Kickboxing, BJJ or MMA: Which Should You Try First?

Kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) are the three adult programs at Trillium MMA. All three welcome beginners, and all three teach real martial arts skills, not a cardio class with a few punches thrown in. The difference is how you'll train. Here's a quick guide to help you choose.

Kickboxing: if you want to strike

Our Kickboxing program blends the most effective elements of Boxing, Muay Thai, Kickboxing and Sanda into one complete striking system. In class you'll work on:

• Footwork, timing and distance management
• Defense, plus combinations that work in stand-up striking and in MMA
• Structured drilling, padwork, partner combinations and controlled sparring

Choose kickboxing if you want sharp stand-up skills, a serious workout, or striking for self-defense or MMA.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: if you want to grapple

Our Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu program teaches jiu-jitsu as a complete grappling system, not just a ground-only sport. Alongside modern sport jiu-jitsu, classes cover:

• Stand-up grappling: wrestling shots, judo throws, clinch entries, trips and takedown defense
• Ground fundamentals: positional control, escapes, submissions and transitions
• Live training: controlled sparring and situational rounds to test your skills safely
• MMA-aware techniques that work against strikes as well as in pure grappling

Choose jiu-jitsu if you enjoy problem-solving, want to compete, or want a complete grappling game from standing to the ground.

MMA: if you want it all

Mixed Martial Arts combines stand-up striking, wrestling and ground grappling into one modern, complete combat style. We're an authentic MMA gym that has guided beginner athletes from small local amateur shows all the way to the professional leagues, while keeping training safe, family-friendly and fun for everyone.

Choose MMA if you want to put striking and grappling together, or you're curious about competing one day.

Brand new? Start with the basics

If you have no martial arts experience at all, our 6-Week Beginner Course is a great first step. It covers the fundamentals of striking, grappling and takedowns, and how to blend them together, in a beginner-only group with no hard sparring. You don't need to be in shape first.

Prefer to jump straight into regular classes? A one-week trial lets you test drive them for only $30.

You can't really choose wrong

Kickboxing and jiu-jitsu are the two halves of MMA, so whichever you start with, the skills carry over if you add the other later. Every one of our programs builds fitness, confidence and real skill.

Check class times on the Scarborough and Markham schedules, then register for a trial. Questions? Contact us anytime.