If you have considered taking up mixed martial arts in the past and you have finally decided to take the plunge, you may not have any clue where you should start. Trust us, you are not alone by any means. MMA is a thrilling sport but it is also one of the most intimidating activities people seek out to perfect. However, there seems to be something addicting about MMA, as it is the fastest-growing sport in the world. In order to give you a better idea of how you can proceed once you make up your mind to start MMA training, we have compiled a guide of steps you can take beforehand to ensure you as much success as possible. Continue reading below to learn more.
1. Do Your Research
The first thing you need to do before choosing and MMA gym in NYC is to complete a good amount of research. If you are a fan of MMA, you probably have a fairly good idea of how much effort fighters have to put into each bout. After all, they have to be constantly working on their physical fitness, researching the combat style of their opponent, and adjusting their game plan the more information they get. This is a good way to approach your research when you want to begin MMA training as well.
You will want to begin your search by looking for a gym in your area that looks promising. Once you have narrowed down your choices, you should start by visiting each of the gyms in order to figure out which one you like the best. Some things to consider are whether the place meets your goals and needs, as well as whether you like the gym setup, staff, and general vibe. If you are looking to pursue MMA as a hobby, you can pick a gym that appeals to your general personality. On the other hand, if you are wanting to compete in MMA eventually, we would suggest that you pick out a gym that works with professional fighters and has coaches that are well-trained with extensive experience.
2. Make Sure You Are Prepared
Once you pick out the perfect gym for you, you should begin to think more about how prepared you are physically. Don’t get us wrong, this doesn’t mean that you have to be in fighting shape before you begin your training. Let us reassure you, more MMA gyms have beginner classes that require you to have too little to no experience in mixed martial arts beforehand, so you will be just fine. However, you may want to keep in mind that the warm-ups alone are going to be harder than a typical workout someone would partake in at their local gym. This means that having a base in strength and conditioning will aid you greatly when you begin your MMA training at your new gym. Therefore, you may want to consider getting your endurance level up before you attend your first class.
3. Pace Yourself
Once your training has started, you will likely become obsessed quickly and want to go all in right away. We know the urge. Finding something new that makes you feel amazing is quite intoxicating but you also need to remember that there is much for you to learn. Plain and simple, mastering mixed martial arts takes a good amount of time. You are going to have to take your time, be kind to yourself, and rest when you need it in order to be truly successful at MMA.
Start by completing your MMA training once or twice a week. Other days, you may want to consider doing other activities like running, lifting, or yoga in order to successfully cross-train. You also should absolutely take at least one day off a week in order to rest your body. Recovery is key if you want to continue to improve over time.
4. Don’t Be Afraid To Spar
While we certainly would not suggest that you begin full-body contact sparring in your first week or training, we also want to assure you that sparring isn’t as intimidating as it looks. Alternatively, you will need to know the basics of your training fairly well before you jump into a ring. Waiting too long, however, can also cause some problems for you as you may miss out on an imperative part of your improvement if you are only working with a heavy bag rather than a person. While finding that sweet-spot to begin sparring may be difficult, do yourself a favor and follow your gut. You will do just fine. If you are really nervous, talk to their coaches, they will not allow you to begin sparring if they don’t think you are ready.
5. Whatever You Do, Don’t Quit
While MMA training is certainly exciting, it can also be HARD. Not only is this sport physically taxing, but it also requires a lot of time and dedication. With this being said, we need to address a very apt possibility: you may get burned out. There will be days when you are frustrated when you are sparring or in a class. You are going to feel like quitting when you lose a match. Your body is going to hurt, you’re going to be tired, you may even have to take a step back from your gym no and then. However, keep in mind that this is all part of the process. These are things every person who is training in MMA deals with. Try to remember that even when you are not doing your best, you are still getting better. Keep going. You can do it.
Looking for an MMA Gym in NYC?
If you are ready to begin your MMA journey, we would suggest that you stop by Evolution Muay Thai to check out our gym. We can help provide you with the tools you need to be successful, but the first step is up to you. Contact us today to learn more about our MMA training and more.
