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To become an MMA fighter, one must achieve the level of prowess, strength, and endurance that can only be known to the greatest athletes that have ever lived. A morsel of theatrical appeal also goes a long way, but if you do not plan to have a charisma-off with Conor McGregor, you probably do not need to practice your public persona in front of a mirror. For starters, you need to put all of your chips into building a lean and mean framework and forge a relentless, almost Zen-like streak in your character. This is the price of admission if you want to learn how to train like an MMA badass.
The cornerstone of a mindset every accomplished MMA fighter has can be boiled down to a singular notion – mental fortitude. This means that your first goal is to work on self-discipline and resilience. You cannot just expect to become eligible for a battery of fights after several months of punching bags and going through rigorous workouts. MMA fighter is, by the very definition, an expert martial artist, but as the name implies, one needs to possess a balanced mixture of disciplines that all require commitment, discipline, and a focused lifestyle.
The best approach is to choose one martial art as ‘the entry point’ for future diversification. Once you realize what mastering a singular fighting style requires of you, you may be tempted to reconsider your MMA goals, but you’ll nevertheless fully grasp the magnitude of the task at hand.
Befitting equipment is just as important part of your toolset as your own skills because you have to feel comfortable in your own skin as you go through the motions of grueling exercises. Simply speaking, you have to forget that there is a single article of clothing on you. Anything that creases, rubs or limits your movement is doing its ‘job’ wrong.
Thankfully, we live in the brave age of the internet that enables you to do thorough research at the right websites, so you can check out reviews on Fighting Report for the best accessories and carefully designed items for aspiring fighters. Remember, clothing is only a small part of your attire. Guards, bands, belts, braces and protection pads made of various materials are all parts of the MMA mosaic, and you should have every piece of equipment at your disposal, according to your convenience.
The most essential part of your body is usually the most vulnerable one – and it is appropriately dubbed the core. This area that extends from your pelvis to your chest – and along the same length on your back – is the foundation of your spine-support, improved posture, effective circulation, and your overall resilience.
Strengthened core means that you will be less prone to injury and you will have increased agility and endurance (more on endurance later). These are all essential traits for an MMA fighter, but they require grueling work in the core area. Sit-ups should be your baseline exercise of choice and necessity whenever the opportunity arises throughout the day (and we do mean – whenever) and planks should become a position in which you meditate effortlessly.
Prioritize endurance
Core exercises will determine how powerful your punches can get depending on its strength. However, endurance is what will sustain you through the rounds once you enter the ring. After all, you cannot put all of your bets on the effectiveness of your punches. The point of endurance training is to lengthen your ability to punch with maximum strength. In order to achieve that level of energy, and retain it, you will have to do explosive exercises of 5 to 6 rounds of 45-second bursts, separated by 30 second rests.
Now imagine coupling your explosive exercises for endurance with some plyometric workout sessions! It’s an intense combination that will test your limits but reap wonderful results. Just remember to separate them by days and, following a plyometric workout, take at least 2 days to rest. Beginners tend to be overly enthusiastic, and they overwork their bodies to the point of disrepair, which is a trap that can cost you a lot more than a good workout streak.
The key to success does not lie in talent but in the relentless hard work and complete dedication. This is the only scenario that will put you on the right path and usher you to the door of the arena, where you can finally step into the cage and limelight.
The most renowned MMA fighters are not merely masters of martial arts; they are accomplished individuals that have achieved equilibrium between their spiritual and physical side while adopting an eclectic range of disciplines. From meditation to light speed reflexes, from exhaustive dietary knowledge to an absolute grasp of their own anatomical limits, MMA fighters are repositories of tools that turn them into unstoppable bio-organic machines.
Bio: Ian Lewis is a father, writer, and a fitness nut. He’s passionate about many forms of strength training and spent years lifting all kinds of heavy objects.
His favorite quote: There are three ways to ultimate success: The first way is to be kind. The second way is to be kind. The third way is to be kind.
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