Mixed martial arts has exploded over the past decade due to the popularity of the UFC. Many want to become professional fighters and some want to become MMA trainers.
There is plenty of information on how to become an MMA fighter but not much info on how to become a trainer.
In this article I will list 5 ways to become a mixed martial arts trainer, and hopefully you’ll get to train someone to be a world champion!
5 Ways To Become A Mixed Martial Arts Trainer
Develop Your Skills In Martial Arts
In order to successful train a fighter in martial arts you need to have skills and competence in martial arts. You don’t have to a professional fighter, but you should have over 5 years of training in martial arts.
Why is this? Well it’s because you can only effectively train someone on something you have experience in. As someone who has trained in martial arts you will know the proper stances, moves, forms, and techniques to train your fighter the right way.
The best trainers in MMA are the ones who have the most experience and/or were previously professional fighters. Nothing beats experience because experience comes with wisdom.
Get Certified As A Martial Arts Trainer
The next step to becoming a martial arts trainer is to get certified. You will need to get martial arts training certification from a legitimate certification program in your city.
A certification from a sports governing body would be ideal but if you can’t obtain that you can get one from a reputable martial arts organization.
In order to get certified you will need to take a written exam about everything you’ve learned in martial arts, and also take a physical exam – which includes moves and techniques.
The physical exam may include weapons, one on one sparring, and how to defend against multiple attackers.
The objective in not to hurt you so these won’t be full force attacks. They just want to see how you respond based on your training.
Keep in mind that you will have to be an assistant trainer for up to one year before you can become a certified trainer.
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Join A Gym or Build Your Own
Next on our list of 5 ways to become a martial arts trainer is to join an MMA gym or build your own. Of course the latter option is going to take a business plan and a lot of money.
If you are going to build you own gym you have to consult a business expert that has experience in building and operating combat gyms.
You’re also going to need financing whether it’s your money or a loan from the bank or a private investor. Chances are you don’t have a hundred thousand dollars lying around so you will need to get a loan.
The easier route would be to join an MMA gym and offer your services to become an assistant coach then a fully licensed coach at the facility. The pay will be based on what you negotiate.
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Get Clients To Train And Coach
In order to make income you are going to have to get clients. If you join a gym you will make your salary either two ways.
One of the option you’ll probably receive is being a salary employee, meaning you get paid every two weeks or bi-monthly.
The other option, which is the most common, is that you are an independent contractor with the gym. The gym will pay you based on the sessions you’ve assisted in training for the month.
When you become a full license MMA trainer, depending on the gym you work at, they’ll even require you to go out and get your own clients and you will pay them a small percentage of what you earn from teaching your lessons.
It all depends on how thy have their employment/contractor agreement structured. Be sure to ask questions in the interview when seeking employment from a gym.
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Help Your Fighters Accomplish Their Goals
Your ultimate mission as a martial arts coach is to see your students succeed. The first thing you should do is find out what the goals are of each student and help them achieve that.
Whether they have goals to achieve a black belt, or become a trainer one day, or even become a professional fighter and win a championship – your job is to help they achieve that.
What Is An MMA Trainer Called?
An MMA trainer is called a coach or professor. Either of these names will do. Calling your trainer coach or professor is out of respect and it is a sign of professionalism.
It is never acceptable to call your coach by his first name, or call him Mr. (insert last name). In other settings this may be acceptable but in the gym it’s not.
Always remember there are rules in the gym and in martial arts and we should always follow and respect them.
This is the only way to grow into an elite martial artist. Follow the rules, respect yourself as well as others, live by the martial arts principles and philosophy, and train hard.
Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact combat sport that allows athletes from a variety of combat sports to compete using a wide range of fighting methods and talents.
The regulations permit the use of striking and grappling techniques both while standing and on the ground.
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How Much Does An MMA Coach Get Paid?
This information is from Zip Recruiter one of the top online job recruiting platforms in the world.
How much does a MMA Coach make? As of Feb 16, 2023, the average annual pay for a MMA Coach in the United States is $46,068 a year.
Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $22.15 an hour. This is the equivalent of $885/week or $3,839/month.
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