Do many fighters do yoga?

[Luger]

Just saw a quote from Frankie Edgar:

 

[barmyone45**]

BJ Penn doesn't do it, apparently all his flexibility is genetic (extremely rare).

Rickson Gracie used gymnastica natural.

That's all I know on the subject but in lots of martial arts classes they do 15 minutes worth of yoga type stuff.

 

[ajmonsta]

I don't know how common but I imagine its very helpful. I've been wanting to try it myself. I'm not flexible at all and can't touch my toes while standing like most can even tho I'm fairly athletic. My bjj coach says my bjj would improve a ton if I did some yoga and became more flexible so take that for what it's worth.

 

[Torrid]

Classes are tedious and boring in my opinion. It's a tool that can be helpful for some, redundant for others. There are a lot of ways to enhance your flexibility and that's one of them, but not the only one.

 

[ajmonsta]

Classes are tedious and boring in my opinion. It's a tool that can be helpful for some, redundant for others. There are a lot of ways to enhance your flexibility and that's one of them, but not the only one.

Well what are some others that aren't as boring?

 

[barmyone45**]

Classes are tedious and boring in my opinion.

This is a big factor as well, unless you go the classes with the intention of staring at girls bending over (which is unrealistic).

Moreover, you definitely wouldn't have the sense at the end that you had done something productive like you would if you did an hours sparring, lifting or cardio.

 

[barmyone45**]

Well what are some others that aren't as boring?

If you train five nights a week it might be better to stretch for 15 minutes at the end of each as opposed to setting aside a yoga night.

The extra stretching at the end of each class can also help with winding down and getting to sleep.

 

[MayhemMonkey]

I only do MT on the local scottish scene but its something Ive thought about, most of my teammates would probably take the piss if they found out lol

as you said Dan Hardy does it, I think mainly because his GF is an instructor

 

[Torrid]

Well what are some others that aren't as boring?

ATG squats and BTN OHP. I wouldn't just run into doing either
without experience, but both are feasible with a little direction and sense of progression.

Also, you could just go train whatever art you do and stretch after class. Before class do your warm ups, and after your class it is time to work on flexibility.

 

[WarriorPoet1]

Baddest man ever Rickson does it.... that should be more than enough for everyone else

 

[Crylo]

Anderson Silva does Yoga with Dhalsim, didn't you see the Silva vs Weidman II fight?

 

[1strikeclothing]

I'm sure some do. It really does help

 

[ravifreitas]

Machida:

Jones:

 

[Konighter]

Machida does.

 

[santacruzshon]

I do

 

[LunaNegra]

Johny Hendricks does too.

Here is a quote from a Sherdog article and a segment showing him doing in an Countdown special leading up to his GSP fight.

From 2012 Article: JOHNY HENDRICKS: FLEXIBLE GAME PLAN KEY TO BEATING MARTIN KAMPMANN

On hot yoga and how it helps him: “Staying flexible and getting flexible are very important to me because the more flexible I get, it seems the stronger I get. The more that I can get my muscles to relax and to loosen up, I feel like I’m getting stronger and stronger and stronger and I’m not even lifting weights. Not only that, but also yoga helps keep me injury-free. Not only that, it can help your jiu-jitsu out. There’s a lot of things that yoga can translate into mixed martial arts. I started doing it, I love it, and I’m going to continue doing it.”

From 2013: Countdown to GSP - Clip of Hendricks doing and discussing Yoga benefits for him. Starts at the 3:10 mark.

[YT]6UqrsL8KuWQ[/YT]

 

[jjresq]

Jimi Manuwa does

 

[KarateKickbox22]

Just saw a quote from Frankie Edgar:



Then I remembered that Royce, Dan Hardy and a few others have talked highly of Yoga.
I wonder how common it is?

Machida started doing yoga a few months ago. Apparently it helped him with his weight cut.

 

[KarateKickbox22]

Machida does.

Yep. I saw some pictures of him standing on his head with his legs straight up in the air and what not. Cool stuff.

 

[KarateKickbox22]

Machida:

Jones:

Yoga Machida is thick, solid, and tight.