Becoming a better fighter doesn’t mean just working out more frequently. There are a wide variety of ways in which you can become a better fighter. In this article, we will discuss tips on how to become a better athlete whilst avoiding any pitfalls at the same time.

1. Training once (or twice) a day

Training frequently is a very obvious necessity when training to become a fighter. This is not only because becoming a fighter requires a large amount of fitness as well as dedication, but it also requires a wide variety of skills too. This means that frequent training to solidify your skills is one of the most important parts of becoming a better fighter.

However, making sure that there is a balance between training and training too hard is struck. This is because training more than twice per day can lead to injury for the fighter and therefore slow their growth rate. Remember, your body and mind can only handle so much and you have to ensure that a healthy balance for you is made.

TOP TIP: Turning x2 per day, for 6 days a week means that you will have completed 576 sessions!

Remember that more isn’t always better, if you train too hard, you can injure yourself or burn yourself out. The best way to stop this is to stick to a more realistic workout schedule (this is most often training 1-2 times per day maximum).

2. Control the Intensity (and Length) of Each Workout Session

Just like above, having workouts that are too intense can lead to injury. This is because your body can only take too much (as well as your mind) and you need to strike a good balance between working hard and working too hard.

This means that planning different levels of intensities for your workout is essential in order to improve. Making sure that:

• High-intensity activities are conducted in small, shorter bursts
• Low-intensity activities are done for longer periods of time

Keeping up this type of regimen is important to make sure you not only don’t get injured but also that you have a balance created between working out.

Working out, eating right, taking the right supplements, and making sure you rest the appropriate amounts are essential to progressing as a fighter.

3. Warming Up Before a Workout

This is essential for any workout, not just for fighters. It might not be the most exciting part of a workout, but warming up is the most important part of a workout. It helps to loosen up your joints, muscles and helps your capillaries and lungs open and your body temperature to increase too.

Warming up prevents injuries too. This means that a typical 5-10 minute warm-up session can prevent long-term injuries which could potentially halt your growth as a fighter.

Take a look at the video below for a quick video on how to warm up for MMA:

4. Focusing on Your Breathing

Catching your breath is more important than you think. Breathing correctly might be overlooked, but it can help increase your stamina as well as reduce stress, and help you get stronger too.

Breath is the foundation for many movements as it can help prepare your body for a fight as well as reducing stress and reducing your heart rate too. This can help a fighter choose the correct moves as well as keep a level head during a fight.

Many fighters use breathing as the fundamental part of their fighting technique. Some of the more well-known fighters who use breathing are:

1. Bruce Lee
2. Rickson Gracie
3. & Many other elite martial artists

Check out this article below for some breathing techniques that will help your skills as a fighter as well as help reduce stress and aid calmness too:

11 Breathing Techniques to Help Reduce Stress, Calm Your Mind and Relax Your Body

5. Eating Well!

This should be a given! Food is your fuel and can also be a poison. This means that ensuring that the right food is one of the best ways to build your condition on top of working out frequently.

Men’s Health suggests that:

“Carbs are a mainstay. It gives them sustained energy for the session,” explained Algieri. He said that sparring sessions can last anywhere from 60 to 90 minutes, and since guys don’t eat during (they take hits to the gut) they need to make sure and be primed with the right fuel beforehand…

“For dinner, it’s a lot of protein. Protein is especially important to help recover muscles faster,” said Algieri, “I try and change up the protein source every night. So one night might be salmon, another shrimp, roasted chicken, sushi… and then once or twice a week some red meat. Sundays are usually steak or hamburger night.”

6. Take Some Time Off

Sometimes, we all need a break. Even professional fighters take breaks from their dedicated schedule. This means that well-planned days off can help you deal with the rigorous training schedules and create a balance in your life.

Taking time off can also help you stay consistent with your training schedules too and perhaps even help you get back on the horse after you feel exhausted.

Final Thoughts?

Becoming a better fighter isn’t just a case of working harder and longer, it can be a large variety of different things. Make sure that you not only work out and warm up but also take time off and strike a balance in your life and you’ll start developing as a fighter in no time. It also is important to make sure you train using high quality kickboxing gloves and equipment that will prevent the risk of injury and last a long time.

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