Why hasn't BtGB caught on?

[Neal Winkler]

Of course, given the nature of the sport, MMA fighters have to be jack of all trades. I don't see why this is a negative.

But master of none? Ever heard of BJ Penn? Anderson Silva?

[Neal Winkler]

I completely agree. I think even in professional MMA nowerdays it seems to be far more about getting burly looking fighters to beat the crap out of each other than getting skillful fighters to perform. It sometimes looks more like a pub brawl between bodybuilders. I rarely ever see a kick thrown with proper technique like the Thai's in cage fighting. It seems to be much more a case of jack of all trades but master of nothing.

HAHAHA!!! More like jackass of all trades!

As for the Thai camps, to be fair I only trained 3 minute rounds and did about 20 of various stuff which amounted to about an hour excluding the running and stretching. With rests and waiting for a gap with a trainer on the pads it just tended to take a good two hours. I sure it's probably the same with gymnastics, what with waiting for your turn on equipment etc.

Yea, but Thailands frikkin hot too! I used to train under Kru Manu N'Toh, he's teaching in Atlanta for anyone who cares, http://www.manuntoh.com. He had 7 active world title belts at the time.

I spent 7 hours a day 7 days a week for a year, 10 years ago, my senior year in high school. Even today I can get in the ring with professionals and at the very least hold my own, and I don't even train lol! It's amazing what focused, high quality training will do for you.

Did you play hookey everyday of school?

[Joshua Naterman]

Last period, yes lol! I left early, around 3 pm. We got out at 3:12. I was at the gym by 330 and I left when it closed at 11. Obviously this wasn't straight training, there was warm up, jump roping, pad work, reaction work, stretching(lots of stretching... ugh), and GPP. Leg press, shrugs, dumbbell work, push ups, situps, twists, etc.

[Longshanks]

There will always be exceptions to the rule but I'm talking about the majority here. My main beef is with instructors that open MMA clubs and try teaching when they're simply not qualified to do the job. They're OK at both styles, but more skill in just one with a few tricks in the other. And no instructor ever remembers everything they've ever been tought in multiple disciplines because not everything works best for them, so the students only get a diluted education. I found from experience and training at a lot of different clubs that you get a much better education in overall fighting by training at many different clubs that each specialise (i.e. one club for Muay Thai, another for BJJ). That way you can get a fuller education and then only omit what doesn't work for you as well.

I trained for a few years at a supposed 'MMA style' clubs and only actually learned a properly executed arm bar when I tried a strictly BJJ club. Same story with Thai boxing, I only learned how to kick with proper technique after going to Thailand. I used to think I was pretty brill at my groundwork from training at 'MMA' clubs but got absolutely destroyed when I walked into a BJJ club. Exactly the same story with Thai boxing. To many clubs claim to teach it but really they're kickboxers who think the only difference is you're allowed to elbow and knee. There's a MASSIVE difference in the entire style and technique resulting in much more power in Thai.

Sorry to rant so much but this is something I feel very strongly about. I think the fact that this forum is so popular is testament to the fact that if you want to get tought something properly you go to the person who knows the most about it, down to every tiny nuance of technique and skill.

[Joshua Naterman]

Very true. I had a few hilarious moments with Marines who thought they knew how to kick. Learn from the best. If there isn't a world champion around, go find one somewhere else and move there if you're serious.