In the future we'll see mixed martial artists who are well rounded and good at everything because they would have been training in all aspects from an early age. For right now though, what is the best base to have coming into MMA?

The one you're most comfortable with and better than everyone else at. So the answer varies for different people.

The one you're most comfortable with and better than everyone else at. So the answer varies for different people.

Damn good answer my man but let's say you had your choice to train in any of these from an early age, which one do you think would give you the best advantage?

rasslin'

because you can dictate where the fight takes place

rasslin'

because you can dictate where the fight takes place

Overflowing with the correct....

IMO the best base to have would be a good grappling base, whether it be wrestling, Judo, or BJJ. Becuase you can build off of that, my coach always tells us that if we want our striking to improve then we have to make our grappling that much better, because we won't be afraid to pull the trigger due to not being afraid of getting taken down. Whether that be fighting of your back or sprawling.

rasslin'

because you can dictate where the fight takes place

I agree. I also think it gives guys another advantage in that it gets you used to building your cardio and making weight.

I wouldn't really know without trying them myself but I'd guess ne waza oriented Judo. It's like BJJ but with much stronger takedown base.

if you can master either muay thai or kickboxing, i'd feel sorry for anyone trying to come grapple you
http://xtremecouture.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/muay-thai-photos-kaoklai-2.jpg

It depends on the weight class you are in. So I will break it down.


Lightweight(155lbs): Best base is BJJ. Small guys, nimble limbs, choke a sucka out in seconds. Most of the guys here just swing for the fences everytime. Neutralize that by taking them to the ground and owning them. Every hear of Shinya Aoki?

Welterweight(170lbs): Wrestling. This is the wrestling division. If you can't wrestle good, you will never even reach the elite class of this division.

Middleweight(185lbs): Kickboxing/Muay Thai. Honestly I would just say any stand up game that uses both your legs and fists. You will get bum rushed by over-aggressive guys like Marquardt, or picked apart by technical strikers.

Light Heavyweight(205lbs): Boxing. Or some form of punching background. This division is really the "let hands go" division. All the dudes here look to cause damage standing. Not too often you see these guys wanting to go to the ground.

Heavyweight(+230lbs): Sambo. It mixes in wrestling/submissions and decent stand up. Herring made his living off of Sambo. Fedor is the best in this division and he uses Sambo. You come across alot of BJJ guys in this division but it's rare you will see them on the level of Mir or Big Nog. Sambo teaches you wrestling and how to submit/reverse subs. It's EXTREMELY rare to get guys like Lesnar. So thats a slim to none chance that you will fight guys like that.


Overall: Wrestling. You can lay and pray your way to victories all the time if you can wrestle good.


That's my take on it. I must say though, when your starting out (KOTC etc.) People don't know what the **** they are doing and just try to street fight in a sport. Hope this helps.

if you can master either muay thai or kickboxing, i'd feel sorry for anyone trying to come grapple you
http://xtremecouture.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/muay-thai-photos-kaoklai-2.jpg

LOL @ magic striking arts that help you avoid take downs....

I think it's wrestling.

I think it's wrestling.

Same here. Wrestling teaches you to physically control your opponent which is key in MMA. I'd say BJJ is second if not tied.

Wrestling. Not only does it allow you to dictate where the fight takes place, but wrestling teaches hard work, discipline, and wrestlers are very fucntionally strong.

Wrestling. Not only does it allow you to dictate where the fight takes place, but wrestling teaches hard work, discipline, and wrestlers are very fucntionally strong.

+ wrestlers usually have excellent cardio and are used to cutting weight

It's very evident that wrestling is a forerunner in MMA now. Royce Gracie brought BJJ. The sport is evolving. I'd say with in 5 years MMA will be the # 1 sport in America.

Short answer: Wrestling

Ideally you would have a grappling base and striking base. Imagine if Lesnar took just a few years boxing or kick boxing as a kid?

Greco roman Wrestling and Muay Thai for the win :boxing:

As I expected, alot voted for wrestling. My answer, it doesn't really matter. There are a plethora of examples in the MMA world who started out as strikers and moved on to other disciplines, ie GSP, Machida, Liddell, Spider Silva all became great other than striking.

I say this, whether it's wrestling or Muay Thai, the skills you develop in both martial arts are transferable to the cage, hence Mixed Martial Arts !!