What was once a sport solely for professional athletes has now become an engaging activity for everyday people. Canadian women’s MMA has evolved a lot since its inception; it is no longer just for competitions. Instead, women from anywhere, and at any age, can practice women’s mixed martial arts and experience MMAs benefits.
But despite the advantages, training in MMA is difficult. After all, you’re learning numerous martial arts disciplines simultaneously. In addition, the number of moves and techniques can leave you feeling overwhelmed, like you’re not making progress with your training, even on the best days.
However, getting more out of your training and improving your fighting skills doesn’t take a lot. All that’s required of you is to stay consistent and follow a few simple best practices for your MMA training.
1. CREATE A PLAN
Training in MMA requires time, energy, and resolve. You have to commit. For this reason, planning your training schedule is essential. Use a day planner, smartphone, or Google calendar to structure and plan your training. Staying consistent will require some proactivity on your part. And planning your training sessions into your schedule is the first step to make it happen.
2. START SMALL
The best course of action for MMA training is to take baby steps – at least when first starting. It’s better to train 2 or 3 times a week, slowly adjust to the shift in routine, and amp it up over time rather than go to the gym 5 days a week 3 times a day; thinking that’s what will improve your training. The ladder approach will gas you out and cause you to quit before you even start. Be content with starting small and building up over time; it’s a much more sustainable way to improve your MMA training.
3. TAKE BREAKS
Women’s mixed martial arts (like any other strenuous activity) can be hard on the body. Yes, it will make you stronger, but only after you give yourself the appropriate time to recover. Your body and mind need rest days to recuperate physically and mentally, as Canadian women’s MMA is a very demanding sport. Therefore, ensure you schedule a few days off each week to relax and recover.
4. GET ENOUGH SLEEP
Sleep is vital for everyone – regardless of lifestyle. But when you’re pushing your body to its physical limits in MMA, sleep becomes even more essential. Lack of sleep or poor sleep quality will compromise your energy levels, hinder your mental sharpness, and deteriorate your ability to focus. These factors will result in poor coordination, sloppy performance, and a loss in your ability to retain new techniques and properly execute old ones. In short, everything suffers when you don’t get enough sleep. Aim to get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night.
5. PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR DIET
The more you train, the more you’ll realize the necessity of healthy food. Everything in your body improves when you feed it the right fuel. You’ll have more energy and focus, your bones and muscles will become more robust, and you’ll generally feel better when you eat the right foods.
Improving your diet will enhance your training by:
- Making you quicker and more agile
- Increasing your stamina and endurance
- Supporting and strengthing your bones
- Promoting recovery if injured
- Preventing muscle damage
- Improving your overall performance
6. GET FEEDBACK
Don’t let your ego get in the way of asking for help. The best way to improve your MMA training is to ask questions and get advice from your instructors. They are there to help you, so take advantage of that! If you’re uncertain about a move or are unclear about the instructions, raise your hand and ask for clarification.
Chances are if you’re confused, then so are others. So you may be doing your training partners a favour by asking your instructor to clarify things.
7. DON’T BE AFRAID TO SPAR
If you’re just starting, sparring can be intimidating. It’s one thing to watch your instructors demonstrate the techniques and then drill them with your training partner afterward; it’s quite another to spar with someone who is giving you real resistance. But don’t be afraid.
Most gyms are friendly places where everyone is there to have fun, meet new people, and learn some MMA. And besides, live sparring is the best way to improve your skills and make the most of your training.
IMPROVING YOUR TRAINING IN WOMEN’S MIXED MARTIAL ARTS
Canadian women’s MMA is constantly evolving. It wasn’t long ago that this sport was reserved only for competitors and professional athletes. And because of the accessibility of women’s MMA, more ladies are becoming proponents of the sport every day. With this in mind, you’re not alone in your training. And that’s encouraging news. Keep showing up to the gym, stay committed to the process, and you’ll be an MMA fem fatale in no time.