Keeping an Open Mind About MMA Training & Martial Arts Styles

We’ve all been surprised more than once by watching the outcome of a fight. 

Right when you think you have it figured out, the striker gets in close on a grappler and gets choked out.  Or, a really talented boxer is struggling to get inside on a strong kicker and takes a hard high kick to the cheek.

There are 1 million other scenarios that have played out.

This is what makes MMA so exciting and difficult to predict an outcome.

We’d like you to have that same open mind when it comes to the fitness and conditioning for you and your athletes.

One type of strength training (Olympic lifting as an example) may not give you what you need.  In this case, there is no rotational movements, and martial arts are all about rotation.  

Here’s another example: 

If you’ve done primarily Muay Thai striking, you’ve likely only done flexibility work taught by that type of coach.  It works well for Muay Thai.  However, if you want to learn other kicks such as a wheel kick, side kick or hook kick, your Muay Thai flexibility training won’t be enough.  You will need to add a wide range of movement patterns and at least 15 minutes of stretching on most days.  

Some athletes and coaches think that you should only lift light weights. Others think that lifting heavy on some days is better.  The reality is that you can have great results with both.  

Having a higher absolute strength (1 rep max of deadlift as an example) will improve your power.  It’s an important factor.  And, some athletes will do better with a bit less strength training and more focus on movement patterns.  

There is never a single path to success that works for everyone.

And, this open-minded approach also extends to motivational strategies. 

Some athletes are motivated internally, while others are motivated by external factors (such as pleasing the fans or their family). It’s important to develop the skills to understand motivational strategies so you can more effectively help your athletes.

Yes, food and dietary habits are also important to view as highly individualized.  Not every person wants the same sports recovery drink.  Each person likes a different pre-workout meal. Nobody has the same caloric requirements. Not everyone has the same nutritional deficiencies.  We are all unique.

Yes, we could go on forever with this discussion.

You get the points.

Stay open-minded about all aspects of training, MMA styles, mindset, food, and training techniques.

Start simple and strategically experiment with variations based on your knowledge and feedback from your athletes.

Thank you,

The MMACA Team
www.mmaca.net

PS: If you are not yet certified as an MMA Conditioning Coach, click here to get started right now!  https://mixedmartialartsconditioningassociation.com/mma-conditioning-coach-training-details/

Here’s the link to the Certified Sports Psychology Coach program
https://spencerinstitute.com/certification-programs/sports-psychology-coach-certification/