Who here has or does actually take MMA classes? What was/is your experience like? I'm thinking of signing up for my free workout at the nearest place that offers. Thinking of taking muay thai first.
both muay thai and bjj are incredible martial arts to learn because, for the most part, they're effective in the real world and most schools allow day one sparring.
I've done both but currently doing only bjj, I'm a blue belt now under a jj Machado black belt.
as workouts, both will kick your ass like nothing else you're experienced.
as a new BJJ student, you will get choked, submitted, swept, and rag dolled for the first 6 months. You aren't going to beat anyone so your goal is survival, defend your neck, keep your elbows close to your body. While you're doing that, develop your base so you're a tree stump. Set realistic goals for yourself like not getting submitted in 2 minutes, then increase the time until you are defending for the full 5 min round. Once you do that then you can learn escapes, sweeps, passing guard, keeping guard, basic submissions. It's a long grueling process but if you stick with it, bjj will be the most gratifying thing you do in life.
for muay thai, you'll warm up, stretch, hit pads, hold pads, learn combos, then finish with a few rounds of sparring. if you are new you'll be paired up with someone who will take it easy on you and under a watchful skilled eye of a seasoned instructor. if the school puts on your gloves and feeds you to the wolves then find a new school.
stay away from "mma" class as those are reserved for more experienced students who already have some training in bjj and striking.
personally, I'm in love with the human chess game of bjj.
