How To Get Good At MMA? 8 Tips To Progress At MMA Faster

Similar to BJJ, those new to MMA training often ask how they can get better at MMA faster. There is so much information to absorb in MMA that you may not know where to start.

In this article, we discuss 8 tips to get good at MMA faster. If you’re serious about improving your abilities, then carefully read through these 8 tips below.

How long does it take to get good at MMA?

You really can’t put a specific time frame on how long it will take for someone to get good at MMA. Everyone that trains MMA will progress at their own speed and there are a variety of factors that determine it.

People that are serious about their training and want to compete should never feel like they’re good enough. They should always have the mindset that there is something they can work on to improve their MMA game.

Our Favourite MMA Gloves

RDX is one of the fastest-growing MMA equipment brands in the world. RDX MMA gloves are high-quality, durable and offer premium protection!

Be committed To MMA

The first tip on how to get good at MMA faster is to be fully committed to the sport. You have to eat, sleep, and breathe the sport of MMA.

That doesn’t just mean training every day, but it has to be the sole focus of your life. Every day you wake up, you have to revolve your schedule around your training.

There is no other way to become the best mixed martial artist in the world than doing this. You must dedicate your time to training to be the best you can be.

Listen to your instructors

how to get good at mma

The only way that you can progress in any sport is by listening to your coaches.

Your coaches have infinitely more experience than you do as a beginner. They have probably forgotten more about MMA than you know about it.

That’s why you have to pay close attention to everything they have to say about the techniques. This is how the best fighters in the world have reached the top of the sport. Ultimately, you have to be a good student and listen to your instructors.

Leave your ego at the door

When starting your MMA journey, you must leave your ego at the door.

Leaving your ego at the door makes you more coachable and open to learning. A coach’s favourite students are the ones that listen and have next to no ego.

Once you put your ego to the side, you’ll be able to absorb more and improve your skills.

Learn every part of the sport

how to get good at mma

Mixed martial arts is a complex sport with many variables. You can’t just be good at one martial art and ignore other parts of the game.

To get good at MMA, you have to learn every aspect of the sport. This includes being good at striking, wrestling and also Jiu-Jitsu.

The best fighters in the world are good at all martial arts in MMA. Take the time to develop your skills and be good at every part of the sport.

Improve your flexibility

Training in a sport like MMA, you really have to work on your flexibility. Every time you go to a training session, you should be going through a stretching routine before and after your workout.

Stretch before training to get your body warm and after to improve your flexibility. Another reason to focus on improving your flexibility for MMA is to avoid injuries

Muscle strains are some of the most common MMA injuries that are avoidable. If you take the time to work on your flexibility, you’ll avoid injuries and stay on the mats training.

Work on your strength and conditioning

Another important tip for how to get good at MMA faster is to work on your strength and conditioning. If you want to be a MMA athlete, you have to train like one and that includes doing strength and conditioning.

It isn’t enough to just work on your skills in MMA, but you also need to get stronger and faster. Every fighter within the top promotions does strength and conditioning workouts to improve their skills.

Some of the types of strength and conditioning MMA fighters do include:

  • Running
  • Weightlifting
  • Crossfit
  • HIIT Training
  • Circuit Training
  • Bodyweight Workouts

Consider doing a variation of some of these strength and conditioning methods to improve your MMA game.

Focus on your nutrition

how to get good at mma

If you want to be a good martial artist, then you have to eat like a fighter. Top MMA athletes pay attention to what they put in their bodies to have better output in their training.

This list won’t push any specific diet plan, but here are tips for improving your nutrition:

  • Drink more water: Hydration is extremely important to train at an optimal level. Make sure you drink plenty of water every day to keep progressing
  • Eat more protein: Be sure to have a high protein diet so you can feed your muscles after training
  • Supplementation: Take a wide variety of supplements every day to improve your health and get more out of your training

Focus on your MMA recovery

What’s just as important as the training you put in is your recovery outside of training. It’s something that many take for granted and is the thing that holds them back from improving.

MMA is a demanding sport that takes a lot out of your body. If you don’t get enough rest in between training, your performance will suffer.

That is why you need to make recovery and sleep an important part of your routine. Focus on getting at least eight hours of sleep a night and listen to your body when it’s tired. 

If you feel like your body is too tired to train, take the day off and train the next day. You’ll get more out of your training and be at a lower risk of injury.

How To Get Good At MMA?

These 8 tips will help you improve your MMA skills faster. But remember that you have to put these tips into action if you want to get better.

MMA is a demanding sport, where you must give it your all to progress. Keep training hard and listen to your body and coaches if you want to be the best you can be.

If you enjoyed our article on how to get good at MMA faster, share it by hitting the button below.

Photo of author

Gareth Davies

I'm a martial arts competitor and enthusiast. Over the last 15 years, I have trained and competed in several martial arts. I live in Manchester U.K working as a strength & conditioning coach when I'm not travelling and exploring martial arts around the world.
FS Banner