You can spend a fortune on MMA equipment before your first class. You do not need to.
Here is what is genuinely useful in your first three months, in the order we recommend buying it.
Buy in this order
Start with the things that protect you and your training partners. Everything else can wait until you know you are staying.
- 1. 16oz sparring gloves.
- 2. Hand wraps.
- 3. A rashguard or fitted t-shirt.
- 4. Shorts with no pockets.
- 5. A mouthguard once sparring starts.
What to skip for now
Fancy brand-name gloves, custom shorts and a bag full of accessories will not make you better. A clean pair of wraps and a coach's correction will.
Fall training notes
Fall is the busiest season for new members — schools restart, work routines settle and people finally book the class they have been thinking about all summer.
- Book your classes for the week on Sunday night, not on the day.
- Warm up for two extra minutes if you have been sitting at a desk all day.
- Keep one rest day after your hardest session — recovery is part of the programme.
Common mistakes we see every week
- Rushing to spar. Sparring is the fun part, which is exactly why it comes last. Two or three months of drilling first makes sparring safer and far more useful.
- Training only the fun side. If you love striking, you will avoid the mat. Those are the rounds that expose you later.
- Skipping the warm-up. Five minutes of movement prep is the cheapest injury insurance you will ever buy.
- Holding your breath. Beginners tense up and stop breathing. Exhale on the effort — every time.
A drill you can try between classes
Three-round shadow work. You do not need a partner or a bag for most of this, and it takes about fifteen minutes:
- Round one: hands only. Move, jab, reset.
- Round two: add level changes and a single-leg entry.
- Round three: strike, then finish with a takedown and hold top position for ten seconds.
- Rest one minute between rounds. Three rounds, four times a week.
Training at ARC MMA in Toronto
We run MMA classes at 382 Yonge St in downtown Toronto, two minutes from College Station. Classes are capped at 20 people, coached from start to finish, and open to complete beginners. If you want to see whether it fits, book a free 1-on-1 trial — you will get a coach, a pair of loaner gloves and no sales pitch.
You can see the full timetable on the classes and pricing page, meet the coaches on the trainers page, and check upcoming seminars on the events page.
Frequently asked questions
Can I borrow gear for my first class?
Yes. Ask at the desk and we will fit you with loaner gloves and wraps.
Do I need a mouthguard?
Not for drilling. Yes, once sparring starts.
How much should a beginner spend?
Around $150–$250 covers the essentials for most people, depending on the program.
Written by the coaching team at ARC MMA. Questions about this guide? Send us a message or call (416) 450-8020.
Related reading
- Is MMA Safe? Questions Worth Asking Before You Start — October 2026 — Is MMA safe for a complete beginner? A straight answer from ARC MMA coaches in Toronto, plus the questions worth asking .
- MMA Mistakes Beginners Make (and How to Fix Them) — October 2026 — The mistakes almost every MMA beginner makes in the first few months, and the simple fixes our coaches give in class at .
- The First MMA Techniques You'll Learn (and Why) — October 2026 — The first MMA techniques our Toronto coaches teach beginners, in the order you learn them, and why they matter more than.
Where to go next
If you train in Toronto, have a look at classes and pricing. For a wider view of the discipline, UFC Fight Pass is worth following: UFC Fight Pass.
