Crosstraining too early???......

[aefibird]

I'd say that you'd be OK to train in Shotokan and in MT at the same time. Shotokan is a great style to have as a base art and to build tother things on.

My Karate Sensei teaches Shotokan-based karate, but incorporates other MAs and styles of karate that he's learned in his 30+ years of training.

Good luck with your training osuperu!

[Mr Pockets]

I believe i saw that show on the Discovery Channel. Most of it was pretty bogus, I think. If it's the one I'm thinking of, it had some ninja guys, and these people who do "Combat Ki." I bet any trained MMA fighter would demolish them in seconds. Anyway, I digress from the original post....

If you wish to crosstrain, I'd do something unrelated. Since you are doing striking now, do grappling elsewhere.

[JusticeZero]

Frankly, from the time I have helped teach, there is no student harder to teach than one who is cross training in another movement style. I crosstrained in Taiji for awhile - I would go to class for two hours, then later go to Taiji for two hours, then have to spend FOUR hours doing nothing but cleaning the Taiji out of my reflexes before I could train properly. Most of the crosstrainers take a month to learn what rank amateurs who have never done anything amazingly physical learn in a week. I spent four weeks trying to get someone to unlearn their other movement style enough so that they could perform adequately the basic footwork taught in the first class.. and last I saw, they still couldn't do it without having to concentrate on it. Now if you're talking about bicycling or lifting weights or something, go ahead and do those. They won't get your wires crossed.

[ravenzoom]

I somewhat agree with JusticeZero. Martial arts are often systems of self-defence that you are learning, hence you can't simply wipe off a system and get on to another once this system has been forged into your mind. However, crosstraining two completely different arts such as boxing and Judo or any other striking-grappling arts do not alter so much your learning experience as someone who would crosstrain karate with boxing for example.

[kle1n]

Its like learning two different languages from the beginning at the same time. You will mix up alot and it will take longer to learn for you. If you have a solid basic vocabulary, then its the best time to start to learn a second language.

So get at least a good solid basis in shotokan. That basis starts, when you just react and dont think about the moves you do. If the basic moves are part of your reactions then go and start.

[osuperu]

hey thanks for all the advice..last week felt a little harder to keep focused in the dojo..and i think im just going to stick to shotokan, and lifting wieghts/running for now...

but darn...having shins like plywood would be nice..

if anybody has strained mucsles, what do you put on them before training?...any crazy herbal remedy that works?

[kle1n]

You made the (in my eyes) right decision. I wish you lots of success!

[Traditional-Fist]

Right choice. Just be carefull with your weight trainning, I.E. don't overdo it.

Good Luck.

[Muaythaiboxer]

why quit the MMA? you will probably get to be a more rounded and better fighter if you quit Shotokan and stay with the MMA.

[osuperu]

MTB-

well i also got interested in the mental aspect of TMA aswell... dont get me wrong though.. everyday i think about being the that 'kick-* fighter'..but i really want to keep my original goals. which wasnt to just be a jack of all trades/master of none fighter.

we'll see with time..cus i really am interested in judo/BJJ...but in due time..

i think a good reason why im just sticking to shotokan is becuase a long while back i got into archery...i started out with the recurve traditional idea (that primal, mental feeling)...but then got pulled into the easy quick experience gains of the single cam compound....now ive had a compound and wish i would have taken the longer harder less traveled road and stuck with recurve..

my 2 cents...