Harder on the body - MT or grappling?

allitfootwork · 02-13-2007, 08:18 AM

Just started getting back into grappling, and it's giving me real grief.

My knees, shoulders and elbows are all really achy after a session (it's the grappling portion of an MMA class), and even a few days afterwards I feel about 10 years older.

When I do MT, I'm tired but not joint achy, and I recover well in a day or two.

Any opinions as to which is harder on the body, grappling or striking?

HP_Nut · 02-13-2007, 08:30 AM

I don't get very tired in BJJ but the body does ache after (adrenaline wears off). I get very tired in MT but the body doesn't ache as much. I thought I was gonna die the 1st day I did MT, I was very excited after the 1st day of BJJ.

**Cap'n** · 02-13-2007, 08:53 AM

Unless you're training like a wussy boy, MT should leave you bruised and sore.

At least at first.

vu · 02-13-2007, 09:04 AM

Muay Thai, by far...largely because that nature of it relies on inducing physical trauma onto the other person...

"Jiu Jitsu" by definition is a "gentle art"...obviously with wrestling infused into now, BJJ is a bit harder on your body; strength/conditioning-wise...but the nature of it is simply "easier on the body" than Muay Thai (which is a sport of attrition)...those who are truly advanced BJJ practitioners don't even look like they're trying when they grapple...they're always calm and they rely heavily on leverage, rather than strength...

Of course, that's not to say BJJ is "weaker"...it's just a different type of "hard on your body"...fingers get broken and rubbed raw, your knees get hurt, things get cranked the wrong way...but all in all, in my own experience, I've been injured less in my BJJ training than my Muay Thai training...

allitfootwork · 02-13-2007, 09:33 AM

OK, thanks for the feedback.

So what can I do to make life easier?

Fish oil? Yoga? Kneepads? Massage?

Poseidon9 · 02-13-2007, 10:41 AM

It really depends on what you're used to.

If you've been grappling for a bit and just start MT, MT will be much more difficult because your body hasn't adapted to it, and vice versa.

Train both enough until they're equally as challenging.

finnegan · 02-13-2007, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allitfootwork

OK, thanks for the feedback.

So what can I do to make life easier?

Fish oil? Yoga? Kneepads? Massage?

Chiropractor. A friend and grappling partner of mine is a chiropractor, and has been a godsend in putting me back together after submission grappling.

vu · 02-13-2007, 11:36 AM

I've been supplementing fish oil for about 2 months now...I can honestly say I see an improvement in my overall mood and I sleep a LOT better for some reason...

Yoga...meh...can't hurt to take it, but I'd rather spend that time on the mat or hitting a bag...I just stretch after class as a cool down...

I use knee pads whenever my knees are kinda rubbing raw or I need support b/c I've tweaked it a little...otherwise, the "padding" on my BJJ pants are fine...

I've never had a professional massage...I can't afford those...I just have my girlfriend rub my shoulders and lower back occasionally when I'm crazy tense though...that works pretty well...

**Sinister** · 02-13-2007, 12:08 PM

Three words on behalf of MT.

Blunt force trauma.

21st centuryJKD · 02-13-2007, 12:22 PM

Don't bother getting a pro massage. just don't. like $50 for a light contact massage with some aroma therapy and soothing music. save your money.

YOGA - you should consider it, it's not just relaxing and stretching it's also stability exercise and balance, can really help your core strength and flexibility while increasing muscle tone and potentially strength. lots of what are refferred to as "quadruped exercise" where you get on all fours and lift one leg and one arm off the ground and try to balance.

I don't know about fish oil and i'm looking for kneepads too, drop-stepping on single/double legs hurts my knees alot.