What is the secret behind the success of fighters like Khabib nurmagomedov, Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones.
Their championship level advantages that come in the octagon are strongly rooted in grappling. Keeping control of your opponent and straining on their stamina by making them carry your weight can be the determining factor of who is built to win the fight.
Importance of body strength on wrestling
Of course a wrestler’s body should be able to withstand and exert extraneous amounts of force while also being flexible enough to maneuver though the obstacles the other fighter presents.
Wrestlers in MMA build their foundations on having ample balance and core strength.
This is why wrestler prefer to bulk up to have more mass from which they can exert force.
Strong legs that can thrust your weight and momentum in the heat of the moment can be the factor that decides whether you control your opponent or you get controlled by him.
Some of the most dominant grapplers have made their takedown defense on the bases of strong legs and lower back strength.
Importance of strong back on wrestling
A solid lower back will enable the wrestler to sprawl much quicker. Sprawling at the right time can determine the pace of the match.
Having strong quads can help defend against aggressive rushes and takedowns. A well-built core and back can make all the difference against tough opponents but most importantly it provides an advantage to all wrestlers on all levels of competition, their balance.
The reason wrestlers can stay in the pocket and keep up their pace in the most intense of fights is because of how ruthless they are conditioned to keep their balance.
Fighters like Gray Maynard have displayed time and time again that just being tough as grit isn’t the only thing wrestlers do in the cage, it’s also endurance.
As Rocky said it “it’s about how hard you get hit and keep moving forward” wrestlers possess the freakish ability to withstand immense amounts of punishment and still keep on their feet.
If it doesn’t come from their ruthless fighting spirits it comes from their body types and how rouged the years of wrestling has made them.
Fighters like Chris Weidman and Luke Rockhole captured the belt after putting on a showcase of championship level grappling with their wrestling pedigrees.
Is it better to be tall or short for wrestling?
Taller people have longer limbs but also higher bone density making their muscles smaller in proportion. Shorter people have an advantage in muscle density giving them finer definition but they lack the reach of taller people. The longer reach of taller people gives them a wider reach of their opponent and a better cradle to defend against points.
If you have a broad physique with a tall height you can shred through opponents easily. For a more specific reference 180 cm with 11 percent body fat.
If you feel like you qualify of these attributes and were thinking about trying out for your collage state division then give it a chance because you have the capacity.
How do I get a body like wrestlers?
Building strength in the gym is no frugal task. A wise man once said to Alexander the great “there is no royal road to knowledge” and to each who has been tested their grit on the mat the perseverance comes from within.
To build your instinct you must first prepare your body.
Set powerlifts as your primary basic workout (bench press, squats and deadlift) set a rep range of 3 of 5 sets will help build core strength.
Your workout schedule should be 3 to 5 times a day. Your meals should consist of a heavy breakfast, a light lunch and a mild dinner.
With a clear workout regimen and regular healthy eating you can maintain a body type that suffices the requirements of a wrestler.
Follow this 3 to 5 philosophy and you will achieve your dream of having the best body for grappling and all the medals that come with it.
Wrestling and body in MMA
It is because of this necessity to bulk up that fighters with predominantly wrestling in their backgrounds find it difficult to make weight. Fighters like Johnny Hendricks Anthony Johnson have displayed time and time again the age-old issue of wrestlers missing weight.
It isn’t because of body type but simply because weight classes follow an out of date weight categorical system brought from boxing that does not take into account things like hydration, electrolytes and fat percentage. Resulting in some horror stories of fighters pushed to the edgy to make weight.
But what they lack in decorum they make up for with a dominant fight plan and aggressive reflexes.
Is Wrestling important in mma?
In MMA wrestling has been a staple grappling technique since its inception. Throughout the early UFC era and the Pride era wrestling was the preferred ground strategy by champions like Fedor emelianenko, Mark Coleman and Don Frye leading to some of the craziest moments in MMA.
The dominance of athletic catch wrestling has only climbed in recent years. A variation of wrestling that includes kicks and punches is Sambo.
Sambo primarily originated in Russia. It was the go to discipline for Russian grappling experts who would go on to fight in major promotions like Fedor emelianenko and Khabib Nurmagomedov.
These fighters went down in the annals of MMA as the greatest fighters of all time. With the entry of Umar Nurmagomedov the younger cousin of Khabib Nurmagomedov it seems that Sambo the combat style of wrestling will stay alive in the UFC and predominantly in MMA for a long time.
Conclusion
There’s no doubt once you establish your name in the ring, it will follow you through the years to come. It could be daunting for newcomers to seem themselves on the same pedestal as the champion, but even the champion(s) had to start their grind from a scratch.
You could meet the toughest opponent, which is going to give you a run for your money, so much so, that it makes you gain experience so that when you come back and learn, you will be better for the next one. If you picture yourself becoming a champion, learn with your body, and eventually you’ll become who you want to be.
Do not be afraid of getting hurt, because the toughest moments have made the most resilient of fighters.
As long as you are willing to be punctual with your 3 to 5 regimen, the odds will always be in your favor.
Powerlift to build good body shape for wrestler
The simplest workout regimen for a wrestler resembles that of a power lifter, but do incorporate yoga into your exercise(s) because it helps improve your body’s overall flexibility. Also, don’t forget to keep up with healthy eating habits so that you can maintain your bulk.
Even in ancient Greece and Rome, while studying for their academics, they also took part in physical training which included a form of wrestling, and a certain type of dancing.
Rhythm played an important part in a fighter’s psyche, even in modern times with research it has been proven that while you do your daily workout, with the help of music or just a simple metronome, your endorphins are channeled to enhance your focus and productivity.
Once you start training your body, you will learn things about yourself, where your limits are and how you can surpass them.
With hard work and dedication your motivation of reaching the finals and achieving your dream physique will soon be a reality. The things is, you have to be passionate about it, the more you drive yourself towards excellence, the easier it will get to attain your goal(s). Obviously, it won’t be a walk in the park, there will be hurdles that you will have to maneuver yourself out of, but as long as there is a will, there is a way.
All in all, it does not matter what body type you have, as long you work hard and put your time in the workout, yoga, etc., you can achieve your ideal body type.