Famous mixed martial arts fighters sometimes try unorthodox training routines, in order to increase their cardio and get into a better shape than their opponents. Because the same techniques are available today to all the fighters, the physical preparation is the one that sometimes makes the difference between a winner and a loser.

If you have everything you need to win (techniques, flexibility and timing) but you gas out quickly, your chances of losing systematically increase in front of an opponent with less technique but in a much better shape.

And that’s not all of it. In mixed martial arts, you have to be prepared for all kinds of effort. It is not enough to do aerobic exercises; you must also do anaerobic workouts in order to improve your MMA specific cardio.

If you are a good striker and can make it through 5 kickboxing rounds without getting tired, you can’t get into an MMA fight and expect the same outcome. Once you go in a clinch and then on the ground, you will quickly tire and you won’t be able to keep up with the specific type of effort needed.

1. One of the best ways to develop MMA specific strength is by doing interval training.

Short high intensity episodes are mixed up with continuous low or medium intensity workouts, meant to simulate the rhythm of a real fight. You can sprint on a treadmill for 20 seconds, walk for 10 seconds, sprint again for 20 seconds and so on. There are lots of exercises that can be used and lots of variations, but everybody does it, in one way or another.

If you think about it, in an MMA fight you have moments of rest, followed by intense moments when your entire strength is put to a use. You wait for the perfect time to go for a takedown, and then you explode. Until you manage to take down your opponent, you struggle for a short period of time and then you rest again when you manage to get in a comfortable position.

2. Hypoxia training

We should thank Rafael Alejarra for making this training method famous among MMA fans. While he was working with Wanderlei Silva, he tried to increase the fighter’s resistance with this unorthodox method. Hypoxia training, in the form used by Alejarra with Wanderlei Silva is actually circuit training with a snorkel.

If you can only breathe through your mouth, the oxygen intake is usually lower than what your body demands. It tends to compensate by producing a lot more lactic acid and you tire a lot faster. This should however not be attempted without proper guidance. Rafael Alejarra not only used a heart monitor on Wanderlei throughout the entire workout, but continuously tested his blood before and after in order to avoid over-training and health issues.

3. Training underwater

You have all seen BJ Penn diving, picking up a rock from the bottom of the ocean and running underwater while carrying it. And he isn’t the only one. While the benefits of swimming are widely known, this is not the case when it comes to underwater training, even though they are supposed to be pretty obvious. Water resistance does not cause too much stress on your joints, and underwater training can prove to be a great cardio workout.

Author Bio: Teagen James is an avid participant, writer, and fan of MMA. He is also the owner and operator of CheapFightGear.com which is an online store and blog which is a great resource for anyone looking to get up to the minute MMA news or to purchase quality and affordable Fight Gear, MMA Training Gear and MMA Shorts.

Category: Sports
Keywords: underwater training,mma trainers,hypoxia training,fighters cardio,top mma trainers,mma