The Challenge: Training MMA at the Lion’s Den Update 3

It has been a couple of weeks since my last update and that’s because there hasn’t been much to report. I have been nursing injuries to my shoulder and neck that have only allowed me to attend 2 more grappling classes. The shoulder injury is not serious, but flares up after each class that more or less keeps me inactive for a day or 2. The neck injury was much more troublesome, but is getting much better. After a class in which my head and neck were cranked on pretty bad, it got really stiff and sore. Thanks to the help of an excellent chiropractor, I will be back in action again this week.

Nagging injuries are nothing new to anyone else that is familiar to martial arts and I think this is something that the casual fight fan takes for granted when they watch MMA on TV. I realize that the cliché is true. In this sport, you are almost never at 100%. Something is always pulled, strained or sore. It really takes a toll on your body.

I have decided that this week is the perfect time to change-up the training and take the next step towards being a “mixed” martial artist. I will start taking muay thai kickboxing now, which could be quite tough. I have no similar experience to draw from for muay thai like I did with wrestling experience for grappling. I have about 24 minutes of one on one instruction in any striking and that was during the first week of this challenge. I’m not sure how well I will adapt to this sport, but I am looking forward to adding some form of striking experience to better understand what it is like to really train in MMA. The Den has a top-level group of muay thai instructors and I feel fortunate to join a group that is so highly decorated.

Depending on how my body responds to getting back into the gym, I plan to attend at least 3 classes this week. If you have any questions, comment or advice for me as I move forward with my training, please feel free to leave it in the comments section below. I may include your message in a section of one of my upcoming updates.

Tags: Lion's Den, MMA, Muay Thai, Training

Category: MMA