We hear it all the time at High Altitude Martial Arts:
“I don’t really want to do Jiu Jitsu… I just want to fight MMA.”
It’s a fair question. You see the knockouts, the highlight reels, and the stand-up battles. But here’s the truth every serious MMA athlete eventually learns, you can’t do MMA without learning Jiu Jitsu.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu isn’t just one piece of the puzzle, it’s the glue that holds your entire fight game together.
MMA Is Built on Jiu Jitsu
Modern mixed martial arts was built on the foundation of BJJ. Back in the early days of the UFC, fighters from every style competed to prove which martial art was most effective. And time after time, it was Brazilian Jiu Jitsu that dominated.
Why? Because no matter how hard you hit, how fast you kick, or how good your wrestling is that fights almost always hit the ground.
If you don’t understand Jiu Jitsu, you’ll end up fighting someone else’s game. But when you do, you can:
- Control where the fight goes
- Escape bad positions
- Apply submissions or ground-and-pound effectively
- Conserve energy while your opponent panics
It’s not about being fancy, it’s about surviving and winning.
BJJ Teaches What Striking Can’t
In striking arts like boxing or Muay Thai, the fight ends when one person can’t continue. In Jiu Jitsu, you learn to control and finish an opponent safely, without damage.
BJJ gives you the “chess match” side of MMA:
- How to think ahead and anticipate movement
- How to stay calm under pressure
- How to use leverage and timing instead of brute force
That’s what separates an athlete from a martial artist and that’s what MMA demands.
Real Fighters Build from the Ground Up
At High Altitude Martial Arts, we teach MMA the way it’s meant to be learned, starting with a solid foundation in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Our coaches, including Professor Cody Donovan (UFC veteran) and Professor Avery Brooks (ADCC and IBJJF champion), know firsthand that even elite strikers need BJJ to compete at the highest level.
Training Jiu Jitsu improves every part of your MMA game:
✅ Takedowns & Defense: You’ll learn how to get the fight to the ground — or keep it standing.
✅ Ground Control: Once it’s there, you’ll know how to dominate position and stay safe.
✅ Submission Awareness: You’ll recognize danger before it happens — and know how to escape.
✅ Fight IQ: BJJ builds patience, timing, and strategy. It’s not just about muscle — it’s about mastery.
Think of It Like This…
You wouldn’t build a house without a foundation. MMA is no different. Striking and wrestling are your walls and roof, Jiu Jitsu is the concrete base.
Even if you want to knock people out, your success in MMA depends on what happens when the fight doesn’t go your way. And that’s where Jiu Jitsu saves you.
The High Altitude Approach
At High Altitude Martial Arts, every fighter, from beginners to pros, starts with BJJ fundamentals.
Our students quickly realize that learning Jiu Jitsu:
- Builds better awareness on the ground
- Sharpens their transitions between striking and grappling
- Makes them calmer, smarter, and more dangerous fighters
If you want to do MMA, start with the art that built it.
Ready to Train Like a Real Fighter?
Come see why so many of Denver’s top MMA athletes start and stay here.
