MMA is now more popular than ever before. For this reason, you’re going to have to work harder and longer in order to stay competitive. You can also work smarter. As everyone has busy lives these days, it is essential that you get the most out of every work out session. Here are 6 tips for beginners and experienced mixed martial arts fighters who want to take their training program to the next level.
1. Have a plan of attack
If you don’t have a strict schedule all planned out, then there will be no consistency in your training. You should start by making a list of priorities and goals that you have in all aspects of your life. Then you should see what time you have available and when for your training. This is not an exact science and will take time to get exactly right. Having this plan will make sure that you never have the excuse of “I don’t have the time” again.
2. Commit to It
As with any training program, you’re going to need to commit to mixed martial arts if you want to see your skills and fitness improve. Setting goals and a schedule is the easy part, once you have that ready to go, you’re going to have to start the hard work of getting it done!
It is very important that you don’t lose focus during the early stages of your new program. If you have increased the intensity of your workout you have to stick with it until it becomes the new norm.
3. Don’t neglect the gym
To be the best MMA fighter you can possibly be you’re going to need stability, strength, speed, and power. All of these need to work together and you will be able to craft many of them during your MMA training sessions. Power and strength can be worked on at the gym. You should consult with an MMA professional instructor for tips on exactly which exercises you should be doing to make sure that the effort you put in lifting weights, complements the work you do in your MMA training.
4. Rest days are important
Your body needs time to recover. You will be pushing your muscles to the limit with each of your MMA training sessions so don’t be afraid to take rest days. Rest is also very important for the mind. You should be able to come to each training session fresh and ready to hit hard. Taking a day or two off between training sessions once in a while can have a huge benefit your stamina and speed.
5. Get plenty of sleep
With all of the exercise that you are doing your body needs time to repair itself. If you’re not sleeping enough, then you won’t be reaping the same rewards from your workouts that you could be. Ideally, you should be getting 7-8 hours of sleep each night. You should think carefully about how you can incorporate this time into your training schedule.
6. Eat well
All of your hard work will mean nothing if you are not eating right. This may be counterintuitive to many, but you can’t outrun a bad diet. There are a few apps out there that will help you to count your calories and understand which foods provide the fuel you need, and the foods that you should avoid. It can be surprising just how many foods are just empty calories. Putting in a little effort here and making only a couple of small changes to your diet can have a huge impact on the outcome of your training.
