Is there a right way to go about your training in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)?
I was thinking about this the other day after a conversation I had with my wife. We got to talking about training in MMA and how we run into so many folks that could get so much more out of their training if they just approached it in a smarter way.
My wife then suggested I take this very subject and write a blog about it. So here we are, no time to waste, Let’s dive right into the right and wrong way to train MMA.
The #1 thing I can say right out of the gate is this: MMA classes should be fun, with lots of learning, sweating and smiling taking place.
If you’re spending more time getting hurt, beat up, or just plan “killed”, something’s not right.
If you’re training the right (smart) way and being overseen by a coaching staff that knows what their doing, you should rarely get injured, hurt or beat up.
That’s not being a thinker, it’s being a stinker. I’ve got some simple tips for better, more productive and result producing workouts. Read on.
Start with this…
The first ingredient to better training is safety. And really safety starts with the training partners you surround yourself with.
Are these decent people that want what you want? Or are we talking Meathead types? Think about that.
This holds especially true when it comes to sparring partners. If you spar that is. Good sparring partners are great to have and the Bad ones are…well not so great…
If you don’t spar that’s totally fine. You don’t need to get hit to enjoy the benefits of MMA lessons.
You might not be getting hit but you could be beating up your body in other ways. MMA classes can be pretty intense, trust me the workout is like no other.
Because of this intensity you need to be extra careful not to overdo it and burn your body out.
As with any hardcore workout routine, you need to recover just as hard as you worked out.
Your body needs breaks from time to time. MMA classes can be pretty intense with a workout that’s like no other. Because of that, you need to be careful not to overdo it.
The trick is knowing your body and when too much is too much and learning to take the tempo down a few clicks.
Oh and be honest with yourself too. There’s no shame in backing off from a certain movement, technique or whatever that you can’t do or causes you a lot of discomfort.
Do what you can with what you’ve got and you’ll get the results wanted. I always tell the Ivey League students this: crawl, walk, run!
For me I think the best approach is to take your training in baby steps. Start small and build up from there.
Ah yeah before I forget let me say something again about the younger, ego-driven, wanna-be-tough-guy new MMA student who’s got something to prove to the world.
Let me lay it out and be clear about it.
If you can’t control yourself during the classes, or in sparring, or anywhere else, that’s a problem.
We get these guys here at Ivey League from time to time. You know, captain 18 year old reckless kid who goes all out and then when confronted he says this: “sorry man I just can’t help myself”.
Well hey that sucks. But hey also, sorry homie, you gots to go, it’s that simple. No MMA gym with any sense of pride will harbor this type of character.
My closing remarks.
Okay so in a nutshell that should give you some ideas and tips on ways to make your MMA training not only fun, but safe and productive too.
After all, if it’s not fun what’s the point? Enjoy the training and get those results! Be a thinker not a stinker, which I stole from the great and legendary Apollo Creed!
