Hard work and discipline are the key ingredients to obtain success in MMA! It will also be beneficial if you have a background in a discipline related to MMA such as wrestling or boxing. Regardless of your experience, here are 4 excellent tips for those new to MMA.

Tip #1: Be patient when you are new to MMA

If you have never learned to throw a punch properly, it might be too optimistic to think you’ll be a professional cage fighter in a month; however, there is no reason to take the other extreme view either. If you’re waiting until you’re an expert in everything, be prepared to wait a very long time. Hopefully you will have a good coach who can help you decide when you will be ready to jump in the ring or cage.

I constantly have guys coming into the gym telling me they want to be in the UFC and make money fighting. While I commend these people for setting lofty goals, few of them follow through. They lack the patience and discipline necessary to reach their goal.

Tip #2: Get your sparring in

The one area you should not neglect when training for a MMA competition is sparring. The principle of Specificity states: the best way to get better at something is to do that particular thing. It’s a very simple concept, yet too many miss it. If your goal is to increase your number of pushups, then do more pushups. If you want to improve your fighting ability, then fight. If you are serious about MMA competition, you should be sparring at least 2-3 times per week. This should be done only when you are ready and under the supervision of a qualified coach.

Tip #3: Don’t be a jack of all trades

You know the expression! While you should constantly be working to improve your weaker areas, there should be one area that you are very comfortable in. This way you can use your expertise to your advantage. Take a look at two famous MMA fighters, Matt Serra and Chuck Liddell. Both fighters are strong in all areas but it would be silly for most fighters to want to grapple with Matt Serra. Those going up against Chuck Liddell will most likely avoid staying in the pocket and trading blows.

Tip #4: Compete as much as you can

The more you compete the better. Many high school and collegiate wrestlers do very well in grappling competitions because, partly, they are so familiar with dealing with their nervous energy before a tournament. I have entered many tournaments including submission grappling, BJJ, and judo. While this competition experience had value in and of itself, I’ll also feel slightly more comfortable in MMA because of it.

As a final note, I want to congratulate you for beginning to train for MMA. It is very rewarding, regardless of your skill level. As you continue to practice you will develop yourself both physically and mentally. Soon you will become a more resilient and skilled fighter. Good Luck!

BJJ Instructor reveals the best way to achieve your next
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu belt:

Italian physicist, astronomer, mathematician, and philosopher Galileo Galilei once said, “You cannot teach a man anything. You can only help him find it within himself.” I wish I discovered Galileo’s wise words when I first began my Jiu-Jitsu journey. To move up the ranks in BJJ, I recommend the following tips:

Tip #1:Find an academy that you enjoy going to

You are going to be spending a lot of time at the academy. If you’re not comfortable, it’s not going to work. Make sure your training partners are interested in the well being of the whole team, not just who can “tap” whom. Look for an academy that has instructors and higher belts that are eager to answer any questions you might have.

Tip #2:Train consistently

This tip is quite obvious but many practitioners still miss it. The students that get better are the ones who train hard but also are those that stick around for the long term. It’s obviously better to train 2-3 times per week for years than it is to train everyday for months.

All too often individuals join up, come almost every day for one to three months and then they disappear. They experience either physiological or psychological burnout. Their intentions are good but it’s too much, both mentally and physically. I recommend that beginners train 2-3 times per week.

To be a successful BJJ practitioner, you must be long-term minded. While there are short cuts and more efficient ways to do things, it still will take many years to achieve greatness.

Tip #3: Spar frequently

This is better known in BJJ as “rolling.” Without it, you’ll never get to that next level. When your instructors are looking to promote you, they want to see that you have knowledge of techniques and that you can put them into action in a live situation (during rolling or a competition).

Tip#4: Participate in Competitions

While competitions aren’t for everyone, it can be a great way to test your self against students of comparable skill level from other schools. Even losing in competition can be just as important as winning in the long run. I’ve learned some lessons in tournaments that I never would’ve learned just rolling at the academy. For me, the main benefits of competing are that it forces me to train harder and prevents me from becoming lazy with respect to my training.

Tip #5: Practice drills and positions

When you repeat a move or position enough, it becomes second nature. When sparring, competing, or in a self-defense situation, instinct will take over. Instinct is much quicker than thinking about your next move. Trust me, you will be amazed by when you find yourself in a situation where you didn’t think, and suddenly you made the right move…it just happened.

Practicing attacking and defending from certain positions will be vital to your progress. While you may end up escaping from cross side during a match, you’ll more likely to escape from cross side if you have been practicing drills of “escaping from side control” during a one hour class. The students who skip the drills because they aren’t as fun as rolling are making a mistake.

If you follow these guidelines you will have no choice but to get better and move up the ranks. While it’s important to set goals, don’t forget to enjoy the process. Train hard and train smart.

*This is going to be an evolving article. I plan on adding to it as well as offer specific product recommendations.

With the right equipment you can optimize your training and more importantly stay safe. The following pieces of information pertaining to mixed martial arts training equipment would be a great place to start.

A gi

While you don’t need a gi to train for MMA, there are great benefits to training with one. For example: training with a gi can help you improve your hip movement, posture, and defense. Additionally, the main reason I train with the gi is the immense pleasure I get out of it; however, if you have an MMA fight or a submission grappling (where no gi is required) match coming up, I suggest you take the gi off when training.

Boxing gloves

Boxing gloves are so important for your mixed martial arts training equipment arsenal because you will need them to do much of your stand up training. This includes bag work, hitting pads, and sparring. 16 ounce gloves should be ideal to start with.

Don’t make the mistake of not having hand wraps in your mixed martial arts training equipment bag!

Always wear hand wraps when boxing. The human hand has at least 27 bones and they need to be protected. Using hand wraps can help prevent injuries like a broken hand, a sprained wrist, or a sprained thumb. These injuries and other similar ones can seriously hamper if not end your competitive boxing or MMA career.

Mouth piece

I would strongly encourage you to wear a mouth piece whether grappling or striking. A mouth piece may be the most valuable piece of mixed martial arts training equipment you will have. A mouth guard can help you keep your teeth in your mouth, prevent cuts in your mouth from your teeth, and protect your jaw. It is a good habit to wear your mouth piece at all times during training just to get used to breathing with one.

The possession of proper tools will make your training much safer and more enjoyable. Now go put that mixed martial arts (MMA) training equipment to good use with some intense training.

Mixed martial arts training videos are an effective tool to enhance your training. The majority of your training should come from a qualified instructor; however, many fighters admit that videos are helpful to learn additional techniques. In fact, former UFC middleweight champion, the late Evan Tanner claimed to learn many of his skills through training videos.

How to use Mixed Martial Arts training videos

There are many options on how you can use videos to your advantage. I have spent hours on my couch watching training videos. I sat with a pen and pad and took notes pertaining to those videos. I have even watched videos with a training partner and paused it after each move to practice the skill. You need to figure out which strategy works best for you.

Which Martial Arts Training Videos Should You Buy?

Your martial arts video library can consist of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu instructionals, strength and conditioning videos, and MMA training videos. You may also consider buying videos of actual fights to see how techniques can be applied against highly trained fighters.

Check out the instructor before you buy

Make sure the instructor is qualified and if you can, get a referral. Before buying the videos, consider the following:

• What is the instructor’s background?
  If it is a BJJ video, what is the instructor’s rank and who is it under? Do they have a competition history? If it’s a strength and conditioning video, what are the instructor’s qualifications? Who have they worked with and what is their educational background?
• Clever marketing or the real deal?
  Unfortunately, some people use their marketing and influence skills to take advantage of others. They can do this by overcharging and/or under-delivering and selling with emotional persuasion. The good news is that many people in the martial arts field have integrity and those that do not are exposed quickly.

Using Mixed Martial Arts training videos to supplement your training might be a good idea. As long as they do not take away from your primary training with your instructor, videos can give you the extra edge that you have been looking for.

I’ve personally invested in numerous educational and instructional videos over the years including Dynamic Guard Sweeps and Introducing Yoga for Martial Arts, both found on the Grapplearts website.

The Best Ways to Practice Grappling
Learning from and training with some of the best grapplers in the world, I have been taught some really effective ways to practice grappling. As with most things, there are better and more efficient ways to train and learn. Following are the three major ways to learn grappling:

Practice grappling by “repping moves.”

Once you watch someone (your instructor) perform a technique several times you should imitate it as much as possible. This will embed the technique in your brain and help you to retrieve it when needed. You should practice each position until you can do it perfectly without even thinking about it. Make sure to practice on both sides. As you improve, your partner can gradually add some resistance to you.

Specific training drills

Once you know certain techniques, you can practice from specific positions. For example: if you know 3 mount escapes, start your training with your partner mounted over you. Your objective is to escape back to full guard or reverse your partner while they are trying to maintain their position and/or submit you. You can keep re-starting from this position until a predetermined amount of time (perhaps 3 minutes) has expired and then switch positions. You can get even more specific and start with your training partner’s knees high in your armpits to make it more difficult to escape.

Live Rolling

Live rolling is an all out match where you are trying to do your best against your partner without injuring them. It usually begins on the ground from the knees or from a standing position. This is where you put everything together and live rolling is a key component to your success as a grappler, especially if you’re preparing for a contest.

Repping techniques, doing positional drills, and live rolling are some of the best ways to practice grappling. You can actually use these methods in the order listed for optimal results.

Serra BJJ brown belt and strength expert Billy Hofacker reveals the best ways to strengthen your forearms, wrists, and hands without the use of fancy grip strength equipment:

Forearm, wrist, and hand strength are crucial to the success of a combat athlete. Strength in these areas will allow you to crush your opponent when grappling. You will also be able to hit hard when boxing with a lower risk of injuring your wrist or hand.

New grip strength equipment is constantly being invented and marketed to combat athletes and others who desire a strong grip. The truth is that it doesn’t really matter which tools you use. The muscles that you use for gripping don’t know the difference between a $200 piece of grip strength equipment and towel used to hang and do pull-ups from.

Consider performing some of these exercises 2-3 times per week:

Crushing grip strength exercises-This is the type of strength someone with a very firm hand shake has.

Example: Squeezing a tennis ball-While this is very basic, it’s a great place to start if you are new to gripping exercises. It’s also one of the cheapest pieces of grip strength equipment.

(Click Here to Watch Video)Pinching grip strength-This is the type of grip where your fingers are on one side of the object and your thumb is on the other.

Example: Plate pinch grips-Take two weight lifting plates and position them so the smooth sides are facing out. Pinch the plates together without letting them slip. Hold for a given amount of time. Start with lighter plates (2.5-10) and work your way up to heavier (25 or higher) ones.

  Holding grip strength- This type of gripping refers to holding onto an object for a period of time and requires muscular endurance.

Example: Farmers Walk-Hold a dumbbell or other heavy object in each hand and travel a distance holding onto the objects. For more effectiveness, increase the diameter of the object (use a thicker handle or wrap w/ a towel).

 

(Click Here to Watch Video)*Here are some of my favorite exercises for hand, forearm, and wrist strength as well as wrist stability (you’ll notice that all the exercises use very basic grip strength equipment).

Towel or gi pull-ups-Simply perform a pull-up but instead of hanging from a bar, hang from a towel or gi

 

  (Click Here to Watch Video)Gi rows- Straddle over a partner who is wearing a gi. Grip a lapel in each hand and perform a rowing motion. Keep you back arched and not rounded.

 

  (Click Here to Watch Video)Fingertip pushup- I first started doing this great exercise during my high school and college hoops playing days. It is wonderful for developing finger and wrist strength. I got to a point where I was easily doing them on 3 fingers. For this exercise, perform a regular pushups but on your fingertips rather than flat hands.

 

  (Click Here to Watch Video)Knuckle Pushups- Again, you don’t need elaborate grip strength equipment. There are so many great pushup variations and this is another. Perform regular pushups but in this case do them on your knuckles. This exercise is great for wrist stability.

 

  (Click Here to Watch Video)Wrist Curls- Position arms over bench or thighs so wrists are hanging off while holding a bar. Using the muscles in your wrist and forearm, flex your wrists. Lower and repeat. You can also do the same motion with your palms facing down. These are called reverse wrist curls and work the other side of the forearm.

 

  (Click Here to Watch Wrist Curls Video)

OR…  (Click Here to Watch Reverse Curls Video)Plate curls- These are excellent for the wrists, forearms, and fingers. They are also harder than they look. Do the same movement as above but this time hold a plate between your fingers and thump. The plate shouldn’t be resting in your palm.

 

  (Click Here to Watch Video)I suggest working on your grip strength about 2 times per week. You can pick a few of these exercises and perform them as a circuit. For example:

1. Squeezing tennis ball-2 min.
2. Finger tip pushup*10
3. Knuckle pushup*10
4. Wrist curl*10

Repeat 3 times

Or you can pick 3-4 exercises and perform 3 sets each before moving to the next exercise. Try to include the different types of gripping strength throughout the week. Also, some of the workouts can be more intense than others (heavier weight, more reps, longer holds, etc.).

Don’t forget the Principle of Specificity

The ultimate piece of strength training equipment is the one you use for what you are actually trying to get better at. The Principle of Specificity states that if you want to get better at something, do that thing.

For example: if you want stronger grips for gi grappling, then practice grapping with the gi, etc

 

Explanation Of Chokes Video

3 Chokes Video

Sweep Choke Video

 

Now get your simple grip strength equipment and get to gripping!

Top Fitness Expert reveals a circuit training program for grappling and martial arts:

Circuit training is a form of exercise in which both muscular and aerobic endurance is increased. A group of activities are strung together (a circuit) and are completed for a given number of times or are completed for a specific amount of time.

Your options for creating a grappling and martial arts based circuit are infinite. Grappling and martial arts circuits can include body weight resistance exercises, aerobic exercises, dumbbell exercises, machine based exercises, kettlebell exercises, partner resistance exercises, isometric exercises, and sport specific exercises.

Why should grapplers and combat athletes incorporate circuit training into their routine?

You don’t need fancy equipment- Your body doesn’t know the difference between you running on a $5,000 treadmill or running on a grass field.

Time efficiency- One of the most common struggles combat athletes face is balancing skill training with conditioning. There’s only so much time available to train so it’s important to get the most bang for your buck; Circuit training will certainly do that.

Specificity- These workouts can be structured to include sport specific exercises. For example, a grappler can throw in a set of sprawls or resisted shots into their routine.

Program design for circuit training - Although a sample workout will be included, I’ve provided some tips on creating your own grappling and martial arts circuit training routine. There are many variables (which can be altered) to consider. These include: exercise selection, frequency, rest time, length of each circuit, length of workout, repetitions, and resistance.

Frequency- This depends on your overall grappling and martial arts training program and your conditioning level. Generally, 2 or 3 of these routines per week would be great. They can be included with your other routines or on their own at a different time of day.

Exercise selection- Compound movements are a good idea because they will give you more bang for your buck. I would rather see my grappling and martial arts athletes doing a squat variation than an isolated calf raise. I also like explosive movements such as burpees for improving explosive power.

Time length- This refers to the time of the exercises, each circuit, and the whole routine. Individual exercises can vary in length anywhere from 15 seconds to 2 minutes. My grappling and martial arts circuit workouts usually last around 15-30 minutes. They are often very intense so that my 15-30 minute routine is adequate.

If I’m working with someone who is close to a fight or tournament I may try to mimic the time lengths of their upcoming bout. If they have a 3 five minute round fight coming up, we may do 3 circuits consisting of 5 minutes each.

A sample routine

Here is a sample routine I took about 15-20 of our students through recently at the Serra Academy. Keep in mind that this was done with no equipment and just mat space. This is how I concluded our Friday night competition class.

Circuit 1

15 burpees

30 seconds mountain climbers

15 hand clap pushups

Jog around mat

Circuit 2

15 diamond pushups

30 seconds of jumping jacks sprinting

10 v sit

Walk around perimeter of mat for active recovery (There were some high level athletes in this class who actually jogged this portion).

*The second circuit was performed immediately after the first circuit. I gave the class an option to perform either 3 or 5 circuits. They had already trained hard up to this point. Most of them chose to do 5 circuits. It took them only 14 minutes to complete the grappling and martial arts circuit routine.

Burpees- Start in a standing position. Squat down and put your hands on the floor in front of you. Kick your legs back into pushup position and quickly do a pushup. Without pausing, kick your legs back in and jump into the air like you’re grabbing a rebound. Repeat.

(Click Here to Watch Video)*This exercise is great for grappling and martial arts explosiveness.

Mountain Climbers- Begin in pushup position. Turn hands so fingers are facing the outside. Keep hips from rising into the air and alternate running your knees into your chest. Repeat for required repetitions.

 (Click Here to Watch Video)Hand Clap pushups- Perform a regular pushup but explode on the upward phase so that your hands leave contact with the floor and clap your hands. Lower and repeat.

(Click Here to Watch Video)Diamond Pushups- Create w “W” with your hands on the floor. Perform a pushup with your hands in this position keeping your elbows in. This movement places more emphasis on the triceps. The reason I don’t like to make an actual “diamond” with the hands is because of the added pressure to the elbows.

(Click Here to Watch Video)Jumping Jacks Sprinting- Jump to a position where your legs are spread wide and your hands are touching overhead. Jump back to the starting position with your feet close and arms at your sides. Do this as quickly as possible.

(Click Here to Watch Video)V-Sit- Sit on the floor with your hands behind you. Lean back slightly. Lift legs off the floor keeping them straight. Using your abdominal muscles, bring your knees into your chest. Extend and repeat keeping feet off the floor the entire time.

 (Click Here to Watch Video)

Although there may be many mixed martial arts New York schools around, it’s not always easy to find a quality place to train. I was fortunate enough to find the Serra Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy early on in my training career.

Finding the right academy will truly maximize your training experience. I’ve talked to numerous individuals who feel as if they’ve wasted years training at the wrong facility.

Whether you want to train Mixed Martial Arts in New York to become a professional fighter or simply want to get in great shape while learning effective self defense, the academy you train at will be a crucial component in determining your success.

Trade in your body for a new one with a variety of classes and programs

It’s always a plus to have different options. At Serra BJJ, introduction classes are offered as well as pre-beginner, beginner, and advanced BJJ classes. In addition to BJJ, there are Muay Thai kickboxing, judo, and wrestling classes available to supplement your training. Finally, there’s a kids and teens program to help developing minds and bodies build discipline and self-respect. This is all done while learning an effective form of self defense in a safe and fun environment.

One of the greatest aspects to training at Serra BJJ is your ability to mix and match classes. In other words, you aren’t locked in to one type of class. The programs are designed to supplement your BJJ training. For instance, adding in a Muay Thai class will improve your conditioning and make you a more well- rounded martial artist. Of course you are free to focus solely on BJJ as many Serra students choose to do.

As busy as I am, I need to train at a school with a flexible schedule. Since I used to train clients on certain evenings, the day classes were a perfect fit. Serra BJJ now offers classes 6 days a week with as many as 5 classes running per day spread out from morning to evening.

Unfortunately, many Mixed Martial Arts schools in New York don’t have a structured curriculum. Serra BJJ has an organized curriculum for their programs. This will enable you to meet your training goals at a much faster rate.

The importance of a comfortable training atmosphere when training Mixed Martial Arts in New York

Since the Serra Academy was started by Matt and Nick Serra (brothers), the academy still has that family atmosphere despite the school growing over the years. As soon as you walk in you get the feeling that the instructors truly care.

Not only are the instructors very helpful at Serra BJJ but the students are accommodating as well. Most of the students are willing to help out their fellow training partners in any way they can.

Minimizing risk of injury is a major goal of the Serra academy. Students only spar when a qualified instructor feels they are ready and all training is done with safety in mind first.

Make sure the academy you decide to train at is clean. The Serra academy is very sanitary which will make your experience that much safer and more enjoyable. Mats are cleaned with hospital grade disinfectant on a regular basis and the cleaning crew is always making sure the entire academy is as tidy as possible.

My journey with Serra BJJ

I started training with Matt and Nick Serra way back before they were in the UFC. I began learning from them at a dilapidated school known as “The Barn,” in Babylon, Long Island. “The Barn” had no windows and was quite dingy but the training was hardcore.

I continued training at the Serra academy throughout the start of my business, through college, and subsequently turned up my level of commitment in 2005. I began training on a daily basis and competed as much as possible.

As I evolved in my own business as well as in my BJJ career, Matt and Nick felt as if I would be a perfect fit to manage and instruct on a full time basis at their East Meadow location. They offered me the job in October of 2007 and the rest is history. I’m now as excited as ever to see what the future holds.

Serra Jiu-Jitsu academy is truly a great place to train. The atmosphere is non- intimidating and you’ll feel comfortable there immediately. For extra convenience, there are two locations. One is in Huntington and the other is in East Meadow. I honestly feel like you can’t go wrong with Serra Jiu-Jitsu.

Return Home From Mixed Martial Arts New York

In sports dominated by men, it’s not always easy for women to find their niche. Women’s Mixed Martial Arts athlete Gina Carano and female grappler Kyra Gracie have proven that women can be just as, if not more, skilled as men in combat sports. Whether you aspire to earn your living with these sports or you simply want to get into better shape while learning self defense, these sports can transform your body. In addition, these sports can empower you by instilling a sense of confidence that you can handle yourself in difficult situations.

Here are 3 tips you should consider if you’re training (or considering training) in women’s Mixed Martial Arts and/or grappling:

Tip #1: Train at an academy that you feel most comfortable in:

If you train with a serious attitude, you should be taken seriously. Don’t be intimidated by the men training there. The gym you train at should be considered an investment. Find the right one and start attending classes.

Make sure the instructors help you feel comfortable and are focused on teaching you the proper techniques. Hopefully the instructor knows enough to match you up with another female or a smaller male that will be a good partner to work with. Be proactive and try to match yourself with an appropriate partner or uki (the partner in judo that gets thrown).

Tip #2: Be prepared because Women’s Mixed Martial Arts and Grappling are sweaty sports and include a lot of body contact:

I figured I’d give you both sides of the story. You will get very sweaty, be in awkward positions, and you may find your or someone else’s hair on the mat. With that said you’ll get used to it and as long as you take a shower immediately after training you will greatly minimize your risk of a skin infection.

Here are some additional recommendations from BJJ blue belt Katerina (Kat) Kallergis:

• Wear a good sports bra
•  Wear an Under Armour long sleeve rash guard to keep sweat off and keep cool
•  Keep your hair in a tight bun
•  Use a rubberized hair tie to keep your hair out of your face (Goody makes a great no slip hair tie called Stayput)

Tip #3: Set realistic goals

Most people underestimate what they can accomplish over a long period of time (3 years or more). Whatever your goals are, realize that they are attainable with time. Create a list of things you have to accomplish to reach your goal. After you create that list, get busy getting those things (your sub-goals) done. Perhaps some of the things you need to do were mentioned in this article!

I truly feel that Mixed Martial Arts and Grappling are the greatest sports in the world. As long as you know what you’re getting into and know what precautions to take, Women’s Mixed Martial Arts and Grappling can offer you priceless benefits for the rest of your life. These benefits include strength, stamina, and the ability to defend yourself in a real life self defense situation.

Author’s note: I’d like to thank Katerina Kallergis, Ginger Paquette, and Tonya Ward for their support in writing this featured article.

Real Mixed Martial Arts Schools versus McDojos

Since the recent explosion of MMA, I’ve seen more and more “Mixed Martial Arts Schools” popping up everywhere. Some are traditional martial arts schools who are trying to capitalize on the popularity of MMA, others are schools that don’t really have a specialty and try to be all things to all people. I certainly don’t blame anybody for attempting to implement clever marketing strategies to help make a living. It’s when people start “selling out” and do questionable things like giving away belts or use false or misleading claims that it becomes a problem.

A true story

I was recently at the academy going over some things with an employee when in walks two young men in their late 20s early 30s. I found out as we began talking that neither one had ever trained in any martial art or combat sport previously. However, one guy (the more talkative of the two) wanted to see if he could set up some sparring for his friend with one of our guys.

He was convinced his friend had what it took to fight in the UFC and wanted to see if he was ready by sparring one of our guys. Again, neither of these two had ever trained. I told him what I could do is set up a private lesson to spar (just grapple), where I could evaluate his friend’s jiu-jitsu . I gave them my card and they were both very excited and said they would call immediately. Needless to say, that they never dialed my number.

These are not necessarily the prospects we’re targeting, but it comes with the territory of running a well known mixed martial arts school. We do our best to instill certain values in our students, whether they want to be the next MMA champion or just be a better person who is equipped to solve problems in their daily life more effectively.

What to look for when evaluating mixed martial arts schools

• Integrity- Mixed Martial Arts schools that have integrity understand that people are always watching them whether they realize it or not. They don’t “slack off” or do the wrong thing when no one is looking.
• Respect-Respect should be given to the students, the instructors, and the art itself. If you don’t sense there is a certain level of respect, run, don’t walk the other way.
• Happy students-One of the best ways to research a product or service is to find someone else who has experience working with that particular company. If you can find an individual similar to yourself with the same goals as you when they started, ask them about it and see what kind of vibe you get. You can even ask the company directly for references. If they don’t want to give you any, it’s not a good sign.
• Work ethic-Anything worthwhile is going to take time and effort. If someone tells you that you can earn a black belt in 1-3 years, they are probably more concerned with the “almighty dollar,” than with teaching the proper work ethic which builds character. I’d be especially weary if they ask you to pay for your belt.
• Loyalty-It seems that loyalty to instructors is becoming increasingly less common. Students who remain loyal to their school and to their instructor have a more rewarding experience than those who don’t.

Action steps for visiting mixed martial arts schools

Here are three things you can do immediately to put these ideas into action.

First, find some academies where you sense a certain level of integrity and respect. It’s worth taking your time looking into mixed martial arts schools.

Second, talk to the students at the academy. Find out what they like most about the academy and why they train there. This will help you when making your decision.

Third, Pick one of the mixed martial arts schools and join up. Start attending classes and become a loyal student.