Whether you’re new to Mixed Martial Arts or you’re looking for expert training to prepare you for a match, it’s important to select the right MMA gyms. Yet finding a promising combination of chemistry, expertise, and equipment nearby can prove to be a challenge.
Thankfully, there are a few ways you can narrow down the list before you spend an exorbitant amount of time and money on gym fees and trial and error. This guide will detail everything you should look for while compiling your list of options, no matter your experience level.
So grab a pencil and pen, and get ready for this crash training course in choosing the right MMA gyms.
Quality Matters When Choosing the Right MMA Gyms
Why is your choice in MMA gyms so important? This isn’t like joining your local fitness gym. There’s a lot to consider beyond the monthly membership fee and what equipment is lying around.
When it comes to MMA, the right training is everything. From your experience and performance to your very safety, there is a lot that depends upon the quality of the MMA gym and instructors you choose.
If you’re serious about your training and are planning to compete, this can mean the difference between a win and a Total Knockout, or TKO.
If you’re just looking for a place to learn and get fit, your decision should consider what suits your lifestyle and protects your overall health while teaching you practical fighting skills.
So how do you identify the best fit for you? There is a checklist of things to consider, which we cover below.
Evaluate a Gym’s Reputation
First and foremost, you want to check out an MMA gym’s reputation. Start by making a list of all the local gyms, then begin digging to see what you can find out about them online.
Check their reviews on Google and Social Media. While you’re at it, see what other people are saying about them.
- Is it a popular gym?
- Who teaches or trains there?
- What experience and training is behind their instructors?
- Do they offer the expertise you’re looking for?
As you look into an MMA gym’s specialties, background, and reputation, you’ll get a better idea of whether they’re worth a visit or if you can strike them off your list before you even pick up the phone.
Narrow Down a Locale that Suits Your Lifestyle
Now let’s talk commute. Measure not only the distance from your home or business to these gyms, but also how that commute will fit into your life routine.
Unless you’re a full time MMA fighter, you’re going to have to consider your day job along with the few spare hours you have after the workday to spend with friends and family.
MMA is a sport that requires commitment. You aren’t going to get far by dropping in once a week. Expect to find a place that fits within your personal schedule and priorities.
Chances are many of these locations will start to drop off your list when you factor this in. This is why it’s good to measure these aspects first. It will save you a lot of time and unnecessary research when you identify your own expectations from the get-go.
Find a Community that You Fit Into
At this point, you’ll want to start trying out MMA gyms firsthand. Try to find a place that has chemistry. We don’t mean romance, but rather the kind that is evident when you visit and also suits your level and personality.
No gym is a good gym if you don’t fit in there. Even Mark Munoz, a Middleweight UFC Fighter, emphasizes the importance of chemistry. It has to feel like a family in a way that members and instructors alike are supportive of one another.
Rivalries can become poisonous if it loses that familial element. Find an MMA gym with a community you trust and that you feel comfortable openly communicating yourself within.
In a positive and encouraging environment, you will learn to thrive.
Go Where You Can Grow
Speaking of thriving, you may not be a newbie to MMA. If you’re experienced in the sport, you’ll have to do some extra homework.
Identify your weaknesses and find a gym whose mentors or teachers can help you strengthen them. This is especially important if you intend to compete or fight professionally.
If you currently have a match scheduled, consider your competition and what you need to learn in order to gain the upper hand. Once you identify that, you can seek the right trainer to help you get there.
The difference between a good mentor or a good team can mean the difference between dominating or being sorely unprepared and outmatched.
Avoid Unhealthy Sparring
Lastly, find a place that fosters personal growth, not an increase in your medical bills. Sometimes all the right gear and Yudansha Fightwear isn’t enough to protect you in a poor sparring match.
A good trainer doesn’t push his or her students to go “all out” in a sparring match against one another. There are ways to pour yourself out in a sparring match without injuring your fellow students and friends.
If your instructor isn’t facilitating that, you’re at the wrong MMA gym. Not even the pros are keen on beating each other to a pulp outside of the octagon cage. You’re there to learn, not break bones.
Save the heavy action for the ring.
Don’t Be Afraid to Try Something New
Narrowing down the list of MMA gyms in your area can help you save a lot of time and money. However, if you aren’t sure which option on that list is truly the best, don’t be afraid to take them on a “test drive”.
Go for a few sessions, feel the gym out, and see which option is right for you.
If you’re not sure where to start your search, try the US Business Search Database. This and other search engines can help you put together a list of prospect gyms to scope out.