Archive for February, 2010
If you’re seeking to compete in mixed martial arts events, you can’t just concentrate on the physical side of MMA conditioning. Mental conditioning is just as important to producing champions as building your physical skills.
There are many men around who simply have big muscles. You can see them just about anywhere, even on Jersey Shore. Guys with big muscles who know what to do with them, and who know what to do when faced with another guy with even bigger muscles, are more rare. Many of them can be found mixed in the ranks of the leading MMA competitors.
Physical strength, endurance, and heart are required in large amounts for this growing sport. No big brain, small bodied man will last a second in the ring. But a physically competent fighter can learn to exceed his physical limitations by perfecting his mental game.
By including a mental aspect to MMA conditioning, good fighters can become great fighters and great fighters can become legendary fighters.
While there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to mental conditioning for fighting, there are some elements common to most successful MMA conditioning programs. These elements include:
Motivation
The fighter who wants to win, will find a way to win. No matter what.
Counter-intuitiveness
Taking a punch instead of blocking one as expected will throw your opponent off his game, and put you in control of the match.
Emotional intelligence
Gaining control over your emotions will help to make you a better fighter. Learning to manipulate your opponents pride, ego, vanity and fear will also give you an added advantage in fights.
Self-awareness
Understanding how far you can push your body is important. Also knowing how and when to execute all the holds and moves you’ve learned in your training is also key to MMA success.
While the stereotype of fighters may be big, dumb lugs, the truth is that the best fighters are probably the most intelligent ones. It takes a lot of time and intense training to gain the knowledge and discipline required to know when to execute your moves.
MMA conditioning is more than just lifting weights. It’s also lifting your consciousness and intellect to a new level that allows you to see all the angles and take advantage of this knowledge to win.
The days leading to the UFC 110 were filled with UFC news, stories and rumours about how the contenders condition themselves for their fights. Recently, UFC followers have been watching closely how former champion Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira conditioned himself mentally for the match with unbeaten fighter Cain Velasquez in Sydney, Australia.
The main event was predicted to attract a large crowd of fans and supporters, as the Acer Arena apparently sold out to some 16,500 spectators, making it the second most sold out event in the UFC’s 16 year history.
Nogueira vs. Velasquez
The primary focus is the main event, not just because the winner is up for a chance at the world heavyweight title, but also because of the apparent uneven match up between former champion and UFC coach Nogueira and the young but inexperienced Velasquez.
While most bets favor Velasquez for his undefeated record, his formidable boxing and wrestling skills and an endless supply of oxygen in his gas tank, Nogueira’s massive experience should not be discounted. Nogueira’s experience fighting against the A-list of MMA heavyweights such as his unanimous victory over Couture in August 2009 will prove useful.
Silva vs. Bisping
In addition to the Nogueira-Velasquez match, UFC fans also witnessed the mental game between Silva and Bisping in the co-main event. Silva has dropped from 205 to 185 but this alone doesn’t guarantee a win. After all, he lost 5 out of the last 6 fights he was in and losing 20 pounds does not equate to gaining more power.
Bisping, on the other hand, is a methodical fighter, picking on his opponent until he wears him out. He may not have a fantastic track record but he’s been in middleweight longer than Silva. Still, many MMA followers think he’s no match to Silva’s aggressive prowess in the octagon.
Other fights included on the UFC 110 card are Joe Stevenson vs. George Sotiropoulos in the lightweight division and Keith Jardine vs. Ryan Bader in the light heavyweight division. Anthony Perosh has replaced Rothwell, and will now fight heavyweight Mirko Filipovic.
Also in the UFC news are the cancelled rematch between fellow Aussies Elvis Sinosic and Chris Haseman and the bout between Ben Rothwell and Mirko Filipovic. Sinosic has been knocked down by a shoulder injury while Rothwell is ill. Anthony Perosh, another Australian, will fight Mirko instead.
So it’s all systems go for UFC 110.
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The upcoming Ultimate Fighting Championship Event (UFC 110), the first of its kind to be staged at the Acer Arena in Sydney, Australia on Feb. 20, 2010 pits two world champions against newbies: former UFC champ Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira versus young lion Cain Velasquez for the main event, the world heavyweight title and Britain’s pride Michael “The Count” Bisping against wannabe middleweight entrant Wanderlei “The Axe Murderer” Silva.
Minotauro Nogueira vs. Cain Velasquez
Depending on who’s talking or which MMA blogs you find credible, the overconfident Velasquez doesn’t stand a chance against the seemingly unbreakable Minotauro. The speed and stamina required are more often found in younger fighters such as Velasquez. Minotauro’s strong right hand has stopped many of his opponents, as he is known for his strength and brutality.
Velasquez is a strong favourite for the crown in Las Vegas. Considered to be one of the 10 best heavyweights in the MMA, he has remained undefeated and he displays significant improvement in his skills during every fight. Yet followers of the UFC are not about to give up on former champion Minotauro.
Mixed Martial Arts is not purely about physical power, as his record shows. Minotauro is a smart fighter who can bring Velasquez to submission by forcing the 27-year old Mexican-American to the ground.
The Count vs. The Axe Murderer
UFC 110 co-main event is the fight between Michael “The Count” Bisping, MMA fighter from England and Wanderlei Silva who earned the moniker “The Axe Murderer” from his exceedingly aggressive fighting style.
Silva dropped to middleweight (185 lbs.) from light heavyweight. He was Pride middleweight champion from 2001-2007 before losing to Dan Henderson. He moved and signed up at UFC thereafter.
Middleweight fighter Bisping would have been a contender for the title after his three consecutive victories until his loss to Dan Henderson back in UFC 100.
UFC 110 is the second fastest sell-out in the UFC history. All tickets were taken on the first day of public sale and at 16,500 pieces, UFC sealed its name as the world’s No.1 mixed martial arts organization.
MMA blogs feature the latest buzz oftentimes containing differing views of MMA enthusiasts, and professional and amateur commentators, that you may have to carefully sift through to distinguish fact from fiction and ultimately decide each fighter’s chances of winning.
Competitors for all sports must condition themselves, mentally and physically. Different conditioning techniques apply to different sports. How a basketball player conditions for a game is different from how a mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter will be trained.
MMA conditioning is much more than just strength, power, and speed. While these may be major qualities that a fighter needs to win a match, it is mental conditioning that distinguishes the champion from the contender.
Each person has the potential to develop incredible strength, power and speed. There are varying techniques used between fighters, each developed depending on the fighter.
Strength, for example, is merely physical energy that is needed to exert force. Between two physically evenly matched fighters, the fighter that has the mental edge and believes he is unbeatable and unbreakable will usually end up being victorious. When training for strength, mental MMA conditioning is also important.
MMA conditioning necessarily includes developing mental characteristics, which when combined with physical strength, power and speed, produces a lean, mean killing machine.
Some of these mental qualities include the following:
* Refusal to Give In
Training for MMA is physically exhausting. To survive training, your mind must not be the first to quit. As the training level turns up a notch, your body may begin to feel pain and exhaustion. An MMA fighter must be able to work through the pain barrier using the mind that never gives in. Fighters are taught that if your mind will not give in to the pain, then neither will your body.
* Winning Mindset
All MMA champions share a winning attitude, and a common believe that losing is not an option. This mental quality can only arise from a genuine and deep-seated desire to reach the top in MMA. When your mind is focused on winning, your body will do whatever it takes to accomplish your aim.
* High Motivation Levels
Just like desire, motivation is a strong internal force that compels you to pursue your goals relentlessly. Motivation affects the quality of your MMA training. To keep positive and motivated, you need to clearly define your goals, and have sound reasons to accomplish your goals. Goal setting is therefore important in MMA conditioning.
* Persistence
Training continuity maintained at a high level with increasing momentum in the days leading to the fight increases your chances of winning.
MMA conditioning involves other mental abilities which can turn a strong fighter into a winning champion. High concentration levels, persistence and inner strength are just some of them. These skills are required for you to maintain the attitude needed to survive the harsh and exhausting sport that it is admired for being.
Throughout [the world of|the field of] martial arts, the style [known as|referred to as|called] Kempo is [one of the best|one of the greatest|one of the better]. Kempo uses extremely fast strikes, which is the area it is most known for. Kempo has been around [for many|for lots of|for numerous] years, originating from Japan. It was tested on the ancient battlegrounds, using punches, kicks, and [very little|hardly any|very few|very small] grappling. Kempo employs weapons as well, including disarming [techniques|methods|systems] against opponents who [are using|are employing|are utilizing|are applying] weapons.
What many [don't|do not] [understand|realize], is that Kempo is actually [an older|a more mature|a more aged|a more ancient] [form of|sort of|kind of|type of] Karate. To be more specific, Kempo mainly uses the forbidden [techniques|methods|systems] of sport karate and kickboxing to [create a|build a|make a|establish a] devastating means of self defense. Throughout this [deadly|life threatening] martial art, stylists will [be instructed|be coached|be taught] that every block is a counter, and ever counter is a block. [Instead of|Rather than|As opposed to|In place of] simply blocking an attack, stylists will learn [how to|the way to] block [in a way that|in a manner that|in a fashion that] executes a strike.
The most well [known aspect|known expression|known facet] of Kempo is speed. [If you've ever|If you have ever] seen it in action by [someone who|somebody who|someone that|somebody that] has been [studying|learning] [for many|for lots of|for numerous] years, the hand speed of the stylist is simply amazing. Those that have been [practicing|going over|rehearsing] [for many|for lots of|for numerous] years, including [black|charcoal|jet] belts, are [able to|in a position to] execute [techniques|methods|systems] with blinding speed. [Often times|Often|Frequently|Quite often], a Kempo stylist can land many strikes before you [can even|can also] get the [opportunity|chance|prospect|gamble] to counter - or block.
The hand speed in Kempo [comes from|derives from] something [known as|referred to as|called] “speed striking”. Although Kempo uses weapons and weapons training, it is more an unarmed martial art that [teaches|instructs] students [how to|the way to] defend [themselves|on their own|by themselves] in any situation. This style isn’t about just [circulating|going around] and hurting people though, as stylists [learn a|study a] lot [in terms of|relating to] [self discipline|self control], and only to react when [they are|they're] [given|presented with] no other [option|alternative].
The speed striking in Kempo takes [years|many years] to master. Students of the art will practice forms on [a daily|a day-to-day] basis, which helps with the speed. By [practicing|going over|rehearsing] [a certain|a particular] movement over and [over again|once again|once more], students will get faster and faster. [They will|They'll] [practice with|rehearse with|use|employ] other students, [the instructors|the teachers|the tutors], [and also|and likewise|and in addition] with equipment [such as|like] punching bags. [Over time|In time|Over the course of time], students will get amazingly quick and [able to|in a position to] execute strikes with amazing speed and precision.
Shadow boxing [is also|is in addition] [essential to|necessary to] developing speed with Kempo. Students [will spend|will pay out|will expend] quite a [bit of|little] time shadow boxing, [learning|studying] [their own|their own individual|their own personal] movements. As [a result of|a consequence of|an effect of] shadow boxing, students will learn physical resistance [as well as|in addition to|along with] [improve their|increase their|grow their] levels of fitness. This [also helps|likewise helps|helps as well] with technique as well, as students will be engaging in [practice with|rehearse with|use|employ] [themselves|on their own|by themselves].
[The main|The primary|The chief|The principle] exercise where speed striking will really come into play is with sparring. When sparring, students will test their knowledge and skills against other students. [The instructors|The teachers|The tutors] will pay close attention during this exercise, to see just how well the students are [learning|studying]. Sparring can be very fun [to watch|to look at|to view|to observe], [especially when|particularly when|specially when] [there are|the're] two [black|charcoal|jet] belts squaring off. The [more time|a longer period] a student spends sparring, the faster he will [build in|develop in|form in|create in] [the art of|the ability to|the skill of] speed striking.
[Throughout the|All through the] years, Kempo has [proven|established to be|proved to be] a martial art with very fast strikes. It is one of [the fastest|the quickest] striking martial arts [in existence|alive|existing|living|breathing], although it [teaches|instructs] students [self discipline|self control] and [how to|the way to] avoid confrontations. Kempo is taught [all around the world|all across the globe], making it [an excellent|a superb|a fantastic] martial art [for children|for kids] as well. From adults to children, the martial art [known as|referred to as|called] Kempo [can teach|can instruct|can tutor|can educate] self defense, harmony, [self discipline|self control], self [trust|confidence|self assurance] - and how students can help others [in the world|internationally|globally] live [a better|an improved] life.





