Chances are you’ve heard of this new sport called mixed martial arts. And if you’re one of those curious types, then chances are you’re interested in checking out a gym that provides instruction in that sort of thing. But how do you go about finding such a place? I’m glad you asked.

First, check out the “search” function on FindMMAGym. That should yield some good results. But the prevalence of MMA in the media, and the fact that its presence on television and pay-per-view stretches back almost 20 years, means that you’ll be able to find training opportunities almost everywhere, from stodgy karate dojos to college wrestling rooms to aerobics studios at your local gym.  Thanks to events broadcast on SpikeTV, CBS, Showtime and FOX, everyone is doing it, so if you’re finding trouble locating a dedicated MMA academy, you might have success checking out Craigslist or just strolling into a vanilla martial arts school.

After you’ve put a place in your sights, don’t be shy. Check it out in person. Then, based on what you see, answer the following questions:

• How are the facilities? Are they clean? Or are the dirty? No one wants to get a staph infection, so cleanliness is important.
• Is the instruction viable? Not every school needs to have a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt teaching grappling and a former pro boxer teaching striking. But you do want to have teachers who know what they’re talking about and didn’t just read about it in a book.
• Are the rates affordable? Fifteen years ago, authentic MMA coaching was rare, and therefore pricier. Nowadays, it isn’t so rare, so training costs should be adjusted accordingly.
• Are the people cool? This is, perhaps, one of the most crucial factors to be considered. Why? Because you’re going to be spending time working out with these men and women, and working out hard. If they’re a bunch of dicks, then it won’t be fun – and if training isn’t fun, you’re wasting your time.

There you go. Finding an MMA gym, made easy. Now get out there and start sweating.

If you have a gym that you love and would like to submit it to FindMMAGym, go here.