So you’ve decided that it’s time to take the plunge, walk through the gym doors, and participate in your first Mixed Martial Arts class; good for you. Mixed Martial Arts is more than just a sport, but a way of life and the more you are take part in it the more you will learn and enjoy it.

As a new student you may be unfamiliar to some of the key pieces of MMA gear & equipment you are going to need to make it through the hours of training, sparring, and drilling. More than likely your coach or instructor will give you a walk through when you get there, but it’s always good to go in prepared and know what you are getting yourself into. There are going to be a couple of essential pieces of equipment that you will need in order to be successful and keep yourself from getting injured. If you are serious about training long term then you are going to want to have your own set of gear, because let’s face it sharing another guy’s stinky, sweaty gear is pretty gross and if not taken care of properly can give you an infection. If you aren’t sure you are ready to jump in head first then you need not worry, because the gym will probably have a remotely clean set of stuff for you to use. Just make sure to show up to your first class in loose fitting athletic gear such as a t-shirt and shorts.

When you hear people talk about flexibility in the martial arts world the first thing that comes to mind is a full set of splits. The most plausible reason for this association is from all of those old school TaeKwonDo guys showing off their splits and high kicks. While a full set of splits is nice for show it isn’t the end all be all for success in mixed martial arts. If you train in MMA then good flexibility will give you an advantage over your opponent and prevent some injuries in the long run.

The most common display of good flexibility will be shown in the fighters kicks; how high and how strong. You don’t have to be able to kick your opponent in the head to be a successful fighter, but having the ability to do so doesn’t hurt your chances of catching him off guard. One great way to achieve this ability is through the use of stretching machines.  Flexibility in your hip muscles, quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves will determine the path that kick will take when you launch it. The more you work on the flexibility (and strength) of these muscles the faster, higher and stronger you will be able to kick your opponent, hopefully landing that knockout blow.

Back in the 1990’s, Mark Coleman took on the moniker of “The Godfather of Ground and Pound”. His relentless assault on his fallen foes often resulted in bloody bodies and quick stoppages. Since Coleman laid that blueprint, many a man have followed suit, adopting similar aggressive top position attacks. Fedor Emelianenko used it quite efficiently during his run in pride; Tito Ortiz carved up too many men to count; Robbie Lawler has a serious knack for smelling blood and punctuating his instincts with a violent top based barrage and recently, guys like Jon Jones and Mark Munoz have taken the tactic to new heights.

While Jones is insanely precise with his onslaught, he typically chooses to look for the appropriate openings rather than flail about wildly. The moment the slightest crease in an opponent’s defense opens “Bones” seizes the moment and unleashes perfectly placed elbows and punches that have led to more than a single shocking win. Think, if you will, about jones’ collisions with Brandon Vera, Vladimir “The Janitor” Matyushenko and even former champion, Lyoto Machida. This man’s elbows are nothing short of vicious, and should an opponent find himself with Jones in top control, it’s be a good idea to do everything humanly possible to secure wrist control.

Before you get in the ring – get a taste for the real thing!

Fans of MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) are passionate about their sport and its athletes—so much so that many want to move from pure spectator to MMA fighter. MMA training is evolving constantly as coaches and athletes improve training and nutrition techniques. However, if you’re new to MMA training, you might be overwhelmed trying to keep up with the excess information and advice available to you.

That is why I’ve put together this handy Top Apps for 2012 for MMA Training list where you can find all of the pertinent information to help you train for the basics, learn new techniques, ensure you’re getting the proper protein and nutrients to build muscle, and to hear about the latest and greatest news in the MMA area, as long as you have a data plan!  If you are a Droid user you can check out the Best 6 MMA Droid Apps.

Dan Henderson is not only the modern day equivalent to the Running Man, he’s also as tough as any human being on the face of earth. This man can take a trouncing like no other, and often manages to rebound and snag impressive victories. Given his low-key demeanor, and I’d-share-a-beer-with-you-anytime attitude, Dan has painted himself as one of the coolest men competing in mixed martial arts today.

Dan Henderson’s Career

Who are the best 10 submission fighters?  Here is our list of the MMA fighters who are at the top of the game when it comes to ending a fight with a submission.

1.UFC on FOX: Evans vs. Davis, Jan. 28. Former UFC light-heavyweight champion Rashad Evans and rising challenger Phil Davis will battle it out in the main event to more than likely determine the number-one challenger for Jon Jones’ title. And in a clash to determien who will be the number-one middleweight challenger, Anderson Silva’s nemesis, Chael Sonnen, takes on Mark Munoz. This will be the UFC’s second event on the FOX network.

 2. UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit, to be held on Feb. 4 in Las Vegas. The main event on the card, between Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit, holds special significance because the winner will be crowned the UFC Interim Welterweight Champion. Then, once current champion Georges St-Pierre rehabs from knee surgery, the UFC will hold a champion vs. champion bout to determine the true kingpin of the welterweight division.

This is a topic that’s been up for debate since Tito Ortiz was mowing through UFC competition circa 2000. During his MMA reign as champion, Ortiz defended his title five times, dismantling challengers, Yuki Kondo, Evan Tanner, Elvis Sinosic, Vladimir Matyushenko and Ken Shamrock. The run leaves Ortiz in the history books as the 205 pound champion with the most consecutive successful defenses of the title, but one must weigh the level of competition and capabilities of your typical “a level” fighter in 2000. It’s not exactly a stretch to say that the game has evolved in a tremendous way, and fighters today are decisively more refined in their attack and overall fight IQ. However, I’m not aiming to discredit Ortiz’ run as champ either: he faced those assigned to challenge, and he did a fine job of disposing each one, until he ran into Randy Couture.

Couture in contrast was unquestionably one of the finest champions to compete in this sport. The man won multiple titles stretching multiple divisions. Throughout his career he projected a classy persona that led legions of fans to dedicate their time to following “The Natural”; few ever faltered in their fanaticism. While Couture will go down in the history books, it won’t be due to remarkable stretches as champion, it will come as a result of the odds he defied, the upbeat attitude always proffered, and his otherworldly game planning inside the cage.

Nate Diaz is one of very few fighters who have successfully honed their craft while competing on the largest stage possible. Refining one’s skills is a daunting task on local circuits, to be forced to learn on the job while tangling with the world’s elite crop of fighters is a borderline crime, but it certainly serves to separate the men from the boys, and in few cases, produces truly spectacular competitors. Nate Diaz is a young man who fits the spectacular bill however, it hasn’t been an easy road to maturation, as I’m certain Nate himself would testify.

Ultimate Fighter 5th Season

In 2004, a young judo player named Karo Parisyan had the opportunity to compete in the U.S. Olympic Trials. Instead, he chose to pursue mixed martial arts and the opportunity to compete in the UFC. Karo said in an interview recently that he had been asked the same question about “35,000 times” about whether he ever wished he had chosen differently. He said that he never regretted it once. Judo did not pay his bills. It cost him money. He took his judo skills to the UFC instead of the Olympic trials, a move which he believes was best for both him and the sport of judo.

Did you ever wonder who did win the Olympic Trials in the 81 kg division in which Karo was ranked number three at the time? It turns out, it was Bellator fighter Rick Hawn. After placing ninth in Athens, Rick began his career in mixed martial arts. His next fight will be in the Bellator season six lightweight tournament.