Month: January 2022

When you have decided that it is time for you to get into shape, or you want to try something new and exciting, you may be wondering about Mixed Martial Arts. MMA sounds like a sport for the young and athletic, so what does this mean for someone who is 22 and considering this sport? Is 22 too old to start it?

Mixed martial arts is practiced by both professionals and amateurs who compete in all the different disciplines under MMA. This blog will guide you through the disciplines of mixed martial arts, help you find the right gym, and give you some advice on how to get started.

Introduction to mixed martial arts

MMA is a full-contact combat sport that allows both striking and grappling, both standing and, on the ground, using techniques from other combat sports and martial arts. The most common ‘styles’ of MMA today are based on Brazilian jiu-jitsu, wrestling (both freestyle and Greco-Roman), muay thai, karate, boxing and judo.

There are many reasons people start training mixed martial arts. Some train for the competition, some are looking to get in shape and build muscle, and others do it to learn the skills of self-defence.

A big misconception is that you must be young to train MMA. In fact, there are many athletes over the age of thirty training MMA all over the world. However, when you’re starting out, there are some things you need to keep in mind.

There are many reasons why younger people choose to take up the sport of MMA. For some it’s about competition, for others about staying fit and healthy, and others do it for self-defence purposes. Whatever their reason for starting, young people tend to focus more on specific areas of the game. They tend to train techniques that they think will work well against other young fighters with similar skill levels.

Talk to the right people and learn about the sport

Talk to the right people and learn about the sport. I know that sounds silly, but so many people get involved without knowing anything about it. Without research people can end up with problems such as joining a gym that doesn’t fit their goals or personality, or by not being able to handle all of the training/time/energy needed to be successful at this sport. If you want to compete professionally, there is no easy road for that. It takes dedication and hard work, just like any other profession or career path.

If you’re not sure how to proceed, here are some pointers. Finding a gym is the first step. Most MMA gyms are attached to professional fight teams, which means trainers who know what they’re doing, plus a bunch of other fighters who can be good training partners.

Talk to people at your local gym to hear their opinions on instructors and facilities in the area. If that doesn’t work, ask around on sites like Reddit or Sherdog.com

Decision to start

The big question that most people will ask is “how old is too old to start MMA?” The answer is that there really isn’t any particular age when it comes to MMA. It is best to start young, but there are plenty of people who start later in life and still do very well in the sport.

The key factor in deciding when you should start MMA is whether or not your body can handle the rigors of this sport. Can you run? Can you roll with punches and kicks? Do you have good hand-eye coordination? If the answer to these questions is yes then there’s no reason why you shouldn’t consider starting MMA at any age.

Finding a gym that suits you

One of the most important aspects of your training will be finding a gym that suits you.

The first thing you should do is set aside some time to visit a few gyms in your area. You might even want to bring your training partner along so they can help you evaluate each gym.

A lot of MMA gyms offer classes in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai and other martial arts. Not all of these gyms are created equal, though. Here are some questions to ask when searching for the right gym:

Does it seem friendly and welcoming?

Does it have a good reputation in the area?

Are the coaches experienced?

Do they have any accomplishments or championships under their belts?

How long has this gym been around?

If it’s only a few months old, that’s probably not a good sign. You want to make sure it’s stable and likely to be around for a while. Does it have an experienced head coach or owner who is committed to making sure his/her fighters get good training? What type of equipment does the gym use? If it’s not up to par with other local gyms, that may be a deal-breaker. Good equipment is key to effective MMA training.

If you’re serious about undertaking MMA training, you should do your homework before signing up at any gym. Don’t just go with the first one you try out; do some research and find out which ones are best suited to your goals and lifestyle.

Another thing to consider is the atmosphere in the gym. While your physical health and skill level will likely improve faster when training at a high-performance gym, you should also find a place that’s a good fit for your personality.

Trying out different gyms can be very useful in helping you decide which one to join. The best way to do this is to take advantage of free trial classes or free private lessons offered by many local gyms. Avoid being biased towards or against any one gym based on its reputation or location.

Conclusion

It’s never too late to start martial arts. Mixed martial arts (MMA) can be a great way to get into shape, learn self-defence, and meet new people. If you’re over the age of 22, you may think it’s not too late to start MMA, but training can be demanding. Talk to the right people and learn about the sport before you jump in and make sure it is for you.

“I started at 24, you can start at 22. I don’t think age matters. If you’re young and healthy, you can get started. And make sure you start with a good gym and good coach – both will determine your success more than anything else.”
–Frank Mir, UFC Heavyweight Champ

Starting martial arts at an older age is still possible. Just make sure you’re ready to make the commitment and that you have a realistic expectation. Here are some tips on how to start MMA at an older age: Get in shape before you try MMA. It’s hard to get your body used to the rigors and demands of MMA training if it’s not already conditioned.

Work on cardiovascular conditioning, muscle strength and flexibility before starting MMA. Venu Kolapudi, a physician with Orlando Health, recommends that people do a combination of cardiovascular exercises (running, swimming, cycling), weightlifting (push ups and crunches) and stretching.

There is no exact age range to pick up a martial art. Some people start at a very young age, some people don’t start until they are older. It all depends on your own personal schedule, how much you want to dedicate to training, and most importantly, whether you have the desire to begin learning.

Whether you’re considering taking up martial arts for fun or as a hobby or if you are interested in pursuing a career in mixed martial arts (MMA), there’s no perfect age to start learning. However, it’s never too late to begin training and improve your skills!

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MMA and boxing are two fighting sports that have much in common, but also many differences. Everyone has an opinion about which sport is safer or better, but it will be easier to decide which is better for your safety by learning more about each sport.

The truth is that no matter what kind of fighting you’re doing, there’s going to be some level of risk involved. There are ways to mitigate those risks, though. In this article, we’ll look at how MMA and boxing compare and how each one stacks up against the other in terms of safety.

Understand the ideals of each fighting sport

MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) is a combat sport that allows a wide variety of fighting techniques, from various forms of wrestling and striking to grappling and the use of weapons. Tournaments are usually organized in weight classes. Fighters are often classified according to the methods they adopt to win their fights, with some being praised as experts of submission while others are known for their striking skills or their use of leverage against an opponent.

MMA fighters train extensively in order to be effective in all areas of combat. It is not uncommon for MMA fighters to cross-train in other styles and disciplines, including boxing, jiu-jitsu, kickboxing, wrestling, muay thai and karate. Boxing involves two fighters competing against each other using their fists. The goal of the sport is knock out your opponent or make them concede by way of a judges’ decision.

Boxing was born out of the ancient Greek Olympics when competitors would fight without weapons until one man submitted or was knocked out. Modern boxing is now separated into a myriad of different weight classes, with more than one champion allowed per weight class.

Understand the training methods

More than ever, kids are taking up boxing and martial arts to learn self-defence. But is one sport safer than another?

The two sports have different rules and regulations, which change the way they’re practiced and the damage they inflict. Tearing the ACL or MCL in your knee while training is relatively common in MMA — it happens to about one in every three MMA athletes, according to a study published in the journal Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. These injuries are less prevalent in boxing, which limits grappling techniques.

Another study published in the Brazilian Journal of Physical Therapy found that MMA athletes are more likely to suffer from “shin splints,” a painful condition caused by repetitive stress on the tibia. The most common injury for boxers is a broken hand; for MMA fighters, it’s a broken foot or ankle. Because MMA requires a wider range of motion than boxing, it’s more likely to result in muscle strains.

Boxers rely more on their fists than their feet, so foot injuries are rarer among them. A greater proportion of boxers wear headgear than do MMA fighters, who don’t tend to wear any protection beyond gloves and mouth guards. That said, head trauma is a serious concern for either sport.

The Concussion Legacy Foundation has been studying the long-term effects of repeated head blows in contact sports like football, hockey and boxing for years. Its mission is to prevent brain injuries.

The study found that amateur boxers are the most likely to suffer repeated concussions. That’s because they don’t wear protective head gear during training sessions — unlike professional fighters.

Boxing’s governing body, USA Boxing, has changed its rules to help protect fighters. It now requires competitors to wear headgear while sparring at all levels of competition, including local tournaments and the Olympics. Mixed martial arts (MMA) also has changed its rules in recent years.

They also must undergo blood testing to check for signs of brain damage caused by repeated blows to the head.

“There is no safe way to get your brain hit,” said Dr. Charles Bernick, a neurologist who studies concussions at Cleveland Clinic’s Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas, Nev. “But we have made tremendous progress in making contact sports safer.”

Consider injury risks with each sport

MMA has a reputation as an extremely violent sport, and to be sure, the injury rate in MMA is high compared to other sports. However, is it really that much higher than boxing? Which combat sport is safer?

We’ll start by looking at the injury rates in boxing and MMA as a whole before we break out specific injuries in each sport. According to data from the National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research, there were 462 documented “catastrophic” injuries in boxing from 1990 through 2005. That works out to about 5.7 injuries per 100,000 participants per year. It’s worth noting that some of these injuries were suffered by amateur boxers; most of these injuries occurred during professional fights.

Injuries sustained in boxing are often the result of a direct blow to the head. Although helmets are used in amateur matches and professionals typically wear mouthpieces, serious head injuries can still occur. The risk of brain damage is heightened when a fighter takes repeated blows to the head without wearing a helmet.

A study published on the Neurology Journal found that fighters who trained in boxing were at higher risk for brain damage than those who trained in other combat sports. Additionally, boxers who receive more hits during a match are significantly more likely to develop chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) later in life.

Many boxers wear hand wraps to protect their hands from injuries such as cuts, swelling and sprains, but injuries can still occur if their hands are not wrapped tightly enough. Heavy punches can cause bones in their hands to break or chip, resulting in serious pain and permanent damage.

A study of 60 MMA fighters found that just 1 percent suffered head trauma and 6 percent suffered brain trauma during training. The numbers were significantly higher for boxers: 19 percent had head trauma and 27 percent had brain trauma during training. In fights themselves, there’s a similarly wide gap between the two styles. A survey of doctors who worked at ringside for over 100 MMA events found only 1 percent of bouts resulted in head injury. By comparison, 20 percent of boxing matches resulted in head injuries.

Although the safety measures and attire differ, either sport can be incredibly dangerous if you are not careful.

The debate over which is safer, MMA or boxing, is one of the most hotly contested arguments in fight sports. The reason for this is that both sports have their individual risks and rewards. Because of this, choosing which sport to focus on should be based on your own personal goals.

Although it might seem that the rules would make MMA more dangerous than boxing, you must also take into consideration how much padding each sport provides. MMA fighters wear gloves with open fingers, whereas boxers wear padded gloves that protect their forearms from injury as well as their hands from being broken by a direct hit.

Despite the difference in protection, either sport can be incredibly dangerous if you are not careful. Both sports involve participants trying to knock out their opponents or force them to submit by placing extreme amounts of pressure on their necks and joints. Injuries occur all too frequently in both sports.

While both boxing and MMA have had their share of controversy regarding fighter safety, I think it’s safe to say that the two sports are not identical. There are some real arguments for both sides, but ultimately you’ll have to decide what risks you’re willing to take when you strap on those gloves.

NOTE: The content provided is for informational use only. It is not a substitute for professional insurance guidance or medical advice.

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