Jon Fitch is in the main event at UFC 127 going against BJ Penn. Fitch is known for his outstanding wrestling and many have called him boring for his lay and pray style. This time around I don’t think laying on BJ Penn will be such a good idea.
But I am not here to critique anyone’s fighting style, I am here for some strength and conditioning and that is what I am going to give you. In this video just like the title says you are going to see Jon Fitch performing jump squats with the barbell. The string type thing that you see attached to the barbell is called a accelerometer and it measures the speed of the bar as you jump with it.
He then moves into jump squats without the barbell. Jump squats are great for becoming explosive using your own body. You need to be explosive however and once you hit the floor you need to be jumping, this is the way to build that explosiveness.
Train Hard! Train Smart!
Feb 26 2011
Jon Fitch MMA Training
Feb 24 2011
Bisping MMA Training
Another fight that will be taking place at UFC 127 is Michael Bisping taking on Jorge Rivera. Searching the You Tube archives for some training footage, I was able to find this great video of Bisping training at Strength and Performance in the United Kingdom. This is one of the best training videos I have found in a while.
In the video you will see many of the movements that I have been preaching to add into your strength training programs for about a year now. You will see as he performs a variation of box jumps but using tires to develop lower body power. Plyometrics are essential for enhancing your performance as an athlete. He then moves on to Zercher Squats to build strength in the lower body as well as increase his core strength. With the Zercher squat, you hold the barbell against your chest, which makes the squat a little awkward at first. In order to keep from not falling forward you need to “tighten” your core. Bisping then moves into jump shrugs which help develop power in the athlete.
You will also see how he uses the sled to perform explosive pulls with handles attached to it. In this video I actually learned a new movement as he uses the barbell across his waist to do hip ups. This movement will help with explosive power in the lower body and mimics using your legs to bridge out of a move.
Like I said earlier this is one of the best training video’s out there as it shows many of the movements I have been telling you about. Once these movements are programed the right way, you will be getting strong in no time.
Train Hard! Train Smart!
Feb 22 2011
Ross Pearson MMA Training
On Saturday UFC 127 will take place in Australia. The main event will feature BJ Penn going up against Jon Fitch. In another matchup that night up and coming star in the 155 pound division, Ross Pearson will be taking on veteran of the cage Spencer Fisher. This fight can turn out to be a stand-up war as both men like to throw their hands.
In this segment of of video of fighters training we will take a look at Pearson as he uses old car tires to train. In the first part of the video you will see as Pearson uses the tire to develop explosiveness. Old car tires are great tools that can replace medicine balls for many exercises. In the video you will see Pearson using the tire to perform chest passes as well as overhead throws.
Now to point out the obvious, the chest pass will work on developing explosive power in the chest and the overhead throws will develop power in your back. However, looking at both of these movements you will see that they are total body movements. If done properly, you will use your entire body to explode and throw the tire.
In the second part of the video Pearson uses the two tires to run up stairs. Stair climbing is grueling enough, add some tire carries into it and you have taken it to another level of conditioning. Your heart rate will rise and you will be increasing your conditioning level.
So if you want a cheap effective workout, head to the junkyard pick up some old tires and start training. No excuses!
Train Hard! Train Smart!
Aug 07 2010
UFC 117 Predictions
One of the most anticipated UFC events is upon us. In just a few hours we are going to see if Chael Sonnan can back up all of his talking and win the world championship. The hype around that fight is crazy, and after Anderson Silva’s last performance many want to see him go down.
The best thing about UFC 117 is that the main event is just the icing on the cake. The rest of the card is stacked with great fights in all the different weight classes. This card on paper is the best card of the summer.
So here are my predictions for this card. Now if you know me I m never really good at this so if you are a gambling man or woman then bet against me and I could make you rich.
The first match-up I want to discuss is in the heavy weight division. Junior Dos Santos takes on Roy Nelson. This could turn out to be a slugfest. Both have heavy handsand someone is going to be getting knocked out in this one. Many always go against Roy Nelson because of the way he presents himself. He does not look like a fighter but we all know he can throw down. Damn this one is hard to call. I am taking Roy Nelson in a 2nd round TKO.
Next up is a match up I want to see, as former welterweight champ and UFC Hall of Famer Matt Hughes takes on Ricardo Almeida. Once again Hughes will be taking on a Gracie fighter. First it was Royce, then Matt Serra, Renzo Gracie and now Almeida. Can Hughes become the new “Gracie Hunter”? I think this is where Hughes hunting dayscome to an end. Big Dog will come out on top via unanimous decison. It will be a tough fight but Almeida will pull it out in the end.
Clay Guida and Rafael Dos Anjos is going to be a barn burner and the next match-up on the card. The pace of this fight will be incredible. Who doesn’t like a nice lightweight fight. Guida is a fireball and the fans are in love with him. He looks to win his second fight in a row coming off a submission victory in March. Dos Anjos looks to keep his three fight win streak in tact, with a victory over Guida it will bring him to a new level in the lightweight division. In this fight I have Guida taking it in a split decsion. The judges will have a hard time with this one. So boys don’t leave it to the judges.
Next up we have Jon Fitch taking on Thiago Alves. This is a match-up of ATT goig up against AKA. Fitch won their first meeting but Alves is a different fighter this time around. If Alves can stop the takedown then Alves will take this one but I believe that Fitch will be able to get this fight to the ground and pull out the victory via unanimous decsion.
Finally the main event the one everyone has been talking about, the super hyped match-up with Chael Sonnen going up against the pound for pound best fighter in the world Anderson Silva. I see Silva knocking Sonnen out in the second round. The first round Silva will feel Sonnen out. Sonnen will get a takedown and Silva will survive the round. In the second the feeling out process will be over and Silva is going to just take control of the fight and finish Sonnen off. Then everyone will be in love with Silva again and we will all be one happy UFC family. So enjoy the fights and in the famous words of the Beastie Boys, “If your driving, don’t drink, and if you drink, don’t drive”!
Aug 04 2010
Jon Fitch Strength and Conditioning
In my search for strength and conditioning footage of the fighters in this weekends UFC 117 card I came across a lot of Jon Fitch footage of his strength and conditioning. Other fighters are hard to come by but Fitch produces the video. Jon Fitch who fights out of the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA), is taking on American Top Team (ATT) member Thiago Alves
In most of his videos he is doing agility work. We all know that agility is one of the key components to any strength and conditioning program and is essential for fighters and athletes alike to train.
In this video however, Fitch is using lateral jumps over hurdles with punches. Lateral jumps are a form of plyometrics which help train an athlete to become more powerful. I found this movement to be interesting and will definetly incorporate it into my fighters overall programs. Fitch we all know has great takedown defense. This exercise will help him react and move explosively when someone attempts to take him down. I also enjoy the MMA specificity that is added into the drill. After each set of hops Fitch throws a one-two combo, this makes Fitch focus on sticking the landing on the jump and then exploding with good technique with the one two. This in particular drill takes focus. Lack of focus will lead you to hit the hurdle and crash to the floor. So remember when watching these videos I post of pro fighters doing these exercises know that they are under the watchful eye of a professional, well at least I hope so.
Don’t forget to watch UFC 117 as Anderson Silva defends his title against Chael Sonnen. Also on the card UFC legend will take on Ricardo Almeida, Junior Dos Santos will go up against Roy Nelson as that will be a fun fight to watch.
Mar 27 2010
UFC 111 Predictions GSP v.s. Dan Hardy
Check out the quick video of my UFC 111 predictions. GSP defends title against Dan Hardy. Interim Heavyweight bout between Frank Mir and Shane Carwin It’s always fun to come back and make jokes about how I pick the fights wrong. Enjoy the fights everyone.
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