Ok, I'm looking for a grappling class, and found one near my area... www.judanjudotoledo.com

However, the judo class they offer is at the SAME TIME my TKD class is...but they offer a MMA class on a day I can make it..

My question.. Will MMA teach me realistic grappling?? I already consider myself a competent striker.. being a 16 year old intermediate student in TKD (blue belt, white stripe).

I need to learn some, because I am very short; as you can imagine.

Also, I already own full TKD sparring gear; so if MMA uses that kind of gear to spar, it would be a plus.

I have no idea whether or not your particular MMA class will teach you anything useful, but chances are it will. Check it out and see.

MMA is just Mixed Martial Arts. Could be a mixture of... anything, really. It's like saying "what's in stew?".

Most modern MMA's seem to concentrate heavily on elements of Brazilian Jujitsu, wrestling, and boxing, with various other arts added as the practitioner sees fit.

I used to take TKD as well, and made it to green belt, blue stripe (5th Gup). I imagine the headgear and gloves may come in handy when taking MMA, but since I haven't taken any, I can't confirm nor deny.

It's basically straight up ass kicking.

Wow, I almost don't know where to begin with this one. Ok first of all, MMA is mixed martial arts and not just grappling. Second, TKD doesn't make you a competent striker, in fact it almost makes you worse. For some realistic grappling take some sort of Jiu jitsu. Brazillian Jiujitsu is probably best for realistic application. Also odds are you wont be using that TKD sparing gear for anything but TKD. Heres what you need to do to learn MMA and become a well rounded fighter.

1. Ditch TKD. It's garbage and it teaches you bad habits if you follow it to the letter.

2. Take boxing and/or Muay Thai for striking skills.

3. Take BJJ or Brazillian Jiujitsu for grappling skills.

4. Take a complimentary art like Wrestling or Judo.


After about 4 or 5 years of doing that you will be ready to rock.

Das, are there any major differences between submission wrestling and BJJ? All things between two fighters being equal, which allows you to get him to the ground quicker and teaches better ground fighting?

MMA is "mixed martial arts" which means simple westernized fighting techniques designed to bring your opponent down as quickly as possible, no matter how unsophisticated your tactics may be, with less emphasis on artistic nature of eastern-style martial arts.

Or so I'm told.

Ass-beatin' 101, basically.

From what i've encountered with submission wrestling is they are more for take downs and leg/ankle submissions. I had my ankle and my knee torn to a submission wrestler. Id use wrestling for take downs, shoot ins, and sprawls. But once your on the ground Id say BJJ has it beat hands down in terms of sophistication. Wrestlers often have trouble with being on their backs or when they get someone on their back they just stop doing things or simply ground and pound. With BJJ it doesn't matter where you are on the ground theres always 3 or 4 different moves you can do to end the fight.

Bottom line, learn both. Wrestling is good for take downs, slams and staying on top, and ground and pound. BJJ is good for everything else on the ground.

Submission wrestling is just a general term that includes all forms of ground fighting. BJJ, Sambo, catch wrestling, etc.

If it matters my TKD is not strictly TKD; but also a mix of karate and probally some Mc.Dojo.

Yeah, so I'm convinced to check this MMA out now...
Observations will be posted when I get around to going...