I'm not trying to become a UFC fighter or anything like that, but I want to start MMA mostly for fun and a new hobbie and possible compete. I have ZERO training in any Martial Arts or boxing. I do have a wrestling background though. I live in a small college town (Pullman Washington) so there's not much available. I like to hit the heavy bag, but don't really know what I'm doing. Here is what is available to me. Judo, Karate, Aikido, Goju Ryu Karate and possible Krav Maga. Which one of these would be the best to get a good start for MMA. I'm 24 years old, 5'7, 165. I'm in good shape, and have strong upper-body strength. Any advice on the best way to get started? Thanks for the help!

Judo would be the best of what you listed to get started, look around for a boxing gym or kick boxing gym too.

Here is a link to some schools in Washington, I dont know if any will are near you though....

http://www.mma.tv/schools/index.cfm?search=1&name=&ctyID=1&State=WA&state1=

I would agree that Judo would be the best out of the ones you listed. If you pick up some good throws from Judo, between that and your wrestling you should have a good base to work from. Try to get into Kickboxing as soon as you can, not just boxing but Kickboxing.

Muay Thai for life.

I would agree that Judo would be the best out of the ones you listed. If you pick up some good throws from Judo, between that and your wrestling you should have a good base to work from. Try to get into Kickboxing as soon as you can, not just boxing but Kickboxing.

Muay Thai for life.
Judo is excellent for wrestlers looking to get into jacket grappling. Not all kickboxing is muay thai however. Some is based on karate or tai kawn do or western boxing with kicks. Make sure you know what the kickboxing is based on before you pay for anything.

If its a lot of flashy looking flying kicks and they don't do anything but points sparring you would do yourself a big favour to stay away from it. If they have a ring and work a lot on their hands with some very basicly looking but very fast and very powerful kicks, thats what you want.

Good luck in your quest to find a good school. It took me 2 years to find the place I train at now.

Thanks for the help guy's...Judo it is. The nearest city that has any type of boxing club or kickboxing is about 75 miles away. I'm a full time student, single dad, and fly alot, so I guess I'll have to wait on the kickboxing. Thanks again for the help.

How far from Olympia, Washington are you?
My good friends Jeff Monson and Dennis Hallman have a good school there.

Instructor: Jeff Monson

Address: 710 Marine Drive Olympia, Washington 98501

Phone: (360) 754-8501

Olympia is about a 6 hour drive from here, so thats not really an option. Wish it was though.

It is hard to find a good Kickboxing club, I'm not happy with the one I'm in now. It's Muay Thai, which is what I feel is the best form of striking, but not enough sparring partners. Don't be to turned off of some of the traditional martial arts, they aren't good by themselves but it will provide a stepping stone. Flexibility, Cardio etc. All in all, you want some form of Kickboxing.

If the Goju Ryu school is really traditional about conditioning, I'd recommend that also, since it'll give you a strong basis and an alternative to kickboxing, or at least flexibility.

If you're just looking for something else like in a street fight, Krav Maga is actually really good because of it's emphasis on "dirty fighting". if the ISDF uses it, it has to be pretty good.