Should I do boxing or should I do MMA at University?

[TheDempseyKid]

Should I do boxing or should I do MMA at University? I am unsure of which one I should do as I am a fan of both boxing and MMA, as I watch a lot of boxing fights and research old fighters, their fights and training methods and I also watch MMA fights and follow some UFC fighters. I wanted to know what you guys thought I should do.

[Madison Boxing]

depends what you enjoy more...

[Smash]

both...

[2fast2strong]

It depends, I am a lifelong wrestler, 2nd generation, but I started boxing in my early twenties, I’m in my fifties

in the early days of the ufc and strike force was training to go pro in my early thirties, but got married and had to work to support my family

I still train both boxing and mma, the thing about mma you need a partner to grapple but of course the striking you can do by yourself

as long as you can find a good mma gym with good trainers and fighters I would do both also

Boxing is something you discover for yourself, I never really had a boxing coach but I learned with time and a lot of sparring and some amateur fights

I still roll and spar anytime I can, and go to the gym at least 4 times a week

[crimsonfalcon07]

What do you want to do with it?

[gauze]

you mean as a major?

[TMLT87]

If you're doing it for self defence purposes, they're both more than enough for you to be able to handle yourself.

If you're doing it for fun or you're wanting to compete, its entirely dependent on what ruleset you personally enjoy more.

[famicommander]

Start with boxing. You can always add more on top of it if you want to get into MMA later. All decent MMA fighters train in boxing.

Then, at some point you add one or more grappling styles (freestyle, Judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Sambo, Catch, Folkstyle, Greco-Roman, etc)
Then you add one or more kickboxing styles (Muay Thai, Lethwei, Savate, Sanda, Shootboxing, full contact Karate or Taekwondo, Dutch Style, K1, etc)

Or you can specialize in boxing if you find you really like it or have an aptitude.

[TheDempseyKid]

What do you want to do with it?

Mainly self-defense but I also would like to have a few competitive fights as well. I did Muay Thai for 2 years (2021-2023) and I did a few sessions in MMA (2023).

[TheDempseyKid]

you mean as a major?

No, just a method of self-defense and the possibility of having a few competitive fights.