BJJ vs MMA: Which Should You Start With?

BJJ vs MMA isn't really a contest, because Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is one of the parts that mixed martial arts is built from. Jiu Jitsu is the ground game. MMA puts that ground game together with striking, like punches, kicks, knees and elbows.

So the better question is where you want to start. If you like the idea of controlling someone on the mat, start with Jiu Jitsu. If you want to learn to punch and kick, start with striking. Both are good first steps, and you can add the other one later.

What's the Difference Between MMA and Jiu Jitsu

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a grappling art. You learn how to take someone down, hold a strong position, escape a bad one, and finish with a submission like a choke or a joint lock. There's no punching and no kicking.

MMA is a sport that allows almost everything. Fighters strike on their feet, wrestle, and grapple on the ground, all in the same match. Most MMA fighters are really training several arts at once.

That's the real difference between MMA and Jiu Jitsu. Jiu Jitsu is one complete art. MMA is a mix, and Jiu Jitsu is usually a big piece of it.

If you want the longer version, we wrote a plain guide on what MMA is.

Is BJJ or MMA Better

Neither one is better for everybody. It depends on what you want out of training.

Jiu Jitsu might suit you best if:

• You want a hard workout that feels more like solving a puzzle than running laps
• You'd rather not get hit while you're learning
• You want to know how a smaller person can control a bigger one

Striking, the other half of MMA, might suit you best if:

• You want to learn to punch, kick and defend yourself on your feet
• You like pad work and a fast pace
• You want the full MMA skill set down the road

You'll get tired either way. A round of Jiu Jitsu and a round on the pads will both leave you breathing hard. That's part of the fun.

Should You Learn BJJ First Then MMA

Lots of people start with Jiu Jitsu, and it's a smart way in. The pace is slower at first, and you can train hard without taking punches. The ground is also where new people often feel lost, so it helps to learn it early.

Starting with striking is just as good. Kickboxing and Muay Thai teach balance, footwork and how to keep your hands up. Those skills carry into everything else you learn.

What matters most is that you pick one and stick with it long enough to feel it click. Once you're comfortable, adding the second part feels a lot less scary. That's how plenty of people build real MMA skills without ever planning to fight.

Is BJJ Good for MMA

Yes. Jiu Jitsu is one of the most useful parts of MMA. When a fight goes to the ground, the person who knows how to escape, hold position and finish is the one in charge.

Jiu Jitsu alone isn't the whole picture, though. In MMA, people can still punch while they're on the ground, so fighters also learn how to handle strikes. That's why they train both.

Coach Seth, who runs AK-49 Martial Arts, has seen this up close. He's cornered fighters at the UFC, Glory Kickboxing, AFC and WBC, and he coached Victor Rodriguez to the UFC and his AFC bantamweight title. He also holds a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

BJJ vs MMA for Self Defense

Both help, in different ways.

Jiu Jitsu teaches you to stay calm when someone grabs you, pins you or pulls you down. You learn how to get back to your feet, or hold someone still, without needing to be bigger or stronger.

Striking teaches you to keep your distance, protect your head, and create enough space to get away.

A real fight can start standing and end up on the ground. That's why training some of both gives you the most complete answer. You don't need to be a fighter for that. You just need a few good habits you've practiced many times.

What About Just Doing BJJ

That's completely fine. Plenty of people train only Jiu Jitsu for years and love it. They never want to throw a punch, and they don't have to.

Jiu Jitsu is a full martial art on its own. It's a great workout, there's always something new to learn, and you can keep training it for a very long time.

The same goes the other way. If you only want to kickbox, that's your call too. You set the goals. We help you get there.

How BJJ and MMA Training Works at AK-49 Martial Arts

We want to be clear up front. AK-49 Martial Arts doesn't teach MMA as its own class. We teach the parts MMA is built from, right here in Soldotna.

For grappling, adults can train Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in the gi, or No Gi Jiu Jitsu. There's a beginner's program for Jiu Jitsu that's separate from the advanced group, so you start with people at your level.

For striking, there's Kickboxing and Muay Thai. You can train one side, or both.

A few things new students always ask about:

• Sparring is completely optional. Most students want to try it eventually, but nobody is pushed.
• You're paired with patient training partners, and nobody asks you to do more than you're ready for.
• You don't have to be in shape to start. A few weeks of training gets you in better shape.
• There are no long term contracts. You can cancel with a 30 day notice.

Our motto says it plainly: Get Better. Get Tired. Have Fun. People come to train from Soldotna, Kenai, Sterling, Nikiski and all over the Kenai Peninsula, and you can check the schedule to see when classes run.

Not sure which one to try first? Claim a free class pass and come take your first class on us. Tell the coach what you're hoping to get out of training, and we'll help you find the right place to start.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's better for kids, BJJ or MMA?+

For most kids, learning one art at a time is easier than learning everything at once. AK-49 Martial Arts teaches Kids Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Kids No Gi, Kids Kickboxing and Kids Muay Thai for ages seven and up, which are the parts MMA is built from.

What martial arts are in MMA?+

Most MMA fighters train a striking art like Kickboxing or Muay Thai, a grappling art like Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and wrestling. Putting those together is what makes it mixed martial arts.

Does mixed martial arts have belts?+

MMA as a sport doesn't have one belt system of its own. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu does, so the belts you see in MMA training usually come from the arts inside it.

Can I join mixed martial arts as a beginner?+

Yes. At AK-49 Martial Arts, beginners start with the parts of MMA, like Jiu Jitsu, Kickboxing and Muay Thai. You don't have to be in shape to start, and sparring is completely optional.