MMA, Mixed Martial Arts, is very popular among all age groups. I mean come on, we all know the name Connor Mcgregor, don’t we? With that said, some of the biggest fans are still in high school. These individuals are more likely to want to follow in the footsteps of their favorite MMA fighters.
While there is nothing wrong with this goal, the difficulties and struggles of getting started in the sport are too much for some people to overcome.
Below, you will discover a list of tips to help ensure you reach your goal of becoming a champion in the sport of mixed martial arts.
Know The MMA Lingo
One of the first things you will need to accomplish is learning the MMA lingo. The lingo consists of a variety of moves and terms referred to in the sport. Knowing these terms in advance will show the coaches that you have done your homework. Getting accepted into an MMA academy will be difficult if you cannot speak the proper lingo.
Know The Legalities Of MMA
Along with the lingo, you must also learn the legalities of the sport. Fortunately, there are not many moves that have been declared illegal in MMA. Some of the moves that have been declared illegal include head-butting, fish-hooking, eye-gouging, biting, hair-pulling and spitting. Knowing the illegal moves will put you on a more competitive level and make you more likable among the fans as you will be able to know just how and when to throw your special combos.
Join An MMA Gym
Since the establishment of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, better known as UFC, in 1993, MMA has grown in popularity. Before the UFC, many people were not even aware of the sport. Today, fan all over the world tune in to watch their favorite fighters battle it out in the Octagon every chance they get.
With the popularity of the sport increasing daily, more and more gyms are opening around the world. Regardless of where you live – in a small town or metropolis area – you should have access to an MMA gym. So, what should your next step be? Join one of these gyms, of course.
Train, Spar, Fight, Compete, and Practice All Day Everyday
The old saying “practice makes perfect” definitely applies to MMA. The more you practice, the quicker you will build your skills. At this point, you should be familiar with all of the moves. With that said, you probably do not know how to perform all of these moves correctly. This is where consistent practice comes into play.
Once you join a gym, the coaches will begin to help you work on your skills. You will learn how to perform each move correctly. And, over time you will become an expert, but only with specific moves. No MMA fighter can perform every move to perfection. In fact, most fighters only perform the moves that they have perfected over their career.
Invest In Attire Specialized For MMA
One thing that can be said about MMA is newbies do not need to be too concerned about the proper apparel during the learning phases. Unlike safety gear, apparel is not a necessary form of protection. However, the proper attire can definitely help improve your game. One of the most important pieces of clothing in MMA is the shorts. There are a variety of styles to choose from, including board and hybrid. Both of these styles are designed to eliminate restrictions when performing high kicks and other MMA moves.
Most MMA fighters are wearing fashionable attire when they make public appearances, weigh-in and walk in for competitions. The attire typically consists of a hoodie, t-shirt, shorts, masks and hats or caps. All of the clothing, excluding the shorts, are discarded prior to weigh-ins and entering the cage.
Getting The MMA Gear To Get Started
When you are joining a gym or club for the first time it is highly likely that they will provide you with the required safety gear like the boxing body protector, mma mouthpiece, and headgear. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you want to wear second-hand gear. Just think about wearing the same mouthguard as another individual. That being said the gear will be old, worn, sweaty, and just won’t provide the protection that you are seeking. This is why once you discover that you are going to stick with the sport, you will want to pick up your own gear.
Boxing Body Protector
Most people just starting out in MMA don’t realize just how important the boxing body protector is. This piece of protective gear will allow you to take your defensive and offensive game to the next level. Hitting a boxing body protector is just like hitting focus mitts because your training partner’s hands will be free. This means that he will have the ability to strike back as you are striking. Along with this, the boxing body protector allows you to practice a number of body shots from various angles. This is something that will come in handy during any type of fight. Going to the body will wear away stamina and will from your opponent. This is why you must always try your best to wear a boxing body protector not only for protection but also so that you do not miss out on vital training.
MMA Mouth Guard
Being that MMA is an all contact sport, you are going to need a mouth guard. A guard like this will protect your teeth as well as preventing your mouth from snapping shut. There are some situations where a mouth guard can even protect against a concussion. There are basically two different types of guards available. This is the custom bite and the boil and bite mouth guards. Custom guards will cost more, but they provide a better fit and a safer application.
BJJ Rash Guard
Most people will tell you that a regular old t-shirt will suffice during practice, but it is the rash guard that is considered the best. These guards protect friction or skin-on-skin contact during training. These will also prevent you from getting snagged on the ground by uneven surfaces and will protect you from getting any cuts.
