“Do you want to be a fighter?” the famous quote uttered by the head honcho of the biggest organisation in the worlds fastest growing sport Dana White. Whilst the majority of fans of MMA will never step foot in a ring or cage, there are, however, an ever-increasing number of fans wish to compete or train in the same sport as their idols.
That’s not to say that they all wish to fight in the UFC or any other organisation but that they want to learn the skills that the professionals have at their disposal. Forget the bloody bouts you may see in the UFC, Mixed Martial Arts training is a great way to keep fit and lose weight, as well as learning to defend your self the at the same time.
So, you’ve watched some UFC events, you’ve read every MMA magazine you can get your hands on, you’ve watched YouTube videos of old fights and fighters showing techniques you could only learn in your wildest dreams and you’ve decided to take the plunge and learn MMA. So, where to start?
Here’s a list of things that you should do before you begin training in MMA and becoming the next UFC Champion!
Be Sure – Are you ready, mentally and physically to start a new, demanding exercise? This is the first thing you need to do. Be sure in your mind that this is what you want. There’s no shame in turning up for a lesson and not returning, but if you’re looking to really get into the sport, then you need to be sure it’s what you want.
Research – This may sound a bit silly but trust me, there are plenty of people out there willing to take your money and give little in return. Before you attend an MMA class, do some research. Find a club that suits your needs. The Internet is a wonderful tool and with not too much hassle you’ll be able to find the clubs with reputable instructors, as well as those without. The last thing you want is to begin training at a class who in a month or 6 months time you find out is nothing more than a McDojo. It will be a waste of your money and your time. Also, MMA hasn’t been around for too long, so most instructors will have a base in another style like Kickboxing, Boxing or BJJ. But don’t be fooled by what they tell you, always check credentials. In the case of BJJ, the instructor should always be able to tell you his lineage (line of instructors back to Mitsuyo Maeda), as any reputable BJJ player will have this memorised and take pride in it.
Preview – Once you’ve found a club your happy with, then show up at the next class and watch a lesson. Most instructors won’t have a problem with this, if you explain why you’re there. You could even email or ring them before hand to let them know. Watch the lesson and observe the coaches style of teaching. Does he shout or offer encouragement? Are his explanations clear and concise? Does he focus on the basics or flashy techniques? What is the atmosphere like? Friendly but intense or is there an uncomfortable edge? All these things will help determine if the class is for you.
Prepared – Before you attend the classes, think of what equipment you may need. The basic equipment being, shorts, rash guard, MMA gloves, boxing gloves and of course a gum shield and jockstrap (trust me, after a couple of low kicks and some grappling, you’ll thank me). Also take a towel, you’ll sweat, a lot and remember to take water. The body needs to be hydrated to work well. If you continue your training, then more equipment such as headgear and shin guards would be worthwhile purchases.
Patience – When you attend your first class remember, everyone has to start somewhere. Don’t be afraid to ask questions if you don’t understand a technique, there’s probably someone else in the class thinking the same. Remember, it takes a long time to develop the skills required to fight in a cage or to become comfortable in the different skills sets of MMA and you won’t notice these improvements straight away, if at all. But over time, the moves you struggled with when you first began will seem a lot easier and you’ll react and attempt techniques without thinking.
Commitment – This is the area in which most people will struggle, for various reasons, be them personal, work related or because they can’t be bothered. That’s fine for those who are only training for recreational purposes as there are always a number of people who drop in and out of training. For those that want to take it further and become successful, then commitment should be the word to live by. Each person learns at their own pace so the amount of classes you attend per week will depend totally on you and how your body feels, but the more classes you attend the better. Even if it’s just a technical session, rather than an all out balls to the wall sparring session. To coin a phrase from a famous supermarket chain “Every Little Helps”.
Recovery – This is the most important thing for your training to progress. Listen to your body! There’s only so hard you can push it before it will break and that could mean a longer spell on the sidelines than just a week off from training. So sleep, take your supplements and eat well. The better the recovery, the better the training will be. You’ll have more energy at training and be more alert, which always helps when the person across from you wants to hit you.
Stay Humble – There’s nothing worse than someone who walks around a gym or dojo thinking he’s the mutts nuts after 6 months of training. Stay humble, ask questions, always be open to learning new techniques and be prepared to have your technique corrected or sometimes criticised. It happens! Suck it up, take the advice on board and become better.
Last but not least – Have Fun!!
Seriously, when training stops being fun, you’ll stop learning. Your mind will wander and you won’t listen to what’s being taught. This happens to the best of us, it’s normally a sign that you need a break from training. So take a break and come back rejuvenated and refreshed.
This post was written by Dominic Bury (@Domb18). You can read more of his articles at www.5thround.co.uk, a MMA site with a UK flavour (@5thRound_UK)
