There are two kinds of MMA
fighters – those that train for fun and those that train as a career. No
matter which kind you’d class yourself as, everyone has to start
somewhere. Whether you already know that you want to go on to be an MMA
fighter or you’d just like to use it as a way to build muscle, knowing
how to start is the key.
Getting into MMA fighting can be difficult, especially if you’ve got
no idea where to start. With perseverance and continued effort though,
you’ll be able to notice the improvements in your body before long.
Follow these top 10 training tips to get yourself started:
1.) Do your research
Before you join a gym to start getting into MMA, research your
options. You should always join a gym or a training programme where MMA
is a key player. Go for gyms that lots of MMA fighters attend, or go to
MMA classes.
2.) Try before you buy
A lot of gyms will offer free ‘taster’ sessions in MMA, so you can
try it out before you commit yourself. Even if you’ve got experience of
other martial arts, MMA might not be right for you. Give yourself a bit
of time to figure out if you enjoy it.
3.) Be honest
If you do decide to keep at it, you’ll need to be open and honest
about your fitness levels. Your trainer will need to know precisely
where you need to begin; otherwise you might end up harming yourself.
Don’t worry about being embarrassed – as mentioned, everybody has to
start somewhere.
4.) Always stretch
MMA isn’t just about strength; flexibility also
plays a big part in this discipline. Stretching after your MMA workouts
can help to improve your flexibility, and it’s likely to become one of
the easiest parts of your training. You’ll need to keep at it though, as
skipping your stretching can quickly put you right back where you
started.
5.) Forget about bodybuilding
Bodybuilding and MMA do not mix. While you do need a high level of
strength in order to overpower opponents in the ring, being too built up
can drastically limit yourself. Bodybuilding and MMA use completely
different techniques, with MMA being fluid and bodybuilding being static
and single-jointed. You’ll still need to do some weight training when
doing MMA, but you should forget about attained the same kind of
bulging muscles as professional weightlifters.
6.) Work on your core
By training your core you’ll be able to increase the power of your
punches and kicks. This is because your core is the centre of your
being; it’s where all of your strength comes from in the first place.
Try hanging leg raises, sit up punches, plank rolls and other
core exercises to build up your strength.
7.) Eat the right foods
An MMA fighter’s diet needs to be high in protein, fat and carbohydrates. You’ll need
to take nutritional supplements to increase your protein intake, and make sure you’re
consuming enough calories per day to sustain your training levels. Eat foods such as:
- Turkey
- Eggs
- Fish
- Legumes
- Avocados
- Nuts
- Oils
8.) Be patient
Just as Rome wasn’t built in a day, you won’t become an MMA fighter
overnight. The worst thing you could possibly do would be to rush into
your training and begin doing exercises that are above your ability
level. You should always push yourself, but understand that it takes
time to build muscle, strength and flexibility.
9.) Get some rest
Getting enough rest following a workout is key to building your
strength up. Your body needs time to rejuvenate after a high impact
workout; otherwise the muscles you’ve focused on won’t get a chance to
build up.
10.) Know your weaknesses
And finally, always understand what your weaknesses are in order to
better yourself. Regularly reassess your workout regime so that you can
switch and change it depending on which parts of the body you need to
work on. Be modest enough to admit to yourself where you need help, and
ask for advice from fellow MMA fighters if you think you need some
assistance.
