MMA, like any other individual sport, is very hard and demanding. Also, you can train it recreationally and professionally, depending on what your desires are – whether you want to compete or train MMA solely to keep your body in strong physical condition.
In this text, we will not talk about professional MMA, but about how to decide for this sport and try to bring MMA sport closer to all those who like to watch it, but refuse to understand it and thus see MMA as a brawl or a fight without rules. First and foremost – MMA (mixed martial arts) is the fastest growing sport in the world. It combines different disciplines, both martial arts and Olympic sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, karate, jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai, taekwondo, wrestling, judo, and many others.
How to Know if MMA Is the Right Sport for You
If you are a fan of adrenaline, strong physical training, and you are not afraid of hitting or getting hit, MMA is the right sport for you. It does not matter if you have already practiced martial arts, it is important that you take MMA very seriously and listen carefully to the trainers who work with you. If you think that a hand blow is performed only with the hand, you are wrong.
Each blow has the exact coordination of movements that must be synchronized and performed correctly in order for the blow to be effective. In addition to involving the whole body, you need to gain a sense of distance that is mostly practiced with your trainer on the focus mitts or punchbag. The strength of the blow does not depend on how physically strong you are, but on whether you performed the blow correctly and determined the correct distance. So get ready for very boring workouts in the beginning if you don’t have some base skills from another martial art.
What Does MMA Training Consist Of?
One MMA training is very strenuous and requires perseverance, concentration, and endurance. Cross fit training and HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) are an integral part of MMA training.
In addition, there are movement coordination exercises, various drills in which combinations of punches, throws, and levers are practiced, and natural gymnastics (ginástica natural), which is taken from the Brazilian jiu-jitsu and is very important because it develops muscles that are needed for grappling and wrestling, and you can’t shape them in the gym or with some other exercises. Natural gymnastics, in addition to giving flexibility to the body, develops specific strength and endurance.
Roughly speaking, MMA training consists of 3 segments:
• Warm-up and stretching (natural gymnastics)
• Practicing punching, wrestling, and grappling techniques
• Strength and endurance exercises (cross-fit & HIIT)
Depending on the trainer’s plan, each training is different. For example, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, training for the MMA punching segment can be held, and on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, training for wrestling and grappling could be on the plan. This is, of course, just a ‘sketch’ of training. The plan must exist because MMA is very extensive and it is not possible to do a single training where you can go through everything. It is also very important that you listen carefully to what the trainers advise you, how and with what strength to perform exercises and drills so as not to injure yourself or your sparring partner.
What Kind of Diet to Have During MMA Training
Nutrition is very important when you start training MMA, and a protein diet is an integral part of sports. Due to too much effort, your body will spend a lot more, so you will start to pay attention to the intake of carbohydrates and proteins, and thus you will achieve amazing results.
So, recreational MMA sports give you the opportunity to lose weight, shape your body, and, in addition, gain the knowledge of effective and practical self-defense in real situations. Also, given that you will learn all MMA secrets, you can earn some extra money by gambling on this sport on the best MMA betting sites here. By being satisfied with your appearance, you will be stronger, more resilient, you will build a sense of self-confidence and daily obligations will not present obstacles for you.
Let’s Talk About Benefits of Training MMA…
MMA has the ability to change a person on the inside and out. Following your discovery of the ideal MMA gym, here are some things you might consider changing:
It Helps to Lose Weight and Keep the Body in Shape
Let’s start with the most obvious benefit: with a variety of HIIT activities, MMA can keep you active and in top shape.
These exercises feature short bursts of high exertion that continue to burn fat for several hours after you have completed them. This aids in weight loss and allows your body to release frustration due to the cathartic nature of the action.
It Helps to Become More Flexible
Another advantage of MMA is that it improves your body’s flexibility. Brazilian jiu-jitsu and wrestling require you to turn your body in a variety of unexpected ways, leading you to move and control your opponent using your complete weight from both top and bottom positions. This works your entire body and allows you to stretch your legs and arms even further. Stretching is also important before and after a workout, and practicing your kicks will increase your leg flexibility.
It Helps to Improve Confidence
Learning MMA can help you feel more confident and at ease in social situations. While social anxiety is a severe and difficult problem that many people face, learning how to protect yourself in a negative scenario can assist to alleviate that fear. Furthermore, even in a sparring session, it takes a lot of confidence to stand up to someone in a physical fight. As a result, the controlled conflicts in MMA boost confidence, allowing people to feel more at ease among others.
It Helps to Improve Self-Defense
Finally, probably the biggest practical advantage of MMA training is that it gives you the tools you need to defend yourself against an attack. When attempting to defeat a trained MMA fighter, an untrained combatant will be absolutely at a loss, and good training will even help you overcome big size or strength differences. Furthermore, one of the most appealing aspects of learning MMA is the wide range of skills covered by the program. It includes standing strikes, ground fighting, and takedowns. As a result, you can easily transition from boxing or Muay Thai to wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu with the help of MMA.
