Conditioned or get Conditioned

Rom · 04-16-2009, 08:57 PM

When you guys started training, did you start in really good shape? I found an mma gym and going to a tryout class this weekend. I'm not in the best shape at the moment. Just been cleaning up my diet and trying to get my cardio up. Would it be suicide to go in there underconditioned? I know a little about the basics. I wrestled for a few years and took tkd for 7 ( hey better than nothing lol). But now I am 20 years old and not quite in the condition I was in when I graduated.Cardio is garbage at the moment. So would it be a bad idea to try to join a gym being out of shape or should I try to work and get in better shape then join?

Quarterback619 · 04-16-2009, 09:20 PM

My buddy and I both decided to try out City Boxing one weekend and took the "free class" offer. It was on a Saturday and we didn't know that the training emphasizes on conditioning on Saturday classes. We ended up running and sprinting up the hills and we were exhausted. But things started to get easier after about a week. I felt in my best shape after a month.

My advice is to take the free class and see if you like it. Think about your schedule and see if you will be there for the long run (1 year) or month to month. The manager will say the "best" deal is the year long class. But if your schedule allows you to train a lot then that might be the way to go. Like any other salesman, he will try to get you to join and lock you up for the year contract. Just don't get pressured and take your time deciding if you want to join or not.

The bottom line: If you like it, I would join and get in shape and learn techniques along the way instead of waiting to get conditioned. You won't get beat up too much even if your cardio is bad. It will actually help you try to get conditioned faster.

Let us know how it goes and good luck!!!

Rom · 04-16-2009, 09:29 PM

Thanks for the good feedback. Only thing I'm worried about is not going with one of my buddies. Was wanting to go train with a friend but he cannot go anymore. Gotta leave my pride at the door too haha. I'm really excited, just hope I don't fall behind in training if I do stick with it.

paolo27th · 04-17-2009, 02:36 AM

If you do it just for fun you can get in pretty decent shape by training mma alone. If and when you decide to take it to the next level you may want to worry about your conditioning a bit more.
The first 1 month or so you may find it a bit hard but eventually you`ll get used to it.

Rom · 04-17-2009, 07:16 AM

Seems like it will be the same as when I started wrestling. I was in such bad shape and lagged behind everyone for about a month or so and was miserable till I could keep up. Might go to the class today or tomorrow.

JRT6 · 04-17-2009, 09:25 AM

Don't forget that a big part of adapting is getting comfortable in your environment so that you're not all tense and killing your own energy.

DrBdan · 04-17-2009, 10:02 AM

When I started I thought my cardio was pretty good compared to the average person. Turns out that was true but the average person has shitty cardio, lol. It's been over a year and my cardio is much better but I still have lots of room for improvement (see my performances in the monthly challenges for proof). Like paolo said, your regular training will get you in decent shape pretty quickly.

As far as training alone (i.e. without a friend) it can be intimidating at first because you won't know anyone and it might feel like everyone at the gym already knows eachother. That's how I felt at times when I started but now that I've been going regularly for quite some time I know a lot more people. Once you start doing live sparring you tend to build camaraderie pretty quickly.

Rom · 04-17-2009, 10:06 AM

Gotta meet new people to make the best of it. Just gotta know ill get my ass kicked for a while and suck it up and take it as a learning experience. What was everyones first class like? I'm probably going today or tomorrow. Their schedule looks pretty tedious

Monday: 6:30-9:30 GI Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai Kickboxing
Tuesday: 6:30-9:30 Takedowns and Muay Thai sparring.
Wednesday: 6:30-9:30 GI Jiu-Jitsu and Boxing
Thursday: 6:30-9:30 MMA training/NO-GI Jiu-Jitsu
Friday: 6:00-8:30 Open Gym and MMA sparring
Saturday: 4:30-7:00 Open Gym and MMA sparring

Quarterback619 · 04-17-2009, 05:18 PM

Also, one more quick note before you head out there. Ask the manager if there are any benefits for referring a friend. usually they will offer you free wrist wraps, a free private training sessions with an instructor of your choice, t-shirt or a pair of boxing gloves. Remember to bring this part up BEFORE you sign the dotted line!!! It can save you quite a few bucks when you're doing Muay Thai or Boxing classes because you would rather train with your own gear than the shitty, smelly and sweaty ones they have laying around.

Look for flyers or brochures about their "referral" programs. I'm sure they will have one! If you feel comfortable about asking someone "cool" there, see if they will "REFER" you and if they offer free boxing gloves and he already owns a pair, he may not mind and he receives referral credit and you get free stuff. If i remember correctly, if you get a lot of referrals, the bonus goes up and if he gets enough, they will extend your membership for months free...

I agree with the other guys that said you will meet new people once you start sparring. When you're tired as hell and you guys completed a grueling workout, it's a nice feeling and you will end up getting along with most of the students and instructors.

admbaum · 04-17-2009, 06:05 PM

whatever shape you are in, training is gonna make it better. Jump in and do it. Thats what I did. I do two a days to help my conditioning. At the gym doing resistance/cardio MWF at 5:45am, Muay Thai 6:30-8pm, GI BJJ 6am, MT sparring 7-8pm, no gi/MMA 8-9pm TTH, and sat, JKD/MMA/Gi BJJ from 9am till 1pm. My conditioning has jumped way up after a few months like this and my skills have increased a bunch. Now my trainers have decided I need to work stand up for 3 weeks straight keeping the 2 a days with cardio/resistance in the morning, technique/sparring at night. Then 3 weeks of BJJ and resistance/cardio back and forth. Anyone agree with this idea or should I keep mixing my ground and stand up at the same time?