Issue 055
October 2009
Professional fighter Rosi Sexton is a sports therapist and osteopath-in-training. She has fought in countries such as the UK, Russia, Canada and the USA, and is ranked as one of the top competitors in her weight class. For more information contact her by email at [email protected] or go to: www.rosisexton.wordpress.com/sports-therapy.
I want to start training MMA. How do I go about finding a gym to train at?
Start by finding out what is available in your local area or within reasonable traveling distance. This might be through word of mouth, adverts in magazines or local newspapers, or online. Make a list. It is also worth considering related combat sports clubs, such as boxing, Muay Thai, wrestling, judo or Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Once you have some options, go and take a look at a few different places. Watch a few classes or, better still, try some out.
What should I look for at an MMA club? I don’t know much about the sport, so how do I know where is best?
This depends on what you are looking for. Do you want somewhere you can train a few nights a week and get fit, or are you looking to become a top professional fighter? There is no ‘best’ gym to train at – it is all about finding the place that is right for you.
Firstly, you want somewhere where you like the atmosphere. Is this somewhere you would be happy training? Talk to the coaches and other members, and watch how they interact. Is it mainly a gym for fighters, or are they welcoming to anyone who just wants to come along and train?
Look at the class structure and the coaching style. How is information conveyed? Does the coach go round and help people out, or does he demonstrate once and then go back to his mobile-phone conversation? Do you like what you see? Would you enjoy doing the class?
If you think you might want to compete at some stage, either amateur or professional, talk to people there about the club’s attitude towards competition. Do they have members who compete regularly?
There’s a club I like, but the sparring looks a bit hard for me. I saw one guy get cut, and I’m worried about getting injured.
MMA is a contact sport, and there will always be some degree of risk involved. There are different opinions about how hard fighters should spar in training. The acceptable level of contact varies from gym to gym, and should also depend on the level of the people sparring, but if you see people getting injured or cut on a regular basis then you should probably look elsewhere. If you have concerns then talk to the coach and see if you’re happy with the response you get.
I’ve found a small club I’m happy at, but my friend thinks it would be better to train at a gym with lots of well-known fighters.
It’s true that a proven track record of producing top-level fighters can often be a good sign. But look a bit deeper. Are they successful because they’re only interested in people who are talented fighters? Do they have a ‘sink or swim’ attitude, or can they also get good results from people who might not have so much natural ability?
What’s a reasonable amount to pay for an MMA class?
The going rate varies depending on where in the country you are, the facility you are training at and the level of coaching available. A single class can cost anywhere from a couple of bucks to $15 or more. Many gyms have monthly payment options, where a fixed amount covers you for all the classes. Find out whether you’ll be required to sign a contract for a set period, or whether you can cancel your monthly payments whenever you decide to stop training.
Are there any qualifications I can expect an MMA coach to have?
No. At the moment there are no widely accepted coaching qualifications. The best way to check on a coach’s credibility is to ask other people within the MMA scene. Internet forums can be a good source of information and advice, but don’t believe everything you read!
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