| Training process | | | | opposite knee. The side kick, the strongest of the |
| When training for an MMA fight, a fighter has to focus | | | | three, is performed by keeping your foot flexed as |
| on a number of factors. The obvious concerns are | | | | you kick out, and it is meant to strike the body. |
| speed, stamina, strength, power, agility, and flexibility. | | | | The clinch |
| Another important point to consider is the fact that | | | | Clinch fighting is an integral part of the MMA fighter |
| most fighters are put on a strict diet during their intense | | | | basics, because it allows a fighter to reduce the |
| training. Speed, stamina and agility will keep the fighter | | | | success of his opponent's kicks, punches, knees, |
| on his toes, allowing him to dodge an opponent's | | | | elbows, or any combination of actions by tying him up |
| attacks, perform successful counterattacks and | | | | and restricting his movements and performance -- not |
| maintain enough energy to withstand the fight, while | | | | to mention that it makes it possible for fighters to get |
| also storing energy to make sure he doesn't lose due | | | | to know their opponents on an entirely different level. |
| to exhaustion. Strength, power and flexibility are what | | | | The clinch is also a good way for a fighter to take his |
| the fighter will need to work on to improve his punching | | | | opponent to the ground by utilizing a takedown or a |
| and kicking force, while flexibility will also make it | | | | throw. Fighting styles trained for the clinch consist of |
| possible to maneuver around an opponent who is | | | | Greco Roman wrestling, Judo, Sambo, and some |
| trying to submit him. Strength is also key among mixed | | | | Muay Thai for striking purposes while in a clinch. A |
| martial arts fighter basics, as it means a fighter will not | | | | clinch can be initiated either standing up or on the |
| get thrown down easily when wrestling with an | | | | ground. |
| opponent. | | | | Best practice: Wrestling |
| MMA fighter basics fall into three main categories, all of | | | | The best way to practice clinching is by learning how |
| them important components of any MMA fighter's | | | | to wrestle -- a basic understanding of it will do. The |
| training: stand-up fighting, clinch ability and ground game. | | | | best styles to practice are Greco Roman and |
| Stand-up fighting | | | | freestyle wrestling, which will train a fighter to excel at |
| Stand-up fighting focuses on training a fighter's ability in | | | | the clinch. This can best be done by working with a |
| punching, kicking, elbowing, and kneeing in order to go | | | | partner because a clinch requires two people to get |
| toe-to-toe with an opponent while exchanging blows -- | | | | close and tie each other up by locking arms. The more |
| although some fighters might prefer one striking action | | | | you practice, the better you'll get. |
| over others. Any discussion of MMA fighter basics | | | | Ground game |
| would be incomplete without mention of footwork | | | | Ground game is an important element of MMA fighter |
| training, which will help the fighter dodge an opponent's | | | | basics, because this is where submissions will take |
| attacks, and possibly land a devastating attack of his | | | | place. Submitting an opponent and submission |
| own. Stand-up fighting will train a fighter in a multiple | | | | defenses are very crucial to a fighter's ground game. If |
| array of disciplines, including kickboxing, full-contact | | | | a fighter does not know how to perform a submission |
| karate, Kendo, Kung-Fu, Muay Thai, and even boxing. | | | | and defend against submission attempts, then his |
| The disciplines a fighter chooses to focus on will | | | | career as an MMA fighter will not last very long. The |
| depend on his preferences. Generally, however, MMA | | | | most important discipline for a fighter's ground game is |
| fighters will have an extensive knowledge of | | | | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, as this style's main focus is on |
| kickboxing, Muay Thai and boxing. | | | | submissions and submission defense, while also |
| Best practice: Kickboxing | | | | promoting training to maintain a dominant ground |
| The most basic way to learn stand-up techniques is | | | | control position and improvement on ground game |
| by practicing kickboxing. An MMA fighter basic, | | | | altogether. Other disciplines associated with the ground |
| kickboxing involves all the fundamental actions that an | | | | game are catch wrestling, shoot wrestling, Judo, and |
| amateur fighter needs to work on, especially punching | | | | Sambo. |
| and kicking, the two main components in stand-up | | | | Best practice: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu |
| fighting. | | | | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is arguably the one element that |
| The first step is to get into a fighting stance, with one | | | | defines the ground game, and this is why virtually all |
| arm up to protect your face and the other arm a little | | | | MMA fighters train in it. The mounted position is a basic |
| lower to protect your body. In your fighting stance, you | | | | technique for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. This is when, on the |
| will practice your basic fighting techniques. First is a jab, | | | | ground, one fighter gets on top of his opponent for |
| which is a straight punch using the arm on the same | | | | optimal control; there is also a side mount and a back |
| side as your lead foot. Next is a cross punch, which is | | | | mount. Submissions are done in these mount positions, |
| a punch from your rear hand (if you are standing with | | | | so it is crucial to practice your mounting skills along with |
| your right foot forward than your left hand is your | | | | these other MMA fighter basics in order to succeed in |
| cross hand). Then there is a hook shot, a punch | | | | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA in general.the ultimate |
| thrown in a circular motion with your lead hand, and an | | | | workout |
| uppercut, which is an upward punch with your fist | | | | A pre-fight training regimen usually starts months prior |
| pointed up. | | | | to a fight, and it will put a fighter through an extremely |
| The kicking consists of a front kick -- this is a kick | | | | tough workout that tests him in every way humanly |
| executed with the heel of the foot, and can be | | | | possible. An MMA fighter's basic training doesn't end at |
| performed with either foot. Next is the roundhouse | | | | just practicing stand-up, clinch and ground fighting, |
| kick, which is a circular kick that can be done on every | | | | though these are key aspects of any MMA fighter's |
| length of the body, from the knee to the head. It's | | | | training. There is still more work that a fighter must do |
| recommended that a roundhouse kick be executed | | | | in order to be a top-notch contender. |
| using your lead leg so that less stress is placed on the | | | | |