MMA fighters come from many different athletic backgrounds. Amateur wrestling, Boxing, Judo, Kickboxing, Grappling, etc. are just some of the many different skill sets brought into initial MMA training.
About eight years ago, I began training in boxing at my local boxing gym. After a few months of training, I had a rough sparring session that left my nose bloodied. I decided that was the end of my pro boxing aspirations.
For years, I remained on the sidelines, only watching and never participating. Then, about two years ago, I couldn't take it anymore, and started training in kickboxing at my local MMA gym.
No longer afraid of the sight of my own blood, I actually enjoy fighting. I believe it to be the purest form of sport.
However, after training in kickboxing, I wanted more.
I watched the guys during jiu jitsu class, and also during judo class. I started rolling around with the guys and found I enjoy it immensely, although I get tossed on my head and submitted regularly.
I recently informed my instructor that I want to compete in MMA. After a brief discussion he asked what my background was, suspecting I wrestled in high school. I informed him that my background consisted of kickboxing and muay thai training conducted at the school, my months of boxing training several years ago, and...backyard wrestling.
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1994
My mom was overseas being a soldier in the US army. I was staying with my grandmother in a small country town with little to do. As a matter of fact, I had the only trampoline and treehouse in the neighborhood. Everyone came to my house to jump off the top of my treehouse onto my trampoline (usually resulting in severe injury).
Well being a big wrestling fan at the time, I decided to start a neighborhood wrestling organization, complete with belts made with markers, buttons, and glitter. There was a world champ, a US champ, and tag team champs, and everyone scrambled to come up with their names.
I became known as Flyin Bryan, borrowing my monikor from Brian Pilman, a well-known wrestler at the time. My moves consisted of aerial maneuvers and kicks, seeing as how I was very small for my age. I gave myself a belt, the US championship, and also announced all the fights held in my yard.
During this year we held fights every weekend, and I suffered numerous concussions and injuries from being DDT'd and piledriven into the dirt, or from falling off my trampoline.
2008
During the free time in between classes guys roll and work on submissions and takedowns and such. I have become a frequent roller, usually using brute strength and not technique to get guys down, since I have little in the way of technique.
During one session I managed to get a front facelock, and instead of going for a guillotine choke, I went for the only move I knew from that position—a DDT.
After the move landed me in full mount in a good position to finish off my choke, I instead went for a pin, causing an eruption of laughter throughout my gym from bystanders.
When and if I have my first MMA match, I want them to announce my background as backyard wrestling, as a tribute to my humble beginnings.
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about 1 month ago
Funny article, I also had neighborhood trampoline wrestling held at my house, I was the Junkyard Dog, from the early 80's, complete with a chain around my neck and all.
Good luck competing though, that's just crazy.
from about 1 month ago
I remember JYD, he was one of my favorite characters back in the day. As for competing, I just thought since I think I'm such a fight expert, I should see how well my knowledge will carry me in an ACTUAL fight. lol
from about 1 month ago
From your photo, you can probably handle yourself. I would need an under 100lbs. division to not get seriously injured.
about 1 month ago
This will be a great story to tell your kids someday. Good luck with your fighting.
from about 1 month ago
Not if I get my ass whipped it won't, lol. Especially since they sell DVD's of our local amatuer fights.
from about 1 month ago
They do? You should buy a few and rent them out. I think that is wonderful.
about 1 month ago
Though, I can tolerate wrestling because it is a sport and many great MMA fighters originated from a wrestling background. I can't stand WWF style wrestling. It would be the worst form of entertainment I can possible think of. Its worse than TMZ and thats saying a lot.
from about 1 month ago
two different things entirely. Pro wrestling is for entertainment purposes only, and amateur wrestling is much different. Some pro guys come from amatuer backgrounds, some dont. It usually helps though.
from about 1 month ago
Yes, you are right. They are two different things. It is like comparing football with futball, at least in my opinion. Their is one positive thing I can say about Pro Wrestling. The guys are indeed athletes. Their is no question about that. Most of them may be juiced athletes but athletes none-the-less. You are also correct that certain moves in Pro Wrestling moves can be set up for MMA. Maybe not much but their are a few. All Pro Wrestling is a bunch of athletes on soap opera show. And the only way to solve their problems is a lot talking crap and "stage" brawling matches inside of a boxing ring. Key word being "stage". I just can't stand all the drama and farce. It is too much.
from about 1 month ago
I must admit, it would be cool however if I could pull of a WWE style move in actual competition. lol
from about 1 month ago
That would be impossible to do since you can't slide in and out of a cage on your belly, jump on an opponent from the top of the cage, or bring a folding chair into the ring. You could sharpen your nails like BJ does and slice your opponent up with "Oops, honest Ref, I have never poked anyone in the eye before--it was just an accident!" That is as close as an MMA fighter can get to the WWE special effects.
about 1 month ago
Lesnar via F5?
Backyard wrestling used to be so fun. Man, those were the days. I use to wrestle with my friends in swimming pools too. There's no better finisher than a powerbomb off the diving board.
They even made a backyard wrestling videogame. The game was terrible though, so we just taped the disc to a toy belt and fought to determine the undisputed neighbourhood champion :)
from about 1 month ago
Im glad I wasn't the only idiot that had a backyard wrestling league. Funny thing was, I thought it was a real competition, and thought I was a real wrestler. Once I got to high school and saw what amatuer wrestling was, I thought this is stupid, I'm not doing this. They dont even do piledrivers!
Man how I wish I had wrestled now. lol. It would make my transition a whole lot easier.
about 1 month ago
i used to do that. THen I realized I could actually compete in a real sport so I took up BJJ and Wrestling. It was fun while it lasted. Fun article.
from about 1 month ago
thanks kevin, I actually had more fun writing this article than most of my much more popular ones.
about 1 month ago
3 words...that was awesome!
from about 1 month ago
glad you liked the article Derek.
about 1 month ago
You've revealed the MMA fans unprofessed love for backyard wrestling with your article Bryan. Job well done.
from about 1 month ago
well it seems even as kids, we wanted something more realistic than what "pro" wrestlers were doing. seems we found it, and for most of us, before there was MMA, there was backyard wrestling.
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