Comparing MMA and Boxing Legends

Posted on May 15, 2013 by RGD

Given MMA’s rising popularity over the last few years, it was only a matter of time before we started comparing MMA fighters to mainstream boxing legends.

“How does Jon Jones stack up against the greatest combat sports fighters of all-time?” by Kevin Iole (Yahoo News, 4/24/13), does a great job putting this comparison in perspective.

MMA

After reading it, I asked myself the same question: is Jon Jones really on his way to becoming the best fighter of all time? Its hard to look at it objectively. Given my own background in MMA, I’m naturally biased towards fighters in the UFC and other MMA organizations.

Whether or not you think Jon Jones is the best fighter is obviously a matter of debate. Is MMA even in the same category as boxing? Or is it apples and oranges?

Sure they are both combat sports. But both sports have different levels of training, rules, and strategy.

So how do you compare legendary boxers to legendary MMA fighters? Comparing fighters’ age, skills, and level of competition is a start, but ultimately it probably comes down to your point of view.

I like Iole’s article because it takes a chance by provocatively grouping these fighters together. Comparing Jon Jones to boxing legends like legends Sugar Ray Robinson, Muhammad Ali, or Mike Tyson is bound to start some passionate debates.

Some might argue that it’s insulting to even compare Jones to these guys; others say it’s a natural comparison given Jones’s rapid rise to stardom.

Keep in mind that unlike Muhammad Ali or Mike Tyson, Jones’s career is happening right now. We’ve all been able to watch Jon Jones since the beginning of his exceptional MMA career.

If Jones isn’t number one yet, it may only be a matter of time.  Jones has essentially cleared the light-heavyweight division top-to-bottom. Shogun, Machida, Bader, Evans, and others- and these matches weren’t even that close.

He’s absolutely dominated one of the most stacked division is the UFC. And he’s only 25. I think just started MMA when I was 25…

Whatever you think of Jon Jones, he’s clearly someone special. Whether you are a boxing or MMA a fan, you have to acknowledge that watching this guy crush some of the best fighters on the planet is what combat sports is all about. And to do so at such young age is certainly an inspiration to us all. 

I wonder, in 20 years will we be comparing every fighter to Jon Jones? Given how much he’s already accomplished, I certainly hope so. Afterall, records are made to be broken.

Real World Mixed Martial Arts

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Thaw Out of Winter with NJ Martial Arts

Posted on April 16, 2013 by RGD

While we warn our NJ martial arts students not to entirely forsake their training for the nice weather, we still celebrate the coming of spring every year.NJ martial arts

And this year spring couldn’t come soon enough. It was only a few weeks ago that we still had to use gloves and coats even though the calendar said it was technically spring.

Spring is a time of new beginnings; a season of rebirth. Spring is an opportunity to thaw out of the dreariness of winter and return to the outdoors.

Most importantly, spring is a celebration of how much we progressed in NJ martial arts over the winter.

We reflect on how we took advantage of the winter months to train. We couldn’t go outside to exercise so we spent as much time as we could on the mat. Getting “snowed in” was just another chance to train and get better and better at NJ martial arts.NJ martial arts

So when we emerge in the spring, we notice all the positive changes taking place. Our friends and family  notice that we are more toned, more athletic, and far more confident then we’ve ever been.  And with beach season not too far away, we couldn’t ask for a better time to start looking our best.

Even your outdoor activities improve with NJ martial arts. You find that a simple hike, bike ride, or pickup football game is no match for the rigorous training you subjected yourself to during the winter.

And if you weren’t exactly active during the winter, don’t let it deter you from NJ martial arts.

Afterall, who couldn’t use the opportunity to start burning off some of those “hibernation pounds” that we acquired from too many holidays and days indoors?

You can get started at any time. Don’t wait for a New Year’s resolution, or for your semester to end or for your project at work to be finished. Get moving know. If you thought about training in NJ martial arts, there’s no time like the present to make a real commitment to better health.

And we have plenty of opportunities to get started. Our Kickboxing, MMA, Muay Thai, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes are in full swing. We even started a Women’s Only Bootcamp emphasizing the benefits of a great workout.

Remember, it’s never too late to start getting ready for the summer. For more information about what NJ martial arts can do for you, contact Real World Mixed Martial Arts.

Posted in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Conditioning, Fitness, Getting in Shape, MMA, Muay Thai | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

UFC 157: Women’s MMA Makes a Terrific First Impression.

Posted on March 8, 2013 by RGD

Clearly there’s no stopping Women’s MMA

“It’s like a pop, pop, squish. When you get to the squish, that means there’s no more pops.”

Even after years of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training, I still cringe when I read this vivid description for an armbar.Women's MMA

Ronda Rousey made this memorable quote in a recent article in Time Magazine (Time. “Women in Combat: Ronda Rousey kicks female fighters into mixed martial arts.” Feb 25, 2013. Pg. 50.) Rousey, as many of you know, has an affinity for armbars. In fact, the UFC’s first Women’s MMA match ended in spectacular fashion with Rousey’s seventh consecutive  armbar submission.

Rousey’s no joke. Neither is Women’s MMA.

It was clear that the Women’s MMA Bantam Championship between Rousey and her opponent, Liz Carmouche, was not to be outdone, even by the highly anticipated  light-heavyweight match between Lyoto Machida and Dan Henderson. The women’s fast-paced grappling totally eclipsed the relatively tame pace of the Machida and Henderson fight.

Although the Women’s MMA match ended in the first round, it was close until the last few seconds.  Each fighter attempted their best submissions. Narrowly fighting off a neck crank similar to the rear-naked choke Urijah Faber used moments earlier, Rousey was able to gain the dominant position and secure her trademark armbar finish.

It was electrifying. The UFC couldn’t ask for a better start to Women’s MMA in the UFC. Now millions across the country know what many of us who train in MMA have been aware of for a long time: women and men have the same martial arts potential.

Afterall, martial arts is the great equalizer, and Women’s MMA is no different.

Most martial arts exist for the sole purpose of self-defense. The idea is that any individual can use superior skill to overcome a larger opponent.

As we saw quite clearly at UFC 157, the age-old stereotypes favoring male fighting prowess are long gone. Personally, we at Team Renzo Gracie welcome the change and hope enthusiasm for Women’s MMA continues to grow.Women's MMA

We’re thankful that we have so many women in our martial arts programs.  We’ve seen first hand how the fundamentals of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, and MMA can work for anyone who has the will to try. We hope that Rousey and Carmouche’s brilliant display inspires more women to begin their martial arts journey.

If you would like to find out more about Women’s MMA and Team Renzo Gracie Denville, contact Real World Mixed Martial Arts.

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Starting Martial Arts and what we can learn from “The Ultimate Fighter”

Posted on February 18, 2013 by RGD

If there’s one thing a student of Morris County Martial Arts can learn from the “Ultimate Fighter,” it’s that there’s more to MMA than learning to fight.

I’m always amazed by how many people start martial arts for reasons other than fighting. Just take a look at this season of “The Ultimate Fighter.” Personally, I’ve always enjoyed each fighter’s personal story and his start in Mixed Martial Arts.Morris County Martial Arts

Maybe it was self-defense. Maybe it was to find a purpose or gain self-confidence. Some Ultimate Fighter competitors used MMA to stay off a troubled path. One fighter mentioned how important MMA was to getting in shape for the first time in his life.

Another fighter even left an office job to pursue a professional MMA career! I can’t blame him: I know when I get stuck behind a desk from time to time, slugging it out in a cage can seem like an attractive alternative.

Whatever the reason, one thing is clear: martial arts changed their lives forever, even before “The Ultimate Fighter.”

This got me thinking. Even after three years of training, I’m still amazed by all the different backgrounds at Team Renzo Gracie Denville.

I train with high school, college, and graduate students. I train with teachers, lawyers, and doctors. I even train with engineers, business owners, police officers, marketing professionals, and former fire fighters.

I could go on. The fact is there is something about Morris County Martial Arts that appeals to all of us, regardless of our profession or background. Clearly, there’s no one type of person who chooses Morris County Martial Arts classes.

My own story is anything but glorious. I wasn’t looking for self-defense or discipline. What brought me to Team Renzo Gracie Denville was one thing: boredom.

Yup, boredom was my initial motivation for checking out Morris County Martial Arts. I was bored with just lifting weights and running laps around my neighborhood. I was in relatively good shape, but I never found the gym atmosphere particularly engaging.

My roommate turned me on to The Ultimate Fighter in 2010. I was inspired by the level of conditioning of MMA fighters, even those relatively new to the sport. I was impressed by how MMA uses elements from kickboxing, wrestling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and several other fighting styles. I didn’t necessarily want to fight in a cage, but I believed Morris County Martial Arts would be the most engaging way to stay in shape.

I planned to check out several different schools and fighting styles. Luckily, my search ended after I visited the first school on my list.

As it turns out, my first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class at Team Renzo Gracie Denville showed me that Morris County Martial Arts was exactly what I was looking for.  I immediately enjoyed how each move was practical for both sport and self-defense. After one class, I was both physically and mentally exhausted.

It was clear that I would never get an experience like this anywhere else. After three years of Morris County Martial Arts, I still enjoy every minute of training, whether its Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, or Mixed Martial Arts.

Team Renzo Gracie Denville doesn’t look for a certain type of student. As long as you have the desire to improve yourself with Morris County Martial Arts, you can always find a place there.

Morris County Martial Arts

Don’t haunt yourself with thoughts like “I’m not athletic enough for martial arts” or “I don’t have enough time.” If someone who was formerly overweight can become an Ultimate Fighter contestant, or a doctor can become a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, then there’s nothing holding you back.

written by Will Skaggs, Renzo Gracie Denville bluebelt.

For more information about Morris County Martial Arts and Team Renzo Gracie Denville, contact Real World Mixed Martial Arts.

Posted in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in New Jersey, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Fitness, MMA, MMA in Morris County, self defense | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Into the Lion’s Den: North Jersey Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Cage Grappling

Posted on January 25, 2013 by RGD

Cage Grappling can be a great way to test your North Jersey Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills.

For students of North Jersey Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, sparring is a regular experience. Tournaments are held all over the world so that students of any level can test their skills.

But this one’s different. Your movement is limited. The entire room is focused solely on what’s in the cage. When that door closes, there’s nothing left but you and your opponent.

And you couldn’t be more excited!

After all, this is what North Jersey Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is all about: pushing yourself, exploring the limits of your ability, and constantly challenging yourself with new experiences. Testing yourself in a cage is no different.

This Saturday, North Jersey Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu students under Team Renzo Gracie Denville are participating in a Cage Grappling tournament at The Edge MMA in Saddle Brook, NJ.

Victory can only be achieved by submission. If there is no submission after 10 minutes, then a 5 minute overtime will be scored according to traditional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament rules.

North Jersey Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Coach Alex sharing his cage experience with his students.

I got a chance to catch up with Coach Alex Bruzzese, Renzo Gracie Denville instructor and competitor at this Saturday’s event.

When I met up with Coach Alex, he was teaching his students how to adapt to the cage and create space for escapes or reversals. He also made sure to tell his students to protect their necks and be on the defensive against take-down attempts.

Coach Alex’s most important lesson for his North Jersey Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu students:  “Don’t let the fear of losing keep you from your goals.”

If your goal is to become the best North Jersey Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu student you can be, then you need to diversify your experience. Try training with a wide range of opponents who vary by size, experience, and skill. Also, work from positions where you feel you’re weak so that you can improve your overall Jiu-Jitsu game.

And yes, maybe even test your grappling ability in a cage.

Alex explained that the cage is a unique experience. He said that we are rarely involved in “fight or flight” situations. By “trapping” yourself in a cage with your opponent, you’re psychologically focused on the match in a unique and exciting way.

For Alex and his students, the cage is just another test of their adaptability. As Alex states, “If you get overwhelmed, just picture yourself back here at the school, training as you normally do, business as usual. Forget the crowd and focus on your coach’s voice.”

Alex shared his experience from the school’s last cage grappling event in December. He says he remembers how serious everyone was as first. For many of the participants this was their first time in a cage and they were justifiably nervous. After all, this was like nothing they ever experienced.

Naturally, Coach Alex conducted himself as he usually does, smiling and joking around with everyone. He lightened the mood and even got a few laughs from the other students.

As Coach Alex states, “Don’t forget, we do this for fun. We are here because we love Jiu-Jitsu. Don’t be afraid to lose. You already showed a lot of guts by stepping into the cage. Remember to enjoy yourself!”North Jersey Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Alex didn’t guarantee his students that they would win: what he did guarantee was that they will be thankful they followed through with this challenge.

 

If you want to learn more about Team Renzo Gracie Denville and North Jersey Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, contact Real World Mixed Martial Arts.

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