Sparkes

What do you think is the best cardio suited to help with MMA out of running, swimming or cycling? Cheers

(btw; all three isnt an answer)

MLS

Swimming helps cardio, but also helps build some muscle. Running is real good, but besides the cardio help, it only really helps the legs. Swimming is more whole body of the three.

Also run in the pool, that will really work you out.

Sparkes

Sweet, I'll Keep that in mind

davidm724

I'd have to say swimming is the best of the three. It's a full-body workout while constantly testing your cardio. It's also great for your core, breathing, etc. Swimming is also zero-impact, whereas running can cause aches and pains, shin splints, and even stress fractures. Cycling can be hard on the knees, especially if there are preexisting knee problems. Of course stress fractures and the like are the more extreme issues associated with running, but you never hear about someone hurting themselves swimming. Unless you slam your heels into the wall during a flip-turn. That shit hurts. Anyway, the safest, and most effective cardio workout in my opinion would have to be swimming.

... to add to that a little, I'd say running is better than cycling if you're training for MMA. There's nothing bad about any of these activities, in fact, I believe it's best to incorporate them all as well as other activities in order to constantly test and push your body in different ways.

wukkadb

Running. Swimming is good for muscular endurance but is not that great of a cardio tool IMO. I would suggest doing tabath sprints, uphill sprints, bleachers, and just plain running for the best improvements in cardio.

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knaggs

I rate swimming highly as an addition to any other cardio.

I recently hurt my leg and cant run, so took up cycling and swimming at the gym. I love it.

i can blast my legs and heart on the bike, then get a good upper body workout in the pool. I quite like changing up my breathing in the pool, more stokes per breath, to work with as little air as possible. Love it!

listofenemies

Don't forget about jumprope and make sure that your cardio is applicable to what you're training for. Sure swimming is great exercise and you should do it, but, are you going to be fighting someone underwater? So i'd stress, sprints, walking, running and jumprope, but that's how i like to train.

swpthleg

What are tabath sprints?

I can run but not as much as i used to at the moment, so I cycle and use the stairmaster, and I keep hearing that the stairmaster will give me huge legs, like big hurdler legs, is this true or not?????

I don't swim b/c the only lap pool in town is so f*ckin cold I can barely even be near it.

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davidm724

Tabatas are 20-second intervals of maximum intensity exercise followed by 10-seconds of rest. Complete 8 intervals of an exercise such as burpees, heavy bag, speed rope, sprints, pushups, knee jumps, high knees, hill sprints, flip-flops, Laverne and Shirleys, or whatever the hell you're doing. 8 intervals should last only 4 minutes, and you should do at least 4 exercises. That would last 16 minutes. The Tabata training is said to be very effective, even if it's only 16 minutes long (not including warm-up & cool-down). It raises the metabolic rate when done regularly, and is said to be effective for fat loss as well. Check out the details at RossTraining.com:
http://www.rosstraining.com/articles...intervals.html

I know that RossTraining is plugged a lot on the forum, but it's seriously good stuff.


...By the way, using the stairmaster is not going to give you "huge" legs. Whoever told you that is a jackass. You will only get huge legs from anaerobic exercises such as squats, deads, etc, accompanied by a high-calorie diet. My guess is that you eat very healthy, and you obviously have no wish to bodybuild. The stairmaster is a machine designed for aerobic exercise, and will do no more than tone your legs and increase muscular endurance. I'd say go for it. Tone legs are hot.