What To Expect Out Of Your Strengthening & Conditioning Classes

By Rod Bourgoine


Becoming a mixed martial artist requires a great deal of commitment and plenty of hours of training each week. Not only will you take classes in specific forms of martial arts, such as a Jiu Jitsu class or a Muay Thai class, you also will need to include strength training and conditioning classes.

Because both elements improve your overall fitness, these two are often combined into one class. The strength training portion focuses on improving individual areas of the body, while the conditioning focuses on improving your cardiovascular strength, which also improves your overall level of endurance. The conditioning exercises might include jumping jacks, jumping rope, agility runs and longer distance running and jogging.

When one thinks about strength training, you might think the focus is primarily on lifting weights, but this is simply not the case. While you will use weighted equipment among other items, you are focusing on many areas of strength, such as improving the power of your punching or increasing your ability to hold a position, such as chokehold or armbar, which helps you overcome an opponent.

A good gym will provide strength and conditioning classes with plenty of different activities as options. For example, your gym should have equipment such as dumbbells, barbells and kettle bells as well as different weights of medicine balls. In addition, you might find rope climbing apparatus, chains, strength bands and much more. This variety not only will help you become stronger but also to become more agile, which is a huge advantage in the ring.

Before you set a workout schedule, spend some time talking with an instructor or trainer at your MMA gym. They can help you select the right amount of classes and the right kind of classes depending on your goals. A good rule of thumb is to take two strength/conditioning classes and then perhaps three more classes, perhaps two in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and then perhaps add a Judo or Muay Thai or Boxing class to round it all out. You also can do some cardio outside of the gym, such as hiking, swimming or biking.

Because you want to take a mix of classes during the week, select an MMA gym that allows you take as many classes as you want per month for one price. Not only will this provide you with a low-cost way to try new types of classes, you'll get into fighting shape faster the more you can work out. In addition, your San Diego mixed martial arts gym also should have qualified instructors with actual experience as either an MMA fighter or in tournaments in their specific martial art.




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