At age 20, Josh Grispi currently boasts a 12-1 record and is billed as one of the fastest rising stars in the WEC.
His first encounter with a combat sport took place when he was 13. While kids usually pick up wrestling, boxing, or some traditional martial arts discipline for their first foray in martial arts/combat sports, Grispi instead opted for a unique hybrid combat sports called… Mixed Martial Arts.
Grispi is a member of the new generation of mixed martial artists.
With the growing popularity of MMA, martial arts schools and gyms offering MMA training have been sprouting across the nation. The widespread availability of MMA training will afford new generation of aspiring fighters an opportunity to commence their training at a young age.
Unlike the older generations of MMA fighters, many of whom transitioned to MMA with a base in a single discipline, the future generation will see an increasing number of fighters who begin training as a mixed martial artist from day one.
At a glance, cross-training in multiple disciplines from the outset seems conducive to becoming a well-rounded mixed martial artist. Considering that the constant evolution of the sport renders obsolete one-dimensional fighters with limited proficiency in areas outside their specialty, possessing a well-rounded skill set is imperative for success in MMA.
The flip side of this singular focus on MMA is the lack of stylistic backbone that may impede ones development as a mixed martial artist: Fighters weaned on MMA-specific training without a background in other combat sports may not evolve beyond a “jack of all trades, master of none.”
This contrast between the new generation of MMA fighters and the older ones thus gives rise to an intriguing debate: Which is more likely to lead to success in MMA, starting with a solid foundation in one discipline or training for MMA from the beginning?
Many of today’s top MMA stars trace their root to one martial art discipline while possessing a well-rounded MMA game. BJ Penn’s foundation lies in Jiu Jitsu, GSP’s in Kyokushin Karate, Lyoto Machida’s in Shotokan Karate, Anderson Silva’s in Muay Thai, Fedor Emelianenko’s in Sambo, etc.
A solid background in a martial art/combat sport discipline gives fighter a core competence. Provided that the discipline is adaptable to MMA, the fighter has an anchor to fall back on should he become outmatched by his opponent in any phase of a fight.
Many former high school/collegiate wrestling standouts have sought refuge in their wrestling ability when facing superior strikers and Jiu Jitsu fighters. Utilizing take downs and top control on the ground, they have successfully forced the fight into their territories and subdued their opponents.
One of MMA’s most prominent submission specialists, Shinya Aoki makes no secret of his grappling roots. When his opponents overwhelm him in the stand-up, he resorts to pulling guard in order to set the stage for his submission miracles.
A core competence not only serves as a fallback but also as a base upon which a fighter builds his MMA game. In a quest to become well-versed in all aspects of MMA, a fighter seeks to overcome his weaknesses while reinforcing his strengths. In this capacity, a fighter’s core competence can become a fulcrum that balances all of his tools.
For example, a wrestling-based fighter learns boxing and muay thai to hone his striking. However, unless he intends to become a boxer or kickboxer, he acquires the skills in the disciplines to complement, not to supplant his wrestling.
Consequently, he modifies various components of boxing, from the stance to offensive and defensive techniques, to conform to his wrestling-based style.
Demian Maia is a world-class Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioner, and while he has been honing his striking to round out his MMA game, Jiu Jitsu has been and will most likely be his bread-and-butter.
From what he has demonstrated thus far, he uses his stand-up to set up an opportunity to take the fight to the groud where he has virtual dominance over his opponents.
On the ground, he has effectively incorporated ground-and-pound tactics: He does not rain down punches to inflict serious damages on his opponents but to set up submissions, as he did against Jason McDonald and Nate Quarry.
The benefits of having a solid stylistic foundation give credence to the tried and true formula for success of starting with one discipline before moving to MMA.
On the other hand, training as a mixed martial artist from day one has intuitive advantages.
Not being steeped in any discipline frees a fighter from the stylistic constraint. In fact, there have been a fair share of one-dimensional fighters who have not evolved past their core competence.
Also, starting as a mixed martial artist from day one allows a fighter to learn different disciplines in their adapted forms for MMA.
While I do not have any experience in MMA, some of my acquaintances who train in MMA or are accomplished martial artists have pointed out the shortcomings of learning multiple styles of martial arts at once.
Without a secure base, trying to absorb multiple disciplines simultaneously can not only slow ones progress in each discipline. It can also hinder the functionalization of ones skill in each discipline.
As my former martial arts teacher once said, martial arts is not merely a collection of punches, kicks, throws, and locks: It’s an entire system of body mechanics that governs balance, body mobility, and power generation.
For example, boxing and wrestling employ very different types of movements and muscular coordination. Someone who tries to learn both styles simultaneously essentially creates two conflicting sets of reflexes for balance, power, and mobility.
Since our bodies are not naturally wired for this, there is a danger that neither set of body mechanics ever becomes reflexive.
Just as a weak foundation leads to the collapse of a building, a lack of core discipline may not bode well for the development of a fighter’s MMA game.
Moreover, given the relative scarcity of fighters at the top level of sports without a core competence, establishing that starting with MMA training from day one leads to success is difficult.
Nevertheless, MMA is a relatively young sports and as the population of fighters expand, a top level fighter who starts MMA with no experience in combat sports may emerge in future.
An intriguing example of a fighter who has succeeded despite having no discernible background in a combat sport is Forrest Griffin. Griffin’s MMA journey began when he discovered that he had a knack for fighting during the self-defense training in police academy.
Admittedly, he is neither the most skilled nor the most athletic fighter in MMA. Yet, his unparalleled work ethic and a sheer force of determination have catapulted him to the top of the MMA world.
The younger age at which aspiring fighters start training in MMA will allow them to take time to develop their game. Even with no previous experience in combat sports, training and competing in MMA from young age will allow them to find their niche.
For example, if a fighter feels that he is more of a striker than a grappler, he may spend time perfecting his boxing and muay thai skills. When striking becomes second nature to him, he can resume his MMA training: He will work to become proficient in jiu jitsu and wrestling but also to build a style that reinforces his striking.
While some of the most well-rounded fighters today, such as GSP and BJ Penn, have a core competence, they also owe their success to athleticism. It is hard to argue that they could have achieved the level of success they enjoy had they not been extraordinary athletes.
In the similar vein, as Heath Herring once said, size and physical strength matter, particularly in the Heavyweight division. As a case in point, Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin may have wrestling background but their athleticism and raw physical abilities have played an instrumental role in their success thus far.
The triumph of athleticism present the possibility that athletes with extraordinary talent and work ethic will ascend to the top of the MMA world, irrespective of their background in combat sports.
The coming years will see an interesting development in the world of mixed martial arts. A large crop of fighters will continue to emerge from the mold of wrestling, boxing, and other martial arts/combat sports disciplines.
At the same time, a wave of youngsters dip their toes into the MMA pool from the outset with the dream of becoming the next Georges St. Pierre, BJ Penn, or Anderson Silva.
Josh Grispi, mentioned at the beginning, has won six of his 12 fights by knockout, five by submission, and only one by decision. He has yet to face top level competition, but so far he seems very promising and well-rounded.
Can Grispi and the coming generation of fighters bred on MMA from day one rise to the top of the MMA world? Or will the fighters with strong stylistic backbone continue their dominance?
Only time will tell. Maybe in five or 10 years, we may have at least a partial answer to these intriguing questions.
