What Martial Art Should I Learn First for MMA? + GIVEAWAY

Today's question is, "what is the best martial art to start out with, if I want to do MMA?". Pretty much every MMA gym is beginner-friendly, and they will teach you basic striking and grappling simultaneously. Or you can focus on one or the other first, and then venture on from there.

I personally started with the striking arts: Taekwondo, Muay Thai, and boxing respectively. I am now focusing on my grappling, takedowns, and ground game. So: it's up to you if you learn them at the same time, or want to have a focus in a certain style first!

FOLLOW:

[DBizzie]

So final answer is .. Muay Thai, Bjj, judo, wrestling and boxing, k cool I'll do that 1st

[pvtrichardsonbr]

feel like he awnsered nothing at all 😑

[uwannafightbro]

Just do anything. Boxing, wrestling, karate, Taekwondo, BJJ, it doesn't matter. Just as long as you aren't one of those guys who starts doing mma with no prior experience in a particular style. I'd never recommend anyone do that.

[HiltsuPeku]

Before I got into MMA I trained kickboxing, judo and Hokutory ju-jutsu, that's a finnish style. Kickboxing and judo helped me the most with striking and grappling respectively. Though, just as Shane said, you could just start with MMA.. I know a lot of guys who never did any other martial arts before starting with MMA.

[alexcandlin]

Started with kung fu, really getting into Taekwondo

[OscarHerrera-zhvx]

I love jiu jitsu its my fav. But i also really in joy kickboxing!!!!

[thegangsterkingzalbion]

I did bjj wrestling and thai at the same time and now its mma, im so exited ( spelled wrong ) to get my thai bag at home :)

[rikishi]

My pick--- 1. Muay Thai 2. BJJ and most importantly, 3. Freestyle wrestling

[benevans]

I love when I’m looking for a video like this and Shane gives me the exact video I’m looking for

[BaconWolf]

I have done kickboxing and jiujitsu for 3 years and I am just now starting my first year of 7th grade wrestling

[beniamtedla]

In my opinion i found BJJ to be the least intuitive martial art to learn so I guess it would be better to start that early so u can get a lot of practice and get a strong base. From then on if u got alot of time in the week (which i don't) add things like Muay Thai for all the elbows, knees, clinch fighting and stuff like that and do boxing if u want really fast hands and really good movement. And do wrestling on the side. Again its obvs all up to u when it comes to the order but this works for me.

[mmaphilosophytheologyscien]

I became highly skilled in boxing first winning Golden Gloves Unanimously twice (and going several years without competing but still training) and wrestling for three seasons in middle school and high school, basically learning the basics of wrestling. I wasn’t very well learned in wrestling like I was in boxing, but I could easily out-grapple an untrained person. Now I’m learning jiujitsu and Muay Thai.

[joebudden]

I take Muay Thai classes and it's great!

[GokuInfintysaiyan]

I say Kyokushinkai karate

Bas Rutten and GSP for proof

[sovereignsaintofsacrifice]

Question: hey 15 and am gonna be in my first karate tournament(I have a 7 year martial arts experience and have also learned taekwondo). The thing is that my stamina is pretty low...other than practice and increasing stamina, what should be my strategy during a fight?

[rishabhwattal]

I think judo or bjj + muy Thai is the best combination

[DaddySixNine]

I wrestled for a little while but I quit, I was naturally good at it but I thought later down the road when I started MMA I might would turn into a boring ground & pound fighter.

[TFSMikeRath]

Great answer!  This unfortunately does take a lot more than a minute to answer though, and with how you answered I can tell you understand that as well; but in the interest of time I see how you answered the best you can.

It all depends on why are doing MMA?  What is it you look to get out of it?  Where are you strong or weak, or consider your weakness and strengths?  Then you have the professional coaches assess your skills and go from there.  If you're looking just to get into shape without doing your girlfriends zumba classes, then it doesn't matter you'll get worked with all of it.

[huntb]

Shane I love your videos they've helped me feel more comfortable and confident in defending myself in a fight, my question is how would I learn actually fighting moves and use them effectively, I'm 16 and don't have access to a gym #FightTips

[TheAAbck]

i would go with grappling first so ur not getting hit but just pinned to the floor plus being grappling and being close to ppl will get u to know them better as more communication is done in grappling than in striking.so it will socially easy you in when you have ppl rolling on you it will make feel that its okay to do things that is silly and weird and after u over come that u will be urself more not be afraid to be embarrassed and make more friends then after that i will go with the striking.