Want To Stay On Your Feet And Strike?

I watch a lot of fights where Stand Up fighters will step in to the ring or cage in MMA fights and are not able to have the striking advantage they thought they'd have. In order to compete in MMA a fighter has to have take down defense. Grappling arts like wrestling and judo that focus on take downs and throws are ideal. Strikes have to embrace a grappling art like these in order to strike effectively. In the mid-90s I started seriously studying judo to help me get ready for the Shidokan (The Triathlon: bare knuckle karate, thai boxing, grappling). Since then I've trained with athletes from almost every grappling background (brazilian jiu jitsu, wrestling, judo, etc.). I recommend training with take down artists and competing in grappling tournaments of some kind. To learn some in class or training is one thing. When compete in a specialized event, you are forced to apply what you learn and you learn faster.