Becoming a mix-martial artist is something that you've decided to do. You want to become a modern day warrior. The resources are right in front of you but you need to know exactly where to start.
Find a Martial Arts club that trains MMA!
When looking for a gym to train in for mixed-martial arts fighting, it is nice to go to the local boxing, kick-boxing, judo, jiu-jitsu, wrestling, karate, kung-fu, and aikido classes. This will not make you a mixed martial artist. You need to find a club that trains combinations of the most useful disciplines (Wrestling, Kickboxing, jiu-jitsu). Obviously if you've ever studied MMA some of the ones listed would be a waste of time to train in.
What this means is you need to focus on the fundamentals that modern mixed martial artists are using to become champions. Focus on the fundamentals practice them thoroughly. All the other interesting martial arts that aren't being used just aren't practical enough yet. Someday they may be but not yet.
Practice over and over and over and over again!
Knowing how to pull off a backflip axe-kick is really cool to do on a heavy bag. Knowing how to throw an effective jab-cross and doing it tens of thousands of times before your fight is what is going to make you dangerous. Practicing take-downs and take-down defense over and over again is what is going to keep your opponent always guessing.
Once again we're stressing the fundamentals here. So often people don't pay much attention to how important they are and to keep doing them over again. Dangerous fighters (Anderson Silva, Fedor Emelianenko, etc), practice these to the point that no one would ever expect them to. That is how they've become such dangerous opponents.
Enter Grappling and Kickboxing competitions!
Here is where you're going to practice the fundamentals. There are tonnes of these tournaments in every major city. Utilize them and learn from them. They may not be a real fight, but they are the closest thing.
If you've practiced the fundamentals as much as we've pounded into you then you'll be successful at these events. But the most important thing is to never get discouraged because your goal is to learn and become a better mix-martial artist anyways.
These tips are very important when starting out. Of course this is only the start to becoming a destroyer. A complete MMA training program that focuses on strength and conditioning should be combined when practicing these fundamentals.
So remember:
-Look for a gym that trains specifically in mixed martial arts!
-Practice over and over and over and over again!
-Enter grappling and kickboxing competitions!
