How do YOU cross train?

[tallgeese]

I've cross trained different ways thru the years depending on my goals and my situation. For me, right now, cross training pretty much takes place by way of private instruction and seminar. I just don't have the time to commit to other things outside of the time I spend doing and teaching BJJ.

So, about every other week I get together with one of two instructors in FMA specilities and either do a private with one of them or trade instruction for instruction, their specility for mine.

It's a solid set up and one that keeps me married.

[bushido_man96]

I like to cross train aikido, and bjj. The throws from aikido compliment my ground game really well, and I have found quite a few ways to make the takedowns work for me.

Welcome aboard, Carpenter! I found that when I did Aikido, I found spots that would allow me to insert kicks quite nicely to help "facilitate" the takedowns. I've found the same in Hapkido, but my Hapkido style is very much open to striking for distraction. I find that the BJJ that we do will help level me out so that I at least don't get freaked out when being on the ground. Some of the Hapkido/Aikido takedowns work nicely with controlling an arm when they land, leaving a nice opportunity to set an armbar.

[guird]

Monday I train karate

tuesday I train kickboxing followed by strength training

wednesday I train brazilian jujitsu, usually followed by boxing

thursday I train karate

friday I train brazilian jujitsu followed by MMA

saturday I rest

Sunday I train either karate or brazilian jujitsu

I usually don't have time to go every day, so I have plenty of unplanned rest days. The advantage of this schedule is that if I'm too busy one day of the week, I still have plenty of other days I can train.

[Shotokannon]

Here's my Schedule;

MON: Kickboxing basics 7-8pm

TUE: Kickboxing Sparring 8-9pm

WED: Shotokan basics and kata 6-7.30

THU: Mixed Martial arts bag work 7pm-8pm

THU:(continued) Mixed Martial arts basics and sparring 8pm-9pm

Friday: Rest day

Saturday: Shotokan Basics and Kata 1pm-2:30pm

Saturday(continued) Shotokan Sparring 2:45-4:00pm

Sunday:Rest Day

Like someone else posted, I don't always go to every one of these sessions because I don't always have time so I tend to mix and match and have rest days as appropriate.

[ninjanurse]

These days-on top of my daily TKD schedule- I run 5 days a week, train BJJ 3 days a week, and kickbox 2 days a week....getting my second wind!!!!

[Spartacus Maximus]

Actively cross training is not an idea I agree with, personally. There can be some value in it for some people and in certain contexts, but I prefer to spend my training and practise time focused on Shorin ryu karate. There is quite enough to learn and discover without getting confused by the intricacies of another system.

At one point I have dabbled in hard style aikido, taekwondo and Italian as well as French rapier fencing. All of these were experimenting phases and were short lived. Now I devote all my time to Shorin ryu but my interest in other systems is still high. Even without training in other systems, for comparative research and exchange I enjoy sharing with other methods.

[bushido_man96]

Actively cross training is not an idea I agree with, personally. There can be some value in it for some people and in certain contexts, but I prefer to spend my training and practise time focused on Shorin ryu karate. There is quite enough to learn and discover without getting confused by the intricacies of another system.

At one point I have dabbled in hard style aikido, taekwondo and Italian as well as French rapier fencing. All of these were experimenting phases and were short lived. Now I devote all my time to Shorin ryu but my interest in other systems is still high. Even without training in other systems, for comparative research and exchange I enjoy sharing with other methods.

I can understand your viewpoint here. I think for many practitioners, it really depends on where they are in their journey as to how they approach cross-training.

Early on, you see students who are so excited about MA training that they want to get into everything they possibly can. This desire is admirable, but it has to be approached with some goals and perhaps some decent programming involved so the student just doesn't get overwhelmed an confused.

Middle-career MAists may find solace in training two styles for a time being, perhaps a stand-up and a ground style to balance things out.

Late career guys and gals tend to be the ones who focus on one in particular, dedicate their time to it, and will have some good friends that they cross-train with, or spend just a little bit of time supplementing their knowledge with a second style.

This isn't always the case, but the trend does seem to pop up this way.

[Spartacus Maximus]

Time is also an issue. Progress and training in one system takes time. Considering the time it takes to learn one martial art thoroughly, pursing more than one at a time means less time and less training for each one. It is better to learn a few things in depth than a hundred superficially. Ten years of hard work and dedicated training in one system makes more sense than two years in five different styles.

[bushido_man96]

Time is also an issue. Progress and training in one system takes time. Considering the time it takes to learn one martial art thoroughly, pursing more than one at a time means less time and less training for each one. It is better to learn a few things in depth than a hundred superficially. Ten years of hard work and dedicated training in one system makes more sense than two years in five different styles.

I think it really depends on the time one has to put in. If I only have 2 classes available per week for TKD, and have the other days available, then it wouldn't be taking away from TKD class to take up another, like BJJ, to shore up ground fighting skills. This kind of cross-training would be quite beneficial. Taking up a Shotokan class, on the other hand, although enjoyable and certainly valuable, would probably not yield as high of returns.

[chiliphil1]

I don't do nearly as much as you guys!

I try to do kata at least 3 days a week, right now I am in physical therapy for my hip injury which is 3hrs a day 2 days a week, I try to do kata practice on the non therapy days. I also like to cycle, it's the only other activity that I enjoy, I hate running and all that so I bike instead, bmx, mountain, road.. Whatever I can do at the time.

Currently I don't study a second style but I have definitely thought about it.