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I want to start training in mixed martial arts. How do I get started?
This is one of the most common questions I am asked. Today boxing, kickboxing and mixed martial arts are not only
spectator sports; they are exciting, calorie burning workouts. The American Council on Exercise (ACE) 2008 Fitness Trend
Predictions listed boxing as one of the top workouts rising in popularity. It is not hard to see why. Combat sports offer
incredible cardiovascular conditioning as well as a great amount of muscle toning from the anaerobic component. Most
people think of weight lifting when they think of anaerobic exercise. Any exercise that stresses the muscles at a high
intensity for a short duration of time is anaerobic. An exercise of low intensity over a long period of time is aerobic.
Martial Arts are approximately 70-80% anaerobic and 20-30% aerobic. The result is a workout that not only helps you loose
weight, but makes you ripped. People also love the adrenaline rush from all the kicking and punching. It's very stress
relieving to hit something. If one trains in a group class, the social aspect can be appealing; it's a great way to meet
friends. Many boxing and martial arts gyms foster a feeling of teamwork and family. Many of my students tell me they love
the training because they don't feel like they are working out. They are having fun, learning a new skill and forgetting
that it is hard work. So how do you get started with this amazing workout? Here are a few simple tips to consider when you
begin your path of the warrior.
1. You don't have to decide if you want to be the next UFC champion - at least not yet. Everyone starts out
learning fundamentals. It doesn't matter is you are 18 and plan on being a world champion or if you are 40 and just want to try
something new and loose those love handles. Unless you take cardio kickboxing (and that is not what this blog is about)
you will learn the basic skills first and then if you show dedication, skill and desire you can move up to competitor
level.
2. Google is your friend. About once a month I get an email that asks me to recommend a martial arts gym to someone
I don't know from a different city. I will now tell you my professional secret. I do an Internet search on the city they are
in and type in Muay Thai (kickboxing) or MMA whatever discipline they are looking for. If you are reading this online this
should not be too hard to do. Once you have a list of potential gyms, call and ask if you can audit a class; many will say
yes.
If you don't feel comfortable trying the class right away, you can ask to watch. Visit all potential gyms before you
decide where to sign up. Gyms have different teaching styles, programs, schedules and sign up packages. Find the best one
for you. While price is important, martial arts training is not something you should be cheap about. It's a very technical
skill. You are learning to use your own body as a weapon. Don't go cheap on the instruction. Do your research to make sure
the gym is reputable and safe. Often you can get a discount if you offer to pay a few months in advance or if you pay
cash.
3. Less is more? There are more and more gyms offering MMA training, but few that teach single classes in MMA. It
is more common to have classes in various disciplines (Muay Thai and jiu jitsu are the most popular). So what disciple does a
beginner start with? The answer depends on your goals. If weight loss is your main goal, start out with Muay Thai. If you
are very overweight and would have trouble kicking, I suggest starting with just boxing. The rigorous cardiovascular
workout will help you shed pounds. If you want to build strength and learn ground technique, jiu jitsu may be for you. If
you are unsure which discipline appeals to you more, ask to try both types of classes and then decide. Whichever you
decide to start training in, give it at least 3 months before switching to or adding another discipline.
4. "Discipline is remembering what you want." - David Campbell. I tell my students to come 3 times a week or more
if
they want to see results. Anything less and it's hard to retain the skills you learn because you don't get a chance to
drill them enough. One of my students who trains privately for an hour twice a week and takes the group class once a week
lost 20 lbs and 11% body fat. She hits harder than some of the guys I know and has great speed and technique. In eight
months she transformed her life. If you can afford it, I definitely recommend getting some private instruction in the
beginning of your training. It will accelerate your progress and help prevent you from forming bad habits.
5. Rest and Recovery. It's easy to overdo it if you are new to training. While pushing yourself is a good thing,
you also need to recover from workouts so your body can rebuild and refresh. That is another reason I suggest 3 days in the
beginning; it allows for a day of rest in between workouts. After several weeks you can add more training days. It takes
times to adjust to a new workload, but your body can handle it if you are getting plenty of sleep and eating well.
6. Keep seeking. One of the best pieces of advice I got in my early training was to seek out new training and learn
as much as I could. When I visit a new city I always make sure to check out the local MMA or Muay Thai gym. I always take
something new back with me and improve my skills. Some gyms are of the old school mentality that you must be loyal to your
gym only. I feel this limits students and fighters. While it is good to have a home base and a team you call your own,
there is always something new to learn and sometimes a fresh perspective is just the ticket. Attitudes are changing
because of mixed martial arts. Fighters have to go to different places for various aspects of their training. It is not
uncommon for a pro fighter to train one place for his jiu jitsu, one for wrestling, one for stand up and another for
sparring. While it would be great to have all under one roof, it's not always the case that the best training is available
in one place. I'm not offended if a student visits another gym while out of town. I am happy they are interested in
learning. I'm not suggesting switching gyms every other month (consistency is important) but, it is important to be open
to new teachings.
When I'm talking to a new student I give them this promise: Train consistently for one year and you will feel like a
different person. Training in Muay Thai gives me confidence, discipline, ambition, strength and courage. It has made
me the woman I am today. Not only has it made me fit and healthy, but training has kept me out of trouble and made me
passionate about life. I teach because I want to pass that on. It is incredibly rewarding to see students transform
themselves before my eyes. The human body is capable of amazing feats; the human spirit has no limits.
by Roxy Richardson aka Roxy Balboa
photos courtesy of roxyfit.com with permission
Roxy Richardson is a personal trainer, nutritional counselor and fitness writer and she also runs the "RoxyFit" women's
Muay Thai program at the Machado Fitness and Training Center in Hollywood. Visit Roxyfit.com for more information about
Roxy's program.
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