When it comes to mastering Mixed Martial Arts, there are two things to improve upon: overall fitness and technique.
Improving your fitness level requires creating and diligently following a training routine. That way, you will have the strength and agility to form a solid foundation for your MMA training. But what about technique?
A professional instructor may be necessary for developing your technique at first glance. While instructions from a pro trainer are undeniably helpful, you can simply rely on a training dummy to master the basics of MMA.
Of course, if you’ve never dabbled into the MMA scene, you may not know what is necessary to choose the right training dummies. The right training dummy can help you effectively improve your grappling and striking prowess.
So, to help you maximise the effectiveness of your MMA training, we’ve created a thorough guide on using the different types of MMA training dummies.
Why Use Training Dummies And Targets?
It may seem like you don’t need a training dummy or target if you have a training partner, but that isn’t truly the case. The primary reason for this is that dummies allow you to practise striking and grappling as if it were an actual bout. Dummies can’t get hurt, so there is no reason to hold back.
With a sparring partner, there is always the danger of them getting injured. Even if you exercise caution while practising, injury is still an undesirable possibility that a dummy fully eliminates. Moreover, training dummies are always available to spar with and don’t require you to sync schedules with a human partner.
And since you won’t be holding back while sparring with dummies, you will see sharper skill growth over time. Your upper body muscles will be exercised thoroughly, improving your overall body and grip strength.
When it comes to sparring with a human partner, you will need some padding to practise striking without hurting your knuckles or your partner’s. MMA targets facilitate just that, allowing you to put some force behind your punches and kick as you spar.
The Different Types Of MMA Dummies
MMA dummies can be broadly classified into two categories: striking dummies and grappling dummies. Both of these allow you to develop your offensive and defensive skills in different ways. You can use a grappling dummy to develop takedowns and submissions while also learning how to escape when these moves are used against you.
Let’s look at striking and grappling dummies to see how you can further train for a true MMA match.
1. Striking Dummies
A striking dummy to keep in mind is one that primarily targets Muay Thai and boxing. The dummy should be durable and suit your body weight and height. When practising, you may hang it from the ceiling for striking or place it on the floor for ground-based combat training.
By focusing on Muay Thai and boxing, your striking prowess will see a marked improvement, allowing you to put more power behind your punches.
You can also opt for training dummies that use advanced tech to provide you with several useful statistics. With this data, you can improve your speed, accuracy and agility by leaps and bounds. Of course, the technology is as advanced as it gets, so the dummies are priced equally as high.
2. Grappling Dummies
Grappling dummies don’t vary much between models, so you may only require one or two dummies to practise effectively. These can help you practise grappling, submission holds and escapes, all of which are essential skills in MMA.
Looking at the weight of a dummy can allow you to gauge if it suits you or not. Some dummies are light and weigh around 25 kilograms, whereas others may be as heavy as 90 kilograms.
Heavier dummies like the Fairtex Maddox are great for ground-pound training. On the other hand, lighter ones like the Viking Ground And Pound Dummy are better suited for grappling and submission moves.
Sticking to a heavier dummy is better since they are in a similar weight range as an actual MMA fighter. That way, you won’t struggle while performing your moves in a real match.
Using Dummies And Targets For Practice
To maximise your improvement during practice, you must know how to use your dummies and targets effectively. As an MMA fighter, you will want to be as good at offensive techniques as you are at defending. And to do so, your training needs to be focused and planned.
Consider planning your sessions around practising:
- Basic punches like crosses, jabs, hooks, etc.
- Basic kicks like front kicks, roundhouse kicks, push kicks, etc.
- Elbow and knee strikes
- Submission holds like the rear-naked choke, the armbar, etc.
- Grappling escapes like the side control escape, turtle escape, etc.
Striking and grappling dummies can help you train for each basic aspect of MMA, so feel free to choose your dummies accordingly.
Additionally, use targets with a sparring partner to further change how you perform certain moves. That way, you will remain focused and thoroughly engaged throughout the training sessions.
You will naturally be better at performing a particular set of moves over others, and focusing on your weaknesses will make you a better fighter.
MMA Training Using Dummies
Training with dummies and targets is one of the most practical ways of training for a martial art without causing lasting injury. And by using different types of dummies, you can gain mastery over a specific move type.
Remember that complacency is the bane of technique improvement. While performing the same moves over and over will help you master them, it’s important not to rely on them too much. After all, using a particular strike or submission hold during matches can quickly become a liability should the enemy counter it.
So, continue to practise your moves repeatedly, but remember to bring in enough variation as you train. And since training with a dummy without a proper training plan can lead to complacency on your part, remember to be mindful of your techniques.
Check out MMA Factory for all kinds of high-quality training equipment to help you develop your skills. At MMA Factory, you can find durable and well-made dummies and targets for all your MMA training needs, so feel free to visit our website!
