5 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR FIRST MMA CLASS At Yarra MMA, we understand that it can be scary when starting anything new. Here are 5 things to know that will make your first experience at MMA more pleasant. Gym Etiquette When arriving at a new gym, it is recommended you introduce yourself to the instructor or coach. If it’s unclear who the coach is, approach someone and ask if the coach is there. It is important to announce your arrival. This will allow the coaches to know where you are and make sure you are taken care of. First introduction will allow you to ask any questions you might have or get better understanding of the gym’s policies and procedures. Last part of class, student will line up for the instructor to finish the class. This will be followed by touching hands to signify gratitude to your coach and training partners for their contribution to your training. If unable to touch hands for any reason, keep your hands to yourself and bow. This is a traditional way of showing respect. Personal Hygiene To prevent diseases and infections, everybody should follow these guidelines when coming to training. - Do not train if you are sick! - Always shower prior to training - Always wear deodorant - Always check your breath (especially for smokers) - Ensure finger and toenails are clipped - Always wear the appropriate clothing These small tasks will help keep your club germ free! Pace yourself Mixed martial arts is a total body workout. You will feel sore in places you didn’t know you had. If you don’t pace yourself, you are sure to fatigue and fade early in the class. The movements you learn are dynamic, incorporating strength, explosiveness, balance, speed an agility. These movements will be completely alien even to people with athletic backgrounds. It is important when you first start that you focus more on the technique than trying to go as hard as possible. Equipment There’s a level of risk that comes with participating in any activity, for that reason it is imperative you wear the correct safety equipment. Mixed Martial Arts is an amalgamation of various arts, incorporating punching, kicking and grappling. To protect yourself and your training partners, it is highly recommended you have the following - Boxing glove - Mouth guard - Shin guard - Groin cup for males - Rash guard/ compression shirts - MMA or compression pants - MMA gloves It’s understandable if you are not able to afford equipment. There will be communal equipment available when you first join. These will suffice until you have your own equipment. Sparring Sparring isn’t for everybody but can become a great tool in developing your skill sets. It forces you to apply the skills you are working on, in a realistic situation with a resisting opponent. For anyone who wishes to compete, sparring will show you which parts of your training are working effectively, which part of your training needs slight adjustment and which part of your training needs a lot of focus. The level of resistance will play a major factor in the effectiveness of the sparring. The coach’s role is to observe and control the level of the sparring. If you want to spar but have concerns, approach the coach prior to sparring and let them know of your concerns. They are there to help you progress and will what they can for you to be able to achieve your goals. Message us today to participate in our Beginner MMA Program! - Two (2) week assisted course for beginners - Preliminary talk on how classes are run and general gym etiquette - Instructions on how to wrap your hands - Instructions on how to punch, kick and grapple - You will be partnered up with a more experienced member to assist you in the class - A debrief at the end of class to make sure you understood the class and for feedback