The best Martial Artists in the world train in multiple disciplines such as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ), Judo, and Muay Thai to be well-rounded in their overall skill set. They know the importance of increasing their skill set. Great Martial Artists are also aware of the value of learning from others.
BJJ, Judo, and Muay Thai are three proven Martial Arts we’ll be focusing on in this article since they are what we teach at Absolute MMA. BJJ is well-known for its effectiveness in taking opponents to the ground, controlling, and submitting them. Judo is renowned for its powerful throws, sweeps, takedowns, and pins. Muay Thai is celebrated for its devastating strikes through punches, kicks, elbows, and knees at close range.
Your willingness to learn and train in each of the three arts will elevate your ability as a fighter. Below are six benefits you’ll receive from cross-training in Muay, BJJ, and Judo.
1. Improved Takedown and Throwing Ability
Takedowns are crucial to self-defense and MMA, as they allow you to dictate whether a fight stays on the feet or goes to the ground. Training in both Judo and BJJ provides a diverse set of throws and takedowns, each suited for different scenarios. Judo emphasizes off-balancing opponents and executing powerful throws, while BJJ focuses on securing takedowns that transition smoothly into ground control. Learning both styles enhances your ability to adapt to various opponents and situations.
In addition to throws and takedowns, proper gripping strategies and counters play a vital role in controlling an opponent. Our instructors teach essential gripping techniques to improve your ability to break grips, establish dominant control, and set up effective takedowns. Meanwhile, Muay Thai clinch work helps develop balance and positional awareness, which translates directly to takedown defense and control. By cross-training in these disciplines, you’ll build a well-rounded skill set for both sport and self-defense.
2. Better Grappling Transitions and Control
Studying BJJ, Judo, and Muay Thai will significantly enhance your grip-fighting skills, giving you greater control over engagements in both standing and ground exchanges. In Judo, grip-fighting is fundamental to executing throws and off-balancing opponents. Learning to break grips, establish dominant hand positions, and manipulate an opponent’s posture gives you a strategic advantage in takedown scenarios. BJJ also emphasizes grip control, especially when fighting for position, securing submissions, or defending against an opponent’s attacks. Whether grabbing the gi or working in no-gi situations, strong grip-fighting skills allow you to dictate the flow of a match.
Muay Thai will teach you clinch work, where maintaining a firm hold on an opponent’s head, arms, or body is key to landing effective strikes and setting up sweeps. Developing grip strength and awareness in Muay Thai enhances your ability to control an opponent’s movement and resist being thrown or taken down. By cross-training in these three disciplines, you’ll refine your ability to control your own movements and your opponent’s, leading to greater effectiveness in competition, self-defense, and overall martial arts proficiency.
3. Enhanced Striking and Distance Management
Attending our Muay Thai classes at Absolute MMA will significantly strengthen your striking abilities, making you a more well-rounded martial artist. Muay Thai, known as the “Art of Eight Limbs,” teaches you how to effectively use punches, kicks, knees, and elbows to attack and defend. Whether you’re coming from a grappling background in BJJ or Judo, learning Muay Thai will improve your ability to strike with precision, generate power, and maintain proper distance from opponents. Striking isn’t just about landing blows—it’s also about movement, angles, and timing, all of which are essential skills for both self-defense and competition.
Beyond developing powerful striking techniques, Muay Thai enhances your ability to manage distance and control engagements. You’ll learn how to close the gap safely, defend against incoming strikes, and set up takedowns more effectively. These skills are invaluable whether you’re sparring, competing, or preparing for real-world self-defense situations.
4. Increased Adaptability in Self-Defense and MMA
Success in real-world self-defense scenarios and MMA requires a well-rounded skill set that includes striking, clinching, and grappling. Relying solely on one discipline can leave gaps in your ability to defend yourself or control an opponent. BJJ is excellent for ground control and submissions, but without striking or takedown skills, you may struggle to close the distance safely. Judo provides powerful throws and takedowns, but without striking experience, it can be difficult to set up attacks effectively. Muay Thai develops powerful striking and clinch control, but without grappling knowledge, you may be vulnerable if the fight goes to the ground.
By cross-training in BJJ, Judo, and Muay Thai, you become adaptable to any situation. If an opponent is aggressive with strikes, you can use clinch work or takedowns to neutralize them. If they are a strong grappler, your striking skills allow you to keep the fight standing. This versatility makes you more effective in both competition and real-world self-defense.
5. Improved Physical Conditioning and Injury Prevention
One of the biggest benefits of cross-training is injury prevention, as it reduces the risk of overuse injuries by incorporating a variety of movements and techniques. When you only train in one discipline, you repeatedly stress the same muscle groups and joints, increasing the likelihood of strains, sprains, or chronic pain. BJJ, for example, involves a lot of grip-intensive movements and time spent on the ground, which can put strain on the hands and lower back. Judo emphasizes explosive throws that require strong hip and shoulder engagement, while Muay Thai demands repetitive striking that can tax the knees, shoulders, and shins.
By training in multiple disciplines at Absolute MMA, you engage different muscle groups and develop a more balanced level of strength and endurance. Muay Thai’s striking movements improve overall conditioning, Judo enhances explosive power, and BJJ builds flexibility and core control. This well-rounded approach not only helps prevent injuries but also improves overall athletic performance and longevity in martial arts.
6. Mental Benefits and a More Well-Rounded Martial Arts Mindset
Learning multiple disciplines challenges the mind and prevents training burnout, keeping you engaged and motivated. When you focus on only one martial art, it’s easy to fall into repetitive patterns, which can lead to frustration or stagnation. Cross-training in BJJ, Judo, and Muay Thai forces you to constantly adapt, learn new techniques, and develop different problem-solving skills. One day, you might be refining your guard passes in BJJ, while the next, you’re working on perfecting a hip throw in Judo or sharpening your striking combinations in Muay Thai. This variety keeps your training exciting.
Switching up your training on a daily basis keeps your mind fresh and engaged. The challenge of learning different movements, strategies, and techniques across multiple disciplines enhances mental flexibility and focus. Whether you’re drilling takedowns, practicing submissions, or refining your clinch game, each session presents a new opportunity for growth, making your martial arts journey more fulfilling.
Start receiving the benefits of cross-training today!
The benefits of learning BJJ, Judo, and Muay Thai aren’t just theoretical. These are benefits you can receive for yourself with every class you attend.
Sign up for your free 1-week trial here: https://absolutemma.com/free-trial/