SAN JOSE -- Aldon Smith's once-worrisome left shoulder looked great as he made his foray into mixed martial arts training Friday, less than two weeks after the 49ers' Super Bowl defeat.
"We lost the game, and that's why I'm here," Smith said at San Jose's American Kickboxing Academy. "You lose and you have two choices: You either complain about it or you train for next season."
Smith, selected by his teammates as their MVP last season, sparred for nearly an hour with Daniel Cormier, a two-time Olympic wrestler and current UFC fighter.
Although Smith produced a franchise-record 19?1/2 sacks in his second season with the 49ers, he had none in the final six games (including postseason), a drought he blamed mostly on opponents' tactics. As for the shoulder injury that limited him in practice the final two months, he traced it to a "bad stinger" -- or nerve injury -- suffering during his 5?1/2-sack game Nov. 19 against the Chicago Bears.
"It's doing good," Smith said. "I was on the mat, playing around and doing fine."
Aside from lifting weights at the 49ers facility, Smith plans to continue training this offseason at AKA with Cormier, who began Friday's tutorial by shadow boxing with Smith. Their sparring session ended with Smith executing tap-out, choke holds on Cormier, a move Smith assured he "won't be breaking out in a game."
Smith followed up the 49ers' 34-31 Super Bowl loss to the Baltimore
Ravens by taking a six-day vacation to San Diego. No other extended trips are on his offseason itinerary. Nor does he see envision further off-field incidents such as that shadowed him last year."If anything, I learn from my mistakes," Smith, 23, said. "I'm definitely a lot more focused this offseason. I know things to do and what not to do."
Last year's travails included getting arrested for allegedly drunken driving in Miami in January, getting stabbed at his own house party in June, and sustaining a cut above his eye in a September car accident while riding as a passenger.
Smith said he didn't need a reminder from his coaches to stay safe this offseason, adding: "It's something I knew. I heard enough about it. I'm good now."
Improving his hand-to-hand combat skills and staying in shape brought him to Cormier, whom he met last summer and watched fight at HP Pavilion.
"You can get all of your emotions out in this sport," Smith said of mixed martial arts.
Cormier came away impressed by the 6-foot-4 Smith's athleticism. "It shows he's ready to improve himself in different ways," said Cormier, who will face Frank Mir on April 20 at HP Pavilion in "UFC on Fox 7."
"I'll get him in crazy shape," Cormier added of Smith. "You see how he was huffing and puffing? I'll get him in shape so he can go 10 plays in a row without needing a break."
Smith actually showed plenty of endurance last season. He became an every-down linebacker instead of just a situational pass-rusher, which was his role during a 14-sack rookie season.
His 19?1/2 sacks last season were one shy of league leader J.J. Watt of the Houston Texans. Smith said opponents frequently double-teamed him or slid their protection to his side.
"If that's going to keep happening where I get that many guys blocking me, I need to take myself to the next level so nothing can stop me," Smith added.
It was the Ravens who stopped the 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII, and Smith still can picture Joe Flacco escaping the 49ers' pass rush a couple times to complete deep passes.
"There's no reason we can't contend for the Super Bowl next season," Smith said.
Rather than pinpoint one area the 49ers need improvement, Smith said "everything" must get better.
One of the 49ers' most pressing storylines is to determine the fate of backup quarterback Alex Smith, who stands to make $8.5 million next season if he's on the roster April 1. "I personally like Alex, but I also want what's best for him," Aldon Smith said. "So if there's an opportunity for him to start somewhere else, then I think he should go with it."
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