Travis Tooke's Blog

I really believe that, no, I know that conditioning is just about the most important part of being a successful Mixed Martial Arts or Brazilian Jiu-jitsu competitor. The only thing more important is technique. Remember though, your MMA and Jiu-jitsu technique is only as good as your conditioning level will allow you to stay focused. If you are Anderson Silva but you have poor conditioning, you better get the win in the first round. Otherwise, your striking accuracy will diminish, your takedown defense will be off and you will not be able to recover when you get hit or taken down. The fight between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen is a perfect example of this. Sonnen dominated the fight for 4 rounds, kicking Silva’s butt about 98% of the time. Had Silva not prepared his body for such torture he would likely have been beaten in the earlier rounds and he would have had virtually no chance of winning the fight the way he did. However, he was in shape, prepared and pulled off the victory.
Proper conditioning builds mental toughness. When you are conditioned and in shape, you will carry with you a sense of confidence that no one can break you and a mindset that you will keep fighting until you win no matter who may be kicking your ass at the moment. It’s like you have a “Secret Weapon” that you can keep using no matter how bad things get. Lack of conditioning, on the other hand will be the Achilles heel to the most technical fighter on the planet. How many times have you seen a fighter dominate another opponent, nearly finishing the fight, only to have the less technical-better conditioned fighter come back and pull off the upset? It happens all the time, especially at the smaller shows.
Invest in your cardio and conditioning. I always tell my Mixed Martial Arts and Brazilian Jiu-jitsu fighters that if they are going to compete, there is “absolutely no excuse” for not being in shape. You don’t have to have a personal trainer (a strong team and motivating friend helps), you don’t need to spend 4 hours a day in the gym and you don’t need to be a fitness expert. You need to plan your day and be sure that “Cardio and Conditioning for Mixed Martial Arts or Brazilian Jiu-jitsu” are part of your schedule. Start with just 10 minutes a day dedicated to extra conditioning and then add more later. As you get into better shape(which won’t take long) educate yourself on better ways to maximize your efforts so you achieve the best results in the shortest amount of time.
Remember, you are ultimately responsible for your level of fitness. If you are not getting the results you desire for your MMA and Jiu-jitsu training, then do something about it. Now go get in shape!