Muay Thai or Brazilian Jui Jitsu?

Question

Which one should i start to train in?

here are some facts about me:

i'm short - so i think that's a problem for muay thai
i'm stocky - good for grappling
i'm 20

Answer 1

Senor Cheese ~
Brian F answer is point on. I've spent two years inThailand and the Thai men are very short, but they have no problems delivering lethal leg strikes, elbows and punches.

I have my Black Belt in Jui Jitsu too and between the two sports I would have to say that BJJ is the more effective of the two for short guys.

You should keep a open mind to all aspects of martial arts the more you know the more effective fighter you will become. Boxing, Muay Thai, BJJ and Kempo are just a foudation. Learn to strike properly, learn to grapple and learn to submit, you can't know too much.

Good luck Senor Cheese.

Answer 2

Bottom line- it isn't the art- it is the student, practioner, or teacher. You can have a very good system, but if the student cannot do the art, it isn't any good. If you have a good student and the art in't any good- you won't have a good result. All forms of martial art have benefit. Have you ever thought of learning Filipino or Indonesian martial arts? The emphisis in these arts is not making your body a weapon but making the weapon you already are more sharp. That means you are not making your legs able to take full force kicks and being able to get hit in the stomach and be able to sustain the damage, Rather it is learning how not to be hit. In Muay Thai there is a lot of leg conditioning and body conditioning. In BJJ or Jujustsu there is a lot of grappling and joint manipulation. But, it isn't street oriented. While you are grappling with someone , their buddies can be kicking you in the ribs while you are busy on the ground. Learn an art that works standing or on the ground or with multiple opponents. That was my choice 37 years ago and at 56 I am as limber as i was when I was 20. Try JKD, Modern Arnis, Kali, or Silat. Muay Thai fighters are retired after 5 years of competition cause their knees are shot.

Answer 3

Hey man,

That's a good question and the same exact question I was faced with a year ago. I couldn't afford both so I had to choose just one...either Muay Thai or BJJ.

It so worked out that I ended up taking both, luckily, and a year later I'm still taking BJJ, but not Muay Thai currently.

The combination of the two is just about the best self defense out there.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Sounds like you've already made up your mind. But remember Thai people are short, and don't seem to have a problem doing Muay Thai. You can always start one now and try another later. I've been doing Muay Thai for over 20 years now, and greco-roman wrestling for 10 years. I only have about 3 years in BJJ, but I like it.

Answer 5

In my opinion muay thai is better because in jui jitsu you are only focusing on one peron when you fight beacause you mostly fighting on the ground but with muay thai you could fight more than one person a lot easier. You could always take both that would seem like a good combination.

Answer 6

Depending on the fighter, 95% of the time the fight goes to the ground, Muay Thai is a very unique style, With Elbows, Knees, Punches, and Kicks. BJJ is also very unique with the chokes and locks. Martial arts is good with any age group and size. If the instructor you're learning the martial arts from is a good one. He won't adapt the person to the system, he will adapt the system to the person. Look for the instructor and see his background on that style. Research what you might not know about the martial art! Happy searching! :)

Answer 7

I agree with the both answer. Size is not an issue. As already mentioned most Thai fighters are not tall.

The real question is; Do you want to train your striking and your body conditioning and endurance?
or
Do you want to train a more 'thinking- strategy' art that relies more on techincal ability than on power.

of course standing verse ground is also something else to consider.

Answer 8

I think it would be better to train in BJJ if you are short and stocky because if you are stocky it means that you will fight guys that are possibly much taller then you because you are thick. Both of the arts create great fighters. I think if want to learn how to just fight then take muay thai if you want to be in competition then take BJJ

Answer 9

I feel combining both arts is a great thing. Muay Thai is a great striking art and jujitsu is definitely the best grappling art out there. If you have the finances to support both arts you should do it. If not you should pick the one you are more interested in.

Answer 10

Depends on what your goal is. If you're training to compete, start MT and cross train with BJJ. If you're training to defend yourself in street situations, I'd go straight for BJJ. 90% of all fights end up on the ground and you're gonna wanna know what you're doing once you get down there. I'd still cross train though. Those two together make a complete fighter.