Circuit Training For MMA - Improve Your Conditioning

Circuit training is an effective way to train for mixed martial arts because it helps train endurance and functional strength. Developing a good program will require a fair amount of time, as each person has different needs and things they need to work on. The learning curve can be reduced with proper research, which is the purpose of this article; I'm going to explain some of the nuances in the MMA strength and conditioning world.

Mixed martial arts is a sport that requires a substantial amount of functional strength that can last for several minutes at a time. Most strikers don't train for this type of strength from an early age because striking is meant to be wholly explosive. That is why wrestlers have such a significant advantage when it comes to conditioning for MMA, as they have been training for both explosive power and anaerobic endurance. The combination of these two aspects of conditioning is what circuit training tries to address. While it's not the best at building strength, it is absolutely fantastic at increasing endurance.

Your circuit training program should consist of several functional exercises that improve agility and explosive strength. Plyometrics are included in almost every regime, so I recommend including them in your own. Depth push ups and jumps will help improve your overall explosiveness, making you both a better striker and defensive wrestler. You should also include at least five minutes of hard cardio exercise. Running on an incline treadmill at 6 to 8 miles per hour will help push your endurance to the next level. If you have a partner, I suggest running sprawling and takedown drills. You can alternate who is doing what, as this will help you work on both your wrestling and conditioning. Don't forget to add some weight lifting do your routine. I recommend hang cleans, as they are quick and relatively easy to learn. Just make sure you're using proper form; your body should come under the bar, so make sure you don't try to swing the bar over your body.

Remember to drink plenty of water when exercising or you run the risk of dehydrating yourself which will affect your overall performance. You can supplement your circuit training with the addition of some strength training exercises on free days. This will increase your core strength more than pure circuit training will, which will greatly increase your effectiveness in grappling. Remember that quitting during a workout is never an option.