Is there any point in cardio/endurance training?

What do you want to get better at? if you want to be technically better at whatever it is you do then you could probably scrap all that, assuming you wont get fat and out of shape of course.

But if you want to actually be a better fighter, or competitor, or healthier even; keep up with the extra training.

In fairness, fight gone bad, the workout that he mentioned, is a crossfit workout designed to replicate exactlt the work rest ratio of an mma fight.

J-Fit wrote: »

I've never heard of fight gone bad so I can't really say but most of the guys I work with put far more emphasis on endurance and very little on explosive power. It's a challenge to get them to back off a little on one and increase the other. I suppose I shouldn't presume every fighter trains in this manner. In my view, most of the misconceptionscome from the UFC All Access shows which show ridiculous training measures like Wanderlei Silva running around with a snorkel on. Utter nonsense.

While that may be a little extreme, i think you are underestimating the need for a high level of aerobic and anaerobic training at the highest level, jose aldo doesnt just go for a little run, i can guarantee that.

Ah yeah of course theres more than one way to train, but assuming that fighters are the same weight and of average strength, then clearly endurance is important.

Look at both the diaz brothers, regularly compete in triathalons and they go out and kick the **** out of people

Staying up late makes me tired and i usually fall asleep on the bus. In the same way that soreness after a weights session isnt an indication of a good resistance workout, tiredness isnt exactly the best measurement either.

I hate cardio, but come on lads, lets not get silly here. Assuming were not talking about a fight behind the bike shed, we can hope that the fighters are of an equal skill level and have been matched up well. In which case, conditioning will more than likely be the deciding factor in the fight.

I'll weigh in on this briefly. The training must replicate the needs of the event. Crossfit does this poorly IMO. I actually like crossfit, if I had to choose a methodology for my girlfriend it'd be right up there but for fighters it is not the optimal way to train..not even close. It does however do a great job of getting people into the gym in the first place and has my support as such...anyway..moving on. If you aren't serious enough about your conditioning to hire a professional then crossfit is at least a small step in the right direction.

If you are serious enough then this is what that a good trainer should know and act on.

Take 3 sports..boxing/Grappling/MMA. All are different and as such require different types of training, rest/work ratios, amount of rounds, total work time, max strenght, power work, power endurance, strength endurance.

Boxing (pro) = 12 rounds x 3 minutes = 36 work minutes and 1 min rest periods

MMA (pro) = 3rounds x 5 minutes = 15 work minutes with 1 min rest

Grappling = 5-10 min matches x 4+ depending on how far you get in event and rest varies greatly.


There are obviously big differences in the above.


Boxing require actions against minimal resistance over and over again.

Grappling requires actions against large resistance over and over again.

MMA requires actions against both over and over again.


MMA requires that balance that makes it the one of the most complicated sports in the world to prepare for, especially when you factor in the interathlete differences such as strength quality weaknesses and structural weakness. A balanced athlete in all sports requires both weight training and energy system training to varying degrees depending upon the event. The problem as we all know with substituting sparring for strenght and conditioning is that you are going to get bashed up in sparring if training at any sort of intensity. A well planned S&C programme is vital for any serious competitor.

Here's some food for thought. Jon Chaimberg (S&C coach to GSP and Jacksons camp), Ollie Richardson(S&C coach to Hardy, Daley etc) and Joe Defranco (S&C for Hardy during Primetime) aren't crossfit qualified to my knowledge and utilize targeted workouts based on their clients needs. If a crossfit approach was the way to go don't you think the best would be utilizing it. They know what they are doing because they have the education behind them either just under the bar or both under the bar and in the lecture halls.

Training must be measurable (in detail) and specific. If your not assessing, your guessing.


Oisin

(sorry for the lenght of the post but hope it helps you understand the right path to take)

It is an interesting point you make OP.
Do you feel the same for all sports e.g should Gaa players/ soccer players just train by playing more instead of running/weights/circuit training etc?

I know from my own experience that no one liked the sprints/laps/push-ups etc that we used to have to do before a practice match, and everyone would have just preferred to get straight into a match.

I also found from my time doing BJJ that I was often knackered after the warm up routines:o (jogging/high knees/star jumps/squats/press-ups etc) and would have rathered have more energy left for rolling.
I guess that was just down to my age and lack of fittness:o

Taking away your conditioning circuits and replacing it with sports specific sparring related activities may have its benefits, but to be constantly evolving as an athlete you must supplement your sparring with strength, speed, motor and technical training.

As OMCABE said constantly assess your fitness, your speed, strength.. evaluate your results.