How to Coach Mixed Martial Arts

The mixed martial arts are a mixture of ancient fighting techniques and the relatively new sport of boxing. The popularity of this hybrid sport has grown in the United States and Southeast Asia to the point of challenging major sports like football or soccer. In order to coach mixed martial arts, you need to promote a fine balance between technique and physical strength.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Avoid injuries and poor performance by moderating your team's training schedule. Experts on Web sites like Grapple Arts warn that too many workouts lead to uneven performance and serious health problems (see Resources below). Give your mixed martial arts team days off or lighter workouts around matches.
2. Prepare your mixed martial arts participants for the speed of contests by watching film of professional fights. Fighters learn new techniques, observe weaknesses of comparable fighters and absorb your coaching technique by seeing other fighters in action.
3. Incorporate elements of traditional martial arts to help you coach your mixed martial arts team. Traditional practices like tae kwon do help you coach athletes on body position and mental discipline during fights.
4. Emphasize lower body training and conditioning in your mixed martial arts fighters. The success of any martial arts participant comes directly from the power they gain from their legs. Utilize sprinting, squats and other training techniques to give your team members a leg up on the competition.
5. Partner your mixed martial arts fighters with sparring mates that vary in size and expertise. For example, a fighter who is well versed in karate should work with a boxer to get used to punching effectively. This type of preparation allows your team to deal constructively with surprises and challenges in the ring.
6. Bolster the upper body strength of your fighters by utilizing a heavy bag. Heavy bags are traditionally used in boxing and provide a significant amount of resistance with each punch. Mixed martial arts participants use heavy bags for punching and leg strikes.

Tips & Warnings

• Acclimate your mixed martial arts team to realistic conditions using a regulation fighting surface. Some types of mixed martial arts require the use of a boxing ring while others utilize a cage or padded area. There is a growing number of mixed martial arts facilities that can be used for a monthly rental rate to help your team get ready for fights.

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