Skip to content 
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the world of amateur MMA, where warriors are born, dreams are chased, and sweat is the currency of champions.
One question fills the minds of upcoming MMA fighters, and that is:
How much should i train as an mma amateur fighter
Today, we’re going to do our best to answer this question, aiming to find the sweet spot between dedication and sanity.
Your Dedication Towards MMA
MMA training isn’t one-size-fits-all; it’s a spectrum. At one end, we have the fighters who live and breathe MMA, dedicating 20 hours a week or more to their craft.
At the other end, we find those balancing MMA with work, studies, and life, training a respectable 10 hours weekly. The key is to find where you fit on this dedication spectrum.
So you gotta ask yourself, “how much do I want this?”.
Quality Over Quantity
Remember, it’s not just about the hours; it’s about what you do with them. Quality training sessions trump mindless, exhausting marathons. Focus on technique, strategy, and refining your skills during your training hours.
In MMA you can practice various martial arts, which means you can do a lot of technical training, without destroying your body and it’s ability to recover.
Balancing Act: Life Beyond the Cage
It’s super important to create a balance between your MMA-training and the rest of your life.
Overtraining can lead to burnout, injuries, and possibly a strained personal life.
I experienced this myself while training 20 hours for amateur boxing weekly.
I would suggest 5-10 hours of training when you start your MMA journey, then if you’re hooked, ramp it up to 10-20 hours!
Listen to Your Body
Your body is your best training partner and critic. Pay attention to its signals. If you’re constantly fatigued, sore, and mentally drained, it’s time to reassess your training hours. Rest and recovery are non-negotiable.
This is even more important if you have a fight coming up. You have to recover, so you can perform your best. Sometimes take 3-4 days off, sometimes even a week.
Adapt and Evolve
Your training hours may fluctuate depending on your goals, upcoming fights, or personal circumstances. Stay flexible and adaptable in your approach. Sometimes, less can be more, and vice versa.
The MMA Journey is Personal
In the end, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of how much an amateur MMA fighter should train. It’s a personal journey, shaped by dedication, goals, and life circumstances.
Whether you’re putting in 10 or 20 hours a week, what truly matters is the heart and soul you pour into your training. Just get better over time and enjoy your journey.
