How To Get Into Combat Sports
Becoming A Combat Sports Fighter
Combat sports are full-contact sports where fighters use different methods of combat fighting to compete against each other using their bodies’ natural weapons.
They are very similar to contact sports such as football in that they go through physical exertion which can include kicking, punching, elbowing, and grappling.
They can come in many different forms and systems such as in mixed martial arts, including boxing, wrestling, Muay Thai, Brazilian Jui Jitsu, karate, and judo.
Suggested Reading: 11 Glimpses Into What Are Combat Sports
How To Get Into Combat Sports? It is important to know what style of combat sport you are interested in before picking up any gear or training with a coach.
One of the things that makes combat sports so accessible is that there are many styles of each discipline for people to get into and enjoy.
Although, there still are small cities and towns where some of you may be living and you might have a hard time looking for a specific combat system you’re interested in.
If this is you, then you might need to travel outside of your area or you can learn from combat fighting from home.
Others just want to get into combat sports for self-defense purposes or as a way to get exercise.
If it is for competition, self-defense, exercise, or all of the above then these combat systems are waiting for you to call on them.
Once you’re ready to take on your first combat sport, you must find an instructor who can teach you and prepare you for competition.
Find an instructor who has had success with present or previous fighters in the amateur or professional arena.
Training: What are the necessary training requirements?
The requirements for combat sports athletes are many depending on the sport. For example, boxing is a sport where training can be done in the gym or your home.
But to compete in the ring then you need to find a good gym and coach because it is important to learn proper technique and conditioning when practicing boxing for the ring.
This type of training requires discipline and significant time commitments.
The modern combat sports athlete is expected to train in various aspects of their sport to maintain the highest level of fitness.
These aspects include but are not limited to, speed, strength, endurance, flexibility, and power.
There are many different ways that athletes can train for these different physical needs to be competitive at the highest levels.
For example, grappling is a sport that requires intense conditioning because grapplers are constantly fighting on the mat.
An athlete may need to learn ground fighting techniques and train to increase endurance when going against grapplers during competitions, otherwise, they’ll be at their mercy once they hit the ring floor.
Combat sports athletes are required to train to maintain general physical fitness and specific sports training.
General physical fitness is the need for an effective, efficient movement that involves the entire body, while specific sports training consists of exercises that hone in on certain skills or movements that are used when competing.
Training for combat sports is typically divided into two categories: general physical fitness and specific sports training.
General physical fitness includes cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, flexibility, motor coordination/agility, and core stability.
This type of training is usually the responsibility of the athlete’s coaches or trainers who design workout routines that train all major muscle groups.
Specific sport training includes skills such as boxing techniques, grappling techniques (e.g. jiu-jitsu), and wrestling techniques (e.g. Greco-Roman wrestling).
This type of training is more specialized and requires cross-training, which means incorporating different exercises for various muscle groups to promote maximum strength and endurance.
This includes the development of skills that are unique to the sport. For example, football players would practice specific drills that would not be included in a general exercise routine.
All combat sports athletes are required to have a high level of general physical fitness.
This is necessary for training camps, preseason, and maintaining an acceptable level of fitness during the season.
Required Skills For Combat Sports
Combat sports, such as boxing, wrestling, and mixed martial arts, require a variety of physical and mental skills that are entirely different from the skills used in other athletic pursuits.
For example, in boxing, an athlete needs to quickly judge when to throw a punch and when to block. It requires quick reflexes and agility to block and dodge punches and maintain a distance from opponents.
Wrestling requires strength, good balance, and endurance to defend oneself against an opponent’s attack. Martial arts such as jiu-jitsu also require strength, endurance, flexibility, speed, mental toughness, and coordination.
Similarly, in mixed martial arts, fighters need quick reflexes and fast decision-making skills to succeed. These qualities are hard enough in themselves, but combat sports also require strength and stamina at professional levels.
Age Requirements In Combat Sports
The question of what age requirements are needed for combat sports is a contentious one.
Some argue that 18 years old is the appropriate age to start fighting, while others argue that the majority of people are not ready at that point in their lives to take on such responsibility.
It has been argued that being 18 does not guarantee that someone has the discipline needed to handle intense fighting, and most fighters who start at 18 are not as successful as those who started later.
In our opinion, age is just a number.
There are plenty of fighters who started fighting in their teens and have been world champions and have proved these baseless theories incorrect.
Another thing to mention is the fact that most fighters can handle the inside of a ring.
It is the environment outside the ring that they have trouble with once they’ve found success as fighters.
Are they mentally prepared for competition, we would have to say yes for most fighters.
Are they prepared mentally for the aftermath of success, probably not and that’s not for all fighters because some can handle the success.
The age requirements for combat sports have been a topic of discussion for probably as long as combat sports have been around.
The most common argument is that children are not physically and mentally mature enough to compete in a sport as aggressive as mixed martial arts.
Safety concerns come into play when children are put into a fighting environment and whether they’re limited by regulations as in other combat sports.
We can also argue against this discussion of children inside the ring.
Plenty of examples exist in Muay Thai. If you ask many of the fighters of Muay Thai, they’ll tell you they started early before hitting their teens.
This by no means is okay, but they competed to send money home and put food on the table for their poor families.
Many of them lived in the gyms where they trained. That’s the norm in places like Thailand. Is it okay there, but okay in more rich countries?
Training Time For Combat Sports
The term “combat sport” can apply to any of the many full-contact sports that require physical combat between two or more people.
The physical nature of these sports means that training time is often brutal and lengthy. Though some athletes may see this as an obstacle to overcome, it also has benefits for those who want to excel in their chosen sport.
The question of how to train for combat sports is one faced by even the most experienced athlete.
Training time is finite, and when looking at the trade-off between time spent training in boxing or judo versus other sports, it becomes apparent that this decision has major repercussions for athletes in these sports.
A study done at a large university found that college athletes spend an average of 40 hours or more per week training for their sport.
These are college students spending over 40 hours a week but officially they are supposedly restricted from practicing more than 20 hours a week by bodies such as the NCAA.
Expect to train for long hours for combat sports to be among the best or above the rest.
Equipment: What equipment is needed for combat sports?
Combat sports require a wide range of equipment that helps to meet the specific needs of the sport.
In the sport of boxing, many people think that there is no equipment needed for this combat sport, but there are many different types of gloves, such as sparring gloves and training gloves.
The boxer would need to invest in a punching bag, hand wraps, and a mouthguard. The boxing gear is not cheap and can cost up to $500. If you spend cheap that’s what you’ll get, cheap equipment that’s not going to last long.
Suggested Reading: More Dangerous Than Boxing | Injuries In Muay Thai
You can find excellent equipment on Amazon depending on your combat sport.
The same can be said for wrestling, which requires an individual to wear a singlet or multi-piece suit, mouth guard, wrestling shoes, knee pads, elbow pads, and headgear.
It’s important to know your body type and height before deciding on gear, and how the material and quality of the equipment can affect performance.
It is also important to train with people of similar weight and height, which makes it easier to know who your best competition will be and how to understand your weight class.
The Team: How should you find a gym or team to train with?
Combat sports are the fastest-growing sport in America and for good reason.
Many benefits come from training these vigorous, intense workouts.
The team you choose should be close to you, has great coaches who can help with technique and form, and has classes for all skill levels.
If you’re looking for a Class-A gym or team to train at, look up MMA Class-A (or whatever you have chosen) on Facebook or Google.
Finding a team to train with in combat sports is not always an easy process.
One of the best places to find one is through research on the Internet.
If you are new to that discipline, it’s important to ask people at your skill level who share your goals or people that have already started training and have some experience.
A good gym or team is essential to have a positive training experience.
You should also try to find a place where a competitive atmosphere is prevalent.
This will help you if you need someone who understands what you’re going through and can be there for advice when times are tough.
Finding The Right Location To Train
The world of mixed martial arts is so much more than just fighting.
Training in combat sports can give people a sense of self-confidence and self-worth, and it can even be a family affair.
The best way to find the right location to train in your combat sport is by considering your needs.
Understanding what you need before training will help you avoid any potential negative experiences.
It’s important to ask yourself questions like: What style of competition do I want to compete in?
Finding the right location to train in combat sports like MMA can be a daunting task.
Many factors go into choosing a place to train, such as what style of fighting they want to focus on and the company they want to train with. But there are a few things you can do to narrow down your search.
Consider Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), a combat sport consisting of many different martial arts including Boxing, Kickboxing, and Jiu-Jitsu.
There are several different types of training facilities you can use to train in MMA.
Some studios only give private lessons, others may provide private lessons and group classes, and some have two separate facilities where one side is for private lessons and the other side is carrying out group classes.
How To Get Started: First-time combat sports fighters.
Combat sports are intense and can be difficult at first, but with proper training and guidelines, it is possible to succeed.
First-time fighters should assess their level of fitness before starting this kind of training.
They should also wear supportive gear like gloves, boxing shoes, shin guards, headgear, mouthguards, etc. during the workout itself.
Before choosing to participate in combat sports competitions, several steps should be taken.
The first step is to find a reputable coach or trainer that can teach you all the skills necessary for your competitions.
Coaches will be able to give you the proper training techniques and also impart knowledge about what to expect during competitions.
Once you have found a coach, it’s important to learn the rules of the sport you are involved with.
New combat sports fighters often find it difficult to know where to start.
Luckily, there are a few simple tips that can help them get started and on the right path.
The first thing new competitors should do is make sure they attend a few practices before deciding on that combat sport.
This will allow them to experience and learn some basic skills needed for the sport. It will also give them more confidence when they finally decide to sign up for the first time.
Getting In Shape For A Fight
Combat sports in particular can be a grueling endeavor in which fighters must be in top physical shape to endure the rigors of a fight.
There are notable differences in fitness levels between elite and amateur fighters, with many lower-level fighters not being at the same level of fitness as their professional counterparts.
The reasons for this disparity range from fighter preference to the practicality of achieving such levels of fitness with training time gained outside of actual fighting.
Getting in shape for a fight is no easy feat. Combat sports fighters are some of the most dedicated athletes on the planet, and they have to put in an incredible amount of work to get in shape for a competition.
It is often necessary to be able to train at all different levels of intensity – high-intensity training, low-intensity training, and everything in between.
They often train for months or up to a year to prepare for an upcoming fight.
To be prepared mentally and physically, fighters typically train intensely, focusing on strength training, cardio workouts, and classes that teach strategies for matches.
Training Tips For Combat Sports Fighters
Combat sports fighters, such as in MMA and boxing, rely on speed and agility to score a knockout.
These fighters are strong, confident individuals who enjoy learning new things and pushing their limits.
They are constantly training to make themselves stronger, faster, and more strategic. The sport of mixed martial arts is a combination of many different disciplines. A fighter will have to use all his tools to be successful.
According to specialists, “Combat sports athletes necessitate two types of training; general physical fitness and specific sport training.”
You might think that a fighter can get by with just one or two disciplines but the more skills he has under his belt the more likely he is to win a fight. The fitness regimen for these athletes is no joke- they spend hours in the gym every day working on their speed, agility, balance, strength, flexibility, and cardio.
Traditional weight training is not the best method for these fighters because they need to be strong in all areas of their body to move quickly and respond to each new type of opponent they face.
The traditional approach doesn’t allow enough time for recovery between workouts.
Conclusion: Combat sports are a great way to challenge yourself and build self-confidence. Start with a little research before committing to anything, find a coach or trainer that will motivate you, and start by training in your backyard if you can’t find a gym or coach if need be at the beginning.
