Month: January 2019

8 Tips to Help you Succeed as an MMA Fighter

The octagon - where MMA fighters dream of victory

To say the popularity of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) has skyrocketed since UFC’s first event in November of 1993 would be an understatement. The UFC was valued at about $4 billion in 2016. It now consistently draws more pay-per-view buys than boxing and a comparable number to the WWE.

The popularity of the sport has inspired many people to start learning Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in hopes of one day stepping into the Octagon. But before you set your sights on becoming a great MMA fighter like Conor McGregor or Demetrious Johnson, let’s consider what it takes to get there. Follow these eight tips to becoming a successful MMA fighter to give yourself a shot at the glory. Be warned though—you will need to put in a LOT of hard work. Continue reading “8 Tips to Help you Succeed as an MMA Fighter”

A Guide to Cleaning Your Boxing Gear

All your ringside boxing gear stored in a locker at the gym

“The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses—behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights.” – Muhammad Ali

Don’t let countless hours of work and the money you spent on great boxing gear go to waste because you failed to take care of said gear by not cleaning it. By following our guide to cleaning your equipment, you can place most of your focus on the the journey from boxing training, that behind the lines work, to dancing under the lights on fight night.

“The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses—behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights.” – Muhammad Ali

It never hurts to consult a guy called “The Greatest” for advice in his area of expertise. Of course, in the quote above, Ali was referring to the work he did training his body day in and day out, training his mind to be able to out-think his opponents in the ring, and developing tactics and strategies suited to each opponent he faced.  But there’s another aspect of behind the scenes preparation that should be top-of-mind for boxers of all skill levels: cleaning your boxing gear. Continue reading “A Guide to Cleaning Your Boxing Gear”

9 Exercises that Will Improve Your Punching Power

Hitting the heavy bag is a key element of boxing training.

While so much of what makes a great boxer or MMA fighter is technique, speed, and mental toughness, it doesn’t hurt to have a powerful punch. No matter how the fight is going, it can turn decidedly in your favor if you can land one devastating punch.

If you’re not blessed with innate punching power, though, don’t worry. Making these nine exercises part of your boxing training program can help you improve in a big way. Continue reading “9 Exercises that Will Improve Your Punching Power”