Combat athletes need awesome levels of muscular endurance, explosive power, and extremely high work capacity. While many athletes are still stuck doing bodybuilding routines and running miles on end for “cardio”, they’re in the dark when it comes to the very best methods for raw strength and primal conditioning.
For fight conditioning, the best training tools are one’s that train the entire body in an energy specific manner to a fight. This means that you’re using the most rugged of equipment and breaking all of the rules. When it comes to developing the type of strength, conditioning, and attitude needed to dominate, your “gym” should match your goals.
So what are the best tools for the job? Depending on who you ask, you’ll probably some single answers and whole lot of dogma related to that specific tool. But with a “no rules” mindset, you need to use what is useful and discard the rest. There are just simply way too many training tools and methods out there to get hung up on just one!
Alright, so here are my Top 10 “Outside the Box” Training Tools for MMA Fighters and Grapplers:
1. Sandbags
2. Kettlebells
3. Sledgehammers
4. Dragging Sleds (and tires!)
5. Battling Ropes
6. A Pull Up Bar (so simple and often overlooked)
7. Kegs and Barrells
8. Bulgarian Training Bags (make your own for under 20 dollars!)
9. Jump Stretch Bands (awesome for replicating throws and other explosive movements!)
10. Your Bodyweight
So there you have it – the cream of the crop when it comes to odd object training and “no rules” style strength and conditioning.