If you are going to get started in the sparring world, there are important things to know before you do it, but sometimes you can think at what age shuold start mma? i am in the right age? no problem you can start almost at any age.
But now it’s time to see the Things that you shuold know before sparring in mma
What is Sparring?
Sparring is a common training form in many combat martial arts. It is a free form of martial arts.
Sparring is not included in the rule books of martial arts. It makes easy to do movements around the ring by sparring.
Sparring can be changed from person to person according to the skills. It can be developed by the own self of the fighter according to the fighting nature and the skills of the fighter.
There are lots of variations of sparring in many martial arts forms. Sparring is also different from martial art to martial.
Sparring in MMA
In MMA also sparring is a free form where you get to test and use your techniques against the opponent who is trying to do the same to you.
Sparring can be seen in most of the fighters and they do sparring as a trick which plays against the opponent.
Practicing attacks and defenses with a partner is extremely helpful in laying the foundation prior to sparring.
When engaging in sparring, the fighters refuse to identify the pattern of the other fighter. There are some basic movements you should consider while you sparring in MMA.
While sparring, the fighters are able to block and evade punches, to do head movements, to punch the opponent, throw basic punches at a moving target. Sparring helps to build timing and distance between the opponent and also the confidence.
In MMA punching and grappling are mainly considered when sparring.
There are two types of MMA sparring, considering the punches of MMA.
They are sparring with big gloves and sparring with small gloves. The big gloves are usually 16 oz. It is hard to grapple when sparring in big gloves as the fighters need to put more power in the punches. When sparring with small gloves (usually 4 oz) grappling is much easier. But here, the punch is not that much hard.
MMA is consisting of different types of martial arts. Each and every martial art is consisting of various sparring techniques. Therefore, in MMA we can see various sparring types too.
10 things you should know before you start sparring in MMA
1-Follow a basic footwork and make sure it’s right.
Footwork is a main part in most of the martial arts. In MMA also footwork is considered as a major practicing step ( take a look to the 8 tips to improve footwork in boxing ). All the movements and all the approaches to kicks and punches start with the help of power in the foot work. The footwork should start from a basic technique and after you build a good foundation in footwork you can start sparring.
2-Should follow the sparring technique which suits you the best.
Sparring is different from man to man. There are different styles of sparring in many fighters. You should try some basic techniques of sparring and build your own style of sparring which you could do effortlessly. When you used to follow a way of your own sparring it helps you to take your moves quicker than your opponent.
3-Do some drills to make your sparring perfect.
Doing some drills will help you to make your movements faster and to do attacks and defenses effortlessly. Drills can help you to practice your ankles and knees. This is really effective, as drilling leads you to get known and practice sparring.
4-Maintain the balance of your body while you spar
When you do sparring, balance is the most important part that you should consider. Because when you do sparring you have to do quick short jumps and you will be up from the ground for a while and then you land to the floor again.
And right after that you will try to move. At this moment, when you try to move with the sparring, you could get unbalanced. You should train sparring with the balance movements. The balancing exercises should be included in your daily practice in order for a better practice. If you cannot maintain the balance, the injuries might be happened anytime in your ankle joints and in your knees.
When you gain the balance in sparring movements, you can easily move anywhere you want much quicker than your opponent and also you can change your sides and techniques with a blink of an eye of your opponent. This helps you to get more points and to win over the opponent effortlessly.
5-Practice your new techniques and tactics with your sparring techniques
You can practice your new techniques and tactics which you are going to use in the tournament.
This will help you in the tournament to do perfectly in the tournament. The technics like flying kicks can practice with sparring. When you use your tactics and technics with the sparring, you can easily get your opponent to where you want and attack.
Always you should remember that you should consider not only in attacking but also in defending. This can use in the both situations. Sparring can be used to hit the opponent and get away from opponent and also this can be used to defend attacks of your opponent and do a quick counter attack to your opponent. All these things depend on your training and how quicker you are.
6-Make sure your ankle and knees can bare your moves.
If your knees and ankles are too weak to do sparring you cannot compete in the tournament until the time given for the fight. Therefore, you should engage in some exercises to make your ankle and knees stronger and flexible. It helps you to avoid more injuries in MMA tournaments. Just add some exercises, especially for the ankles and knees during your practicing sessions.
7-Engage in some stretching before you start sparring.
When you are sparring your legs work as a spring, as you jump continuously during sparring. So, the leg muscles should be ready for the movements. To make sure the leg muscles are ready you should do some stretching to make them ready. Stretch well before starting the sparring, and also it is better to do stretching even when you are practicing to spar. Then you will get used to engage in stretching before sparring in each and every time. This helps in reduce the injuries on your muscles.
8-Increase the time of sparring and build endurance.
You can increase your sparring time by the trainings. If you cannot spar until the end of the match you can be defeated. If you don’t have endurance you will get exhausted during the tournament. To increase your ability and to build the endurance you should do sparring every time you practice.
9-Sparring can heat up your body.
When you do sparring you can warm up yourself. It helps you to do quick moves. You can get your muscles relaxed while you sparring. It’s a huge benefit to recover the energy during the tournament.
10-Consider the movements of your opponent and try to adjust your movements according to your opponent.
Always you should move according to the opponent. Unless you it will be hard to attack the opponent as you wish. Therefore, when you are sparring with the opponent make sure you have a proper distance and timing to attack or defend yourself from the opponent. Beware of takedowns of the opponent while you are sparring.
In case you are in an advantage stage you shuold take a look at 15 Tips For first MMA Fight