Before we get to the exercises, you've got to understand the demands on the core, then you'll understand why these exercises are so good for training the core effectively for combat sports. Although the most popular exercise for the abs is the situp or crunch, this is probably provides the least transference to improved power […]
Most lower body exercises that you do in the gym are performed with two legs, such as squats and deadlifts. These exercises don't challenge your balance very much. I'm not even going to talk about leg extensions and leg curls on machines because you should not be doing these useless, harmful exercises. Especially avoid the […]
Strength and conditioning for MMA is an evolving science, getting more detailed as the popularity of the UFC and mixed-martial arts grows. Like all sports, MMA athletes must dedicate themselves to workouts that will take them to the highest level of physical fitness possible. To make sure you're achieving your full potential as a fighter, […]
When I meet a mixed-martial artist for the first time, I often get asked the question, "How strong should I be?" The answer I always give is "Stronger than you were a week ago." But after that, I tend to give in and talk a little bit about how strong and in what exercises constitutes […]
When you think of a core exercise, most people think of doing situps, crunches, and the hundreds of variations of these exercises. These exercises are good for when you're on your back in MMA, but aren't as applicable to developing your core for striking power. To develop your core so that your punches and kicks […]
Isometrics are not often used in sports specific strength and conditioning. Because most sports are dynamic in nature, isometrics aren't obvious to they eye and thus aren't trained. In MMA, isometrics can add another element to your game that can help you submit your opponent, escape a submission, or achieve a dominant position whether standing […]
First, you have to understand that in order to train the grip, you not only do gripping style exercises, but you must also train the muscles on the opposite side of the joint. Most of the the exercises you probably do involve holding on to weights – this works the flexor (gripping) muscles. Often athletes […]
If you got a chance to catch UFC 90 and saw Patrick Cote's knee injury when he was fighting the Anderson "Spider" Silva, you were probably disappointed that the 2 warriors didn't get a chance to properly finish what they started. I sure was. I love getting a chance to watch Silva at work, and […]
When you ask the majority of fighters what they do for a warm-up before training, most will say they do some type of stretching, usually for tight areas like the hamstrings and groin. But research shows that a dynamic warm-up is far superior for performance and injury prevention when compared to static stretching. So what […]
When I meet a mixed-martial artist for the first time, I often get asked the question, "How strong should I be?" The answer I always give is "Stronger than you were a week ago." But after that, I tend to give in and talk a little bit about how strong and in what exercises constitutes […]