My 1st MMA class...

williedynamite · 04-04-2007, 09:50 AM

I have to say that I have a new respect for anyone who competes at MMA. There's this martial arts academy that offers an MMA classes one night a week $10 per lesson. As a MMA enthusiast and weekend warrior. i figureg this would be a good poportunity for me to learn really what MMA is about. I'm not looking to start fighting, I just was thinking it would be a good way to compete and stay in shape as weightlifting and running all the time can get stale. Besides $10 per lesson much cheaper than jujitsu lessons.
The class was great. there were about 6-7 other people there. Varying in ages from early teens to their early 20's. Here i am a 36 year old man trying to learn MMA. I'm hoping I don't make a total fool out of myself.
First we learn some drills, no problem, then some takedowns and chokes. Hey this isn't too bad . I'm no Matt Hughes but I'm not that bad.
Finally at the end the instructors has all of us break into two teams and grapple freestyle against each other according to size.
I'm set to go against thsi kid who's about my height (5ft 11) but i've got about 20 pounds on him. Were supposed to go for three two minute rounds until someone taps.
Round one, I'm a little stronger than this kid so i take him to the mat but it's a struggle trying to put an choke on him. I can hardly remember what to do. After about 30 seconds I'm starting to breathe heavily. By the end of the first round I'm starting to tire. thank God for the one minute break between rounds.
Round two and he almost puts me in an apollo. I roll out of it and again overpower him and try to get full guard but this kid is tough. Break, reset
Man I'm really tired.
By the end of the second rouing i;m drenched with sweat and can barley get off the mat.
Round three. I get control of him and put a choke on him, legs wrapped and squyeeze.I hear hi gurgle. please tap many i'm fucking dying. Unfortunately for me he doesn't and i'm just about of gas. My forearms are on fire. i've got nothing left and there's a minute to go. By now the kid finally gets on top of me and wraps my arm behind my back. I can hardly move, with all of my remaing energy I try to avoid the inevitable. Totally spent i finally tap.

That was one of the hardest workouts I've ever had in my life. My arms are killing me and my legs are sore like i worked them for an hour. Afterwards iu went home eat and went to bed, early.
I had a great time I enjoyed the challenge, even though I gassed.
I'll be back next week but I gotta work on my cardio. Any other suggestions

I say this because now i truly know what it's like to gas. It's a lot like running, where you have nothing left and you feel like a baby.Every muscle i yor bnody is begging you to give up. I now have much more respect for any MMA fighter especially when they gas and keep on fighting.

Kimuralex · 04-04-2007, 10:34 AM

sounds like you had a good time, what exactly is an apollo? anyway if you want to get your cardio up the best thing to do is ofcourse go to practice but other then that i would suggest sprints and burpees

Chief Fox · 04-04-2007, 10:57 AM

Sounds like a fun class. Make sure you wear a mouth piece.

HIIT is the key to conditioning. Do search on Google for HIIT.

Also check out: http://www.crossfit.com and http://www.rosstraining.com/

williedynamite · 04-04-2007, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chief Fox

Sounds like a fun class. Make sure you wear a mouth piece.

HIIT is the key to conditioning. Do search on Google for HIIT.

Also check out: http://www.crossfit.com and http://www.rosstraining.com/

and a cup.

thanks for the links

pairoffours · 07-20-2007, 02:27 AM

i have found that there is no better cardio workout then grappiling really if its high paced and high intensity its the best

Deioces · 07-20-2007, 02:34 AM

what the heck is an appolo

codemonkey76 · 07-20-2007, 04:33 AM

i agree, wtf is an appolo, i am not normally stumped when it comes to sub's

crow024 · 07-20-2007, 06:49 AM

My first bjj class the teacher thought I knew a lot of wrestling since I'd wrestled briefly in high school and I was put with a lot of advanced guys.

Heh, I gassed before the end of my class and just couldn't go. We did basically 4 minute rounds the whole hour, with about a 7 minute break to learn a sub. I got put in everything known to man.

flashNsmash · 07-20-2007, 10:32 AM

WTF is an apollo?

Tom Hishon · 07-20-2007, 02:11 PM

Congratulations. It's alot harder than it looks on TV isn't it? Stay with it. I am 37 and still compete in MMA (although I have taken teh last two months off due to injury, I have fought 4X this year).

Build that cardio man. That is the main thing. And when you start sparing, focus on two things, simple boxing (i.e. jab, overhand right, left hoo) and position control. If you end up in a clinch, don't be in a hurry to hit the ground. Take your time and wait for him to give you something. If you can find someone that is a good greco roman wrestler, work with them. This is one of the most important parts of MMA.