In combat sports, there is always a fine line between winning and losing.

The simplest of mistakes can result in a loss, not to mention bodily harm. Every athlete is human, and thus capable of making a mistake. That goes for their coaches as well.

ESPN asked several of the best trainers in mixed martial arts to reflect on a mistake they’ve made. Most struggled to identify just one as the biggest of their career, but were able to come up with a specific example.

Fighting is undeniably an individual sport, but there is a team element to it nevertheless — which you should get a sense of reading these.

Jason Parillo, RVCA VA Sport
Coaches have egos just like fighters. I’ve let ego get the better of myself and supported fights, even when I knew we were in over our head. I could have gone against the grain, but …

Whether you are training for fun or as a career, you have to start from somewhere. In fact, knowing how to start MMA training is important whether you want to use MMA to build muscle or become an MMA fighter. Even a journey of a thousand steps starts with one step. Below are five training tips to help you get it right:

Do your research
Before joining a gym to start getting into the MMA, you need to research options. Join a gym where MMA is a key player. A gym where lots of MMA fighters attend is the best to go for your classes. Lanna MMA is the leading school which allows students to graduate from one level to the next. In fact our classes can now fit everyone’s schedule and run six days a week.

Do you enjoy it?
Before you join the classes, you have to figure …

Have you been thinking about taking up mixed martial arts, but you’re not sure where to start? You’re not alone. MMA is a thrilling sport, but it can also be intimidating if you’re not already part of that universe. It’s also the fastest-growing sport in the world, which means that it’s not always easy to determine what gyms will offer you the best training with the most experienced coaches and which ones are just in it to cash in on the latest trend.

That doesn’t mean that MMA isn’t worth trying, though. With a little bit of preparation and a clear head for what you want, taking lessons in mixed martial arts (as well as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, wrestling, and other combat arts that have helped to influence the sport and its fighters) can be one of the most rewarding and most exciting things that you can do. Whether …