4 Steps to Train Your Way into The UFC

A lot of people ask us how to get started in MMA training some goals are simply to get in better shape and they feel MMA training is the vehicle to drive them their while some want to become an actual MMA fighter and step into the ring/octagon. Martial arts schools are beginning to teach multiple styles as opposed to the traditional approach where only one style is learned and built upon. In this article we will go over 4 key areas that will help your quest of becoming an MMA fighter or just in better shape. We are assuming that you don't have access to any MMA training camps like you would if you lived in Vegas. In this article you will find four elements that can be used in any town across the United States.

1. Punch and Kicks (Karate, Boxing, Muay Thai)
This work is to quicken you hand and feet work and can be done with a heavy back o if you can train with a partner who can hold either the kicking bags or focus mitts. To improve the quickness and targeting on your punches and kicks train with the focus mitts. The heavy bag is an excellent way to develop that knockout power.

2. Strength training (Power Cleans, Snatch, Jerk)
Most of you strength training needs to consist of compound exercises. What this means is that you will choose lifting exercises that use more than one muscle when doing it. Unlike body builders that want to isolate the muscle for maximum growth you want to train your muscle to work together and have then fire exactly at the same time. Lifting heavy weights is exactly how you do this. The Olympic lifts are excellent at doing this while also training your core. These lifts consist of the clean, jerk, and power cleans which all will increase your explosiveness and quickness. One other thing to keep in mind is "barbell is better than machine dumbbell is better than barbell" Although machines have their place when it comes to physical development and exercise it is much better for MMA workouts to choose the barbell and even better the dubmell. If you have a choice of dumbell or barbell always choose dumbells as they will give you greater benefit in MMA training. This again will train your muscles both on your left and right side to explode together and also strengthens your core due to balancing the dumbbells.

3. Ground Training (Judo, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu)
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu can be difficult to train on your own but you can get BJJ dummies that really help simulate a partner to practice your submissions. To practice this part of your game it is best to join a school or class. If its possible to only make it to class once a week and train at home the rest of the time can provide a great deal of benefits~If time or traveling is an issue you can even train at home while making it to an MMA workouts at least one day a week to train in the correct techniques. One secret is to look at your local highschool and their wrestling program. Many of these wrestling programs would love to take on an additional assistant coach and in turn you can get in there and do some learning while also giving the kids a good workout also.

4. MMA Training

MMA is a game of being well rounded and not specific to one style of martial arts. This can make it tough to train since a lot of schools and trainers don't have multiple skills yet. A lot of the traditional martial arts like Taekwondo and Karate instructors are starting to training in various other martial arts to become more well rounded for their students. To show the importance of the ground game som Taekwondo schools have even thrown in some ground techniques. So whether you have a school close by that trains in all the different disciplines or you have to go multiple places to get your martial arts training and get better it is well worth it.