Best Sports for MMA Conditioning

[Cardio]

What non-combat sports have a good carryover for MMA conditioning?

I find football (soccer) helps my cardio and legs.
Handball and rowing appear to be good conditiong for upper body.
American football is explosive (look at Bob Sapp)

 

[Jersey]

I do intense circuit training, Muay Thai twice a week and Grappling once a week. I am never more tired than I am after playing soccer for two 45 minute halves every saturday. My legs are drained and I am incredibly sore the next day.

There are a lot of quick sprints and the need for endurance is high...I recommend it.

 

[Shamrock7]

soccer definately works. the quick sprinting is good cardio.

 

[rickyg168]

swimming is a good cardio workout.

 

[HOMEtrained23]

Lacrosse maybe? It's got physical contact, and you need good cardio and conditioning to participate.

 

[deadlyshaolin]

Water polo. It combines swimming (therefore high cardio/endurance) and explosive movements along with wrestling/physical contact.

 

[Vxfilmer1000]

I read somewhere on the forums that swimming isnt good for you (like on your joints and what not) i might have just read it wrong tho ?

 

[GoRiders]

Swimming is good. I find I tend to dog it or cut it short so I can ogle girls in the hot tub...which is both good and bad.

 

[#1can]

rugby?

basically wind sprints combined with wrestling

 

[sponge]

rugby?

basically wind sprints combined with wrestling

Yea rugby

 

[CelebritySexist]

I read somewhere on the forums that swimming isnt good for you (like on your joints and what not) i might have just read it wrong tho ?

Some say it's not intense enough. Can't vouch for that opinion.

 

[Urban]

kettlebell competition maybe...

 

[One Time]

futbol and basketball

 

[Brendon Katz]

how bout rockclimbing?

 

[OneFate**]

Hockey is an explosive sport, also football (soccer) because of the constant movement. Especially if you

 

[Masakatsu Funaki #1]

Rugby

 

[HeyHEys]

rugby is like MMA with a ball

 

[evilmonkey666]

I read somewhere on the forums that swimming isnt good for you (like on your joints and what not) i might have just read it wrong tho ?

After I tore my ACL a couple years ago, the orthopaedic surgeon suggested swimming and cycling to stay in shape specifically because it's easier on the joints. Also, I remember looking through Bas' book and it has a bunch of stuff on taining in a pool.

 

[norcal313]

ironman wrestling

 

[Vitorfan17]

Kabaddi is a really good sport for conditioning its pretty much wreslting and sprinting and its really tireing after a few rounds.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=NnyUWUrcWzw&search=kabaddi