Mixed Martial Arts Training Tips for Beginners

Mixed martial arts (MMA) is an exciting sport that combines elements of boxing, wrestling, kickboxing, judo, jujitsu, karate, and other styles. It’s also known as “ultimate fighting” because it involves striking, grappling, and kicking techniques. MMA specifically and martial arts, in general, are great activities for improving one’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. As discussed in this post, there are many great reasons to train in martial arts. If you’re considering whether MMA training might be proper for you, here are steps to help guide you through the process.

Do Your Research

Start by researching the gyms in your area and visiting the ones that look most promising to you (click here to claim your free trial at Eastside Jiu-Jitsu Club). Select the gym that best aligns with your goals and needs. If you are looking for a new hobby, the gym that appeals to your personality will likely be the best bet. You’re going to have fun so you should be able to enjoy yourself. If you’re looking to pursue a career as an MMA fighter, look for a gym that works with professional fighters and has several high-level coaches on staff.

Choose a Gym

If you’re interested in starting MMA training, you should choose a gym or dojo with a good reputation. This will help ensure that you receive quality instruction and that you’ll learn proper techniques in a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment.

Learn the Fundamentals

You can break down modern Mixed Martial Arts into 3 core disciplines: grappling, striking, and submissions.

1. Grappling - close quarter combat in which you hold your opponent and work to take them down. Grappling arts include wrestling, Judo, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ).
2. Striking - combat style defined by the ability to hit your opponent with various parts of your body. In modern MMA, one can strike an opponent with hands, feet, elbows, knees, shins, etc. Unless you're competing in Lethwei, headbutts are illegal in most sanctioned fighting sports.
3. Submission - close quarter combat which involves using joint locks or chokes. These tactics are designed to get your opponent to submit while teaching you how to escape from such positions. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is the world's most popular and fastest-growing submission art and is the foundation for our program at Eastside Jiu-Jitsu Club. 

Pace Yourself

Once you’ve started training, you might find yourself wanting to go all in right away. It’s an understandable urge. Martial arts are awesome. You’re excited, have so much to learn, and want to learn it all at once! There are no overnight success stories in MMA. Mastering mixed martial arts takes time. Start by training seriously once or twice a week mixed with cross-training like yoga or bodyweight group training. Prioritize rest because you can’t improve if your body never has a chance to recover and repair. 

Have Fun

Learning new things can be a lot of fun but it will also be challenging at times. Your martial arts journey will be incredibly rewarding but it will challenge you along the way. You will win rounds. You will lose rounds. On the hard days, leverage your community to help keep you going. The most important thing is to remember why you started on the path and to enjoy the journey.