| Cage Fighting, also known as mixed martial arts | | | | The last category is becoming more common as |
| (MMA) requires a multi-faceted training approach. | | | | Cage Fighting has developed over the last 20 |
| You need to be prepared to learn several fighting | | | | years as a sport in its own right, rather than a |
| styles to be a good all round competitor, and to | | | | competition between the different styles of |
| defend against styles that you might not be | | | | martial arts. Gyms are springing up all over the |
| familiar with. You also need a high level of | | | | world that teach a holistic approach to the sport |
| strength and cardiovascular conditioning in order to | | | | of mixed martial arts, and provide specific cage |
| stay the distance over a minimum of three 5 | | | | fighting training programs. |
| minute rounds (or five rounds in most | | | | Getting Organised |
| championship contests). Cage fighting training is | | | | If you want to seriously pursue cage fighting |
| usually broken down into: | | | | training, with a view to competition, you need to |
| - Stand up fighting technique training | | | | decide first of all which skills, if any, you already |
| - Ground fighting technique training | | | | possess that can be adapted to the rules of MMA. |
| - Grappling and submission technique training | | | | Then you need to get coached by a good team |
| - Strength training sessions with weights and body | | | | that preferably already has a stable of fighters on |
| weight | | | | the competitive circuit. If you enter a fight |
| - Conditioning workouts using both weights, | | | | untrained you are putting yourself at great danger |
| bodyweight and other apparatus | | | | of injury or even death. |
| This is not an exhaustive list. Most fighters have | | | | In addition to fight skills training, you need to |
| their own individual preferences and fighting | | | | organise a program of strength and conditioning |
| techniques. However, competitors generally fall | | | | workouts. These can be done under your own |
| into one of the following categories: | | | | supervision or under the guidance of a coach. |
| | | | There are some costs involved in cage fighting |
| 1. Ground fighting specialists (usually Brazilian Jiu | | | | training. But if you can find a club with a good all |
| Jitsu) | | | | inclusive price, and that has decent strength and |
| 2. Stand up fighting specialists (with a boxing or | | | | conditioning facilities, you will save yourself a lot of |
| Muay Thai background) | | | | time and money compared to paying for |
| 3. Wrestlers (Greco-Roman or Olympic) | | | | separate classes and gym membership in several |
| 4. Hybrid fighters (not specialists in any of the | | | | places. |
| above by background) | | | | |