Become the Fighter Within
January, the month when we set out to improve ourselves with New Year’s resolutions, is the perfect time to start training in mixed martial arts (MMA). MMA is a full-contact combat sport that incorporates elements of fighting styles and martial arts from around the world. It is a sport based on self-discipline and confidence as well as physical skill and the benefits of the sport will spill over into almost every aspect of your life.
Why should you study MMA?
Like all martial arts, MMA incorporates mental training as well as physical. Students of MMA are required to manage their emotions during training and sparring matches, and a major component to MMA is learning how to fight fairly and with careful, practiced moves. How many of us could survive a first fight without panicking? With MMA, you’ll learn to keep your confidence and defend yourself with honor and quiet grace.
At the same time, MMA is excellent exercise. Combining moves and elements of karate, tae kwon-do, judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, students gain strength, stamina and flexibility. As an added bonus, you can have the satisfaction of knowing you can use these moves to defend yourself someday, which gives the training an added incentive over standard sports like running or weight-training.
MMA is open to both genders, as well as children and adults. That means that no matter your age or gender, MMA is open to you, so long as you bring a dedication and a willingness to train hard.
Best places to train
MMA training centers can be found the world over, and there may be one in your community, where you can attend regular classes and even some local tournaments.
However, if you want to immerse yourself in the true MMA culture, the place to go is Thailand. Having a base knowledge of Muay Thai kickboxing will stand you in excellent stead for MMA, and Thailand, Phuket is the place to learn. Beautiful beaches host training camps run by champions, at a fraction of the price that you find back home. There, you will find many training camps that are dedicated to providing students with a traditional MMA learning experience. There, you will meet participants from all over the world, united by a desire to practice the art in its purest form. Being around like-minded people will motivate you to dedicate yourself to your training and help you hone the skills you need. While there are training camps all over Thailand, the best region to find them is in Phuket. Some of the best camps and training centers include Sinbi Muay Thai, Tiger Muay Thai, Superpro Samui, , and Island Muay Thai.
Many of these camps also host regional MMA champions as regulars or instructors, so you will have the added bonus of being inspired by them. They also run many local and national tournaments, where you can either observe or take part.
Make it happen
While Thailand may be far away, don’t miss this opportunity to start training! To raise the funds, you can look into the possibility of working remotely, picking up some extra shifts before you leave, or by selling your stuff on musicMagpie to make quick cash, since you won’t need it while you’re training.
Once you’ve made it to Thailand, get ready for the martial arts adventure of a lifetime. And now when you watch the MMA World Expo in February, you’ll be able to say, “I can definitely kick that high.”
Matt Morgan