How to become a mixed martial artist?

Question

i'm a really talented grappler and i've boxed a few guys. i'm super tough and i want to start fighting professionally. but right now i'm struggling in school with over a year left, and i don't even have enough money to pay for lessons....how do i start out? and is there a way i can make any money with my grappling skills?

Answer 1

Offer to give lessons, and if your in shape, offer to give body building lessons, how to stay in shape and look good, people get paid 40+ a hour in my city for it.

There are a lot of things, you can wash cars, if you can average 1 car per hour, get 10-20 cars a month, there is some money right there, not to bad reall just for a few hours.

Sell some plasma, you can get about 250+ a month for this, thats about 500 all together with the car washing idea.

If your really wanting to go pro, further your training. You need to be well round, how would you defend against a jujitsu trained man, you probably wouldn't. They would get you on the ground in a nice hold, ether breat something, or choke it out. You need to be able to defend against the basics, the basics are below.

Jujitsu

TKD

Boxing

Kick Boxing

Pressure Point Fighting

Wushu (Chinese martial arts)

Kravmaga

Jeet Kune Do

That is the basic anyway. I would recomend you learning most of those to a degree, around the degree of black belt, before even investing in going pro. It would help your game a lot. You will be a more well rounded fighter for one, and you would also be able to defend against them as well, that is very important, most UFC fights end up in Jujitsu light fights, on the ground, and when they don't,  its more like Kravmaga then anything.

Once you get to a black belt level in them all (about a year of training, 3 days a week, every week, a hour each session) you may be ready to think about furthering your way up the latter there. Most of the pro UFC people have more then a year in many martial arts, I personaly have 8 years WUSHU, 6 years TKD, 6 years Chan Na, 3 Years Boxing, 1 year kick Boxing, and 3 years Caporia. there is still no way I would fight, they have jujitsu. I may stress this, but if you can;t defend against a good hold your done for, seriously.

Start signing up for local matches, we have them around here, just open no hold bare nuckle matches. If you lose you still learn, ether way you win. You learn what you do wronge. but you are there to win, keep that in mind, its like a resume.

Hope I helped. When you get about 4 artial arts under your belt, at least a black belt in each, start your own training, a hard core physical routnine, along with metal. When you think your ready, move on.

They have a lot of training vids online to get you started.

Answer 2

find a MMA school and put yourself to the test!

Answer 3

You don't mention how old you are.  Nonetheless, you have a few options.  Find out what training is available in your area.  Look specifically for gyms that have MMA fight teams, and who compete on a regular basis.  After doing this research, visit the gyms on your list.  Speak to the owners, as well as the team.  Tell the trainers about your grappling prowess, and your desire to train and fight.  Perhaps you can work something out where you perhaps help train the fighters by sparring, in lieu of membership rates.  Or, perhaps you could help clean the gym/ mats once in a while, for a discount in membership.  This type of agreement is common, and often you just have to ask.

Answer 4

get in good grappling shape by doing alot of working out, that way when you join your a step ahead

Answer 5

i mean if your really good and you know all your submissions you can enter grappling tournaments.

Answer 6

If you are still in high school, you should join your school's wrestling team as soon as possible, if you haven't already.  You will get excellent training and conditioning pretty much for free.  

You are going to have to get a real job to earn the money needed to train at a good gym.  The vast majority of "professional" mixed martial artists don't make enough to live on just by fighting, and only the top few in each weight class make good money.  

Stay in school and talk to your career center or counsellor about job options that will allow you to pursue your dreams.