Can I Do MMA Without Training In Jiu-Jitsu?

BJJ is a growing martial arts and combat sport which is primarily based on grappling: Grappling comprises chokeholds and ground-based submissions.

A BJJ practitioner aims to neutralize the opponent by applying submission techniques that force your opponent to tape out. The BJJ fights are purely based on grappling art rather than any strikes.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gained popularity due to its system of self-defense and has developed as a recognized sport. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is also known as a “gentle art”. In BJJ smaller and weaker opponents can easily take down larger opponents by applying different control techniques. The winner is also announced from the scoring system.

Mixed Martial Art is a combat sport which has deep roots in ancient fighting. It is considered a complex combat sport due to the techniques incorporated of BJJ, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Wrestling and others. So it is a defensive and offensive combat system which dominates on the opponents either or not using weapons. MMA training is a great phenomenon and it gained more popularity after 2009 through the event known as Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

It is commonly said that
“Successful MMA fighters are trained in a variety of different disciplines.”

We all know that MMA is a hybrid Martial Arts, but BJJ is the specific art which is practiced to get trained for MMA competitions. It is recommended to practice BJJ before MMA training to gain the following benefits.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training provides a complete support system to mind and soul. BJJ training serves as the roots to other combat sports. The basic foundations can be built by Jiu-Jitsu training and then the individual can opt for any combat sport. As all the street fights end on the ground. The person having grappling art skills is able to resist the opponent in the street fights more easily and tactically. The BJJ training promotes peace and calmness. It happens most of the time disputes need not to be forcefully handled. If required then also BJJ is non aggressive martial arts. Most of the traumas and unwanted incidents can be avoided with gentle art.

BJJ training is considered a great defense system externally and internally. It is fought without weapons. A combat support which is suitable equally for men,women and youth. In any precarious situation you can defend yourself without waiting for external help. It is known from the various research papers that BJJ training in schools supported the bullied kids. The moral and ethical aid builds strong relationships with the combat sport. Weaker and smaller persons can easily control and take hold of stronger and longer persons with the training of grappling skills.

Internally BJJ helped individuals to fight against many chronic diseases.

Helio Gracie once said

“Jiu-Jitsu is for the protection of the individual, the older man, the weak, the child, the lady and the young woman–anyone who doesn’t have the physical attributes to defend themselves”. 

Jiu-Jitsu practitioners develop the technique of strategic planning in their training. It is referred to as the “game of human chess”. You need to plan for every inch to protect yourself from “checkmate”.

BJJ is a great workout process which modifies your body so keenly and quietly that you even cannot notice. The core strengthening procedures, drilling sessions and sparring with the BJJ athletes cast a positive effect on your body. Exhaustive workouts may lead to boredom but BJJ training works on your body weight without getting you worried or annoyed.

Most of the Jiu-Jitsu techniques used in MMA fights like armbar, guards and rear naked choke are the Jiu-Jitsu techniques. MMA has gained more acceptance nowadays due to the development of effective and efficient techniques and productive training of BJJ. The BJJ training serves as the solid foundations for the MMA fighters. The grappling art when unites with striking art, you can imagine how they are going to count in winning the MMA competitions.

When you make up your mind for BJJ training, the first thing you have to keep aside is your ego. On the BJJ mat, there are a variety of emotions you may encounter. All you have to do is manage them and do not let them hinder your training and performance. This act will make you physically, mentally and emotionally stronger than before.

The learning process never ends, so is the core of grappling art. Despite being a master of hundreds and thousands of techniques there is still room to learn more in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It doesn't matter which rank you have achieved. You cannot be a master of Jiu-Jitsu merely acquiring high ranked belts. This is the continuous learning process and still new techniques are being discovered.

The important lessons learned on the mats is that management is everything in life. Whether it is weight, diseases, emotions, relationships, success, failures, or friendships, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a lifestyle, a culture which is adopted by training and practice.

It promotes change and brings happiness and contentment in the life of fighters. Then this change will automatically have an impact on MMA championships.

MMA means mixed martial arts. All combat sports are associated with any culture, and there are some lessons to follow in the specific order and style. MMA is totally different from all combat sports. The training principle of MMA is “Come let's compete. My style is better or yours?” 

That's why MMA is a sport which comprises less rules and regulations. Too much grappling may strike you in the octagon and neglecting grappling for a few weeks may curse you on the mats.

Some of the training concepts are mandatory to become a Professional MMA fighter.

I must say if you are not proficient enough in sparring, striking and wrestling then you cannot attain the competition levels of MMA. You can substitute some related sports but still some techniques and skills from grappling and wrestling are required in Mixed Martial Arts.

 It is known from the different MMA fighters that to compete in the competition good grappling techniques are essential to endup in a winning fight. There are 100 percent chances that a striker can defeat the opponent with Jiu-Jitsu techniques or get the submission. The mount techniques in Jiu-Jitsu help to gain dominant positions more easily.

So, we can say that sparring is highly technical and requires a lot of training and effort.

 Wrestling's main aim is to focus on takedown or prevent being taken down by the opponent. The famous ring cage wrestling comprises Freestyle and Greco-Roman technique. Wrestling is a transition between standing and ground fights. The point is how well the wrestlers are able to manage the different transitions during wrestling. It comprises of different techniques like:

• Throws
• Sprawls
• Clinching
• Scrambles
• Shoots

If the wrestler is taken down then the rolling art can be helpful to carry on the fight and force the opponent for submission.

 If you compete in lower level competitions, you definitely have poor striking skills. The skills required to compete in higher competition demand highly ranked striking skills. On the higher level your competition is with more powerful skills and techniques which can put you down in seconds. MMA strikers are a lot more powerful with the grappling techniques nowadays. They preferred to train in BJJ to reach the higher levels of striking. All you require is core strengthening. Then learn the different arts of fighting.

It took years and years in the development of modern age MMA fighting. It holds sparring from different sports like BJJ, wrestling and striking.That's why MMA fighters are highly paid and mostly the public demands the highly skilled UFC fighters in the championships.

The skills of wrestling, grappling and striking are learned through practice. To compete in Mixed Martial Arts you should be skillful enough in all the three combat sports to call yourself a professional MMA Fighter.

Think of how the boxer can defeat the MMA fighter in a standup knocking match or the BJJ athlete with wrestling skills takes down non-wrestlers.

If you have ever heard the commentary of Joe Rogan:

He often says
“Fighter is a Jiu-Jitsu black belt specialist.” 

 You have an edge if you are ranked black belt in UFC fights. But to be in the UFC it is not mandatory to have black belt. You can be a part of UFC with Blue Belt.

But the fighter with a higher rank of belt is equipped with a highly competitive skills set as compared with a lower rank belt.

Even the fighters with wrestling background have no training of submission as compared to fighters which are trained in Jiu-Jitsu. So, you can be a part of UFC with blue belts but skills and techniques are counted.

Let's talk about Tom Hardy, who is a famous celebrity and BJJ fanatic.His whole life has been spent in the sport. He received his blue belt in 2020.

His journey as a BJJ fighter started when he played the role of MMA warrior. BJJ training greatly impacts your careers to pursue as professional Fighters.

It requires a maximum of 20-24 months of training to be part of an MMA fight. Conditioning plays a critical role for UFC fighters. The MMA workouts and sparring whether low or highly intensive with the MMA equipment helps in the training of UFC fights.The improvement in physical performance through technical drilling procedures help to develop a good physique with the skills learned.

To become a professional MMA fighter, as a beginner, twice a week training is sufficient but then three times a week is required to take advantage of being technically and physically fit.

Mostly it depends upon the training systems you are following. From the research it is evident that MMA professionals consume 16-18 hours in a week for training.

MMA training sessions are divided into high and low training sessions.The chart can help to understand the training procedures mostly MMA fighters follow:

It must be obvious now that MMA requires powerful strength to be an effective and efficient wrestler but on the other side the striker needs to apply a high level of speed for striking the opponent.

 To be the best MMA fighter, the grappling and striking techniques can work accordingly in the fights. Neither grappling nor striking can guarantee a win situation but both when applied gives the practitioner a chance to force the opponent for submission.

The fighters who start training MMA at the age of 25 or 30 may have leverage if they have practiced other combat sports before. Proper focus and motivation of 6-12 months can be helpful to train yourself in MMA.

Becoming Pro requires fights and competitions. A fighter with boxing and grappling skills is more pro than a fighter having only striking skills.

In the new era professionals are more skilled and fighters are more into MMA training due to the money. So, if you want to pursue it then start it now. Watch the following video for motivation.

MMA with good grappling skills makes you highly competitive in the octagon.