The role of the strength and conditioning coach for a combat athlete is to perform a needs analysis in which both the fighter as an individual and the sport itself are assessed in order to develop a high-performance programme. This might include plyometrics, speed and agility, endurance and core stability, strength training and nutrition as just some of the pieces of this complex jigsaw. The aim is to increase strength, speed, power, endurance, agility and flexibility. Strength and Conditioning for Combat Sports aims to help the coach and athlete bridge the gap between the theory of training and applied training, helping the athlete to become faster, stronger and more flexible and to build their muscular endurance so they perform better and remain injury-free. This will be essential reading for all martial arts coaches and practitioners and sports science students. Fully illustrated with 330 colour photographs and 90 diagrams.

"IT'S A FIGHT, NOT A GAME". This book is about training for grapplers and fighters. It doesn't matter what combat sport or martial art you specialise in, showing up in shape is mandatory. Your work ethic, your willingness to withstand harsh physical training and ability to absorb punishment all directly affect your success in grappling or fighting. With these words, coaches Steve Scott and John Saylor challenge you to get in the best fighting shape of your life using the workouts and training regimens they have used to train hundreds of national and international champions. What's Inside: What is Functional Training & why does it work?; Periodisation: how to plan your training cycles; Proven workout routines designed just for fighters; The science behind the exercises, drills & workouts; Freehand & bodyweight strength training; The best barbell, dumbbell & weight machine exercises; How the exercise ball can help you develop a rock hard core; Strength training with Kettlebells; 'Old School' hard core power training; Staying healthy & avoiding injuries for maximum mat time; How to plan your workouts around your fight schedule; Challenging medicine ball exercises; Plyometric & jump training; Over 400 exercises to build strength, power, agility, & speed.

Plenty of well meaning combat sports athletes and coaches use strength and conditioning programs designed for other sports and constantly feel overworked and fatigued, while others ignore resistance training entirely out of fear or ignorance. But by using the system outlined in this manual, you can be a part of the small group that trains intelligently to become the best athlete and fighter you can be. Scientific research and years of personal experience have gone into this complete guide to strength and conditioning for combat sports athletes. Inside you will learn to:-Program effective and efficient workouts-Periodize your training for long term success-Maximize strength, power, and mobility-Use the correct loading schemes to achieve your specific goals-Peak out at just the right time-Cut weight properly-Build elite level conditioning-Develop insane neck strength to reduce head trauma-Eat for performance and health-Train your mind for competitionIf you are an MMA fighter, boxer, wrestler, kickboxer, jiu-jitsu practitioner, or martial artist of any kind, this book has everything you need apply proper strength and conditioning to your sport!

Strike and kick with explosive power. Take down and grapple with sustained brute strength. Counter and evade with unmatched speed and agility. Be the best. Be your best with Ultimate Conditioning for Martial Arts, the complete guide for physical and mental dominance. Whether you practice MMA, Brazilian jiujitsu, taekwondo, karate, judo, aikido, kung fu, muay thai, krav maga, wrestling, or a combination of these, you have discovered your go-to training guide. Ultimate Conditioning for Martial Arts eschews the traditional one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, you’ll learn to evaluate your conditioning along with physical strengths and weaknesses. You’ll select from 120 exercises—each tailored to improve a key martial arts skill or attribute—to enhance performance in the discipline you practice and the goals you set. Then you will learn how to structure a conditioning program for short-term gains and long-term success—success you’ll see and your opponents will feel. Loren Landow has been featured on The Ultimate Fighter and has trained some of the best martial artists and UFC fighters in the world. Now you can learn his secrets and follow his proven program in Ultimate Conditioning for Martial Arts.

The ultimate strength and conditioning book for ultimate fighters. Mixed martial arts (MMA) is America's fastest-growing combat sport, with millions signing up for MMA classes and many more tuning in to "pay-per-view" to watch events with names like "Cage Rage" and "No Limit." MMA is not for wimps, and participants take a real pounding-they must be ready for anything. However, there is one way to predict a winner in any bout: conditioning. When facing an opponent with equal technical skill, the better-conditioned athlete will win-every match, every round, every time. Now, with amateur fight leagues springing up across the country, top conditioning coach Jason Ferruggia reveals the ultimate conditioning program for the ultimate fighter. By gaining overall strength, stamina, speed, and flexibility, athletes can substantially reduce their risk of injury in this intense contact sport. The key to Ferruggia's system is his emphasis on matspecific conditioning techniques. Too many would-be fighters use training programs borrowed from football or bodybuilding-methods that are all wrong for MMA. Included are: - A first-rate warm-up guaranteed to make a fighter more explosive and to reduce injuries - Off-the-charts strength-building secrets - Dozens of exercises to develop crushing grip strength - Top speed-building methods, including Olympic lifts, plyometrics, and throws - Incredibly effective exercises for building a thick, powerful neck that could be the difference between victory and serious injury Each exercise is accompanied by black-and-white photos illustrating proper technique and form, and "Inside the Cage" tips share the secrets to success from top professional fighters.

While most martial arts gyms teach excellent fighting techniques, few have a full understanding of the principles behind strength and conditioning, leaving many fighters over trained and injured. Strength and Conditioning for Mixed Martial Arts: A Practical Guide for the Busy Athlete provides elite-level instruction beyond fighting technique, focusing instead on improving overall athletic performance that works side-by-side with a fighter’s martial arts training. Written for the non-professional athlete, from beginning to advanced fighters, it is also readily implemented around a full-time job. Topics covered in this book include: Selecting and maintaining equipment Developing a training plan Strength and conditioning Developing a sound and safe nutrition plan Common injuries and injury prevention Preparing for competitions Most mixed martial arts athletes must be able to effectively balance strength and conditioning workouts, martial arts training, family, work, and recovery. This book is designed for just that purpose, helping fighters develop programs for their specific needs, whether training for self-defense, health and wellness, or competing in the cage.