All over the world you’ll hear people talk about how tough American’s are. How hard we work and all that good stuff. Yes it’s true, American’s are well known for toughness, which I kinda like to be honest.
This isn’t always the case as I’m sure you can imagian. Not all American’s are tough just the same as not all Japanese people like Sushi. I can think of plenty American’s that are the opposite of tough that’s for sure.
But I’ve gotta admit, compared to most of the places I’ve been outside the United States I’d have to agree, American’s do work hard and for the most part, are pretty tough.
When it comes to tough, more often then night we bring that right into the MMA training room. We spar hard, roll hard, wrestle hard, lift weights hard and on and on.
In hear this one a lot: Go hard or go home!
Not a bad saying in my mind. I like it and it sounds cool too.
Here’s the thing though, it can’t be that way. You can’t always go hard during your workouts. You might be able to get away with it on some level when you’re 19 years old but sooner or later guess what? You’re gonna get old.
If you plan to have any longevity in MMA you need to be smart and plan for the long haul. You just can’t go all out all the time. I know this first hand trust me.
Back in the day I used to go super hard in training. Push myself to the limit every time. But after a while I started to get injured, I started to burn out.
Who’s got the ability to go hard day after day? People on high powered steroids or HGH can sure, but that’s about it.
Look man, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with going hard in training. The key is to have hard days with a good mix of light days.
I’ll be honest, I don’t always have the energy to go hard with some 19 year old kid. Or maybe I’ve got the energy but just don’t feel like it.
I listen to my body, if it tells me it’s hurting then I dial it back a notch and keep it light. If it’s singing a different tune and needs to be run around the yard a few times then I’ll saddle up and get after it.
What you’ll find is by mixing up your training this way, you’ll not only feel better (and more motivated) but also stay injury free, which is always a plus.
The way I break up my training between hard and light workouts looks something like this:
- Monday – BJJ, Hard in the morning, light Kickboxing/MMA sparring in the evening
- Tuesday – MMA Training, Hard. Can include sparring, Wrestling and Grappling
- Wednesday – BJJ, Light rolling followed by a hard S and C session with coach Dave
- Thursday – Drilling only or very light sparring at the most
- Friday – Off
- Saturday – Hard Kickboxing Sparring followed by S and C with Coach Dave in the morning
- Sunday – Off
As you can see above, my training schedule mixes up the harder workouts with lighter ones. It took me years to accept the fact that it just can’t be “go hard or go home” each and every training session.
Give that schedule a try. Or come up with your own. As long as it’s got that mix of intensity you’re moving in the right direction.
Below I added some great training videos to study. Watch the best in action to see what makes them successful.
Success, wether it’s in the cage or out in the real world, just study what the best guys and gals do on a day to day basis, then do your best to do the same.
