In MMA, strength training and nutrition are still stuck in the stone ages. When MMAers learn the value of a proper strength training routine and diet, the sport’s talent level will explode. Most MMAers’ strength training routine makes no correlation to what strength qualities are important in the ring. On top of that, a healthy diet is almost nonexistent, as is proper supplementation. It’s amazing the lack of knowledge about diet and training exists in MMA.
Training and dieting for MMA are extremely tricky. Other than amateur bodybuilding, it’s probably the most difficult to master with respect to sports. You have to worry about adding too much weight, if your new muscle will slow you down, if your new muscle will cause you to fatigue faster, should you train for muscular endurance, hypertrophy, or power, what diet is best, what supplements will make you gain water weight, which ones are best for endurance sports, will increasing your carbs cause too much water retention, are you going to overtrain, is your diet causing unneeded inflammation, how should I train to prevent injuries, etc.. For MMA, there are a million of things to contemplate. A routine out of Muscle and Fitness will probably do you more harm than good.
What strength qualities do you think are important to MMA? I believe the most important two are power and muscular endurance. A Westside template works best, focusing on those two qualities. If you’re not training for both of those, then you are wasting your time. Diet and supplementation is a lengthy conversation that I don’t have time to get into right now.. The only thing I’d like to mention is that I firmly believe that a proper diet and supplement regimen can drastically reduce the amount of injuries and symptoms of overtraining in the sport. Think about what stops inflammation. That’s the key!
BTW, I’m a clinical pharmacist that specializes in nutrition, herbals, and dietary supplements. I’ve also been strength training for the last 10 years. I’ve read books by Poliquin, Thibaudeau, Siff, Z, Louie Simmons, etc. I’ve also dabbled in training athletes when I find the time. I just thought you should know my background so you don’t think I’m a complete idiot.
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