There’s something about the start of a New Year that makes us want to find ways to improve ourselves. Making a New Year’s resolution to make martial arts training part of your lifestyle is one of the best decisions you could make, particularly if you live in Singapore given the availability of world-class gyms like Evolve MMA.
Benefits Of Martial Arts Training
Some of the benefits you can expect from learning a martial art style include:
- Improved physical fitness and cardiovascular health.
- Increased muscle strength and endurance.
- Lower stress levels and improved sleep.
- Increased balance and focus.
- Improved problem-solving skills and mental focus.
- A wider social network.
- Improved self-defense skills.
- Increased self-confidence.
- Increased overall quality of life.
- A stronger immune system.
Making Martial Arts Training Part Of Your New Year’s Resolution
Let’s take a look at some of the things you should keep in mind as you start your martial arts journey:
The Journey: Understand Your Why
Starting your martial arts journey isn’t just about learning how to throw roundhouse kicks or wearing a cool-looking Gi. It’s a journey of self-discovery, discipline, and unleashing the true potential stored inside you.
Your training will get you into the best shape of your life and improve how you feel about yourself. You’ll eventually notice the things you learn through training like your improved problem-solving skills and composure becoming quite helpful in other aspects of life.
Always research gyms that will be suitable for you and will benefit you in the long run.
Finding the right martial arts gym is as important as your decision to start training. All martial arts schools aren’t equal, and you might find yourself reliving a Cobra Kai episode if you end up in the wrong school.
Spend some time researching gyms in your area before committing to one. Many of the most reputable schools, like Evolve MMA, offer complimentary classes for beginners and those looking to get a feel for how their school is run.
Find a school with instructors who have notable accomplishments in the styles they’ve chosen to master and a proven record of churning out high-level students.
Set Realistic Goals
Set attainable short-term goals when training in martial arts. Subsequently, more long-term goals that you can achieve gradually.
You won’t be a black belt by February unless you decide to train at a McDojo, so make sure you set realistic goals you can accomplish. Mastering a martial art takes time so set smaller, more attainable goals.
Struggling to keep up with the rest of the class during cardio drills? Set a goal to improve your endurance by getting more cardio exercises in during your workouts.
Defeating Your First Major Opponent: Time Management
Not having enough time is one of the most common reasons people give up their martial arts training so be ready to deal with this formidable opponent. Life, work, and family take up most of our time, and allocating specific days and times for training can be challenging.
One trick that can tip the odds in your favor is to sign up with a larger gym since they tend to have classes going on at all times during the day. A smaller school that is managed by one or two instructors might only hold classes twice a day. Bigger gyms are also more likely to have amenities like showers and lockers that make it easier to incorporate martial arts training into your schedule.
While a busy schedule can make it feel like it’s impossible to find time to train, the truth is we all prioritize the things we deem important. Look at it this way, martial arts training will increase your quality of life, physical health, and mental health. That’s worth allocating a few hours of your time to each week.
Gear Up
Hand wraps, mouth guard, and boxing gloves are essential in your Muay Thai journey, providing support, and ensuring you’re fully equipped for a safe and impactful training experience!
Invest in quality gear when you start your martial arts training. Depending on the style you choose, you’ll probably need a pair of Gis, a mouthguard, a few rash guards, and a pair of flip-flops to wear to the gym. You don’t have to buy the most expensive gear you can find, but you want to feel comfortable while training. Looking cool doesn’t hurt either.
Your martial arts gear will be put through lots of abuse, so you generally want to buy your gear from reputable manufacturers.
Prepare Your Mind For Training
Training Muay Thai helps you build mental toughness.
Martial arts training can be as mentally challenging as it is physically so prepare your mind for the rigors of training. Embrace physical exertion and the mental clarity that comes from a good training session as your mind is flooded with dopamine. Many martial artists love training early in the day so they can keep the zen feeling they get for the rest of the day.
Fuel The Warrior Within
ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion Demetrious Johnson refueling his body after a rigorous training session.
An appropriate diet is essential to fuel your body through your martial arts training sessions. Your diet should be rich in proteins to allow your body to repair itself after your training sessions, and you also want to consume enough carbs to power you through your workouts.
Drinking enough water is also important when you start training martial arts. Styles like Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and wrestling can burn up to 1,000 calories for every hour spent on the mat. You’ll be sweating a lot while you train so make sure you consume enough fruits and vegetables to replenish all the electrolytes you lose while training.
Recovering From Your Training Sessions
Dynamic stretching aids in reducing muscle soreness which is particularly important for athletes to stay at the top of their game, ensuring optimal performance and recovery.
Lifting weights isn’t the only way to end up with delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Martial arts training will also do that to you, but as is the case with exercising, it gets better with time. The days after your first training session are typically the worst since your body isn’t used to the rigors of training.
Simple things like warming up properly before training and stretching after your workouts can significantly reduce how much soreness you experience after training sessions. Getting sufficient rest at night also helps to minimize DOMS.
Take Things To The Next Level
Competitions are a great way to test your skills and measure your progress, providing invaluable experiences and opportunities for growth in your martial arts journey.
Push your martial arts training to the next level by signing up for competitions once you start feeling a little competent in your chosen art. Competitions are a great way to test your skills against new faces and overcome emotions like stage fright. It’s also lots of fun to hear all the cool friends you’ve made in the gym cheer loudly for you and you get a cool trophy you can show off to your friends that don’t train if you perform well enough.
There’s no excuse for you not to test your skills at tournaments if busy Billionaires like Mark Zuckerberg still find the time to do so.
Get Started This Year
Now is as good as any other time to commit yourself to martial arts training. You’ll be the best version of yourself in no time as you progress through the ranks and you’ll have lots of fun in the process.
What are you waiting for? Schedule a free complimentary martial arts class at Evolve MMA and see for yourself!
Book your complimentary trial class with our World Champions below!
If you have any other questions regarding Evolve MMA and the programs we offer, you can get in touch with our membership executives at the following locations:
Evolve MMA (Far East Square)
26 China Street
Far East Square #01-01
Singapore 049568
Phone: (65) 6536 4525
Evolve MMA (Orchard Central)
181 Orchard Road
#06-01 Orchard Central
Singapore 238896
Phone: (65) 6536 4556
Evolve MMA (KINEX)
11 Tanjong Katong Road
#02-52 KINEX
Singapore 437157
Phone: (65) 6288 2293
Evolve MMA (Clarke Quay Central)
6 Eu Tong Sen Street
#04-18 Clarke Quay Central
Singapore 059817
Phone: (65) 6226 2150
Evolve MMA (Star Vista)
1 Vista Exchange Green
#02-26A The Star Vista
Singapore 138617
Phone: (65) 6539 9590
