Do I really need jiu jitsu for ground game in MMA?

[bloodinbloodout]

I mean, I know that a lot of the ground game derives from Jiu Jitsu. I have pretty little experience and I seem to be able to at least keep wrist control and work hard to stay out of submissions. However, I don't feel very comfortable when my opponent is in full mount or side mount. Honestly, I know jiu-jitsu could help but, I work a very stressful job with a lot of hours. On mondays I train MMA from 6-7, Muay Thai from 7-830 and then there is a jiu jitsu class afterwards with a good Gracie team instructor, but I just don't have it in me to stay because I really need rest and am already EXHAUSTED.

Any resources online that I can check as far as:

Standard wrestling takedowns/ MMA takedowns

MMA position in mount, side mount, half mount etc.

I know this is asking a lot but some of you have some good resources. To the guys that are live and die Jiu Jitsu, please understand I give you guys all the credit in the world as probably the best fighting style. I really didn't absorb it well and although I seemed to be getting it in drilling I really could never put a lot of it in practice live. However, I know for a fact that it can be learned and done REALLY well. I just personally sucked.

Thanks guys, yours in fighting,

BIBO

 

[StackIt]

If you have Limewire, or a simlilar program, you can get some decent training videos. Just do a search for "gracie". You can get some pretty helpful vids, but obviously nothing is going to help you learn as much as drilling with your instructor there to help correct any mistakes, and rolling with classmates. Hope the vids help.

 

[Roc86]

yeah ... at least for sub defense. I can wrestle and have pretty decent hands, but my first class i got caught in the triangle a few times, and aside from the slam didnt have anything I could do/ was clueless.

 

[Anthony Starks]

what do you do in your MMA class? Mine is almost all on the ground, mostly Jiu-jitsu

 

[bloodinbloodout]

what do you do in your MMA class? Mine is almost all on the ground, mostly Jiu-jitsu

Drill stand up to takedowns, drill defending takedowns, drill in half guard, guard, full mount with the other person ahving mma gloves and trying to hit you/submit/pass guard. Work from our backs, and then spar for 3 min. rounds. This was just what we did yesterday but coach varies it.

 

[1392477]

As with anything else it just takes time. Nobody was good in their first few months of BJJ. As my instructor keeps telling me - you just need more mat time.

There have been several successful fighters who don't know BJJ (Ken Shamrock) but as the sport progresses I think you need to be a very well balanced fighter with an above average level of competence in Muay Thai, no-gi BJJ, wrestling, boxing and cardio. Without these skills and with some natural athletic ability you could probably win some local and maybe regional shows. Beyond that you will hit a wall with better trained fighters that are more well rounded.

 

[prozoo]

I mean, I know that a lot of the ground game derives from Jiu Jitsu. I have pretty little experience and I seem to be able to at least keep wrist control and work hard to stay out of submissions. However, I don't feel very comfortable when my opponent is in full mount or side mount. Honestly, I know jiu-jitsu could help but, I work a very stressful job with a lot of hours. On mondays I train MMA from 6-7, Muay Thai from 7-830 and then there is a jiu jitsu class afterwards with a good Gracie team instructor, but I just don't have it in me to stay because I really need rest and am already EXHAUSTED.

Any resources online that I can check as far as:

Standard wrestling takedowns/ MMA takedowns

MMA position in mount, side mount, half mount etc.

I know this is asking a lot but some of you have some good resources. To the guys that are live and die Jiu Jitsu, please understand I give you guys all the credit in the world as probably the best fighting style. I really didn't absorb it well and although I seemed to be getting it in drilling I really could never put a lot of it in practice live. However, I know for a fact that it can be learned and done REALLY well. I just personally sucked.

Thanks guys, yours in fighting,

BIBO

Short answer, yes.... I've been in the game for nearly 25 years now starting out in Judo age 5, progressing to Praying Mantis Kungfu, JKD, Mighty Dragon Yoshikai, Muai Tai and western boxing... I can tell you for UFC style fighting some sort of ground game is a must.. Regarding stand up, my 25 years won a lot of fights, but throw in a guy with average stand up skills who's mastered his ground game and the edge overall would go to the other fighter.. When I was competing in MMA as long as I knocked the opponent out before he was able to get his Jiu Jitsu going it was one sided.. You're really rolling the dice if your ground game isn't up to snuff... You can't knock everyone out (learned this the hardway) and no matter how good my standup was once we hit the mat things really started to turn in the other guys favor.. Study as many styles as possible, both ground and striking arts.. Stay unpredictable and learn to attack from as many angles as possible.... Don't fall into the trap of reacting and repeating moves in response to various tecniques guys throw at you (don't be predictable).. I never wanted the opponent to read my playbook.. The more playbooks you master the better off you will be in the long term.. Remember complacency and predictability
kills... Hope this helps

 

[bloodinbloodout]

Good stuff guys. I guess I will have to at least drill my jiu jits once a week.

 

[Yarg!]

bro, if u really feel bjj isnt ur thing there are other alternatives with really good submissions too:

shoot wrestling, sombo, judo (especially the kosen school- although rare as hell to find) and luta livre. but regardless, if u plan on competing in MMA, no matter what u take a ground game is a MUST. speaking of which i gotta jet to my bjj class. take care!

 

[MikeMartial]

If you want to actually be competative at either the amateur to pro level you HAVE to have a ground game. If you don't come from a wrestling or BJJ background, you're way behind the eight ball.

Prime recent example: Sam Stout vs. Kenny Florian. Champion kickboxer/world class Muay Thai champion versus a BJJ black belt. Guess who won by RNC in the 1st?

It's all about how much you want to sacrifice; we all have our career jobs, and for the most part, it doesn't involve fighting in a ring. You just have to determine how valubale your free time is.