MMA Weight Training - Strength Training For MMA Power

Mixed Martial Arts are a fast growing sport both in popularity and in the number of people practicing the sport. MMA fighters are one of the most gifted and strong athletes in the world. They follow extremely demanding MMA weight training workouts.
MMA fighters know that they need to be in the best possible shape. Otherwise they may end up getting knocked out or hurt, or both. That is why they spend long hours preparing themselves for fights. MMA workouts consist of strength training, endurance and increasing lactate threshold.
MMA weight training workouts differ from the typical bodybuilder routine in that they do not, or at least should not focus on split routines.
Since during a fight, they must be able to generate power on all body positions, like while on the ground or standing up, it is better to concentrate on functional strength rather that how much you can bench.
Increasing muscle size is not the point, at least not to the expense of having to move up on fighting categories due to weight increase because of building muscle mass.
It is far more important to teach the muscles to contract with a lot of power and to build the strength endurance of the muscles.
An MMA weight training routine must include pushing and pulling motions and focus on all the major muscle groups.
Squats and its variations like the one legged squat, jumping one legged squat. Chin Ups and Pull Ups. Lunges, Push Ups and its variations, like clapping push ups, one arm push ups, etc.

The Benefits of Training in Mixed Martial Arts

Martial arts are great for the body. Regular training strengthens and tones the muscles and adds flexibility. Training in martial arts gives you a full cardio work out. You can expect to greatly increase your strength and stamina and improve your hand eye coordination. Martial arts is a good weight loss program as well because it becomes a complete system in which a healthy diet is part and when combined with the extreme physical activity proper weight loss is assured.
Anyone who trains in Karate, Jujitsu, Tae Kwon Do or any of the arts will gain these benefits. If you have any desire to improve your body and mind at the same time with only one activity, then martial arts is something you ought to seriously consider. You don't just get in shape physically, but also mentally and spiritually. No gym workout can compare. All across the world, adults are joining dojos and thoroughly enjoying the many benefits of Mixed Martial Arts.
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is a combination of Karate, Grappling, Wrestling, Tang Soo Do, Boxing, Jujitsu, Tae Kwon Do and more all combined in one. Mixed Martial Arts in its modern form, emerged in 1993 through the Ultimate Fighting Championships and was based on pitting different fighting styles against each other with minimal rules to determine which system would be better in a real, unregulated combat situation.
During the late 1990s, the governing bodies imposed extra rules for the safety of the athletes and to try to promote the sport and gain wider acceptance, but still maintaining the no holds barred idea. MMA has grown rapidly in the last few years with many people, both young and old, realizing the many benefits of Mixed Martial Arts both physical and mental, and this has seen enrollment in classes increasing worldwide.
MMA is classed as a combat sport, but it's a sport that stresses the ideals of fair play and respect for your opponent still. However, MMA are still, quite often, wrongly known as vicious and brutal.
Regardless of MMA's reputation, the competition is relatively safe. Due to the rules and regulations imposed and strictly enforced and the tough mental and physical conditioning of the opponents there has never been a death or indeed a critical injury report by the MMA as directly linked to any tournament.
Classes are run at schools, dojos, youth groups organizations, church groups, and other, less formal settings. MMA is also being incorporated into many gyms as Mixed Martial Arts become more popular.
A typical class will have you start with a warm up consisting of various stretching exercises, trunk rotations, jumps, squats and abs tightening exercises. Then there will be a series of movements taught and explained in full. Sparring is controlled and protective gear is worn, such as helmets, gloves and guards.
At other times a bag will be used for practicing kicks, jabs and punches. Although you may feel awkward and unfit at first, it will not take long before your fitness and skill level improves, along with your frame of mind.
People who practice MMA feel and look healthier, but there are far more benefits than the physical side. While many think of martial arts as violent, in the mainstream it is used as self defense. It does not encourage violence but teaches the student how to control anger and how to use self control and restraint.
Students are taught self discipline and the rigors of training builds character and self-confidence, which ultimately reduces temper induced rages that can often be the cause of many street fights. This confidence carries over into everyday life and as a result Mixed Martial Arts students tend to be become better people than they were.
Mixed Martial Arts training teaches you that you must control the powers that you have had the privilege of learning and never use it recklessly or without thought. Students are also taught that before any success is achieved they will fail many times and that practiced and perseverance is the key. This is a valuable lesson to learn and will often carry over into other endeavors the student undertakes.
Furthermore, the training teaches you that every person is responsible for his own actions and must understand and abide by the given rules. This kind of training improves one's actions in life as well as in martial arts training and tournaments. Many of these arts build a spiritual life into the training, with courtesy, self-control, perseverance and integrity emphasized in the classes. So much so that many Christian Church groups are running Mixed Martial Arts classes for their youth organizations due to the character building characteristics in martial arts training that are also much a part of Christian beliefs.
Given all this, it is no wonder that so many parents are enrolling their children in Mixed Martial Arts classes today. They see their children's health and fitness improve, something their child's peers often lack. And they also witness their children's mindset, attitudes to life and self-improvement, respect and courage all improve as well.
Anyone who trains in Karate, Jujitsu, Tae Kwon Do or any of the arts will gain these benefits. If you have any desire to improve your body and mind at the same time with only one activity, then martial arts is something you ought to seriously consider. You don't just get in shape physically, but also mentally and spiritually. No gym workout can compare. All across the world, adults are joining dojos and thoroughly enjoying the many benefits of Mixed Martial Arts.

The History of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)

Mixed Martial Arts is all about using any move or technique learned in basically any martial art to defeat an opponent, therefore it can be difficult to place its exact creation or inception in history. Of course, the earliest contact sport or martial art with very few rules (or a no holds barred concept) was called pankration and was started in Greece around the year 648 B.C., taking its place among other sports in the Olympic Games.
It can be safely said that while pankration may have been the parent sport of other full-contact combat styles, it was too early a form to have any direct influence itself. However, it has taken on many techniques from the sports and martial arts that pankration had spawned.
Wrestling is one of its greatest influencers and to the untrained eye, a Mixed Martial Arts competition or match can be mistaken for a modern wrestling match. It was during the late 1800's that wrestling and boxing became popular and participants such as John L. Sullivan and William Muldoon were well known for some of their no holds barred antics.
Because of this, many people held anything goes matches and more often than not, the wrestler won. In Europe, Jiu Jitsu versus boxing matches were held, and sometimes, it was boxing versus other styles as well. There was definitely a demand for both people who wanted to study Mixed Martial Arts and observers who wanted to watch competitions for sport or show.
Not surprisingly, a major catalyst in the creation of Mixed Martial Arts was the one and only Bruce Lee. Bruce Lee formed his own styles by making use of different styles such as Karate, fencing, boxing, Jiu Jitsu, wrestling and more to allow him to use what he felt were the best defenses and the best attacks from each martial art. In addition to Bruce Lee, a prominent figure is a man by the name of Royce Gracie who in 1993 won the very first Ultimate Fighting Championship. It was after this that it gained a heavy cult following and began to spark interest across the globe.
As Mixed Martial Arts became more and more prominent, competitions and matches became commonplace in both the martial arts world and the entertainment industry. Students learned to borrow moves and techniques from each other to help each other discover what the best and most useful defenses and attacks were. Of course, a student must be trained in several different forms before they are ready to compete in a match or competition. The popularity and recognition that it has received thus far shows absolutely no signs of slowing down, in fact, the sport is becoming increasingly attractive to both spectators and students of Mixed Martial Arts.

Top Fantasy Defenses for 2011

1. Green Bay - This is a solid defensive unit across the board. With Charles Woodson, Clay Matthews, Tramon Williams, B.J. Raji, A.J. Hawk, Nick Collins to name but a few it's possible to go on all day about the merits of having this defense. Plus it's hard not to want to root for Clay Matthews blowing up quarterbacks every Sunday.
2. San Diego - The Chargers were a solid unit last year and there is no reason to say otherwise this season. Not to mention that the potent Chargers offense should be much improved with key players coming back from injuries enabling the defense to stay off the field and fresh for a lot more time than last year.
3. Pittsburgh - You can't go wrong with the Steelers defense. Every year they are in the top 5 for fantasy defenses and this year will be no different. They play very well together as a unit and are especially good at drafting to fill holes in what is already a formidable defense. They do drop to three because they play so much better with Polamalu on the field, but he has been so injury prone in recent years you are guaranteed a few games without him this season.
4. New York Jets - The Jets defense keeps getting better and with Darrelle Revis getting what he wanted this team could be someone to be reckoned with. This is a well coached defense that believes in the system. Don't believe me; look at what they did to the Patriots in the play-offs last season.
5. Baltimore - The Ravens could be the best run defense in the league, but their secondary is starting to age a bit. Even without a strong secondary they are still a very stout defense and are quite capable of producing some decent fantasy defense numbers all year long.
Sleepers
Philadelphia - The Eagles are a young defense that has loads of potential. They are fast and aggressive and have been getting better each year. Throw in the fact that they have a solid secondary this team could rack you up some serious fantasy points if they play up to their potential.
San Francisco - The Niners are similar to the Eagles in the fact they are young, aggressive and have a huge upside. What they don't have is a decent secondary but luckily for them they play in the NFC West and have the 28th easiest schedule in the NFL. If you don't pick up one of the good defenses early it might be worth your time to wait a couple rounds and pick up the Niners for cheap.

Top 2012 NFL Rookies That Will Make the Quickest Fantasy Impact

As always the NFL draft has come and gone and now its time to see which rookies will have a significant impact on fantasy football this year. At first glance the group doesn't seem as promising as usual, but if you delve a little deeper into the teams you might be surprised about the potential of this years rookie class. We've picked the top 5 rookies and even thrown a couple of sleepers in for those of you that like to take chances in the later rounds.
Julio Jones, WR - Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons traded up for Jones and for good reason, he is going to be a key piece to what is already a potent offense in Atlanta. With opposing defenses having to worry about Roddy White, Tong Gonzalez and Micheal Turner you can expect some big games out of Jones. The Alabama star is 6'4" and 200lb plus, but still has the speed to make game changing plays down the field.
Daniel Thomas, RB - Dolphins
The Dolphins have already made Thomas their starting running back for the 2011-2012 NFL season. With no other quality back on the team, you can expect him to pick up the majority of the carries. His running style fits perfectly with Miami's balanced offense, so you can expect to see some decent numbers out of Thomas. He did have nagging injuries in college but if can avoid the injury bug, you might be able to get yourself a number three back for a steal in the later rounds.
Austin Pettis, WR - Rams
Pettis was an integral part of those great Boise State teams over the past few years and should continue to be a difference maker in the very near future. The Rams were a much improved team last year without a true #1 wide receiver, so it makes sense that Pettis could develop into one of Bradford's favorite targets. Let's not forget that the Ram's play in the NFC West, which gives them 6 games against sub par teams. This fact alone potentially allows for some quality numbers throughout the season.
A.J. Green, WR - Bengals
Green is a tough pick here because no one is sure who is going to be throwing to him, with Carson Palmer more than likely done as a Bengal that leaves rookie QB Andy Dalton or Jordan Palmer. A.J. Green has the ability to be a big time receiver in the NFL but with two untested QB's throwing to him, it doesn't bode well for him. Though, if the Bengals can get any semblance of quarterback play this year, Green will be worth a good look.
Mark Ingram, RB - Saints
Ingram is another hard pick here because he will be in the mix with at least two other proven runners, Pierre Thomas and Chris Ivory. He will need to show that he is substantially better than those two if he is going to get a significant amount of carries in New Orleans. On the plus side both the backs that are in front of him are very injury prone and could open the door for Ingram to be the number one guy on a proven high octane offense.
Sleepers
Shane Vereen, RB - Patriots
New England would only have one decent option at running back in Danny Woodhead if Green-Ellis leaves like expected. If Vereen's quickness and receiving skills are up to snuff, fantasy owners might see some significant numbers out of him. Then again there is always the chance the Patriots sign 3 veteran running backs and you don't see Vereen all season.
Delone Carter, RB - Colts
The Colts have decided to work on their running game this off season in order to protect Manning. Last year teams abandoned their running attack because it was simply nonexistent when they tried. By drafting an offensive line early and getting Carter in what some people consider a steal, could prove well for fantasy owners that are willing to take a chance on the rookie. With Addai looking to walk and Donald Brown not exactly putting up the numbers the Colts want, Carter is likely to see the bulk of the carries. However if Addai stays or Brown proves more consistent, he might be regulated to the 3 back, taking away any fantasy value he might have.

Muay Thai Vs Boxing - The Great Debate

For anyone growing up a boxing fan over the last century, it was always a thrill to watch real power punchers. They were "warriors," able to end a bout with one quick strike or pummel opponents into oblivion with violent flurries. Sonny Liston, George Foreman and Mike Tyson are three names forever associated with power and intimidation in the ring.
In Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), a rapidly growing alternative to boxing, Muay Thai has emerged as the discipline of choice for the modern "warrior," the modern Tysons of the world. Instead of boxers, these warriors are consistently the most feared strikers in the sport.
Take the UFC, for example. Jumping across weight classes, we find many famous knockout artists who use Muay Thai as their primary weapon. Kenny Florian is known for bloodying foes with lethal elbows. Thiago Alves turns heads with this Pit Bull mentality (and nickname) in the welterweight division; Wanderlei Silva, devastating in the clinch, is among the most feared strikers ever in MMA and now joins equally revered Anderson Silva in the middleweight division. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua has dispatched many MMA legends with his sheer aggression and powerful Muay Thai combination's. We also can't forget Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos, a gladiator who has walked through the Strikeforce women's lightweight division.
All this talk of boxers and Muay Thai practitioners in MMA today begs the question: which is the more effective style? Muay Thai fighters get our hearts racing but don't elite boxers in MMA like Vitor Belfort, BJ Penn and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira deserve just as much praise?
Let's break down the pros and cons of each discipline in an MMA context.
MUAY THAI: Pros
Some MMA brass argue that, because Muay Thai incorporates more of the entire body, it's better suited for MMA than boxing is. Whereas boxers, naturally, do everything with their hands, Muay Thai fighters turn all their appendages into weapons. They can unleash punches but also elbows, kicks (high and low) and knees.
A prime example is Thiago Alves defeating Matt Hughes with a flying knee.
Another key advantage is its use of the clinch. Unlike boxers, who tend to avoid it when attacking, Muay Thai fighters can inflict some of their best damage when clutching an opponent's neck in a clinch. There's probably no more famous example in MMA than Anderson Silva's two defeats of Rich Franklin.
BOXING: Pros
While Muay Thai gives fighters a wider arsenal of attacks, boxing is perhaps a more cerebral form of striking in MMA, as it relies more on timing and is equally useful for offense and defense. Jabs are used to keep opponents at bay and control the pace of a fight and boxers are generally excellent at anticipating and blocking enemy strikes.
Because they focus on their punches so much, boxers can be more effective when they do land a square shot. Remember Dan Henderson's devastating knockout of Michael Bisping at UFC 100? Henderson, a wrestler who uses boxing when standing, took his time, cocking his right fist until the time was right to explode.
MUAY THAI: Cons
As flashy as Muay Thai is, it's very offense-heavy. It focuses so much on obliterating opponents that it often leaves fighters in vulnerable positions as they attack. Wanderlei Silva, for example, is a fearsome warrior, but few fighters eat more punches than he does. He's so busy going for a knockout that he doesn't think to defend counter attacks.
BOXING: Cons
While boxing rewards the patient, any boxers in MMA who stay back on their heels too much may hurt themselves with the judges. Whereas flashy Thai fighters can score quick points with their aggression and pace, boxers who don't have KO power sometimes don't do enough to win. Also, if opponents do close the gap on boxers, the boxers are at a big disadvantage. The key in that type of situation is to develop good dirty boxing, as Randy Couture has.
THE VERDICT
Ultimately, the best solution is to deploy a combination of Muay Thai and boxing skills. Kenny Florian is among the best at doing so; he keeps opponents at bay with his strong jab and can inflict plenty of damage if they get too close.
The ideal MMA fighter may be one who combines Muay Thai's clinch work and use of knees and elbows with boxing's crisp punching and defensive responsibility.

MMA Training - Which Fighting Arts Are Most Effective?

The sport of Mixed Martial Arts (also known as MMA) is experiencing explosive growth around the globe. Live fights can be viewed on pay-per-view, cable, and even on network television.
A lot has changed since the first MMA event held in the USA back in November of 1993. The original event, the Ultimate Fighting Championships (later known as UFC 1) was originally promoted as a contest to determine which martial art was most effective.
The 8 man tournament featured representatives from different fighting styles including Kickboxing, Karate, Sumo, Shootfighting, Boxing, Savate, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, & Wrestling. There was no weight limit and very few rules.
The winner of the tournament was a small man named Royce Gracie. He fought with a unique ground-fighting style that emphasized submissions through chokes and joint locks that few outside of Brazil had seen. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) experienced a surge in popularity as Americans who traditionally trained in martial arts focused on stand-up striking techniques quickly realized that they need to learn ground-fighting techniques in order to stay relevant with the rapidly evolving martial arts scene.
Modern MMA fights rarely pit one style against another. Although fighters may be stronger in one fighting style, all serious competitors cross train in the 3 main aspects of MMA:
Striking - Over the years many martial arts have faded away from MMA competition while others have strengthened. Notably karate, kung fu, and taekwando all have proven to be ineffective in the cage against other striking styles. American boxing, kickboxing, and especially Muay Thai with its emphasis on elbows, kicks, and knees have proven to be the most effective striking art in MMA.
Wrestling - The ability to take an opponent down to the mat, and the ability to defend against takedowns is crucial in MMA. Fighters with a dominant wrestling background often take their opponents down and punish them with strikes while keeping them from getting back up. This style is known as Ground 'N Pound.
Submissions - The early success of BJJ in MMA was in large part due to the fact that most of the opponents had zero submission defense knowledge. Now strikers & wrestlers all train basic submission defense to keep themselves from getting choked or arm-barred.
While many traditional martial arts have been demonstrated to not be effective in cage fights, there are a few exceptions. Former Light Heavyweight UFC Champion, Lyoto Machida, baffles opponents with his unorthodox stance heavily influenced by karate. However his striking style is not pure karate, and incorporates some range, footwork, and striking theory from boxing.
The best fighters in the world are well-rounded in all 3 aspects of MMA. BJ Penn, the top Lightweight MMA fighter in the world is known for his advanced submission skills, but also has incredible takedown defense, an amazing jab and some of the best boxing in the UFC. Former Light Heavyweight Champion and Hall of Famer, Chuck Lidell, was know for his amazing knockout power. Although primarily known as a striker, his extensive wrestling background helped earn him his reputation as a takedown defense expert. Even the best wrestlers in UFC had a very difficult time taking him down and keeping him down.
Any athlete interested in Mixed Martial Arts training or competition should make sure their MMA gym offers instruction on all three of the styles mentioned above.

Becoming a Well Rounded Mixed Martial Arts Fighter

Mixed Martial Arts is an art where being well rounded in diverse styles is required and training or specializing in one specific style of marital arts isn't enough. This can make the whole process of becoming a well rounded MMA fighter very time consuming because not every academy trains fighters in every style. Actually almost every academy specializes in one specific style for the most part.
One of the most important part of becoming a great mixed martial art fighter is very well put in this popular line amongst fighters... "If you fail to prepare, you are preparing to fail" This is a saying that you should always keep in mind if you want to become an MMA fighter, because discipline is what will take you the furthest in this sport..
It is also a most to be fit mentally for this sport. It is often said that half of the results a fighter gets from a fight depend on their mental stability, it is important to come strong with no fears and no unsettled business to a fight as this type of emotion can make a fighter lose the bout. A successful MMA fighter focuses on his mental health as much as he does on his skills and endurance.
This sport isn't often called the most dangerous of all styles of fighting for no reason, this is serious competition and to be a part of this sport you have to become a serious fighter. Mixed Martial Arts has also gained a lot of notoriety for the amount of multidimensional fighters it showcases, many of the best fighters in the world have mastered many different styles of martial arts and when they put them all together it make them a spectacle to watch.
So here are the basic areas where you want to focus on developing; For the stand up aspect of fighting you must gain experience in at least one of these styles, kickboxing, Muay Thai, karate, kung fu. I personally believe that for the boxing side of it kickboxing or Muay Thai are better if you want to be a well rounded fighter because these styles train you to use your fists for more than punching and that can be helpful in the ring.
As far as the grappling side of fighting you should look into judo, ambo, jujutsu wrestling ground Brazilian also the very popular and reputable Jiu jitsu or Wrestling Judo Jujutsu.
Once you establish a routine and begin to see results the ultimate way to stay on top of your game in MMA is how given you are to your training and how much you take care of your nutrition. These are essential for any MMA Fighter. You can have the skills but if you don't have the nutrition odd are going to be against you.

How To Beat A Mixed Martial Arts With Boxing

Some people may agree and some may choose to disagree, but great boxers are able to win against well trained MMA fighters. As with grappling and street fighting, boxers may seem as though they are the underdogs, they very well may be but this is not always the case. Any good boxer can beat any type of fighter is they possess the know-how and practice the proper technique. This does not mean though that other fighters do not possess the same high level of technique for their style of fighting.
With boxing the most important thing to remember is maintaining a proper stance. Once the boxers stance is down, everything else sort of falls into place. When facing an opponent who may be more comfortable on the ground or are privy to striking with their legs, the only thing a boxer can do is keep an eye on them and be prepared. If they find themselves in an awkward position, they need to know how to get out of that position and back where they are comfortable as quickly as possible.
Some people may not know any other fighting styles or take down techniques. Depending on what sort of fights you will be finding yourself in, it isn't a bad idea to learn some basic moves of other styles. As far as striking the opponent, landing and throwing punches is second nature to boxers. It should be your goal, as a boxer to make every hit count and also be as equally as defensive. Make a plan of action in your head and execute! Staying focused and relaxed is very important - once someone starts getting flustered, it is easy to see where they slip up in some areas.
MMA fighters, just like boxers, train all of the time. They seem to eat, sleep and breathe fighting. Think about it, as good as you are, there is someone out there that is your equal and many out there that are far better. In any sort of fighting style, maintaining an open mind and continuously learning should be something that occurs. One cannot think that they are going to conquer every match that they are in. confidence is a wonderful quality to have but it should never get in the way of your learning or allowing you to reach your full potential as a fighter. This goes for every fighting style!

The Big Don't of Mixed Martial Arts, MMA Workouts

MMA workouts are essential for an MMA fighter since these are what shapes them into better fighters in the ring. However, there are lots of details beginners need to know before following up on their MMA workout. There are MMA approaches that only the pros might know and there are misunderstandings in relation to MMA workouts which only the viewpoints of expert coaches will clarify. It is necessary for MMA fighters to learn further about the reality of MMA training programs and how they can help or hinder your fighting abilities.
Experienced coaches structure their MMA fighter's workout based on the skills that each and every one of them need to master. From there things can vary somewhat based upon natural abilities and experiences.
Nevertheless, the right MMA workouts consist of stadium stair running, weight lifting, rope climbs, implement throws, and several other techniques that make use of equipments like versa-climbers and rowing machines. A lot of coaches rely on the fighting style as well as the fitness levels of each athlete. They don't have the exact same programs since each individual has his own style and pre-conditioned stage. Hence, the whole MMA workout relies on more than just a cookie cutter approach to training.
There are various misconceptions beginners should be aware of.
The first is concerning the misunderstanding that MMA fighters must not incorporate weight lifting into their MMA workouts. Some say it's because no weights are needed when in the cage. Even so, the majority of expert coaches will say this is totally false. They concur that training requires weight training which is essential to maximize in the athlete's fitness routines.
MMA coaches also advise not to carry out or imitate the MMA routines of other fighters. The trainings of popular MMA fighters might be known to the world and other beginner fighters could possibly idolize them and copy exactly what they do. This shouldn't be done since routines should be based on the person's own requirements. Spending a lot of time and energy in MMA workouts right before you have a match is also a huge mistake. The length of your workout is based on your needs. However, it could help significantly if you could have a total rest following the series of MMA training prior to your next fight. It's also a huge mistake to go for MMA workouts which get you exhausted and knocked out. Some think that if they feel very tired, they've exercised better and this will give them success in competition. Fighters should get only enough MMA workout time in based on their body's needs. Fighter should also remember that they need to look after their dietary requirements to prevent injury and a poor fight day.
MMA workouts may need a lot of time and energy to get the fighters in shape and to make sure their optimum performance during the competition. Then again, doing what's not correct will call for unneeded effort. It is necessary, then, to listen to the guidance of experienced instructors which are more in the know when it comes to MMA workouts