Tips For New MMA Fighters

By Rod Bourgoine


If you've been training for awhile, you might be ready to try your first amateur MMA bout. The best way to gauge as to whether you are ready or not for that first step into the cage is to talk to your instructors and trainers at your MMA gym. Of course, if you don't belong to an MMA gym at all, your true first step should be to find one immediately and start taking classes.

Obviously, an MMA fighter needs to have a wide skill set, but when it comes to training, it is important to work on your cardio and endurance, as well. This means running, sprinting, rope jumping and other cardio exercises should be a big part of your training. This increases your body's overall level of fitness which makes you better able to face an opponent as well as helping sharpen your mental focus.

Obviously, there are many key skills to be gained by careful study of Muay Thai, Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, but often fighters overlook the importance of learning some basic boxing skills. Boxing improves your footwork and coordination while also teaching you how to take a hit and deliver a solid punch as well. Even if you have a black belt in BJJ, be sure that your MMA gym offers a wide variety of classes so you can be exposed to many disciplines.

Conversely, while you certainly do want to be as well-rounded as you can be, you still need to play to your strengths. Work on improving your best moves and create a game plan that allows you to focus on your strongest areas. Work on what you can control, which is your ability and your strength. You have no control over how hard your opponent trains, all you can do is to be as prepared as possible. Working to your strengths increases your confidence level because you know that you have several weapons in your arsenal that have been perfected.

When you start training for your fight, keep the rest of your life as simple as possible. Your focus should be on preparing for the fight, and if you clutter up your day with too much, it's easy to lose your concentration. Obviously, you might be feeling some nerves, especially as the fight date nears. This is normal, but don't let doubt overwhelm you or keep you from meeting your goal. Remind yourself constantly that you are prepared and strong and just jump into the cage and get going.

Your body needs to be strong in order to be effective in the fight, but if you feed it a bunch of junk, this becomes difficult to manage. Be sure that your game plan includes a healthy, varied diet. If you need help planning it out, seek the help of a trainer or nutrition expert. In addition, your weight needs to be maintained, and you might need help deciding how many calories you need and what type of calories are best.




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