Benefits of Cross-Training in Martial Arts
Becoming a successful and accomplished martial artist is a lifelong journey for most people. Thus, most martial artists prefer to stick to one particular system, without ever exploring the benefits of cross-training.
One of the key reasons is the lack of time and energy to be consistent for an extended period of time. Training in two separate martial arts requires a lot of sacrifices, but as you are about to learn in this article, the benefits are huge.
In modern days, most people prefer to cross-train in two systems that emphasize different aspects. For example, a wrestler would start attending striking classes, or a striker might explore wrestling, BJJ, or other grappling arts.
Let’s explore all the benefits of training in more than one martial art without further ado.
Cross-training in a similar style makes your game even more effective
Training in a style closely related to your base and shares a lot in common in terms of concept can only improve your overall game. You will add many new techniquesand skills to your base. This may improve your game in training, competition, or self-defense scenario.
For instance, BJJ and wrestling complement one another to a certain degree as both focus on grappling. But these two martial arts differ a lot when it comes to techniques, emphasis, and teaching methods. Though different, athletes from both arts can enjoy many benefits by cross-training these two arts.
Wrestlers are explosive and masters in scoring powerful takedowns from all possible positions. They have strong top control, but clearly lack the bottom game, and submissions. By training in BJJ, they will expand their arsenal and learn many valuable techniques like positioning, chokes, and joint locks. And the same stands for BJJ athletes who will learn advanced takedowns and many other skills.
Cross-training in striking is even better. Boxers can learn a lot by cross-training in Thai boxing or kickboxing, and vice versa. Kickboxers, for instance, tend to stay flat-footed and clearly lack head movement. They can improve these two segments just by training in boxing.
Improves fitness and endurance
By training in the same style all the time, doing the same drills and workouts, you are continuously targeting the same muscle groups in your body while neglecting the others. But by cross-training, you will target the other muscle groups, and with that, improve overall athleticism and performance. You will become stronger, more agile, and flexible, and have better endurance and stronger balance.
A trained boxer or kickboxer may have the cardio and durability to sustain huge punishment inside the ring, and exchange strikes at a high pace for over 20 minutes. But put them in a wrestling or any other grappling exchange against a grappler, and you will see them gassing out after a few minutes. Place them in a joint lock such as an armbar or choke, and they will instantly tap without even trying to get out.
The same will happen the other way around. A grappler would fall down to the ground in pain after receiving just a single leg kick or punch to the body or head from a trained striker. They will also get tired very quickly simply because their sport requires different types of endurance and muscles.
The conclusion is obvious, by cross-training, you can fulfill all the holes in your fitness, and prepare your body for all possible scenarios. A striker training in grappling will developed incredible core and grip strength, explosiveness, and balance. And grapplers may expect to enhance their aerobic fitness, flexibility, and durability.
It makes your martial art journey fun and dynamic
Whether we are talking about working out in a fitness gym or in a martial art school, training can, and will, at some point, become monotone and boring. No matter who you are, you will get oversaturated with the classes. That’s the natural reaction of our brains when we are continuously doing the same exercises and meeting the same people for years. That doesn’t necessarily have to be a bad thing at all.
It might inspire you to break the boundaries and start exploring different arts and combat systems to cross-train. By doing so, you will get a breath of fresh air, new techniques and skills to work on, and plenty of positive motivation. You will set new goals, meet new people, and of course, have more fun in training.
An athlete who had spent years grappling will have a ton of fun hitting the pads, working on kicking techniques, and sparring. A striker would probably look lost and desperate in the opening BJJ classes but will have a huge smile on their face each time they roll.
Martial art training is all about having fun, growing as a martial artist and person, and cross-training enables you to do just that.
Makes you an all-around martial artist and improvers self-defense skills
The majority of martial arts are one-dimensional. Systems like boxing or Muay Thai focus on just one aspect, striking or grappling, and there are few hybrid systems that mix both like MMA or Sambo.
If you want to learn martial arts for self-defense and develop all-around skills, then cross-training is how you prepare for most scenarios you may face on the streets.
As a trained BJJ fighter, you will have good enough skills to defend yourself against people not trained in martial arts. You also have an edge over less experienced grapplers, or strikers if the scenario you end up in favor of your style.
But overall, each person who wants to learn proper self-defense skills must work on improving every aspect and learn how to deal with:
- Strikes (knees, elbows, punches, kicks)
- Takedowns, sweeps, trips, and throws
- Chokes and joint locks
- Grappling and striking inside the clinch
- Weapon-based training
They must know how to block and dodge strikes on the feet and respond by striking with their fists and kicks. They also must know how to fight at close range, grapple in the clinch, stop or initiate a takedown, position on the ground, and many other skills. The only way you can learn all of this is by cross-training.
It represents an ideal approach for MMA
MMA is a combat sport and a hybrid mix of striking and grappling. The rules enable fighters to strike each other using all limbs, take each other down, and place submissions and choke holds. They can strike the opponent on their feet, inside the clinch, and even on the ground. And as you would guess, having one-dimensional skills do not work well at all.
In order to be successful, each MMA fighter must develop all-around skills. In most cases, they have a strong background in one specific martial art such as BJJ, wrestling, or Boxing. To develop skills and fitness for MMA, they would cross-train in different martial arts to cover all the aspects of the sport and prepare for all possible scenarios.
According to stats, wrestling has produced the most UFC champions in history, which makes this grappling art the best base for MMA while BJJ is in second place. However, you must take these stats with reserve because both wrestlers and BJJ fighters must cross-train between these two arts to succeed. Relying on just one martial art will not get you far in MMA.
Conclusion — Do Not Hesitate To Explore
It is in human nature to stick with what we know best. Our brains like comfort and to work with what we are familiar with. This is one of the reasons why most people hesitate to go out and try new things. They might be anxious thinking that would do more harm than good, but the reality is the total opposite.
Cross-training can only improve you as an athlete and martial artist in every possible way. It will boost your fighting capabilities, and physical and mental strength, and help you develop all-around skills.
The only major downside is the fact that cross-training requires a lot of your time, and energy, and is really hard to manage, especially if you are in your 30s, working full hours, and having family at home.
