Mixed Martial Arts 101 from Max

Guest blogger: Max (with MMA fighter Forest Griffin on his left)

I get a lot of questions on exactly how does somebody get involved in Mixed Martial Arts ( aka MMA). It all starts with you. The sport is all about you and how much dedication, pain and training you can stand almost everyday.

Basics: NO! Brazilian J J is not a basic. It is a tool and a good one. Boxing, Grappling and Kickboxing are basics. How many fights start on somebody's back? They don't but they will lead there at some point. Once you are on the ground, you need grappling ( Or BJJ) training. Learning Boxing, Grappling and Kickboxing is tough enough but you must spend quality time training in them to the point you could do well in a show in each discipline. This takes time and unless you are gifted, nothing comes overnight.

OK Max, you just talked about Boxing, Grappling and Kickboxing, when and what Martial Arts come into play? I would suggest you start off in a Kempo martial Arts school. Why Kempo? Kempo is every Martial art wrapped into one, so you will train in every Art, and add"tools" to put in your "Toolbox". FYI: Kempo was the original Mixed Martial Art. Kempo sparing is hard and close enough to being in a MMA event without stepping into a cage or ring. ( If you need help finding a school in your area, just shoot me a email.)

Next is "fit shape" and "fight shape". Fit shape is your everyday training shape, and fight shape is your shape at the day of your event that you want to train to be in. Fit shape is part of the basics. Fit shape is different for everybody. I train alot of cardio, up to 3 days a week ontop of my regular Kempo training and ontop of training other Basics. (See Basics above).

How does one get into "Fit shape" for MMA? First things first, see your doctor and get their permission to train. This step is important because they know you better then anybody, and can give you much needed help when ( and you will) crack ribs or bones, or that old high school football injury comes back to say hello. I am lucky enough to train with Doctors.

Basic "Fit Shape" workout that I use.( You will need a Leather jump rope, The Perfect Pushups and The Perfect Pullups, a blow up Exercise ball and a 10 x 10 area, and a place to sprint about 25 feet, a stopwatch and a "egg or cooking timer") Your goal is to gas yourself out and time it. Make sure you are properly hydrated and have water or a sports drink of some sort very close by.

Warm up: 15 mins. of Rope work ( You can break it up into 3 -5 min.s rounds with 30 second rest in between.) After warm up, place The perfect Pushups at the end of the 25 foot run area.(Close to the 10 x 10 area that you just skip rope in). Caution: You will be in constant motion during this workout!

After the warm up,
Run to The Perfect Pushup and do 15 slow reps.
Run to The Perfect Pullups, grab the bar and "Crunch" your knees to your Chest and hold this position for 30 seconds.
Run back to the rope and skip hard for 30 seconds.
Next to the "Exercise ball" and do sit ups slowly for 30 seconds.
Run to the 10 x 10 area and do 25 squat thrusts.
Go right into Jumping Squats.
Sprint to The Perfect Pushups and bang out 15 fast reps.
Run back to The Perfect Pullups and do 15 pull ups.
Run Back to the Rope and skip very hard for 1 min.

The above was 1 overall rep. Your goal is to keep this up and see how many "Reps" you can do. Your cardio will go thru the roof and be happy for that because most fights win because of cardio. Start with 2 times a week and work up to slowly 3 times a week on top of your regular training.

Let's face it, it is not easy. if it was, everybody would be doing it. If you have any questions, shoot me an email at info@likemponews.com.

Max
TheNHBshow.com
NyMMAnews.com

MMA Max's Perfect Birthday Present

Guest blogger: MMA Max

Every so often we get an email at Perfect Pushup that just shouts out for a blog -- Max's letter was one of them! Be sure to check out Max's website and blog -- and listen to his radio show. Hooyah that the Perfect Pushup is working for you Max!

CHARLIE MIKE -- ALDEN


"Alden -- Thank you for creating The Perfect Pushup!

After hurting both my wrists shooting .45 (S&W) when I was in a Guard unit, I could not do push ups without intense pain in my wrists. It got so bad that doing the push ups were not the problem BUT overcoming the intense pain was!

I tried my hands in every position and still no luck. Hell I even tried putting my hands on 2 x 4's and still the pain. I left the Guard unit after Flight 800 ( Long Island NY- July 17, 1996) That was the last times I did any PT. When I got back into Karate and Boxing, THE PAIN came back also. Pain, pain,pain, did I say Pain?

Last night for my Birthday, I got your Perfect Pushup as a present. When I tell you I got excited enough to rip the box open and I had to try them out, it is a completely gross UNDERSTATEMENT!. Your Perfect Pushups was a want and also a need. The very first Perfect Pushup I did, it has been years that I have not felt the pain. I put 'em aside and did a regular push up and I felt the pain -- for the last time!

Come to think of it, I can't remember what else I got for my birthday! I think so highly of your product, I am adding a link from my MMA site to yours -- NYMMA News. Thank you again for a great product!"