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Breaking into M.M.A. Training Log

154K views 2K replies 38 participants last post by  KevinD 
#1 · (Edited)
Hello all, I've been mostly lurking these forums for awhile now. A little introduction: I'm 20 years old, just wrapping up doing a little world travel. While I was in Thailand I got involved with a Muay Thai training camp called Tiger Muay Thai, and trained pretty hard for a month and loved it. I decided to see where this passion can take me, and have decided to aim to fight in my first M.M.A. fight at a local amateur venue in my town called Valley Fight this coming December. This means I have a lot of work to do.

I will be training at a local M.M.A. gym called Revolution Chilliwack, as well as training with my friend who also wants to fight within the year.

I'm 20 years old, Southpaw, 6'4 about 195lbs, muscular build from years of weightlifting (I've got an enormous journal on a bodybuilding website but alas, there's no point talking M.M.A. on a bodybuilding forum, so here I am) but relatively weak cardio, other weaknesses include an occassional occurence of shin splints and contact lenses. I've only trained Muay Thai for a month and that's basically all my training besides a bit of self taught boxing.

I'm wrapping up my travels now, sitting in Bangkok for a few more days. I checked out a nearby Muay Thai gym but it was a hole in the ground with some mats and wasn't cheap, so **** it. I'm doing bodyweight exercises and shadowboxing in my room to help maintain what I can.

I go home soon so training resumes on August 1st as I enroll in the MMA gym back home and in addition begin my own training with a partner to keep the total training time to about 3.5 hours a day, 5 days a week.

Training is 4 weeks on followed by 1 week rest, each week is 5 days training, alternating between 2 days set out like this:

Day 1 - Technique
Stretch
Shadowboxing
Hit Pads
Standup Sparring
Rolling
Stretch
Go to class

Day 2 - Conditioning
Stretch
Skipping
Weight Training (Divided into Push/Pull/Leg days focusing on functional strength, explosive power, and endurance.)
Heavy Bag
Speed Bag
Stretch
Go to class

Classes are as follows:
Mon - Beginner Jiu-Jitsu
Tue - M.M.A.
Wed - Beginner Jiu-Jitsu
Thur - Boxing + Muay Thai
Fri - Boxing + Muay Thai + M.M.A
Sat - Rest
Sun - Rest

Going to ease myself into it and build momentum; first week just go to the classes, second week go to the classes and do training every second day, then by the third I'm doing the full routine. Also going to start light on my weights and build momentum over the weeks as powerlifters do.

I've also wrote up a flexible diet that I believe I can maintain pretty easily. I'll add the details once I've gone through with it for awhile in case any changes need to be made. What's important is the 6000 mostly healthy calories to exceed my maintenance level for a gradual weight gain.

Supplements are Protein/Creatine Monohydrate/Multivitamin/Fish Oil, considering a pre-workout supp like N.O. Xplode but don't really need the extra hit to the wallet or a caffeine dependency, so we'll see on that one.

I picked up all my gear to train out here in Thailand for nice and cheap. Got 16oz gloves, shin guards, wraps, mouth guard, and headgear. My friend has bought all of these things as well as some Thai kicking pads and a round timer, so we're all equipped and ready to go.

I'm aiming for December for my premier amateur M.M.A. bout. Wish me luck and feel free to pass on advice. I'm gonna tear a hole into this guy. :thumb02:

Some relevant links
Tiger Muay Thai, Phuket, Thailand:http://www.tigermuaythai.com
Revolution Chilliwack, Chilliwack, Canada:http://www.revolutionfightteam.com
Valley Fight, Chilliwack, Canada:http://www.valleyfight.com
 
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#995 ·
Okay. Made it to a somewhat comfortable 197.8lbs 10% b/f

Goals of the practice water cut:
- Experiment with how much weight I can cut
A total weight cut of 11.6lbs.
- See how dramatic of a diet is necessary for 190 and 185. I like food.
I'll aim to lose 5lbs via diet for the 190 fight, followed by another 5lbs for the 185 fight.
-See how taking creatine right up to the water cut affects things.
Didn't like it. I think the extra water retention from creatine makes it easier to lose the water, but in my opinion you're better off not giving yourself an extra 5lbs that need cutting to begin with.

Going to do up a diet and grab some groceries.
 
#999 ·
Goals last week:
-4 Grappling Classes FAIL - 75%
-2 Muay Thai Classes SUCCESS
-2 Sparring Sessions SUCCESS
-2 Padwork Sessions FAIL - 0%
-2 Shadowboxings/Heavybag Session FAIL - 50%
-1 GSP Workout - SUCCESS
-1 Burpee Session - SUCCESS
-Finish "Roy Dean's Blue Belt Requirements" - FAIL
-Practice weight cut- Water Cutting starts on wednesday, pretend weigh in will be on friday evening. The pretend fight will be my saturday workout. - SUCCESS

Goals this week:
-4 Grappling Classes
-2 Muay Thai Classes
-2 Sparring Sessions
-2 Padwork Sessions
-2 Shadowboxings/Heavybag Session
-1 GSP Workout
-1 Burpee Session
-Finish "Roy Dean's Blue Belt Requirements"
-Track Diet daily with Myplate, stay at target calories
 
#1,000 ·
Well, didn't have the most restful day off. Weekend was busy and stressful, and I'm down on sleep. I've been tracking everything I eat and following my meal outline and am feeling pretty hungry and low energy. Will try to catch up on sleep tonight.

BJJ - Just did the first class, random techniques, a few good rolls including a pretty neutral one with Danny, the black belt.
 
#1,003 ·
Upper Body Pull Cycle:
Repeat cycle 3 times, rest 90 seconds
High Pull: 6,6,6@135lbs
Pull-ups (Underhand Grip): 7,7,4@b/w
Sledgehammer Slams: 20,20,20@16lb hammer
Inverted Rows 5,4,4
Single Arm Dumbbell Rows 6,6,6@85lbs

Abs Cycle:
Repeat cycle 3 times, rest 90 seconds

Stir the Pot 15,15,15
Hanging Knee Raise 15,15,15
Cable Crunch 20,20,20@max
 
#1,005 ·
Muay Thai

Warmup, combos back and forth in sparring gear, then 3 rounds each pads with partner, then a drill driving partner across the room with 10 kicks at the end. 3 Rounds sparring, ate a big superman punch today, reminiscent of what fucked me up in my last fight. Will have to look up some good blocks + counters to supermans.
 
#1,007 ·
Goals last week:
-4 Grappling Classes FAIL 50%
-2 Muay Thai Classes SUCCESS
-2 Sparring Sessions SUCCESS
-2 Padwork Sessions SUCCESS
-2 Shadowboxings/Heavybag Session FAIL 0%
-1 GSP Workout SUCCESS
-1 Burpee Session SUCCESS
-Finish "Roy Dean's Blue Belt Requirements" FAIL
-Track Diet daily with Myplate, stay at target calories SUCCESS


Weigh in at 208lbs. Dropping calories to 2900 a day.
 
#1,009 ·
BJJ x 2

Very good classes, all very tough rolls. Got tapped for the first time in a long time by a very skilled blue (congrats Jeremy if you're reading this :p). Other than that did decently. Only one submission though, but it was a triangle on a blue that usually stalemates me.

I noticed I'm looking extra lean lately. The numbers aren't moving but what I'm seeing, I like.
 
#1,010 ·
Muay Thai, technique with partner, push drill with knees at the end, 3 rounds sparring, 4 rounds pads with Paul. Worked a few things, the super man left, a stronger lead hook, left uppercut, and combos using these followed by kicks. Good class. Jammed my thumb up pretty good in sparring, and forgot my cup today and got kicked directly in the dick.
 
#1,012 ·
Holy shiiiiit

Went in early for a new small MMA Class. Did ground and pound techniques, breaking the guard then stacking the legs, pinching your knees around their legs and squating as you pound, then pass. After the pass we did a cradle and from there go to knee on belly and pound, or step a leg inbetween theirs and trap their bottom arm back for joyous ground and pounding. A few other things too...d'arce chokes all over the place. I'm going to find a d'arce dvd to review these, because they never fully made sense until today, and I think if I build on them I could have a good weapon for alot of positions that I'm not as offensive in.

BJJ Class X 2
Lots of warmups and drills and grip fighting. Techniques were d'arces when someone passes your guard, d'arces when someone moves from side control to north south, escapes from armbars, preventing the mount from knee on belly. Lots of good rolls today, I pwned a big white belt quite thoroughly, with armbars, triangles, omoplata sweeps, spider guard...just everything. I had a tough roll with Brian, the brown belt instructor and got tapped twice but held my own decently, taking his back by the end of the round. Lost a short round to a purple cranking a side control on me. A few other rolls but nothing else really to report. I'm ultra spaced out right now.

Muay Thai

Yeah, that's right. I did 4x hour long classes back to back today. Warm up shit, punch kick combos on the shield most of the class, Squat + Kicks pyramid drill at the end.

Damn today was good.

Bodyweight is 201lbs today. That's pretty much all the dieting I needed to do already done way ahead of schedule, so I'm bumping my calories up 300 again to hopefully maintain where I am, maybe lean out another 1-2.
 
#1,013 ·
Hey man i just wanna say that this log has truly been an inspiration for me to get back into training haha i never thought id say that to someone nearly my age. i started my own log and am heading back to training next monday any tips or advice is greatly appreciated. you sound like youve got big things going for you man all the best!!
 
#1,014 ·
MMA Heavy sparring with Miles and Bruno. Both guys are more experienced and skilled than me but my size was a saving grace. Did alright. We did 5 min rounds, 2 on 1 off, 4 rounds total each. Was glad to only get taken down 2 or 3 times in 4 rounds, and managed to reverse the position a couple times. Feeling beat up, might try to get back into the gym in a few hours to do some more work, see how things are feeling.
 
#1,016 ·
This Week's Goals:
-4 Grappling Classes SUCCESS
-2 Muay Thai Classes SUCCESS
-1 MMA Class SUCCESS
-2 Sparring Sessions SUCCESS
-2 Padwork Sessions FAIL
-2 Shadowboxings/Heavybag Session FAIL
-1 GSP Workout FAIL
-1 Burpee Session FAIL
-Finish "Roy Dean's Blue Belt Requirements" FAIL
-Track Diet daily with Myplate, stay at target calories (2900) SUCCESS

A few failures but a very good week overall. The problem with these goals is it makes my schedule very rigid, when I really need to adapt and take the best training available to me. Or I get stuck at work on the weekend and the gym closes. Anyways, the heavy mma sparring prevented a workout or two, but is what I need most.
 
#1,017 ·
This Week's Goals:
-8 ANY Classes
-4 Sparring Sessions
-2 Padwork Sessions
-2 Shadowboxings/Heavybag Session
-1 GSP Workout
-1 Burpee Session
-Finish "Roy Dean's Blue Belt Requirements"
-Track Diet daily with Myplate, stay at target calories (2900)


More sparring, more freedom as far as classes. The rest are the usual.
 
#1,020 ·
Private Class with Kajan!

Can't describe how awesome it is to work with Kajan. Above and beyond any other training I get, and just an awesome role model and coach.

Warmup run, acrobatics, mma shadowboxing 3 rounds, techniques were all wrestling based. Sprawling on a double leg, as they penetrate for the take down, the forearm nearest their head and the same side hip twist their head to the center, other hand wizzers as you sprawl out. From there we learned to control by cupping the chin with the wizzer hand in the armpit, forearms in tight against them, not flared out. Hips are sprawled low but make sure your weight is on them, not the mat, feet are on the mat to the sides, not on your toes for maximum sprawl pressure. From there we learned to yank with this grip to drag them out, then the chin hand reaches to their but to prevent their escape as you come around to the back. Nearest leg either staples their nearest leg, or alternatively you attach that leg directly to their nearest and lean in for more pressure. Pound from here, look for opening and you can take back or trap an arm and roll them into side. More wrestling technique - Defending the single leg, immediately wizzer, grabbing your own leg, spin leg out of their grip and step outside them, leaning in to use their body in place of your trapped leg. Grap a wrist with free hand, still holding the wizzer, should be hopped around to facing the same direction as them, then a big kick out to free the leg. Alternatively from here you can sprawl sideways pushing the whizzer hard to the floor.

Positional sparring. Turtled with them sprawled over you and vice versa, standing with a single leg trapped, stuck against a wall with them in on a double leg. Did decently in the sparring.

Then MMA sparring, just two rounds. **** I was tired. Did okay but wish I'd been better. Armbarred the guy in the first but was taken down too easily a couple times. You know how hard it is to work your guard tangled in ropes, wearing heavy shin guards and 16oz gloves? Ugly.

Going to think about how I can drastically change my training in these next 3-4 weeks leading up to the fight. I want shorter overall duration, but higher intensity. I want shadowboxing, bagwork, pads at 3:00 full intensity with sprawls and shooting for takedowns. Sprints. Heavy sparring. Wrestling.
 
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