Mar 17
Baseball Uses MMA To Get Tough
Posted by Alec in MMA News on 03 17th, 2009| icon3No Comments »

1155890_baseball_and_glove_over_white1You might not think of MMA as having anything in common with baseball, but now it does. John Baker of the Marlins’ loves MMA and he uses some of the training that MMA fighters generally do as part of his regimen to stay fit.

He also likes to fight and dabble in MMA a little, but most of his life right now is spent on baseball. Once that’s done, who knows? He’s been seen around the gym occasionally and remains a huge fan of mixed martial arts as a sport. To train for something like the MMA, people like Baker need to work with good instructors at places like the MMA Institute.

Without a good instructor and people to grapple and fight with it’s hard to know whether you’re doing things right until you get in the cage. By then it’s a bit too late if there are problems with your boxing abilities or your ground game. You need to know those things while you’re still training and before your first real fight, and the MMA Institute can address any problems that you’re having and get them corrected.

Mar 16
MMA Hits Comic Books
Posted by Alec in MMA News on 03 16th, 2009| icon3No Comments »

837211_hand_gripperApparently, MMA is getting a following in the comic book world now. It’s an independent comic, but that doesn’t mean that it won’t become more mainstream later.

As MMA becomes more popular it only seems logical that it would make its move out into more of the world, and comic books seem a logical progression for it in many ways. Fighters like it, too, because it gives MMA more exposure and brings more people around to being interested in the sport.

Not everyone will love the MMA comic books, but it might inspire more people to train for it at schools like the MMA Institute where they can get a complete training regimen or just work on one specific aspect if that’s what they prefer to do. There are always plenty of options at the MMA institute, which is one of the best things about it. It’s not enjoyable to be stuck doing only one thing with few options, and it won’t help to make you a good MMA fighter, either, because you won’t have enough versatility.

Mar 14

mccoy_mdAt the MMA Institute you can have the opportunity to train with Rick McCoy. If you’re involved in MMA circles already you probably know the name. If not, you should know that Rick McCoy is one of the best and most sought-after instructors when it comes to MMA training, mostly because he has so much skill to offer to his students.

Rick is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Sambo.  His standup and clinch game is top notch.  Whether you are looking to get into professional MMA, or just get in shape - it’s always a good idea to learn from the best.  Two of the fighters trained by Rick have been on The Ultimate Fighter.  One of them won it!

In addition, McCoy is a hands-on instructor who motivates students to work hard but who is also understanding that people have limits and all they can do is their best, however much that might be. With that being the case people who train with Rick McCoy not only get a lot of great skill and ability but they get compassion, caring, and self-confidence, which is harder to teach and still important in the MMA. It can take a long time to get ready for an MMA career, so cultivating a relationship with an instructor that you can trust and work with long-term is important to helping you develop as a fighter.

Mar 13

1022504_yoga_vectorsWhen people think of yoga they usually think of something very peaceful, but there is also fighter yoga. It is not violent in any way but it is much more deliberate than traditional yoga. It’s one of the great stills that you can learn at the MMA Institute whether you’re training for the MMA or just trying to get into better physical shape. This version of yoga works to create a balance within the body. This is done by the development of strength as well as flexibility.

Each of the yoga positions is held for a period of time and breathing is synchronized. This is a great training tool for MMA fighting because it teaches a person the importance of breathing properly as part of what makes a fighter successful. Because the positions increase flexibility for all styles of martial arts they can be used in many different ways, whether someone is training to be in the MMA or whether that person is just interested in better conditioning and better health. There is really no limit to what can be learned about fighting and fitness at the MMA Institute.

Mar 11
Judo Classes at the MMA Institute
Posted by Alec in Judo on 03 11th, 2009| icon3No Comments »

862415_challenge_If you come to the MMA Institute one of the things that you’ll likely want to take there will be Judo classes. It gives you the leverage and proper technique that you need to throw an opponent, even if he or she is much larger, bigger, and stronger than you are. That’s a very important skill to have in the MMA and for self-defense and confidence in daily life, as well.

Sweeps, throws, and take-downs are all popular in Judo and in the MMA overall. Judo is the sport form of Jui Jitsu, another popular martial art where MMA is concerned. Judo is not as dangerous and there are more rules, but it’s still very effective from an MMA standpoint and something that all MMA fighters should learn something about.

A lot of it has been modified still further for use in the MMA and also for practicality, and that makes it a good choice for all kinds of people who want to work on their submission skills, have more confidence, and be better suited to fight no matter where they are or what situation arises.

Mar 10

68976_fitness_series_3If you want to be competitive in mixed martial arts you need to take a grappling class at the MMA Institute. Grappling is one of the most important building blocks when it comes to competing in the MMA, and it’s a skill that many fighters work on for a very long time.

When you take a class at a place like the MMA Institute you have the opportunity to just keep getting better, making you harder to beat when you get into the cage. All aspects of grappling are taught by instructors at the MMA Institute, so your education in that area will be very thorough and you won’t be missing some essential part of the puzzle when you go up against your opponent.

Submissions and take-downs are vital in MMA and spending time in a grappling class can help you learn how to do them the right way, as well as what to do when you’re on the ground. There’s no substitute for good training and a lot of experience, and you can get them both at the MMA Institute.

Mar 9

674340_powerrrrNot everyone who comes to the MMA Institute does so specifically to train for a career in the MMA. Some of them are already trained fighters who just want to work on one aspect of their sport and others are just coming to train or condition themselves for better overall fitness.

One of the best ways to do that is to take a conditioning class, which the MMA Institute offers for anyone who’s interested in getting into better shape. Whether you just want to be healthier or you want to have an MMA career, it’s essential that you condition your body. It’s the only thing that you can really control in a fight, because you can’t control what kind of shape your opponent is in or what type of fighting ability he or she is going to bring to the cage.

The MMA Institute has many conditioning programs including one that is specially designed for people who are training to be MMA fighters. Tailoring the conditioning to what you’re trying to do with it can make it much more effective in the long run.

Mar 8
Easton Does D.C.
Posted by Alec in MMA News, Richmond Gyms on 03 8th, 2009| icon3No Comments »

mkeeaston1Fighter Mike Easton is coming to D.C. If you follow MMA you’ve probably heard his name and seen his record. It’s clear that he’s a serious fighter and that he’s interested in what he’s doing. He wants to win, but mostly it’s about fighting hard and doing his best.

Those are the things that are really important for him. They are the things that are important to most MMA fighters, including those who are training in schools like the MMA Institute. Not all of them will make it into the world of professional MMA, and not all of them want to. Some of them just want the skills and the enjoyment of it. Others are looking for money and fame. Whichever it is that you want it’s important to know that you can’t always get it on your own. That’s why training at a school like the MMA Institute is so important.

You’ll get quality instruction into all aspects of MMA fighting and you’ll learn from some of the best, giving you opportunities to test and improve your skills so you’ll be ready for the cage, just like Mike Easton.

Mar 7

1129312_karate_3If you’re going to train for the MMA, one of the best things you could do would be to study Brazilian Jui Jitsu at the MMA Institute. This style of martial art is one of the most popular when it comes to grappling, so it’s a vital skill for anyone who wants to make the MMA a career, or even a part-time career. There is fitness and stamina required in Brazilian Jui Jitsu, but you’re also using your mind, so it offers a lot to a fighter who is trained in it and knows when it should be used. If you’re going to fight in the MMA, it’s one of the best choices for a martial art and also the most common one used. If you’re not at least competent in it you could have a lot of trouble facing off against an opponent who is. If you’re new to the idea of MMA training you can work with others who are just like you so you won’t feel so intimidated at the MMA Institute and you can also work with others who are much more skilled so you can learn what you need to in order to be successful.