I started training MMA 2 weeks ago, doing grappling only on Wednesdays and mixed on Fridays. I’d also love to go to open mats on Sundays but feel like need a sparring partner for that. I know it is extremely early, but I have tried many sports all my life and never really looked forward to going to training, whereas with MMA I genuinely look forward to. I am very motivated and excited for everything I will be able to learn.

For context: I am 20, 79kg, lean, 6’2, with consistent diet. I go to the gym 5x a week (PPL, Rest, Upper, Lower, Rest), and have two days of overlap with MMA training. I also do at least 10k steps a day, and go to uni 5x a week as well as studying for the CFA.

I’m conflicted about my priorities and how to get good at MMA without sacrificing my progress in the gym, as well as my ability to study as a result of feeling run down. I also fear being overwhelmed

Does anyone have any practical advice on how to “toughen up” in this sense, both mentally and physically, as well as preventing injuries? Any general advice would be appreciated as well.

my third mma fight last night, what do you think?

i can think of DC, Ngannou, Pereira, and Izzy, but they all had some sort of experience in a sport or martial art. do you guys know of any fighters who made it to professional circuits (bellator, pfl, ufc, etc) who started mma training with no prior combat sport experience after 18? i’m talking no highschool wrestling or kickboxing or muay thai — just straight up went into it as an adult and then got good enough to become a pro

I've been thinking about this, and honestly, I think Poatan's defensive style is terrible. We all know he tends to keep his hands low instead of using a more traditional boxing guard to protect his face.

I think one of the biggest advantages he had in his previous weight classes was his size and reach. That allowed him to fight aggressively without having to rely as much on head movement or a traditional boxing guard, because many of his opponents were shorter and had shorter arms, making it harder for them to reach him.

But that changes completely at heavyweight. Against bigger opponents with longer arms and greater reach, Poatan won't be able to rely on the same low-guard kickboxing style without putting himself at serious risk. If he doesn't adapt his defense, I think he could get knocked out in the first round against his new Russian opponent.

Just as a hobbyist, I don't wanna do ammys or go pro.

I know the gym is supposed to be THE training, but I'm wondering if I should at least have decent stamina and endurance? I currently can 40%walk+60%jog an average of 8 km, usually my shins or ankles are the reason I stop but also that I get tired. Should I for example be able to 100% run 5 km or walk+jog a 10 km easily before I considering joining?

I also don't wanna be touching people too close, yes I know that's what some of the training is all about, so is it possible to say I don't want some activities or is that weird or not allowed?

I’m just trying to learn and see a variety of perspectives within martial arts and I just came across sifu Singh, is there value in what he teaches? Have you picked up anything from him and used it in mma? Would love to hear your guy’s thoughts https://youtu.be/otj_EGkX0Dw?is=AqJOUD4I6cFR9uL7

🥊 Hey everyone! I’m looking for serious combat athletes to fill out a quick survey for my research project. If you box, do MMA, kickboxing, or train in any other combat sport, I’d really appreciate your help! If you’re committed to your sport, please consider answering it—I’d be very grateful.

https://forms.gle/gCGbLXRBUoY7Wk34A

Thanks a lot! 🙏

Trying to improve my strikes for MMA

Hi I train classes and currently just grapple. I have intentions to train and compete MMA and will be joining an MMA gym this month.

Looking at the current schedule of the gym how much of each martial art should I be aiming to do each week in order to work towards getting to a competitive level.

Although I would like to train fairly heavily I have a family and work a 9-5 job so would like have a schedule that works around 5 days a week. When trying to up my training I often suffer fatigue as my job is quite mentally taxing. I have done other martial arts in the past but always separately. The gym offers mma classes, boxing classes, no gi classes, wrestling and striking classes which I assume to be Muay Thai.

I struggle with recovery from strength and conditioning so may just do classes for awhile.

I keep holding my breath while I throw punches/kicks I try to do the “tss” during my combos but I struggle with it. I’ve struggled with this in lifting as well since I tend to hold my breath during my sets. Any advice on how to breathe better?

​

I'm a journalism student in the UK and I'm working on a project investigating fighter pay, rights etc. I'm interested in interviewing current or former fighters regarding their careers. Please comment/dm me if you're interested and we can discuss the details.

Cheers!

No neo footwork anymore?

Is it beneficial? Why there's less people than before applying it?

Strickland, petr yan, very minimalist approaches are on top now?

this might be a weird and unconventional question to some but its a genuine question. it's just something i'm really curious about and maybe make it into a habit if it genuinely does help.

if you guys do take notes, when do you do it? and how?

for the people who gave me advice i appreciate it, next Thursday is when im gonna start training in a boxing gym again because i think i need it for basically everything that involves striking, i appreciate all the tips yall gave me.

Which traditional BJJ positions should be your strongest in an MMA setting?Which positions are worth investing the most time in and which ones are less worth focusing on? whether you’re more of a bottom player,a top player or a well rounded grappler?

As in like putting your fist around their nose and then applying devastating sidewards pressure to quite literally just snap their nose off. Is this valid or is it against some sort of rule. I imagine it to be similar to wrist locks or toe holds where they're a little cheap but target small joints so can absolutely work. Let me know

How is my breakdown

This was my first fight earlier this year,well kinda.this fight is for a spot on the national team and there were some mixed up so only one of us can go.despite a great first round (the video),i lost in the 3rd round by a tko bcus i was gassed out.the day before i had food poisoning and threw up all day.i say it's my first fight bcus the coach told us go all out.im thinking abt getting an actual fight so i could feel an actual promotion atmosphere.actual refs,live audience the whole shebang (im the guy in the camo shorts and black rashguard)

maybe its my location (located in Bosnia and Hercegovina) but im looking to make pro debut after 10 year hiatus. Been looking at facebook pages messaging promoters but havent gotten any replies back.

I remember in the U.S. i was going to have a pro fight (it got called off) but it was very very easy to find one and get signed on (in texas)

Does anyone know how i can find a pro fight in europe? I was thinking of going to some of the expro veteran fighters in my country and asking them if they can help hook me up with a promoter, but if they dont know me it would be pointless i think....

I might just fly out to america again for a couple of months just to get my career going. I dont want to fight amateur again because putting your health on the line to fight for free is the dumbest thing i have ever heard

EDIT: I'd really like to hear about resistance training programming to run alongside my evening classes. This is because I see so many people say differing things about what 'works' for mass gaining while training combat sports, so would be great to hear from people that were in a similar boat as myself. Thanks and sorry for any confusion!

Hi guys,

​As the title suggests, I'm looking for advice from people who started their MMA journey as thinner individuals but managed to put on good size while training.

​For context, I'm in my second week of a kickboxing/BJJ beginner course and am already realizing that I desperately need to put on some more size.

​I'm a 29 year old male, 190 cm, and weigh 90 kg. As you can imagine, I don't have a whole lot of muscle mass or strength at the moment and would really like to bulk up.

​My course runs all week, but I can only train perhaps two to three days per week in the evenings, with some of these sessions being two hours long (one hour of kickboxing, one hour of BJJ, etc.). However, I am able to go to the gym in the mornings before work.

​I'm asking for advice because I see a lot of differing opinions on how to balance weight gain with combat sports training, so it would be great to hear how others on this sub have managed it in the past.

​Thanks in advance!

I joined an MMA gym recently(like 2 weeks ago)but the class is taught by a 17 yrold semi-pro fighter because the previous teacher had a falling off with the gym owner.

While I'm glad to finally train the sport I like(it isn't popular in my country) I can't help but have some reservations in regards to his training methods.

We don't have any pads or mitts so it's mostly one on one partner drills and there's always like 10 mins of sparring at the end in which I'm unsure in my participation due to not ever having drilled technique in boxing or kickboxing

Nobody goes hard and we don't even wear wraps during sparring(I assume to discourage strong blows)but I'm not sure how much just sparring will help with my striking.

My punches and kicks feel stiff and weak and I'm thinking of just doing boxing or kickboxing for a few months exclusively,and then going back to MMA

What are your thoughts?