What would you do?

texmo · 06-18-2008, 02:02 AM

I have to choose. The only days I have available for Boxing Sparring are the sames days which I can practice BJJ. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
The thing is I have another boxing match in 9 weeks time and I want to compete in the new zealand national ammeter boxing champs next year so I have to get my skills up a bit. In saying that my main goal is to have a MMA match and most fights in the cage end up on the ground.
Even if you have not had a fight or don't train but you have an opinion please sound it.
What would you do?

Dirty Fighter · 06-18-2008, 02:10 AM

Take it one thing at a time. Do the boxing now and be ready for your fight and the tourney next year. MMA will happen eventually, but boxing is happening now.

texmo · 06-18-2008, 03:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dirty Fighter

Take it one thing at a time. Do the boxing now and be ready for your fight and the tourney next year. MMA will happen eventually, but boxing is happening now.

At the moment and what I was doing was getting my stand up really good. Once I was happy with it I was then going to start working on my grappling and take downs. But now I have watched a few MMA fights I realise that Grappling is probably the most important part of MMA.
So that is making me reconsider the way I am going about it.
For instance who would you back in an MMA fight
A boxer turned MMA or a Grappler turn MMA?

Crashsti · 06-18-2008, 05:14 AM

If your immediate goal is to compete in boxing i would focus solely on the boxing. BJJ is'nt going to help you win an amatuer boxing title. To asnwer your second question. Would i back a boxer turned MMA or a grappler turned MMA? It depends on more than those two basics factors. If you're an excellent boxer with good takedown defense, a grappler will have trouble taking you to the ground and you'll also be able to punish him with strikes when he tries and fails. On the other hand if your a BJJ guy with terrible takedowns your going to spend and waste alot of energy trying to get the fight to the ground. You also have alot of examples to go by as far a good MMA strikers, Chuck Liddell, Mirko CroCop, Wanderlei Silva, Melvin Manhoef, all strikers with MMA success that don't rely on a ground game even if they have one.

texmo · 06-18-2008, 07:34 AM

All Good points.
Going back to what you said in your other posts about sparring do I need to sparr three days per week?
I know that I can still get in a boxing workout before BJJ on Tuesday and Thursday classes just means no sparring on those days. Doing the extra class doesnt phase me as I have the energy for it.
I just dont want to be a one trick pony.

Crashsti · 06-18-2008, 07:48 AM

Sparring is important, i agree with that. There is'nt any other way to really get the feel for live combat. My concern is with the quality of the sparring your doing. Do you work on specific skills or are the sparring sessions more open where you just box? if your not ending a session feeling as though you've accomplished something its really just garbage time, wasted time and energy. To me sparring 3 days a week is plenty as long as you're getting in quality bag and pad work along with your conditioning work. What it comes down to is that if you want to do BJJ and boxing you have to decide which skill gets less time. Its a problem with every MMA fighter and scheduling is'nt easy. Which is why you need to look at what you are currently doing and decide if its quality or just more quantity.

texmo · 06-18-2008, 08:02 AM

Tuesday and Thursday are just boxing. I go in with specific things I need to work on but for the most part that's just relaxing, I am one of the fittest people in the gym yet I gas out before most when in the ring because I get so tense.
On Saturday my coach watches me from the side line and works on specific things that I need to adjust.
I keep a little note book and work on something every time I go in. I may not improve as nothing is instant but it comes with time, so I do feel I am getting somewhere every time even if I cant see my results right away.
So I do feel that the Sparring is helping me as a fighter and not just as a boxer. Its increasing my ability to relax and get more agressive in the ring.
Cheers for the comments its making me think.
I wish I wasn't saving for a house otherwise I would just take 2 hours off on monday and wednesday at 11am for BJJ training and that would be problem solved.

Crashsti · 06-18-2008, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texmo

Tuesday and Thursday are just boxing. I go in with specific things I need to work on but for the most part that's just relaxing, I am one of the fittest people in the gym yet I gas out before most when in the ring because I get so tense.
On Saturday my coach watches me from the side line and works on specific things that I need to adjust.
I keep a little note book and work on something every time I go in. I may not improve as nothing is instant but it comes with time, so I do feel I am getting somewhere every time even if I cant see my results right away.
So I do feel that the Sparring is helping me as a fighter and not just as a boxer. Its increasing my ability to relax and get more agressive in the ring.
Cheers for the comments its making me think.
I wish I wasn't saving for a house otherwise I would just take 2 hours off on monday and wednesday at 11am for BJJ training and that would be problem solved.

Sounds like you have a pretty good plan going. Aside from fighters who don't have to have real jobs i have never heard of anyone not have issues with trying to fit everything they need into thier schedule. There does'nt seem to be enough hours in the day. The MMA guys have it the worst from what i understand so you can count on it getting tougher

. This is why i say make sure that every minute of training has a real purpose. I can't stress that enough. From what you say you're on the right road.

SmashingMachine · 06-18-2008, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texmo

I have to choose. The only days I have available for Boxing Sparring are the sames days which I can practice BJJ. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
The thing is I have another boxing match in 9 weeks time and I want to compete in the new zealand national ammeter boxing champs next year so I have to get my skills up a bit. In saying that my main goal is to have a MMA match and most fights in the cage end up on the ground.
Even if you have not had a fight or don't train but you have an opinion please sound it.
What would you do?

I would focus all of my energy into one or the other right now. Otherwise, you're going to give below potential performances in both. You can always go full tilt mma after you get the amateur boxing championships out of your system. I think that doing it the way you are will really take away from your performance in the boxing ring...where as it wouldn't affect you as much in mma. However, think how good your mma game would be if you came into it with a polished stand up game. The way the sport is evolving...some guys are now using their wrestling or BJJ skills to avoid the takedown and keep it standing.

texmo · 06-18-2008, 09:52 PM

It would seem everyone has the same opinion that I should just concentrate on boxing then.