Practice on your own
Revisit positions, footwork, movement patterns, and technical notes at an easy, controlled pace. A few intentional repetitions can help you arrive at the next class with a clearer question.
Training beyond class
Build your
practice.
Class starts the work. Deliberate time outside the room helps you return with better questions, stronger habits, and more focus.
The work between classes
Your training
continues.
Attending class is one part of growing as a martial artist. Outside practice can create more chances to revisit a technique, prepare for training, develop conditioning habits, or study a situation before you see it again with a partner.
Choose work that fits your current experience, available equipment, and recovery. If you are unsure what to practice, ask a coach for a focused starting point.
Ways to keep learning
Build a wider
training week.
The goal is not to do everything at once. Pick one useful practice, approach it with attention, and return to class ready to learn more.
Attend open mats
Open-mat time can create space to drill, review, and work with training partners. Agree on the pace and purpose before starting, then keep the work respectful and controlled.
Strength and conditioning
Strength and conditioning can support a more complete training routine. Start at a level you can recover from and build deliberately rather than treating every session as a test.
Study with intention
Technique and fight footage can help you notice distance, timing, posture, decision-making, and transitions. Take one idea back to class and ask how it fits the academy’s approach.
Kickboxing practice
Shadowbox with
intention.
For kickboxing, Chicago MMA emphasizes frequent shadowboxing as a direct way to practice stance, movement, balance, guard recovery, and combinations. If possible, shadowbox in front of a mirror so you can observe your own posture and habits.
The outline below is owner-provided practice guidance, not a requirement or a fitness prescription. Scale distance, rounds, resistance, and repetitions to your experience and current training capacity.
Move every day
Make room for regular shadowboxing. A starting structure can be 3–5 rounds of 3 minutes, with a simple focus for each round.
Choose one focus
Be intentional. Pick a technique, combination, defensive movement, or footwork pattern and drill it throughout the round instead of trying to do everything at once.
Use the bag with purpose
If you have safe access to a heavy bag, use 3–5 focused 3-minute rounds to repeat the same type of deliberate work. Keep the goal technical rather than simply hitting hard.
Owner-provided example
A focused kickboxing practice outline
This sample is a menu, not a test. Shorten, simplify, or split it across days when needed, and stop if you feel unwell or unable to maintain control.
- 1–2 mile jogBegin with an easy-to-hard run at an effort appropriate for you.
- 5–10 minutes of jump ropeSettle into rhythm, posture, and coordination.
- 3–5 × 3-minute shadowboxing roundsChoose one technical focus for each round.
- 3–5 × 3-minute heavy-bag roundsIf you have safe bag access, repeat deliberate technical work.
- One final hard shadowboxing roundReturn to form, balance, and clean technique when tired.
- Optional finish25 push-ups, 50 sit-ups, and 50 squats, adjusted to your present capacity.
Bring it back to class
Practice. Ask.
Refine.
Use the time outside class to make your next class more specific. Bring a question, a technical detail, or a movement pattern you want to understand better, then let your coach and training partners help you refine it.
The website schedule is read-only. Use the member app, member site, or the gym to book a class when you are ready to train.