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Women’s Mixed Martial Arts and Grappling Tips

Gina CaranoIn sports dominated by men, it’s not always easy for women to find their niche. Women’s Mixed Martial Arts athlete Gina Carano and female grappler Kyra Gracie have proven that women can be just as, if not more, skilled as men in combat sports. Whether you aspire to earn your living with these sports or you simply want to get into better shape while learning self defense, these sports can transform your body. In addition, these sports can empower you by instilling a sense of confidence that you can handle yourself in difficult situations.

Here are 3 tips you should consider if you’re training (or considering training) in women’s Mixed Martial Arts and/or grappling:

Tip #1: Train at an academy that you feel most comfortable in:

If you train with a serious attitude, you should be taken seriously. Don’t be intimidated by the men training there. The gym you train at should be considered an investment. Find the right one and start attending classes.

Make sure the instructors help you feel comfortable and are focused on teaching you the proper techniques. Hopefully the instructor knows enough to match you up with another female or a smaller male that will be a good partner to work with. Be proactive and try to match yourself with an appropriate partner or uki (the partner in judo that gets thrown).

Tip #2: Be prepared because Women’s Mixed Martial Arts and Grappling are sweaty sports and include a lot of body contact:

I figured I’d give you both sides of the story. You will get very sweaty, be in awkward positions, and you may find your or someone else’s hair on the mat. With that said you’ll get used to it and as long as you take a shower immediately after training you will greatly minimize your risk of a skin infection.

Kyra GracieHere are some additional recommendations from BJJ blue belt Katerina (Kat) Kallergis:

  • Wear a good sports bra
  • Wear an Under Armour long sleeve rash guard to keep sweat off and keep cool
  • Keep your hair in a tight bun
  • Use a rubberized hair tie to keep your hair out of your face (Goody makes a great no slip hair tie called Stayput)

Tip #3: Set realistic goals

Most people underestimate what they can accomplish over a long period of time (3 years or more). Whatever your goals are, realize that they are attainable with time. Create a list of things you have to accomplish to reach your goal. After you create that list, get busy getting those things (your sub-goals) done. Perhaps some of the things you need to do were mentioned in this article!

I truly feel that Mixed Martial Arts and Grappling are the greatest sports in the world. As long as you know what you’re getting into and know what precautions to take, Women’s Mixed Martial Arts and Grappling can offer you priceless benefits for the rest of your life. These benefits include strength, stamina, and the ability to defend yourself in a real life self defense situation.

Author’s note: I’d like to thank Katerina Kallergis, Ginger Paquette, and Tonya Ward for their support in writing this featured article.

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