The Role of Physical Fitness in Overall MMA Fitness by Mike Belisle
Finding the conditioning for wrestling Mixed martial arts (MMA) continues to
gain an ever-widening fan base, and as more people become interested in
the sport, many are interested in MMA fitness too. They want to know what it
takes to be a good mixed martial artist. The first thing they must bear in
mind is that mixed martial arts is very different from other combat sports
such as boxing, traditional martial arts, kickboxing, Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-
Jitsu and Greco-Roman wrestling. All of these are far more mainstream.
Training is focused, and fitness requirements are well defined. Mixed martial
arts was streamlined and gained official recognition relatively more recently.
With the onset of Ultimate Fighting Championships and similar events, more
interest in MMA fitness and its unique requirements is engendered. Discipline
and Adherence To reach ideal MMA fitness, a serious mixed martial artist
must be disciplined. He must attend his workouts regularly and adhere to an
exacting schedule for learning and training. The objective in an MMA fitness
workout is agility, strength and endurance. But bear in mind that while the
sport is extreme, the workout is designed primarily to preserve one's safety
from the start. Initially it will be slow and gradual, then it will steadily
increase over time to the highest maximum intensity. Not Physical Fitness,
But Fighting Shape MMA fitness is not about being physically fit for normal
living. It is about getting into fighting shape. To do this, a workout starts
slow. One must be patient yet persistent, and aim for optimal steadiness,
strength and stamina. Only then will you be in fighting shape. Here are some
guidelines for attaining MMA fitness: 1. Don't bypass the warm-up. The
stretching exercises prepare your muscles for the training that lies ahead.
Going gradual is key for safety and long term MMA fitness. The warm-up is
an important part of that.
2. Don't try too hard. Don't push