The MMA Academy Newsletter

The MMA Academy Newsletter sends you one practical MMA training drill each week, built for hobbyists who want to improve their striking, grappling, transitions, and conditioning without overcomplicating their training.

How to Pace Yourself in Sparring and Win More Rounds

A lot of new MMA students have the same problem. They start every round too fast. They throw hard, move hard, grip hard, and breathe like every exchange is the final ten seconds of the fight. Then halfway through the round, their technique disappears. Good pacing is a skill. It does not mean trai...

by Tyler Trump — Sep 25, 2026 beginner mma mma sparring training smarter

Learn to Frame Before You Panic

Getting stuck underneath someone can feel frustrating. Most beginners react by pushing, holding their breath, or trying to explode out all at once. That usually makes the position worse. Before you try to escape, you need space. Frames help you create that space. A frame is not a bench press. It ...

by Tyler Trump — Sep 18, 2026 beginner grappling ground defense mma basics

Balance Before Power

Most beginners try to hit harder before they learn how to stay balanced. That creates a problem. If your feet are out of position, your punches feel rushed, your kicks feel heavy, and your defense arrives late. Power matters, but balance comes first. This week, pay attention to where your weight ...

by Tyler Trump — Sep 11, 2026 mma balance training mma footwork mma striking

Strike Into the Clinch

Enter the clinch without reaching Many beginners try to clinch by walking forward with their hands out. That usually gets them hit. A better habit is to enter behind strikes. This gives your opponent something to defend before you close the distance. This week’s drill connects basic striking ...

Sep 04, 2026

Build a Better Sprawl

Stop the shot before it becomes a takedown You do not need to be an advanced wrestler to improve your takedown defense. You need a strong first reaction. This week’s drill teaches you to recognize a level change, get your hips back, and recover your stance before your opponent can keep driving...

Aug 28, 2026

Exit After You Strike

Don’t admire your work after landing shots A common beginner mistake is throwing a combination and staying right in front of the opponent. In MMA, the strike is only part of the exchange. What you do after the strike matters just as much. This week’s drill builds the habit of hitting, moving, ...

Aug 21, 2026

Weekly MMA Training: Build a Better Jab to Takedown Entry

This week: make your jab set up your takedown Quote of the Week: "Tomorrow's battle is won during today's practice." — Samurai Maxim A simple drill to help you connect striking to wrestling with better timing. Most failed takedowns do not fail because the shot is weak. They fail because the en...

Aug 14, 2026