Starting MMA: how exciting!

Over the past couple of years I’ve lost my passion for karate. This was for several reasons: I wasn’t progressing and had become stagnant. In addition, politics in Scottish Karate are (without ranting) taking the karate out of karate. Lastly, achieving 3rd Dan last year didn’t feel like anything. Yes I’ve put 20 years into it, but my heart was no longer there. 

So I’d been thinking of trying a new martial art. I hadn’t really contemplated MMA as subconsciously I considered it too daunting (see previous post). I thought about kick boxing, boxing, judo, but I didn’t do anything about it, I just carried on training at the gym. I enjoyed the gym, but spin class and running machines are nothing like sparring and I missed it terribly. 

But now that I’ve started my MMA journey I couldn’t be more thrilled! The excitement of progressing and learning loads of new things all at once, the frustration with how long it’s taking to learn the most basic of moves, the smells (yes the smells). It’s just all so good! Most nights I walk away ecstatic at how much I've gained in the previous few hours. Even the few times that I've walked home disappointed at my performance during the past 3 hours, I’ve never once walked away thinking I could have worked harder, and for that I’m grateful to karate for the discipline it has instilled in me.

Oh, btw, those of you who make fun of me for bowing as walk on/leave the mat, I’m never going to stop so better get used to it! At least I’ve cut it down; I used to do big bows entering the building, leaving the building, and big bows every time I walked off and on the mat (which amounted to a lot of times during the evening to get water/gloves etc). Now I just do a very subtle bow the very first time I walk on, and the very last time I walk off. That’s it. I don’t even say Oss! Which is still hard for me to get my head around; how does the instructor know I’ve heard what he/she’s said? Or know I regard what he/she’s said? It still doesn’t feel right but I know the slagging I’ll get for saying it so I’m just gonna keep fighting the urge.

The next few posts will discuss the techniques I'm learning in the martial arts I'm training in, my training methods at home away from the gym, the things training is making me learn about myself, and my biggest barrier so far: overcoming the mental challenges.

My First MMA Class

Going from 20+ years of studying karate to MMA was a daunting prospect. I'm claustrophobic on the ground (even the duvet wrapped around too tight makes me panic), and I am ridiculously susceptible to concussions due to years of karate training combined with a super whack to head I sustained while snowboarding last year. So here's what made me take the leap...

One night I sparred an MMA guy and I absolutely loved it! Fainting, blitzing, going in and out; I did all the usual karate stuff and also had fun trying out moves which are illegal in karate such as leg kicks. I also really enjoyed the techniques he was doing of which I didn't have previous experience i.e. double leg takedowns. However, after a while I said "I'm exhausted" and we stopped. 

I really did have fun; I've always enjoyed sparring (if you're one of those "karate" types who doesn't spar but just does kata all day and night, then you're not doing karate). But I realised the next day I lied to myself and him when I said I was exhausted. The real reason I wanted to stop? 

I was losing. 

People who know me will be surprised to read this as I've never been known as competitive. But, despite training my whole life, it wasn't until this moment I realised that I hate losing. To expand on this a little; subconciously I've never had faith in myself that I'll win at anything. To compete and lose, or try something new and fail, would then confirm this belief. So I've kept doing the martial art I'm comfortable in, I've never learnt how to play pool, I don't take risks in poker etc.

I was so angry with myself when I realised this. How did I not know this crucial part of me until now? WHAT A BULLSHIT REASON TO NOT TRY STUFF!!

So I turned up at my local MMA club which had this on the door: 

I was terrified! I wanted to run away. Are they going to go all Rousey on my ass and break my arm as part of the initiations? Are they going to laugh at my long stances and lack of experience with grappling? 

But I walked in and heard my favourite Placebo song called I Know and it was a sign that this was for me. Other (perhaps more legit) signs included how laid-back the atmosphere was, how knowledgeable and helpful the instructors were, and the absence of ego. The biggest sign, though, was that throughout the class I had to stop myself from smiling and laughing as I was enjoying it so much. It was a beginners wrestling class, something I've never done before, but I felt at home, like I was finally being me; it was so liberating. 

So if you're thinking of trying MMA but are, understandably, scared/anxious/unsure if it's for you, try it anyway. They know you're new and don't expect you to have any knowledge, they will break things down for you and go at your pace. They won't hurt you (until you're getting good, but by then you'll be hurting them too in a controlled way), and you'll love the euphoria. If not, then it's probably not for you, but at least you've tried it.

Also, if you live in the Dundee area I would HIGHLY recommend DMMAYACSA (Shooters). As above, the instructors are highly knowledgable and experienced, and will support you in whatever your goals are. Crucially, they are genuinely lovely people who have a focus on technique and skill rather than brutality.

Thanks for reading! More posts to follow.