Almost everybody dreams of learning a martial art at some point in their life, but have you ever wondered how long it takes to learn MMA?
The time it takes to become a skilled MMA fighter varies widely between people. While some fighters achieve greatness in a few years, others spend decades honing their skills. And it doesn’t really matter because most of the time it’s about the quality and not quantity.
I think those that have trained a long time will tell you that there are still new things to learn all the time. But how much time does it take? Let me get into some specifics. Keep reading to learn more.
Table of Contents
What Exactly Is MMA?
It depends on who you talk to. There are different types of martial arts in the world, but MIXED MARTIAL ARTS (MMA) is one of the fastest-growing. Mixed martial arts require a combination of striking and grappling to get your opponent to the ground or out of the ring. These skills can come in handy in everyday life – even at a bar fight or other unprovoked attack.
How Long Does It Take to Learn the Basics of MMA?
First, you must want to learn MMA. If you don’t, then you won’t be able to stick with it. It takes considerable time and effort to get good at anything in life. So, back off on your plans to start learning, because you need time to make that happen first.
It takes between three months to a year to learn the basics of MMA, depending on your level of commitment, how much time you’re able to dedicate to practice and the feedback you’re getting from your instructor. You need to get used to moving in a variety of ways with a partner. And you need to develop a solid understanding of striking and grappling techniques.
Learning Mixed Martial Arts takes time and dedication. Most schools take a long time to develop a student. People often get discouraged when they find out that it takes more than a few months to be able to use basic techniques in sparring.
A beginner’s course in Mixed Martial Arts should last about eight weeks. The first four weeks will cover basic moves and techniques, and the following four weeks will cover defensive techniques and training. Many martial arts schools require a longer course of study before promoting to the next belt or level, so your personal martial arts journey could last several years.
When you’re dedicated to learning MMA, you’re going to be in it for the long haul. The bad news is that MMA training is time-consuming and expensive. The good news is that there’s some great guidance out there to help you make the most of your time. You just need to find them out.
In short, it takes years. Be patient, stay focused and make the most of your time.
Is It Hard to Learn MMA?
If you have no fighting background, MMA will be hard to learn. On the amateur level, it can be very difficult because so many of your opponents are also practicing for years and learning things as you go. You’ll need experienced instructors, time, and good health in order to progress quickly.
MMA is a highly technical sport, but you can learn the skills. It’s important to fight smart and to leverage technique over strength. To be a strategic MMA fighter, you need to develop skills in a variety of disciplines such as Brazilian jiu-jitsu, boxing, wrestling, Muay Thai, and judo. So yeah, it is indeed hard for a newbie to learn MMA.
However, if you have some background in wrestling, boxing, or martial arts, MMA will be a little easier to learn. But the bottom line is this: if you train hard and stick with it, you can learn mixed martial arts well enough to compete at an amateur or professional level.
You can learn MMA speed and efficiency with a proper Lesson as fast as you can with a heavy bag. And in the case of MMA, this is even faster than Boxing and Kickboxing because of the less-complex technique compared to other martial arts. The faster your reflexes become, the more advanced skills you will be able to develop at a very high level.
Now, are you wondering, Can I learn MMA in 2 years? Yes, it is possible to learn all of the basic MMA and wrestling techniques in 2 years, but it will take many more years to master them. During the process of learning these skills, you will become a better fighter.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Good MMA Fighter?
The journey to becoming a successful fighter depends on your approach, goal, and lifestyle but may take around three years. But training MMA is not just about fighting. You will train a lot of grappling, striking, and conditioning.
MMA fighters have averaged about three years to master the art of fighting. It took Royce Gracie 9 months to learn and Sakuraba 1.5 years.
The only thing is with MMA, is like they say, it’s “a marathon, not a race,” meaning you will always be able to learn more and take more time before you are really ready to fight in a ring.
So, to get better faster depends on a few things:
1) Time you spend in the gym training
2) Time you spend outside the gym working on strength and conditioning
3) Your natural athletic ability (how much your body can take)
What Is the Perfect Age to Start Learning MMA?
It is like asking what the perfect age is to start playing the violin or learn freestyle wrestling or gymnastics. The answer is: There really is no perfect age to start learning. When you’re ready, there’s nothing that can hold you back.
We believe, whether you’re 20 or 30, it’s never too late to start your passion for this sport. Regardless of your age, learning the basics of fighting can put you in the best position to succeed long into your future.
When starting a new sport, students have a tendency to over-analyze the fundamentals. Don’t do it. Trust me, the only way to truly master any skill is through repetition; repetition perfects technique. That is the secret.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Black Belt in MMA?
There is no easy answer. The literature online gives us a time range from 3 years (minimum) to 10 years (maximum) for MMA mastery.
We believe from our experience and knowledge that if you’re training in a balanced, well-organized program, it should take roughly 3 years to reach your black belt goal. However, the path to becoming a black belt isn’t always a straight line. There are many variables that can impact how long it takes to reach the next level of skill in MMA.
The time it takes to become a black belt in MMA depends on the individual and their prior experience with martial arts. We should keep in mind that becoming a professional MMA fighter is more about the mental aspects of sparring and matches than it is about physical conditioning.
Conclusion
In the end, the truth is that there’s no one-size-fits-all method for learning the sport. And there are many different things to consider before jumping in. For instance, some people develop new skills quickly and easily – others don’t. Some will make their skills excel with more time and effort (and sweat) than others.
What we know is that it is relatively easy to learn a few MMA moves, but it takes years of training, dedication, and self-discipline to be considered an expert. So if you don’t have any of these, it will be pretty difficult to master this art.
