Sunday, 31 March 2013

Mixed Martial Arts Training Should Include Conditioning & Strength Training

By Rod Bourgoine


While improving your skills in various forms of martial arts is important for all MMA athletes, part of your gym time should be dedicated to strengthening and conditioning. So while you might really love taking that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class or your Judo class, your strength-training classes could be just as important to your fight training.

Because both elements improve your overall fitness, these two are often combined into one class. The strength training portion focuses on improving individual areas of the body, while the conditioning focuses on improving your cardiovascular strength, which also improves your overall level of endurance. The conditioning exercises might include jumping jacks, jumping rope, agility runs and longer distance running and jogging.

When you hit the gym for strength training, you aren't just trying to bulk up and build huge muscles. You also should focus on gaining power in key areas, such as your ability to throw a controlled, fierce punch or a strong kick. You also focuses on improving that core strength that helps you hold your position during a fight, such as holding a wrestling stance or locking your opponent in an armbar or perhaps a chokehold.

A good gym will provide strength and conditioning classes with plenty of different activities as options. For example, your gym should have equipment such as dumbbells, barbells and kettle bells as well as different weights of medicine balls. In addition, you might find rope climbing apparatus, chains, strength bands and much more. This variety not only will help you become stronger but also to become more agile, which is a huge advantage in the ring.

It's a good idea to include a good mix of activities in your weekly gym schedule. Your classes should include one or two specific martial arts or boxing classes in addition to at least two strengthening and conditioning classes. You might take a Judo class, two Muay Thai classes and then round it out with your strength training. In addition, you can also add cardio work, such as swimming laps, running and hiking or biking. Before you set it all up, consider talking to a trainer at the gym about your goals, and they can assist you in setting up the proper schedule for you.

When you are searching for the perfect San Diego MMA gym, be sure to find one that offers a wide variety of classes in many martial arts forms with instructors that have actual experience either in MMA or the form of martial art that they teach. It is also best to choose a gym that charges one flat rate per month for an unlimited amount of classes, so that you can train all you need and experience new classes, thus widening your skill set.




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