Combat-Sports-Conditioning

We Have Moved!

2008-10-20T11:44:00.000-07:00

Please Visit Us at Our New Location:

Go Here:http://www.jasoncbrown.tv/

Combat Sports Conditioning - Working the Sprawl

2008-08-13T08:15:00.000-07:00

Combat athletes take a beating on a daily basis. Combat sport conditioning programs should not add any further trauma to the combat athlete.

Sprawls in particular is one exercise that can beat up combat athletes if consisently done on hard surfaces as well as performed frequently during conditioning sessions.

Two videos below highlight proper sprwal training. On the first video, professional mixed martial artist, Lamont Lister demos how to get one hip down to the ground by actually turning the hips. This will help avoid single-leg takedowns.

The second video demos how to use a stability to train that combat sport specific skill while avoid contact with a hard surface.

Thanks Daniel for the great variation !

Static Grip Endurance for Combat Sports

2008-07-09T11:43:00.000-07:00

This is a great variation to build solid static strength-endurance in your upperback, arms and grip.

You can program this movement two different ways:

* Go for a set period of time.30 seconds is more than suffecient to start.

* Go for a set number of hand changes. Start low.

If you're grappler, keep your overall volume low on this exercise, as it can stress your biceps tendons and elbows quite a bit.

All the best,

Jason C. Brown BS CSCS

P.S. If you're a self-taught Combat Sport Athlete, you're probably also highly-
motivated. You teach yourself to do the things that will move your
fitness and Combat Sport Conditioning forward.

And you're probably looking for Combat Sport Conditioning programs and
resources that you can study and test out on your own time.

I designed Combat-Sports-Conditioning.com
for Combat Sport Athletes like you.

Check it out here: Combat Sports Conditioning

Lamont Lister's Conditioning

2008-07-05T16:50:00.000-07:00

Lamont Lister, professional mixed martial artist from Phildelphia preparing for an upcoming fight in August.

24kg Kettlebell Snatches
Contra-Lateral Push-ups
Flying Arm-bars
G & P Slam Ball
Band Suplexes

Anthony "The Animal" Gatt

2008-07-03T07:17:00.000-07:00

We've only been working with Anthony for a couple months but his work ethic and the love of his combat sports is inspirational.

Anthony had a fight only 11 days ago in Oaks, PA. This week he got a call about a fight in Butler , PA. Before we knew it Anthony was on his way to Butler... ready for war.

It was a tough fight with the local fighter winning a 4-round decision. Anthony was knocked down early in round one but quickly recovered and outpaced the local fighter for the next 3 rounds. The number of power-punches Anthony threw was astounding. Even the announcers were amazed.

I might be biased, but I gave Anthony that fight. Great fight Anthony, it's honor to work with you.

Pamela MacElree's Grapplers Quest Conditioning

2008-06-24T18:01:00.001-07:00

Here's a clip of Greg and Pamela getting ready for Pamela's Grapplers Quest Competition this Sunday.

1 minute at each drill:

Flying Arm-Bar on 2.5 inch rings
Anchored Kettlebell Cleans
Sandbag Shouldering
Sit-Throughs

Pam is using an 80lb sandbag and 2 x 16kg kettlebells

Greg is using a 100lb sandbag and 2 x 24kg kettlebells.

Here's another clip of Jason and Pamela, we changed it up a bit.

1 minute at each drill:

Flying Arm-Bar on 2.5 inch rings
Anchored Kettlebell Cleans
Sandbag Shouldering
Sit-Throughs
Sandbag Turkish Get-ups

Pam is using an 80lb sandbag and 2 x 16kg kettlebells

Jason is using a 100lb sandbag and 2 x 24kg kettlebells.

Kettlebell Training for Judo

2008-06-13T06:35:00.001-07:00

This is a great video from Hungary showing how kettlebells skills can carry-over into Judo, Sambo and BJJ.

Speed Training for Combat Sports

2008-05-21T10:50:00.000-07:00

One of the most frequently asked questions that I receive is," How can I get faster ? "

Speed training for combat sports is an interesting topic that deserves some detailed attention.

Speed is your ability to move quickly and it's one of the most important
bio-motor abilities required in combat sports.

Speed is also multi-directional, since movement is performed from
multiple angles and positions during a match or a fight.

Speed not only includes the speed of your own actions, but also the speed of
your RE-actions. Or how quickly you respond to your opponents movement.

Generally, there are 3 elements to speed training:

1.Perfecting Reaction Time

2.Speed Training Proper

3.Strength and Power Exercises meant to enhance power output (Sozanski and Witczak 1981).

There are also many methods used to train for speed. The main method, and the one I'll discuss here is known as the Repetition Method.

To make improvements in speed 3 elements must be present:

1. High Quality of Movement

2. High Frequency of Movement

3. High Specificity of Movement

Let's take a more detailed look at those 3 elements.

High Quality of Movement

Motor Learning research shows that it takes 300-500 repetitions to learn a new movement, however, it takes 3000-5000 repetitions to correct a faulty movement
(Motor Learning and Performance, Schmidt,1941).

Taking your time and focusing on high quality movement will ensure that you're actually developing the skill that you're attempting to refine and improve.

Speed is movement specific, developing poor quality movements will only hinder the development of speed in the skills that you wish to be quick in.

There is no correlation between speed of leg movements and arm movements and very little correlation in movements that require different coordination (DeVries 1980).

High Frequency of Movement

Once you have mastered the mechanics of the skill that you wish to improve, it's time
to focus on your frequency of training.

This directly applies to The Repetition Method. All too often intensity is stressed before consistency or frequency, which can lead to poor quality of movement and develop competeing motor patterns or skills.

Remember, speed is movement specific.

Set aside training time everyday for practicing, not sparring the skills that you wish to be quick in.

Really practice and go deep into the skill. Only when that skill becomes
concrete within your nervous system will you start developing speed.

I suggest you actually track how many repetitions you perform of each drill.
We've made this easy for you, just print out our Combat Sports Skill Acquistion Chart
and take it with you to your academy.

High Specificity of Movement

I've said it 3 times now, speed is movement specific. Practicing a right Cross will not improve the speed of your Jab or low kick, simple enough.

In following articles I'll spend more time discussing the other methods for developing speed.

But remember, keep those 3 elements at the forefront of your mind when training for speed:

1. High Quality of Movement

2. High Frequency of Movement

3. High Specificity of Movement

All the best,

Jason C. Brown BS CSCS

P.S. If you're a self-taught Combat Sport Athlete, you're probably also highly-
motivated. You teach yourself to do the things that will move your
fitness and Combat Sport Conditioning forward.

And you're probably looking for Combat Sport Conditioning programs and
resources that you can study and test out on your own time.

I designed Combat-Sports-Conditioning.com
for Combat Sport Athletes like you.

Check it out here: Combat Sports Conditioning

deVries H. A.1980. Phsyiology of Exercise for Physical
Education and Athletics.Dubuque, IA:Wm. C. Brown Company Publishers.

Schmidt. 1941. Motor Learning and Performance.

Sozanski H., T. Witczak.1981. Trening szybkosci. Warsaw: Sport i Turystyka.

Kettlebell Training for BJJ and Judo

2008-05-16T05:47:00.000-07:00

My good friend, Jason Struck RKC from River City Physical Culture put together a great video on how and why kettlebell training can help enhance your performance in Brasilian Jiu-Jitsu and Judo.

Click Here: For more information regarding Kettlebell Training for Combat Athletes.

Isolation Does Not Exist

2008-05-05T18:33:00.000-07:00

Anatomically isolation exist, however, functionally there is no such thing.

Please try the experiment within this video at your academy or gym.

Notice that we did not change anything at the shoulder joint, we only disrupted the foot, which in turn disrupts the knee, which in turn disrupts the hip and so on and so on up the entire kinetic chain.

If isolation where a fact, disrupting a segment so far away from the target joint or muscle would have no direct impact on it's function.

On a side note, notice Ricardo's entire body brace as I try to push his arm down. Again, some visual proof that muscles work in co-ordination, not isolation.

To read similar articles on combat sports conditioning & performance please log in: Member Log-In
Member Log-In.

Not a member ? Click here to sign up.

Respect,

Jason C. Brown

Medicine Ball Training for Combat Sports Conditioning

2008-03-20T10:40:00.000-07:00

Medicine ball training has always been a staple in the combat sports conditioning toolbox. Medicine ball training can be traced back as far as early Greece where Hippocrates, the father of medicine used weighted balls to enhance the health and vitality of his patients.

There is no doubt that ancient gladiators and warriors included medicine ball training within their regimens as well.

Medicine ball training is ideal for combat sports conditioning for several reasons:

1.Most medicine ball drills are basic, easy to learn movements that offer incredible benefits for combat sports preparation. There is very little learning curve associated with medicine ball training. Just take a brief look at all the sport skills a modern mixed martial artist must learn. They must learn and practice elements of boxing, kick boxing, wrestling, Brasilian Jiu-jitsu and Judo.

Now imagine piling on even more complicated skill work within his conditioning program. Not only is this a waste of time, it’s also irresponsible on the part of the conditioning coach. Medicine ball training delivers incredible benefits without additional skill work.

2.Medicine ball training matches the velocity of combat sport skills. As your combat sports conditioning program shifts from a general conditioning phase into a specific phase you need to match your conditioning drills with your combat sport demands. This includes drills that share the same velocity and speed as your strikes, kicks and take-downs.

Medicine balls can be thrown, slammed and kicked in sport specific movement patterns making them an excellent option for combat sports conditioning.

3.Medicine ball training is an excellent introduction into high intensity exercise. Medicine ball training can be instantly scaled down meet the needs of any combat athlete. Several exercise variables can be manipulated such as weight, speed, movement depth and range of motion. Medicine balls are the ideal tool for the scaling of exercise variables.

Once you understand the benefits of medicine ball training it’s very important to select exercises that will have the most carry-over and directly impact your combat sports conditioning.

In this article we’ll specifically how to use medicine ball training to enhance the Ground & Pound game frequently seen in modern mixed martial arts.

Finally, if you’re not medicine ball training chances are your competition likely is.

Medicine Ball Training for Combat Sports Conditioning.

To read the rest of this article please log in: Member Log-In
Member Log-In.

Not a member ? Click here to sign up.

Respect,

Jason C. Brown

Top 3 Hamstring Drills for Improved Combat Sports Performance and Injury Reduction

2008-02-11T13:59:00.000-08:00

Strong and injury resistent hamstrings are essential for combat sports performance and conditioning. However, hamstrings are often a neglected area in most combat sport conditioning programs.

I stumbled across the TRX System while at a convention years ago and I haven't found a better training tool for replicating the combat sport specific actions that occur at the hip, knee and ankle during dynamic guard play in Brasilian Jiu-Jitsu and Judo.

The TRX System is an ideal training for combat sports conditioning for several reasons:

* You can individually OR simutaneously address each joint and muscle action that occurs during combat sport applications at the ankle knee and hip.

* You can train both legs and hips at the same time while each limbs remains completely indepenent of each other. This is the way your legs and hips move in combat sport applications while in the Guard, Half Guard and especially while securing submissions.

* By design, the TRX System allows for creativity and endless exercise variety to train combat sport specific actions and metabolic demands.

For More Information on the TRX System Click Here !

Kettlebell Training & HUngarian Judo Part 2

2008-02-01T07:06:00.000-08:00

This is the same video with English subtitles:

Kettlebell Training & Hungarian Judo

2008-01-30T12:12:00.000-08:00

Kettlebell training has been a staple of combat sports physical preparation and athletic development for centuries in Eastern Europe. The video below shows how the Huhngarian Judo Team trains.

Click here for more info on Kettlebell Training for Combat Sports.

Dynamic Grip Endurance for Combat Sports Performance

2008-01-16T14:33:00.000-08:00

Your ability to maintain your grip on your opponent whether in a gi or a non- gi situation is extremely important for successful combat sports performance.

You cannot sumbit, throw or pin what you cannot hold !

One of our favorite training tools to develop dynamic grip endurance for combat sports is our 1.5 inch 60ft. rope.

It offers unlimited variations and training options, is very inexpensive.

Check out the video below to check out some dynamic grip training with our rope.

Then check out CBJJ World Champion Noah Spear and Copa Atlantica Champion Pamela MacElree demostrate some outstanding gripping tactics.

The Most Complete Online Resource for Combat Sports Conditioning & Performance Enhancement!

Rated # 1 Russian Kettlebell Challenge Instructor

2008-01-06T07:29:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to take a moment and say "Thank You !" to everyone that I've worked with and to everyone that has helped me along the way. I truely appreciate the testimonials that were sent in helping to make me the # 1 Ranked Kettlebell Instructor.

Stay tuned for some incredible content and information. 2008 will be our year !

The above photo is taken for HardStlye Magazine.

To download your own copy of HARDSTYLE MAGAZINE Please Click Here:

My Favorite Kettlebell Drill for Hip Throws

2007-12-10T08:06:00.001-08:00

The Kettlebell Bent-Press is an excellent drill for grappling athletes as it promotes hip mobility, spinal and shoulder stabilization.

Your entire back musculature works overtime to keep your spine rigid as well locking your overhead arm into place.

The Kettlebell Bent-Press is a unique drill that actalluy allows you to develop a mind/muscle connection with your lats, a muscle group that is generally hard to recruit during pressing actions.

The Kettlebell Bent-Press also shares very similar mechanics to many hip throw variations.

In my own training I've given up drills such as the Kettlebell Windmill, Turkish Get-ups and Bent-Presses for more common drills such as Snatches and Long-Cycle Clean & Jerks.

For the next 6 weeks I'll be re-introducing the Kettlebell Bent-Press and Turkish Get-ups back into my program on my strength days.

See below for quick video highlighted the Kettlebell Bent-Press:

Click Here: For more information on Kettlebell Training for Combat Sports.

Sand Bag Training with the Long Bag

2007-10-29T10:22:00.000-07:00

Sand Bags are one of our favorite training tools for combat sport athletes, especially our grapplers. Below is an interesting video of The Long Bag, once again in Beijing.

Likes:

O Static and dynamic grip action.

O Slight rotational components.

O Explosive hip and knee extension.

O Multi-planar movements.

O Hyper-gravity training stimulus

O Low Price tag - a simple bag filled with some sand or rice.

Dislikes:

O Spinal mechanics- too much flexion and torsion. I know those actions take place in combat sports and are strongly involved with grappling arts, and that some drills should place your body slightly outside of it's intended range in order to build a safety valve. It's the repeated training of those actions on top of their sports skills that could quickly lead to injury.

Combat Sports Conditioning - On A Budget

2007-10-28T11:35:00.000-07:00

He's solid video proof that if you have the desire to train nothing can stop you. This is some solid and legit spo rt specific combat sports training in Beijing. It's so sad when I hear Americans complain that they can't make it to the gym to train or that they don't have the money.

You don't need so-called state-of-the-art training facilities to get an effective training session, all you need is the desire to train, some creativity and heart.

Band and Medicine Ball Drills for Grappling Combat Sports

2007-10-24T16:25:00.000-07:00

My introduction to this band drill for grappling combat sports came from Rhadi Ferguson. I'm not sure if Rhadi took it from this gentleman but I'm glad he passed it on.

If you'd like to take this drill one step further please check out the second video below. In my opinion, this Drop Seio Nage drill performed with a Tornado Ball has even more carry over into the actual throw.

If you'd like to learn more about Combat Sports Conditioning please click here !

To check out some sample articles please click here: Combat Sports Conditioning Articles

The Red Devils in Action

2007-10-23T08:20:00.000-07:00

An article exist where Fedor states that he does not train with kettlebells. I think he's just being secretive.

In the below above please check out these times:

1:20 Kettlebells and Dumbbells under a tree

1:38 Fedor next to some ketelebells doing a back exercise

3:30 Fedor doing sit-ups next to a kettlebell

3:48 Kettlebell under the Swing Set

I guess it's a possibility that Fedor just likes to exercise and pose next to kettlebells ?, but it seems logical enough that if his team is training with kettlebells then Fedor is also.

Kettlebells and Red Devils

2007-10-23T05:30:00.001-07:00

The Red Devil Sport Club is a mixed martial arts academy in St. Petersburg, Russia.

The team’s main fighter base is comprised of Russian and Eastern European sambo fighters who have adapted their style to MMA, and they regularly compete in full contact sambo tournaments.

The team’s most notable fighters are the brothers Fedor and Aleksander Emelianenko. It appears that they're fan of kettlebell training from the photos above.

Kettlebell Training for Combat Sports Part 2

2007-10-22T08:37:00.001-07:00

This video is of Vadim Kolganov - Master of Sport in Sambo. Vadim appears to pick his drills from a large library of kettlebell training exercises, he then applies those drills to meet his sports specific needs. Notice he doesn't mimic and actual sport skills, he simply works to build that attributes that are needed for his chosen combat sport.

If you'd like to learn more about Kettlebell Training for Combat Sports Click Here !

Kettlebell Training for Combat Athletes

2007-10-19T08:11:00.001-07:00

I really love this video. It just goes to show the variety and broad applications that kettlebell training offers combat athletes.

Of course, there is always the debate that you should focus your efforts on a few select and very effective kettlebell training exercises such as Long -Cycle Clean & Jerks, one - arm Snatches and perhaps Kettlebell Turkish Get-ups. The theory is to go deeper into your conditioning and not wider by adding silly sport specific exercises to the mix. Get in better condition through kettlebell training and get better at your sport by spending more time in that sport, actually working on the skills needed to excel.I tend to agree with the former. However, different coaches and athletes don't always share the same experiences and are successful with their training plans.

You have to be able to justify why or why not something is in your plan and go from there, trial and error.

Below is a very cool video of some combat sport kettlebell drills. Enjoy.

If you'd like to learn more about Kettleebll Training for Combat Sports Click Here.

What About Technique ?

2007-10-03T15:48:00.000-07:00

Technique training for Combat Sports Conditioning can be broken down into 3 catagories;

O General Technical Training

O Directed Technical Training

O Sport-Specific Technical Training

General Technical Training simply refers to the learning of general exercises that have an impact on your performance. For example, learning to Lunge and Squat properly would be good examples for a combat athlete that relies on shooting in for a leg or perhaps a Suplex.

Directed Technical Training helps to form the foundation for future sport-specific exercises.

And Sport-Specific Technical Training simply refers to the actual skills used in competition such as submissions, sweeps, hooks or right crosses.

In future post, we'll be going deeper into each catagory.

Specific Preparation for Combat Sports

2007-09-25T12:20:00.000-07:00

Since this is our first official post we thought we would start it off with something beautiful.

In the video below, Osvaldo Alves 9th degree displays some beautiful examples of drills that would be used during your Specific Physical Preparation phase. You can clearly see the explosiveness, agility, power, speed and grace that these drills develop. These are attributes that are needed for high level performance in combat sports.

These drills can be used as a warm-up or as an entire combat sport specific workout depending on your fitness level.

One problem that exists especially in BJJ circles is a lack of practice. Often times, one class will contain 4-5 seperate skills without giving the students sufficient time to LEARN and REHEARSE those skills. Then the students are released to roll live and try out the skills they just went over.

Repetition is the mother of skill and 3 very important features must be present in order to maximize skill training, namely, high specificity, high quality of movement and high frequencey.

When training with the drills on the video below try to keep those 3 features at the forefront of your mind. Clearly, these drills were developed to enhance the quailities you need to excel in combat sports without actually working on a physical skill or submission.