Getting The Most Out Of Your Conditioning

"Conditioning is the base for every combat sport. Go back to nature and you'll find that animals in the wild are in the greatest of shape, because they use their own bodyweight and stretching."- Karl Gotch (1924-2007)


We all understand the concept of conditioning whether you're in sports or not; however, what we don't always realize is the simple elements that help us last in the "game." The world in fitness keeps on changing, coming up with various programs to be in top shape whether internally, externally or both. The problem with this is that even though a lot of great things that come out, it becomes too overwhelming to choose which ones or one is best to do. We have programs that build the body from the outside, we have programs based on MMA, we have programs used in Crossfit and we have programs that push your limits like in Tough Mudder or Spartan Races. Personally, I research and learn programs that help me last but at the same time, be practical and progressive that engages my brain and my muscles in sync with one another.

Don't get me wrong, many ideas out there do work for a lot of people but how long could someone keep up a certain program that is meant for those in their 20's and not in their 40's, 50s and beyond. Conditioning on a deep level, teaches you how to keep going but not always within the same pace. Some of the greatest athletes even have to slow down but they know how to keep going even when they're fatigued. Another concept of pure conditioning is the controlling of the breath. Let's face it, no matter how hard you train, if your breathing is an issue and you don't have the mindset to keep it at bay even in the crucial moments, you're not going to last.

Do a program or taking ideas from multiple programs and mold it into your own that gets you in great shape but also learning the ideals of breathing. Even if you're not in sports, conditioning can come in handy in regards to your health, vitality and everyday life. Be able to go upstairs without seriously huffing and puffing, play with the kids without tiring and getting through the work day without fatiguing. In a lot of ways, we have forgotten how to truly stay in shape because mostly you read about are ways to get in shape for bodybuilding, combat sports, sports in general and others. I'm not one to follow along easily to a person on DVD and mimic everything they do in sequence, to me that just adds on anxiety and self sabotage because if you can't follow along or don't want to, does that make you weak or not good enough?

Going beyond just animal movements and other bodyweight exercises, I do my best to stay in shape by moving through exercise after exercise but if I need to take a breather, I do it and when I recover, I get back on it. I don't understand the concept of this doing x amount of reps and than rest X amount of seconds or a minute and repeat. I go with what my body can do and understanding how my brain can comprehend a certain workout. If I can go, I know my body and mind can go but if you tell me or force me to do an idea that isn't synced with me, it's not going to go well. I have gone to limits and lasted in certain workouts and have done workouts I was forced into that my body and brain couldn't be in tuned with that just killed me in seconds.

Get the most out of your conditioning whether in sports or in life by doing things that align both body and mind. Let me put an example on this. The toughest athletes in mainstream today or MMA Fighters, period. They do all sorts of conditioning for their art whether it's Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Catch Wrestling, Kickboxing, Boxing or whatever but when it comes time to fight, a lot of them (not all) just screw up and their breathing is so off that they are done within the first round. What I'm getting at is, you can be in the greatest shape of all time but if you can't control how you breathe and your mind and body aren't in sync, you just wasted all your time and goals. I'm constantly learning this in BJJ because it's not just about lasting in a match, its about lasting in life too.

Practice breathing, move with intent and condition both mind and body in the workouts you love to do and are willing to progressively push yourself in. Practice being in shape for life because you're not always going to have the ability to be in shape like you were in your 20's, train accordingly and don't be afraid to be adventurous.