The Road To Victory: How Long Does It Take To Get Good At MMA?

MMA or Mixed Martial Arts is an extremely demanding and multifaceted sport that requires an array is disciplines. You can't just be a good boxer, but also be proficient in grappling, wrestling, kicking and defence. We get this question quite often: How long does it take to get good at MMA? Although this is quite an open question and varies between foundations, training schedule, age and natural talent, we'll try and break it down for you. So, how long does it take to get good at MMA?

1. Building Your Foundations (6 months-1 year)

Again, it's hard to set a timeline in stone, it's down to individual efforts. However, every journey starts with foundations. Your foundations will focus on building up the fundamental techniques. This includes learning a proper stance, getting to know your footwork and basic strikes (jab, cross, hook). The ground and grappling component will focus on your guard, mount and side control. Depending on your skill level and dedication this process usually takes a year with consistent training, however, it can be accelerated based on your commitment. 

2. Skill Development (1-3 years)

This process is certainly an ongoing one. Fighters can always learn new skills as they develop and acquire more experience in the cage. However, fighters will refine their skills and expand their techniques after they have the fundamentals sorted. This stage involves learning more advanced techniques in striking and grappling and explorations of other bases, like Karate and BJJ. Some more advanced techniques include counters, slipping, new submissions and switching stances. The skill development phase is when a fighter finds their own unique fighting style. During this phase, fighters will generally spar more often and put their skills to the test in training sessions. 

3. Combat Experience (3-5 years)

Once a fighter has trained consistently for at least 3 years, the next step is generally some competitive experience. Whether it's an amateur fight or live rounds at the gym, this is the next stage of development and generally where you find out the most about your skillset. Competing in bouts is vital in a person's development. It provides vital experience and will help identify weaknesses and areas that you excel at, like distance management and takedowns. Generally, a fighter will manage to control their nerves, change their style based on opponents, and update their game plan live during a bout. The best experience is throwing yourself into the deep end, you'll learn more skills, gain confidence and how a better understanding of your areas of growth.

4.Elite Status & Continuous Improvement (5+ years)

Becoming an elite mixed martial artist is a journey that takes a lifetime. The best UFC fighters are still learning new skills and training with different fighting styles. Often you see fighters change gyms to learn new disciplines and train with new partners. There's no timeline for mastering MMA, we continue to learn as we train, that's the beautiful thing about MMA. Nobody would say they've learnt everything in the sport of mixed martial arts. It's not just about your physical skill set, but also your mental resilience, strategic acumen and conditioning. Often seasoned MMA fighters go back to their fundamentals, as sometimes, that's what wins fights. 

It's important to note that the timeline for MMA proficiency varies from person to person. It can still take you more than 5 years to become elite. Things such as coaches, facilities, training frequency and injuries can all have an impact. A severe injury can put you out of training for 6 months and beyond. It's also important not to rush through these phases. Some people solely work on their fundamentals for years and train once a week for fitness. You don't have to even jump into the cage, you can just work on your self-defence and improve your cardio fitness. 

In short, becoming a highly skilled MMA fighter is a long journey that requires motivation, persistence and self-discipline. The best ingredient for success is a regular training schedule, competitive experience and most important, a love for the sport. The best advice for you is to join a gym and start. It's a fun journey, even if you have no aspirations to turn professional. Stay patient, listen to your coach's advice and go at your own pace. There's always something to learn and improve on!

If you liked this article, view our Other Guides