavy bag in between and work on form. Speed and power will come from proper technique. I found some footwork drills online that I'll be practicing too.

This was exactly what i was looking for. A good, functional workout that keeps me involved. Lifting weights and jogging werent cutting it. I just love the fact that everyone is so helpful and they're all motivated to get better. Thats really going to be helpful.